Woman Leadership in Islam

In New York, on the 18th of March 2005, a professor of Islamic studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, Amina Wadud, led 150 men and women, in a Friday prayer. This incident is the first of its kind, as it is the first time for a woman to take the religious leadership role in Islam. Of Course, This incident caused a huge debate within the Islamic cultures. Some sheikhs declared there was nothing wrong with women leading prayers, but the big majority of sheikhs criticized Amina Wadud and condemned her. However, Amina Wadud in reply to the accusations stressed the equality between men and women, even in religious leadership. (Islam online, April 18, 2005) One wonders why Amina Wadud has chosen religion to convey her views of equality between men and women. In the present days, especially in religious countries, religion dictates every aspect of people's lives, where their modes of thought are imposed by the religious and political institutions. Consequently, if it is tolerable in religion for women to lead prayers then most probably, this will reflect on real life and women will be given the chance and the trust to take actual leadership positions. If this is the case, religious leadership will have an impact on women perception of themselves and their role in society.

Women perception and confidence in themselves will change dramatically if they are given the chance to take religious leadership. The current situation in Egypt is, that most women underestimate their thinking abilities and see themselves as the ones who should serve their husbands (The Invisible Society: Women in Middle Eastern Culture, 2.5.2005). The role of religion here is that many women justify their present role with religion and this is why they accept it and do not try to change it. So if religious leadership then will result in women to have more confidence and see herself as having skills that she should take advantage of. Consequently, she will get motivated and see it as her duty to fight for her rights. Women will become more motivated and aware that a higher education is a necessity to pursue their rights. Thus, women will become more intellectual and independent. Independence, in this case, means economic independence, because if they get a degree and work, they will be capable of taking care of themselves and have their own income. This means that they will not be obliged ...

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...tinople, who was a very powerful and rich woman. This egalitarian church system reflected on society. Women earned much more respect and credit and were therefore more active Their activity was shown for instance, in the fact when there used to be any religious gathering, women used to plan it in their living places and there express opinions and make sure they were taken into consideration. (Powerful wealthy women, Tuesday, April 19, 2005). To summarize, the role of women in society will improve and they will be given more opportunities.

To conclude, women indeed are created with brains and a will this should have had a reason. Engaging in religious leadership will surely emphasize equality in the society. Women and men are indeed different, but maybe through women engagement in the outside world. The qualities that women posses that are not in men could be used efficiently and consequently society will develop. However one could ask if the engagement of women in society will ever be fully accepted from men. Because especially in the Middle East men enjoy their superiority and are not ready to give it up. So whatever happens will men ever accept themselves being led by a woman?