According to rahyafte (the missionaries and converts website):
Introduction
Islam has clarified the legal rights and obligations of both men and women in such a balanced way that women cannot complain about their weakness or inferiority and men cannot claim their superiority over women. But this position of women has been the subject to repeated controversy because of the misinterpretations of issues regarding women in our society.
Position of Women in Islam
human beings are equal in the eye of Allah for He has the same standard of justice for all, male or female (Pickthal 3:195). There are many verses in the Quran which state that in the matter of reward and punishment both men and women will be treated alike as individuals and will suffer the consequence of their actions (Pickthal 4:124), (Pickthal 33:35).
Women in Public Life
In the early period of Islamic history, Muslim women cooperated with men both in military and civil life. The freedom enabled women to develop their latent faculties. That is why women excelled in the field of war, literature, oratory, public administration, music, theology (Kalam), jurisprudence (Fiqh), Hadith Studies (I’lmul Hadith), mysticism (Tasawwuf), poetry etc.
For example, Hazrat Zainab (s.a.), the daughter of Hazrat Ali (pbuh), was a great Islamic scholar of theology. Fatima Binte Abbas and Sikha Sayeeda, the two Islamic scholars, used to come to the mosque regularly to deliver lectures on Islamic theology.
Women as Head of the State
There are arguments both for and against the political leadership by women in Islam. Those who oppose, say that a woman cannot be the head of the state or the chief executive of a country and refer to some verses of the Holy Quran in their support which are as follows:
1. And they (women) have rights similar to those of men over them in kindness, and men are a degree above them. Allah is Mighty, Wise (Pickthal 2: 228).
2. And call to witness, from among your men, two witness. And if two men be not (at hand) then a man and two women, of such as ye approve as witness, so that if the one erreth (through forgetfulness) the other will remember (Pickthal 2:282).
3. Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore, the righteous women are devoutly obedient to their husbands and guard in (the husband’s) absence (Mushaf 1410H.4:34).
Those who support the proposition that a woman can become the head of a Muslim state or chief executive refer to the following verses of the holy Quran:
- And covet not the thing in which Allah hath made some of you excel others. Unto men a fortune from that which they have earned, and unto women a fortune from that which they have earned. (Envy not one another) but ask Allah of His bounty. Lo! Allah is ever Knower of all things (Pickthal 4:32).
- And the believers, men and women, are protecting friends one of another; they enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, and they establish worship and they pay the poor- due, and they obey Allah and His messenger. As for these, Allah will have mercy on them. Lo! Allah is Mighty, Wise (Pickthal 9:71).
- …And those who answer the Call of their Lord and establish worship, and whose affairs are a matter of counsel, and who spend of what We have bestowed on them (Pickthal 42:38).
- (The Queen of Sheba) said (when she received the letter): O Chieftains! Lo! there hath been thrown unto me a noble letter. Lo! it is from Solomon, and lo! it is: In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful. Exalt not yourselves against me, but come unto me as those who surrender. She said: O chieftains! Pronounce for me in my case. I decide no case till ye are present with me…. But lo! I am going to send a present unto them, and to see with what (answer) the messenger return (Pickthal 27:29-35).
- He (Solomon) said: Disguise her throne for her that we may see whether she will go aright or be of those not rightly guided…. She (the Queen said: My Lord! Lo! I have wronged myself, and I surrender with Solomon unto Allah, the Lord of the worlds (Pickthal 27:41-44).
Through all these Quranic verses mentioned above we can easily develop some arguments for and against women as head of the state. We can also examine the arguments of both sides very carefully. Now, the arguments of those who oppose the rule of women as head of the state also include the following inferences from the following verses:
- Though the women have similar rights as men, yet men have a degree above them (Al-Quran 2:228). Hence the argument is since the man is superior to woman; she cannot rule over men.
- Evidence of two women is equal to that of one man (Al-Quran 2:282). So, the argument is that a woman is half of a man and she cannot rule over him.
- Men are the protectors and maintainers of women (Al-Quran 4:34). So, the argument is: If men are the protector of women, how can women rule over men?
- When the prophet of Islam (Peace be upon him) heard that Persians had made the daughter of Kisra ruler over them, he said: Never shall a people prosper who make a woman their ruler.
- Women lack in intelligence and their knowledge of religion. How can they conduct a state?
Now, those who say that a woman can rule a country advance the following arguments:
1 . There is no verse in the Quran regarding the permission or prohibition of a woman’s rule in a country. The Quran is silent on this particular point. The silence of the Quran on this crucial issue means that it has been left to the Muslim community to decide according to the circumstances.
2 . The women have rights similar to those of the men (Al-Quran 2:228). If men have the right to become head of the state or government, why can’t a woman aspire for this office?
3 . The story of a woman ruler, Bilqis, the Queen of Sheba, has been related by the Quran in its chapter 27 (Sura 27). From the description of the Holy Quran, we come to notice that:
a) Her rule was not that of an autocrat. She had the very good quality of consulting others on all important affairs of the state.
b) She was a very wise woman and her sound opinion could not be ignored. Prophet Solomon (A) tested her judgment by miraculously producing her throne in a disguised form and she recognized it.
c) And on the top of all she accepted Islam when she met the Prophet Solomon (A), despite the fact that she was the ruler of disbelievers and had lived all her life among the polytheists
4 . The Quran has not talked to the rule of the Queen of Sheba with disapproval and condemnation. Rather her habit of the consulting others before taking decision on vital issues, her wisdom and sound judgment and her readiness to accept Islam at once rather than persisting in disbelief, have found special mention in the Quran
5 . The functions of an Islamic state have been outlined by the Holy Quran in its verse 41 of chapter 22. These functions include establishing of prayer, collection of Zakat and enjoining good and forbidding wrong. The responsibility of discharging these functions has been laid on the shoulders of both Muslim men and women.
Conclusion
If we make a thorough examination and critical appreciation of the arguments advanced by both parties, we come to notice that none of these two parties has been able to carry their points. Arguments given in favor of the proposition and arguments given against the proposition are by and large indirect. There is no verse in the Quran which directly either permits the rule of women or prohibits it. As a result, we can say without contradiction that the neither permit nor forbid the rule by women. Rather the silence of the Quran on this very important and vital issue is not without wisdom and sagacity. This deliberate silence means that Islam has given full freedom and direction to the Muslim community to decide on this matter according to the ever changing socio-political circumstances.
Author: Mohammad Elius
Rerence:
DUA: Allah please accept this from us. You are All-Hearing and All-Knowing. You are The Most Forgiving.You are The Most Relenting and repeatedly Merciful. Allah grant us The Taufiq to read all the 5 prayers with sincerity.
(Taken from: To Be Earnest In Prayers By Amina Elahi)
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