Women’s Political Participation in Islam: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives

Abstract

The topic of political participation of women in Islam is a very important one and can be studied using the Qur’an, Sunnah, Islamic history and in the context of today's political realities. Islamic sources reveal that women have moral agency, legal personality, and the power to voice their opinions and engage in issues of society, contrary to the thought that Islam leaves women out of public and political life. The Qur’an speaks about men and women in the same way – as complementary parts of the Muslim nation and as having identical duties in the promotion of righteousness and prevention of wrongdoing. The experience of the early Muslim community also serves as an example of women's participation in the political, public affairs, education, social welfare and decision making of the community. The women included Khadījah (RA), ʿĀʾishah (RA), Umm Salamah (RA) and other female Companions were all important in the intellectual and social development of the Muslim community. Muslim women today vote, serve in parliaments, governments, civil society and policy formation in various Muslim-majority and Muslim-minority settings. But, the scope and conditions of women's political leadership from various Islamic jurisprudential lenses are still being debated. In this article, women's political participation is discussed from an Islamic perspective and based on the principles of the Qur'an, the guidance of the Prophet (s) and the experiences of the past. It suggests that Muslim philosophy and practice affirm women's social and civic role, and that participation in politics is essential to be consistent with the Islamic moral values, justice, dignity and public good.