The Feminine Element in Islam

I came across this useful and perceptive article the other day:

Mercy and “The Feminine Element” Within the Prophetic Character [111 KB Adobe Acrobat File]
by Fareeha Khan

For anyone interested in the roles which femininity and feminine attributes play in Islamic theology and metaphysics, I highly recommend the unique and insightful study by Sachiko Murata entitled: The Tao of Islam: A Sourcebook on Gender Relationships in Islamic Thought. Even though this book is not without its flaws, it contains some excellent analysis in regards to gender roles in Islam and very penetrating reflections on the overall "spiritual cosmology" of Islam. If you ever come across a fair-minded but misinformed person who feels that Islam is inherently misogynistic, this is a good book to place in their hand, insha'llah.