Srinagar, July 4 -- By the time you finish Muhammad Maroof Shah'sMuslim Women: A Manifesto for Change, you're left with more questions than answers.

The book sets out to tackle a crucial subject-the place, rights, and futures of Muslim women-but ends up tangled in contradictions, tired stereotypes, and ideas that circle without landing anywhere meaningful.

Shah believes that feminist thinkers have failed Muslim women, especially in India. He argues that they have not clearly named the forces that oppress women, nor built strong spaces of resistance.

His core idea is that Muslim women must step forward, not just to free themselves but to lead others too.

But the book never explains why this special burden should fall on Muslim women or...