❀ The Islamic Ruling on Women in Leadership Positions ❀
— Scholarly Opinions and Shar‘i Principles —
Does the mentioned text permit women to assume rulership, and is such a view valid?
Fadhīlat al-‘Ālim Ḥāfiẓ Khidr Ḥayāt (ḥafiẓahullāh)
A woman may be entrusted with responsibilities limited to other women, but under no circumstance—small or large—can she be appointed to a position in which she becomes a ruler or authority over both men and women.
When such a trend began in Saudi Arabia, Fadhīlat al-Shaykh ‘Abd al-Muḥsin al-‘Abbād (ḥafiẓahullāh) openly condemned it and authored articles in opposition. One of these was titled:
"كارثة أخلاقية أخرى في تولية النساء على الرجال هي أنكى"
(Another Moral Catastrophe: Women Appointed Over Men)
In this article, he writes:
"Appointing women to positions where they become a reference or authority for men is neither moderation nor centrism. Rather, it is moral degradation and deviation. This so-called moderation and centrism did not exist in this country (Saudi Arabia) until recent years. Moreover, the senior scholars of the country, such as Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Ibrāhīm, Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azīz ibn Bāz, and Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-‘Uthaymīn (raḥimahum Allāh), never acknowledged such a thing."
"Appointing women to such posts, where they hold authority over men, opens the door to unlawful gender mixing. The clearest evidence is that during the time of the Prophet ﷺ, women did not participate in men's gatherings."
Sayyidunā Abū Sa‘īd al-Khudrī (raḍiyallāhu ‘anhu) narrates:
A woman came to the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ and said: 'O Messenger of Allāh! The men have taken all your teachings. Appoint a day for us so that we may come and learn from you.' The Prophet ﷺ said, 'Come on such-and-such day,' and then he taught them.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 7310, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 6699)
The Prophet ﷺ clearly stated:
"لَنْ يُفْلِحَ قَوْمٌ وَلَّوْا أَمْرَهُمُ امْرَأَةً"
"A people who appoint a woman over their affairs will never prosper."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 4425)
Imām al-Baghawī (raḥimahullāh) states:
"There is ijmā‘ (consensus) among the Ummah that a woman cannot be an Imām (ruler) or a judge, because the Imām is responsible for conducting jihād and overseeing public matters, which requires public engagement. A woman, on the other hand, is required to remain in seclusion, making her unfit for such tasks."
(Sharḥ al-Sunnah: 10/77)
Ibn Qudāmah (raḥimahullāh) writes:
"A woman is not fit for Imāmat al-Kubrā (supreme leadership), nor can she be appointed as a governor of any city, nor as a judge in any court. Neither the Prophet ﷺ, nor the Rightly Guided Caliphs, nor any of their successors ever appointed a woman to any major public responsibility."
(Al-Mughnī: 14/13)
According to authentic Islamic teachings, a woman is not eligible for any position in which she rules over or holds authority over men. Hence, appointing a woman as a President, Prime Minister, Chief Minister, Judge, or any other high-ranking governmental post is not Shar‘īly permissible.
— Scholarly Opinions and Shar‘i Principles —
❖ Question:
Does the mentioned text permit women to assume rulership, and is such a view valid?
❖ Answer by:
Fadhīlat al-‘Ālim Ḥāfiẓ Khidr Ḥayāt (ḥafiẓahullāh)
A woman may be entrusted with responsibilities limited to other women, but under no circumstance—small or large—can she be appointed to a position in which she becomes a ruler or authority over both men and women.
✿ Scholarly Denouncement of This Practice:
When such a trend began in Saudi Arabia, Fadhīlat al-Shaykh ‘Abd al-Muḥsin al-‘Abbād (ḥafiẓahullāh) openly condemned it and authored articles in opposition. One of these was titled:
"كارثة أخلاقية أخرى في تولية النساء على الرجال هي أنكى"
(Another Moral Catastrophe: Women Appointed Over Men)
In this article, he writes:
"Appointing women to positions where they become a reference or authority for men is neither moderation nor centrism. Rather, it is moral degradation and deviation. This so-called moderation and centrism did not exist in this country (Saudi Arabia) until recent years. Moreover, the senior scholars of the country, such as Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Ibrāhīm, Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azīz ibn Bāz, and Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-‘Uthaymīn (raḥimahum Allāh), never acknowledged such a thing."
"Appointing women to such posts, where they hold authority over men, opens the door to unlawful gender mixing. The clearest evidence is that during the time of the Prophet ﷺ, women did not participate in men's gatherings."
✿ Prophetic Practice and Clear Hadith Evidence:
Sayyidunā Abū Sa‘īd al-Khudrī (raḍiyallāhu ‘anhu) narrates:
A woman came to the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ and said: 'O Messenger of Allāh! The men have taken all your teachings. Appoint a day for us so that we may come and learn from you.' The Prophet ﷺ said, 'Come on such-and-such day,' and then he taught them.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 7310, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 6699)
The Prophet ﷺ clearly stated:
"لَنْ يُفْلِحَ قَوْمٌ وَلَّوْا أَمْرَهُمُ امْرَأَةً"
"A people who appoint a woman over their affairs will never prosper."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 4425)
✿ Opinions of Renowned Scholars:
Imām al-Baghawī (raḥimahullāh) states:
"There is ijmā‘ (consensus) among the Ummah that a woman cannot be an Imām (ruler) or a judge, because the Imām is responsible for conducting jihād and overseeing public matters, which requires public engagement. A woman, on the other hand, is required to remain in seclusion, making her unfit for such tasks."
(Sharḥ al-Sunnah: 10/77)
Ibn Qudāmah (raḥimahullāh) writes:
"A woman is not fit for Imāmat al-Kubrā (supreme leadership), nor can she be appointed as a governor of any city, nor as a judge in any court. Neither the Prophet ﷺ, nor the Rightly Guided Caliphs, nor any of their successors ever appointed a woman to any major public responsibility."
(Al-Mughnī: 14/13)
Conclusion:
According to authentic Islamic teachings, a woman is not eligible for any position in which she rules over or holds authority over men. Hence, appointing a woman as a President, Prime Minister, Chief Minister, Judge, or any other high-ranking governmental post is not Shar‘īly permissible.
