{"_id":"675b1ed9d657c23811dcec7e","title":"{\"ops\":[{\"attributes\":{\"color\":\"#000000\",\"background\":\"transparent\"},\"insert\":\"When can women be leaders in Islam?\"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\"}]}","question":"{\"ops\":[{\"attributes\":{\"background\":\"transparent\",\"color\":\"#000000\"},\"insert\":\"\\\"Allah protected me with something that I heard from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. When Chosroes died, he said: \\\"Whom have they appointed as his successor?\\\" They said: \\\"His daughter.\\\" He said: \\\"No people will ever prosper who entrust their leadership to a woman.\\\"\"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"background\":\"transparent\",\"color\":\"#000000\"},\"insert\":\"I am wondering in what positions of leadership are women forbidden from participating in? For example: can women be leaders in clubs at school or in the workplace? Does this Hadith mean women cannot be in leadership positions politically?\"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\"}]}","answer":"{\"ops\":[{\"attributes\":{\"color\":\"#000000\",\"background\":\"transparent\"},\"insert\":\"When encountering any verse from the Qurʾān, a saying of the Prophet, or a scholarly opinion that seems to display favoritism, prejudice, animosity, disrespect, or admiration towards a particular gender, it is crucial to recall the fundamental principles of our faith.\"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"color\":\"#000000\",\"background\":\"transparent\"},\"insert\":\" Firstly, we must remember that Allah is beyond gender as Allah is fundamentally distinct from the created world, and gender is an attribute of the creation. Allah explicitly informs us \"},{\"attributes\":{\"color\":\"#000000\",\"background\":\"transparent\",\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\"that there is nothing comparable to Him [\"},{\"attributes\":{\"link\":\"https://quran.com/42/11\",\"color\":\"#000000\",\"background\":\"transparent\",\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\"42:11\"},{\"attributes\":{\"color\":\"#000000\",\"background\":\"transparent\",\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\"]\"},{\"attributes\":{\"color\":\"#000000\",\"background\":\"transparent\"},\"insert\":\", meaning that Allah cannot be defined in terms of gender or any other physical characteristic of created beings. \"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"color\":\"#000000\",\"background\":\"transparent\"},\"insert\":\"Furthermore, Allah informs us that the most virtuous among us are those who possess the highest level of piety, devoid of any consideration for gender, ethnicity, or any other physical attribute, both in this worldly life and in the hereafter. Additionally, Allah informs us\"},{\"attributes\":{\"color\":\"#000000\",\"background\":\"transparent\",\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\" that our acts of worship hold equal value irrespective of gender [\"},{\"attributes\":{\"link\":\"https://quran.com/33/35\",\"color\":\"#000000\",\"background\":\"transparent\",\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\"33:35\"},{\"attributes\":{\"color\":\"#000000\",\"background\":\"transparent\",\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\"].\"},{\"attributes\":{\"color\":\"#000000\",\"background\":\"transparent\"},\"insert\":\" The teachings of our beloved Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ emphasize that Allah does not assess us based on our physical forms or outwardly actions, but rather on the purity and sincerity of our souls. There is an essential belief in our faith that all individuals, irrespective of their color, gender, ancestry, or any other worldly attribute, are equal in the sight of Allah. They also receive equal protection under the sacred law, differing roles and responsibilities, and are granted an equal opportunity to attain success in this life and the Hereafter. \"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"color\":\"#000000\",\"background\":\"transparent\"},\"insert\":\"These differing roles and responsibilities are not indicative of any inherent superiority of one gender over the other, nor do they imply such superiority. Rather, they are determined by divine wisdom, taking into account which gender is best suited for specific roles. This fundamental conviction should reside perpetually within our hearts, unyielding, steadfast, and as clear as daylight, regardless of the haters, critics, doubters, or the uninformed.\"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"color\":\"#000000\",\"background\":\"transparent\"},\"insert\":\"Therefore, when confronted with a verse, ḥadīth, or sharīʿah ruling that appears to contradict this core belief, it is imperative that we dismiss such a possibility and delve deeper to uncover the genuine intended meaning. Both believing men and women must refrain from embracing the surface-level, seemingly problematic statements or, worse yet, employing them as a means to advance their personal agendas. It is utterly sinful and a direct offense against Allah, as well as an affront to the honorable legacy of our prophet, for men to employ such statements to degrade women.\"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"color\":\"#000000\",\"background\":\"transparent\"},\"insert\":\"Having established a common understanding, we can now address the specific question at hand. \"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"color\":\"#000000\",\"background\":\"transparent\"},\"insert\":\"The mentioned ḥadīth pertains to the appointment of the daughter of the Persian king as a queen following her father's demise. Jurists have derived from this ḥadīth that a woman should not assume the role of a ruler over an entire nation, such as a caliph or a walī governing a province. However, this ruling does not extend to other positions of leadership, as the ones you have mentioned.\"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"color\":\"#000000\",\"background\":\"transparent\"},\"insert\":\"Lastly, when it comes to the sincere pursuit of knowledge and seeking clarification regarding religious matters, our beloved prophet not only encouraged such endeavors but specifically praised the women of Medina for their boldness in asking questions. Contrary to common assumptions, women were not shy or afraid to seek understanding. \"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"color\":\"#000000\",\"background\":\"transparent\"},\"insert\":\"They felt safe enough to approach the prophet with inquiries like, \\\"Why are men mentioned more frequently than women in the Qurʾān?\\\" and \\\"How do we get the same rewards as men when they get to do Jihād but not us?\\\" Whenever they felt they were being treated unfairly by anyone, they voiced their concerns directly to the prophet and, at times, to ʿĀʾīshah or other senior women. \"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"color\":\"#000000\",\"background\":\"transparent\"},\"insert\":\"Given the abundance of misconceptions and misinformation surrounding our faith, particularly regarding women in Islam, it becomes crucial for us as Muslims to possess a clear and accurate understanding of these matters. We should not shy away from seeking the truth and dispelling any misunderstandings. May Allah give us tawfīq.\"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\"}]}","tags":[{"_id":"668d9fe00b76658b4c2327c8","tag":"Women: Other","count":52},{"_id":"6731791ed79c64c5dafc411a","tag":"Hadeeths","count":4},{"_id":"675b1ed9d657c23811dcec79","tag":"Chosroes","count":1},{"_id":"675b1ed9d657c23811dcec7c","tag":"Female Leadership","count":1}],"createdOn":"2024-12-12T17:35:21.738Z"}