Early ‘ulama’ obviously could not undertake the task of addressing the question of women’s being. As men, they could hardly do more than determine women’s functions. As actors in a given culture, they could not transcend that culture. In addition to being subject to their gender, they were necessarily also products of their culture. Yet, in the light of the higher objectives of Islam, of the individual’s dignity, integrity, autonomy, development, education, intelligence, welfare, health and inner balance (to mention only the most essential we can draw from the six higher objectives, Al Maqasid Ad-daruria), one can realise that a…