This paper examines interactions between the concept of gender equality and Islamic teachings in post-tsunami Aceh, Indonesia. Iespecially focus on how Muslim women empowered by a feminist NGO which enabled them to earn their own incomes, explain theireconomic activities, as well as inactivities, and negotiate with the Acehnese Islamic view of family.After the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami devastated Aceh, many victims, who had lost their properties and means of livelihood, soughtto secure their living; economic reconstruction was one of the important objectives in the tsunami affected areas. Many aidorganizations entered Aceh in order to reconstruct destroyed Acehnese societies and provided a variety of programs for the security ofvictims\u27 economic lives. Aid in affected areas was often a synonym for economic development and empowerment. Through the aids,some aid organizations also spread global hegemony or Western order. Among them, an Indonesian feminist NGO, which loanedcapital for women\u27s economic activities in rural areas, conveyed powerful political/feminist messages without including discourse withIslam, which was left to the villagers to provide themselves
