This paper investigates the socio-political implications of Quranic translations in the formation of a new public discourse in post-revolution Iran. The case study is of Quranic verse 4:34, which deals with the social and familial status of men and women. By juxtaposing three translations (by a hardline conservative Islamist, a Muslim feminist and a modern Islamist), the paper provides a hermeneutical analysis of the assumptions each translator brings into play when trying to reconcile the question of modern women’s rights with the scripture. The study suggests that reformist translations of the Quran might be seen as part of the more general religious reform movement, translating the requirements of modern civil society into a religious discourse.
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