Readings on Women Leadership in Islam

Decided to take a look at the ongoing discussions of women leadership in Islam. Have found some interesting articles and links.

Disclaimer: I am not advocating all that are being said in these articles, as there is a tendency for us to search for information to confirm a presumption about things that are passionate to us. I am still looking for answers and may Allah grant them to me, Amin.

1) WOMEN AND POLITICAL LEADERSHIP IN MUSLIM THOUGHT (Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, http://www.nigerdeltacongress.com/warticles/women_and_political_leadership_i.htm) obtained from Islamic Awareness Website

This article investigates the origin of the following hadith, which has been interpreted by many individuals and scholars throughout as history and has been the root of debate about female leadership:

Imam Bukhari reports from Abu Bakrah the following: "Allah provided me with considerable benefit during the battle of the camel with one word (or one statement). When news reached the prophet (S.A.W.) that the Persians had appointed Chosroe's daughter as their ruler, he said: ''A nation which placed its affairs in the hands of a woman shall never prosper!''

I like this excerpt about critique writing:

The term 'critique' in social theory, to pre-empt misunderstanding, is not exactly synonymous with 'criticism' as employed in everyday English. Critical social theory does not so much seek to repudiate an existing theory as to set out clearly the limits of its validity. Mainly associated with Marx, who himself learnt from Kant and Hegel and bequeathed his method to latter day theorists particularly of the 'Frankfurt School' (including names like Horkheimer, Adorno, Marcuse and, with certain qualifications, Habermas) the critique is neither pure philosophy nor pure science but something in-between. An argument's popularity among the faithful is not necessarily based at all times on superior validity of its truth-claims. In reality, an argument may find acceptance because of its instrumentality in validating our pre-conceptions on the subject and its compatibility with the concrete reality which we inhabit or seek to bring about.


2) Women leaders have a history in Islam, article by Zakaria Dehlawi (Nov 13, 2007)

Read it here.

Some excerpts:

Although female Muslims have been business owners, political leaders and health professionals, it should be pointed out that historically these leaders have been among a minority. This is directly the result of our male dominated and patriarchal society, which persists today.

However, the role of women is not a "Muslim problem;" rather, it's humanity's problem. I realize I might be stepping on some toes here, but I would argue that even our country still hasn't reached true gender equality.

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Although God is referred to as "He" in the Quran, "he" isn't used exclusively for males, especially since Arabic does not have gender-neutral pronouns. God's qualities are described using both masculine and feminine archetypical traits. So God is beyond anthropomorphic description, and it's impermissible to assign God a gender.

This ties into the belief that God will judge men and women equally, making neither spiritually superior over the other. Therefore, it's ludicrous to assume that men are divinely predisposed to be leaders and women are not.

Women can excel in whatever field they choose, but they must continually grate against our male-centric society. Hopefully, through continuing discourse, these barriers will eventually ebb away.

Wallahua'lam. May Allah guide us always.