Can a woman lead a congregational prayers with men present in the
congregation? This question has been raised by some Muslims and
many feminists. Although, the question sounds like a call for
women's rights, freedom of speech and equality, this call, like
everything else, must be analyzed from the Quranic perspective.
Before addressing this issue we must state that the Quran
considers women and men equal in belief and in any undertaking in
life. The Quran even gives the example of a righteous submitting
woman as a leader of a nation (Queen of Sheba). The Quran dictates
mutual agreement in both marriage and divorce while most of
the so-called Muslims deny those rights. There is no verses in the
Quran that denies a woman any kind of social or spiritual right.
God Responds
[3:195] Their Lord responded to them: "I
never fail to reward any worker among you for any work you do, be
you male or female - you
are equal to one another....
Guaranteed Happiness
Now and Forever
[16:97]
Anyone who works righteousness, male or female, while believing,
we will surely grant them a happy life in this world, and we will
surely pay them their full recompense (on the Day of Judgment) for
their righteous works.
It is important to note that having a woman leading our
congregational or group prayer with men present is not a call for
equality. It is a call for innovation. The truth of the matter is
that our practices are inherited and came down to us by universal
acceptance since the time of Abraham. Quran teaches us that (3:95;
4:125; 6:161; 12:37-38; 16:123; 21:73; 22:78).
God is the one who mandated the contact prayers (Salah) and
specified rituals of individual and congregational prayers (Salah). Like
all of our religious practices, the method of performance of Salah
has come to us generation to generation from the time of Abraham
with the Quran only correcting the corrupted rituals. Ablution and
the prayer tone are the examples (5:6, 17:110).
In the act of congregational prayers with both sexes, a man has to
lead the congregational prayer. This has been mandated from the
time of Abraham with no change. Any change now will be an
innovation. A women leading a group or congregational prayer, is a
detail that is not mentioned in the Quran, similar to the absence
of details concerning rituals of our religious practices. A woman
leading a congregational prayer with men present would be a
"religious" innovation that contradicts God's system that was
inherited and fully preserved since Abraham. The Quran strongly
condemns innovation (6:138-140, 7:53, 7:71, 12:40, 16:56, 46:28).
As believers in in the Quran, we should know that our actions are
either righteous or not righteous based on the standards set for
us by God. The only valid scale to measure our righteousness
is given to us by God through His commands in the Quran. Once God
and His teachings are no longer the ultimate reference, we start
living the illusion of Satan who makes us think that we are
righteous. Submitters and believers in the Quran should always be
aware of the false righteousness.
It is God who specifies the valid code and the terms for the
equality between the believing men and women. Those terms are
fully detailed in the Quran. Not only the suggestion of a woman
leading our group or congregational prayer, with men present, is
an innovation, but also is an invalid call for equality. It is no
more than personal opinion and conjecture.
Examine Yourself
[18:103] Say, "Shall I tell you who the
worst losers are?
[18:104] "They are the ones whose works
in this life are totally astray,
but they think that they are
doing good."
[35:8] Note the one whose evil work is
adorned in his eyes, until he
thinks that it is righteous. GOD thus sends astray
whoever wills (to go astray), and He guides whoever wills (to be
guided). Therefore, do not grieve over them. GOD is fully aware
of everything they do.
[30:29] Indeed,
the transgressors have followed
their own opinions, without knowledge. Who then can
guide those who have been sent astray by GOD? No one can ever
help them.
[38:26] O David, we have made you a ruler
on earth. Therefore, you shall judge among the people equitably,
and do not follow your personal
opinion, lest it diverts you from the way of GOD.
Surely, those who stray off the way of GOD incur severe
retribution for forgetting the Day of Reckoning.
