An Analysis of the Factors behind Women’s Credulity in the Novel Islah-o-Nisa

Abstract

This study analyzes the factors responsible for women’s credulity as portrayed in the novel Islah-o-Nisa, a significant reformist work of Urdu literature. The novel reflects the socio-cultural realities of its time, highlighting how women’s tendency toward uncritical belief is not an inherent weakness but a consequence of social conditioning. Through textual analysis, the study examines the roles of limited education, patriarchal control, religious misinterpretation, and cultural traditions in shaping women’s credulity. The novel presents female characters who rely on superstitions, hearsay, and irrational practices due to lack of awareness and restricted intellectual freedom. By portraying these factors, Islah-o-Nisa advocates for women’s education and rational thinking as essential tools for reform. The analysis demonstrates that the novelist uses credulity as a narrative device to critique social structures and to promote enlightenment and moral reform among women. Ultimately, the novel underscores the need for intellectual empowerment to overcome ignorance and blind belief.