The Prohibition Against Women Holding Authority Positions in The Ahadith Is a Subject That Requires Responses from Ulema and Experts

By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam 5 April 2024 The author questions why Muslim women are not allowed to hold authority positions under Islamic law, referring to two specific Ahadith, and seeks clarification from Islamic academics, Ulama and religious authorities. ------- Honourable Ulema-e-Kiraam, Islamic academics, and religious authorities, I recently read a hadith that covers several topics, but I'm curious to know from all of you why women aren't allowed to hold positions of authority. Why is it forbidden for Muslim women to be in positions of authority under Islamic law? In this regard, Ulema-e-Kiraam cite a number of Ahadith. I'll just mention two of them here: Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ إِذَا كَانَ أُمَرَاؤُكُمْ خِيَارَكُمْ وَأَغْنِيَاؤُكُمْ سُمَحَاءَكُمْ وَأُمُورُكُمْ شُورَى بَيْنَكُمْ فَظَهْرُ الأَرْضِ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنْ بَطْنِهَا وَإِذَا كَانَ أُمَرَاؤُكُمْ شِرَارَكُمْ وَأَغْنِيَاؤُكُمْ بُخَلاَءَكُمْ وَأُمُورُكُمْ إِلَى نِسَائِكُمْ فَبَطْنُ الأَرْضِ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنْ ظَهْرِهَا ‏"‏ "When your leaders are the best among you, the richest among you are the most generous, and your issues are consulted among you, then the surface of the earth is better for you than its belly. “And when your leaders are the worst of you, the richest are the stingiest among you, and your affairs are referred to your women, then the belly of the earth is better for you than its surface." Which category does the hadith that I cited above fall in, please? This hadith appears to provide moral guidance to leaders so they can treat their citizens with kindness and justice, and to the wealthiest so they can spend to meet the needs of the poor and needy. However, of greater significance is its insistence on consulting in all matters, which suggests that consultations must be applied in any decision pertaining to political, social, economic, or other matters. The hadith makes it very clear that the surface of the earth will be a better place for humans to live than the belly or the grave of the earth if your leaders treat people with justice and kindness if the wealthiest are generous and spend in the cause of the needy people, and if consultations are made in all worldly affairs. The hadith makes it quite evident that treating people well, being kind to the poor and in need, and consulting one another while making decisions are all factors in happiness in this world. The hadith goes on to say that if the leaders are the worst, if they mistreat the population, if they commit crimes against humanity, if the wealthiest people turn prickly and refuse to lend a hand to those in need or those who are less fortunate financially, then none of these circumstances will result in a happy environment in the world. We can clearly understand every message in the hadith up to this point. However, I have a major query with the following line: “And when your leaders are the worst of you, the richest are the stingiest among you, and your affairs are referred to your women, then the belly of the earth is better for you than its surface”. "When your affairs are referred to your women, then the earth's belly is better for you than its surface," is what needs to be answered. Ulema-e-Kiraam uses this passage from the hadith to demonstrate that Islamic law forbids women from holding positions of authority. They also cite the following hadith reported by al-Bukhari: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "A people who make a woman their ruler will never be successful." My query is now directed towards Islamic academics and Ulema-e-Kiraam, particularly the hadith specialists. It is rightly said that the speeches of God and His Prophets (peace be upon them) are full of wisdom and better for all mankind. Sometimes we succeed in understanding that wisdom through Allah's blessings and sometimes we do not. Based on the apparent meaning of these Ahadith, my question is: Should we spread the idea that women are less valuable than men? Or were these Ahadith intended exclusively for a select group of women who lived during the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him)? Or do they hold for every woman? Do these Ahadith have an authentic chain of transmission? Does the Prophet's intended meaning align with the apparent interpretation of these Ahadith? Or was it meant in a certain context? Do these Ahadith prohibit women from holding positions of authority due to their gender-based characteristics? There is no inequity between the rights of men and women in Islam. Islam gives both genders enough rights. Rather, we believe that women occasionally possess greater rights than men. But these Ahadith have compelled me to look for the answers to the aforementioned queries. I hope my questions are not offensive. I have faith in Ulema-e-Kiraam. I have a religious obligation to show them respect. However, I'm curious to know the rationale and wisdom of these Ahadith. I don't understand why the Ahadith forbid women from holding positions of authority, so please respond. ----- Kaniz Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam. URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/prohibition-authority-ahadith-ulema/d/132084 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism