Women Imams

[WiseMuslim]

Asslam-o-Alaikum,

I saw a youtube video in which they were showing a woman imam leading a prayer in a congregation of (what mostly looked like) women.

What is you take on that issue.

Personally I dont agree with a woman being an imam because of that certain time of the month where she wont be able to pray - let alone be an imam.

Also since women and their 'form' is the main reason why they are to be in the back or in parda/hijab/separated from men - that makes me think is another reason why women should not be imam.

Appropriate and decent responses and counter questions please.

Let discuss and bring all kinds of issues to light and make our best judgment.


Is there any other reason why women should not be imam?

[srija]

Well, there is nothing difinitive as to why a woman can't or shouldn't be imam, but there are a couple of things that make it difficult for a woman to be imam. First is the formation of prayer. Women are behind the men, so it would be difficult to lead prayer from behind. Second is the, what I like to call, monthly "visitor." We can't make salat during this time, so if a mosque is relying on a woman for leading prayers, what about during this time?

However all of this only has to do with prayers, and when we are together with other women, we do lead prayers and make iqama. I'm not sure why women don't make azan, but we can give lectures. Aisha and Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with them) were highly intelligent sisters and if I'm not mistaken, men took guidance from both of them in some form or another.

It's a bit confusing because there are no definite answers for these topics and so much cultural tradition has been incorporated in things where it shouldn't be. Allahu alim.
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