Investigating the Experience of Muslim Widows in Cape Town: A Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah Approach

Abstract

Injustice and violence are rife in Cape Town, particularly against women who are disproportionately impacted by such issues. The present study investigates the experiences of Muslim widows living in Cape Town and highlights the unfair treatment this group often receives, indicating a critical need for social interventions. This study is qualitative in nature which involved face-to-face interviews with ten Muslim widows. It adopts the Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah approach in navigating the experiences of these ten Capetonian widows and draws on the ideas of Al-Ghazālī (1998); Al-Shāțibī (1992) and Al-Qarāḍawi (2005) who offer an understanding of the maṣlaḥah as a fundamental organising principle of the Sharīʿah in all aspects of life. This study concludes that none of the participants received fair treatment, as outlined by the objectives of the Sharīʿah.