Muslim Women in Political Positions
Some Muslims object to women running for public office. They feel that women belong in the private sphere of domestic life, and that public duties should be held by men. However, Islamic law and Islamic scholars indicate that public leadership positions should be held by qualified, able individuals -- whether male or female. The only exception made is for the single position of Head of State, which most scholars agree is most appropriately held by a man. Otherwise, the Prophet Muhammad appointed women to positions of authority, took their advice on political matters, and even fought alongside them on the battlefield.
In Kuwait, the four women who have been elected to public office are all Ph.D. scholars, educated in the U.S., and with decades of experience in higher education, economics, and political science. Nobody can argue that they are somehow unqualified simply because they are women. Another example has occured in Saudi Arabia recently, where the King appointed the first woman to a Ministerial position, also because she was the best-qualified for the job.
For a woman to serve her country in this capacity is an honorable choice and in the public's interest.
Comments
May Allah guide the leaders of the respective countries to further advance the quality of life for women. However, by a stroke of their pen, each leader could be responsible for many changes that could advance the lives of women and girls immediately without any new elected members. It is a sad state that so many scholars, imams and Islamic leaders constantly speak about the high level the Muslim woman is on — and the sad reality of our lives is apparent in every news item throughout the entire world. The paraellel is that of the US in the 50’s advancing the cause of democracy throughout the world while in their own states racism, hatred and oppression of minorities was alive and well.
Well Islam has given more freedom to womens than any other religions. There are many instances which can be narrated to prove this statement. Since ancient times womens play an utmost vital role in the society. There are no places left where womens have not left thier impression starting from Prime Minister, President, Abassadors, dipolmats and so on. Even the male person who hold the topmost post of irrespective departments is also a son of a women.Recently in Kuwait the inculsion of four woemen as a minesterial candidate needs applauses of congratulations for taking such nice decisions. The four womens are highly qualitative, expereienced, and well versed to cope with thier departments.
Nowadays I say people are trying to modernise Islam meanwhile Islam can never be changed. Because many Muslim always fill that the woman should be relegated to the background but the Prophet of Islam never relegated woman to the background so why should we the followers do so.
May Allah Almihty guide and help us
asc.w first of all i agree with abdul jalilu by the word (people are trying to modernise islam) which is true. actually women were not part of the parliament during the time of the propthet and the khalifah. i would like to remind those who are caliming that the prophet scw appointed women in position of authority we need prove! and the point were they said asked advice the women[who are the prophets wives] were in the homes not in public or in a parliament. third point fighting in battlefield the women use to fight when they saw the muslim army are about to be defeated, otherwise the role of the women in battle was giving water to muslim army and helping in first aid. I CAN ONLY SAY [INA LAAH YAXKUMU BAYNAKUM YAWMAL QIYAAMATI FIIMAA KAANU FIIHI YAQTALIFUUN]
“actually women were not part of the parliament during the time of the propthet and the khalifah.”
I disagree, there was no parliament system at that time. Women rode camels at that time, women would choose whom to marry, they sat in attendance in mosques (which was a sort of parliament), they voiced their views, they fought in battles, and guess what — they could be richer than their husbands. I think once again this is an example of how we’ve mistaken many Jahiliyah practices for Islam — we don’t follow the Prophet, but we follow his times — we follow a lot of what he opposed.
I think it is the men — and I’m a man — who are not learning. The Prophet washed his clothes and did all his houswork — and now we find men telling women to do all those things. Because we have traded so much of Islam for cultural demons.
Women were never placed behind closed doors — that’s an injustice — and the Qur’an teaches us this by giving us a myriad of examples of Sheba and Maryam.
This is good to see its a wonderful example.We must trust on ladies abelities that they can be a profitable aced fo nation
It’s great to see women in political positions. However, I disagree when people say that women should not be Heads of State. Some of the world’s most able politicians and heads of states have been women, and contrary to belief, can be a significant unifying force. Why shouldn’t a woman be President, or Prime Minister? Look at Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. They are all extremely conservative societies with imperfect political institutions, yet they have all had at least one female PM or President.