Islamic educational institutions in the United States and elsewhere must create the mechanisms needed for producing Muslim women who are fully qualified Islamic scholars. Gender related questions including those mentioned above should not be delegated exclusively to male authority; more significantly, no question should be delegated to men alone. Muslim women must have opportunities equal to their male counterparts in all concerns. The disempowerment of Muslim women is a major reason for the retrogression of many Muslim societies. Degradation of the status of women has the same debilitating effect on Western Muslim communities that countenance it, and it must be corrected. Islam has a rich legacy of accomplished and actively engaged women. Great Muslim women excelled as political and military leaders, poets, scholars, philanthropists, spiritual guides, and in other capacities. Renewal of their legacy is essential for the future of Muslim communities everywhere. [43]
-from pg. 28 of "Living Islam With Purpose" by Dr. Umar F. Abd-Allah
I am a Muslim woman, converted over 10 years ago Alhamdu Lillah. It is nice to hear these remarks from great scholars like Dr. Umar, but it needs to be reverberated from the mics, classrooms & mimbars across the country. Our sisters are languishing badly. And to engage female teachers & speakers (since we have so few "scholars" to speak of in the U.S.) only in matters like 'Women in Islam', or 'Hijab', or in speaking exclusuvely to female audience about 'female issues' is insulting--to our intelligence, to our so-called "high status in Islam", to our capacity and the great need to hear other voices on important issues today. Oh, I forgot to mention--they also love to prop up their *Token Convert Sisters* in front of a mic when it comes to DAWAH! All for show & image in front of non-Muslims... The rest of the time, we should be content & quiet, relegated to the back area of the masjid, Thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! Allah help us!
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