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Question: Can a Muslim lady
be the head of an Islamic State? If yes, under what circumstances?
Answer: Legally, every person
(man or woman) who holds the mandate of the majority has the right to form
the government in an Islamic state.
However, the qualities Islam positively
wants to see in a head of state show that only certain men -- not
every Tom, Dick and Harry -- should ideally be selected for this great
responsibility. According to the Qur’an,
the person who is elected as the head of state should have a commanding
and an awe-inspiring personality and should be distinguished in integrity,
wisdom and intellect. These qualities have, therefore, been cited
by it as the real reason for the nomination of Talut (Saul) for the supreme
leadership of the Israelites:
Indeed, Allah has chosen him to rule over you and has
gifted him abundantly with knowledge and physique. (2:247)
It is evident from this that such elements
are not suitable to head an Islamic State who lack intellect, wisdom and
masculine attributes; who instead of being venturesome and enterprising
are passive and receptive by nature, and who instead of influencing others
are more liable to be influenced.
The reason for this is that the ruler
of an Islamic State is not one who only heads them, he also leads the believers
in Prayers, Hajj and Jihad.
Moreover, he is like a father to his nation, and a model and a guide for
them. He is the voice of their conscience and a representative of their
ideology -- someone in whom their sense of honour is personified. It is
vital, therefore, that he be someone who instead of delicacy has the ability
to take the initiative and who instead of resignation and tenderness possess
resolution and tenacity.
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