To Rise back from their current pathetic state, Muslims will need a million women Imams
Young women at Imam Academy Morocco
Someone once said “For God’s sake if you have something to say begin at the end”. Well that is what the title does but now I need to backfill why this is a solution to improving present day Muslim society. When asked about women rights Muslim’s proudly point to the emancipation of women under Islam. In 700 AD the Islamic system of government, as mandated by the Qur’an, gave women rights unheard of in other societies for 800 years or more. Women had property rights and rights of inheritance and they had freedoms not known before (and some not known today). Some women took it upon themselves to travel alone over vast distances to visit Makkah (something no woman would consider today). Many women took the opportunity to become scholars and women were heavily represented among early Muslim scholars. So that is great but what about the present state? When asked this most present day Muslims shake their heads, agree things are terrible but Muslim societies have bigger problems.
What they and others fail to recognize is that education and emancipation of women in early Islam wasn’t a great cultural achievement. Rather it was a necessary condition for the civilization to reach that point of greatness. Indeed if one thinks of all examples where people (nations or groups) have done (are doing) extremely well one thing that is in common is that women are playing a significant role in society. It is no coincidence today that the nation that is by far the most advanced (we are living in it) is also the one where women have greater rights than any other. When we look at faith groups there is one that stands out far ahead in achieving very disproportionate success compared to their numbers and that is Judaism. The Reform and Conservative branches especially (although Orthodox seem to be catching up) show a very great regard for the role of women. The talk of daughters being Jewish princesses isn’t just about pampering. While many look at advancement of women as a sign of a culturally advanced society, it is more appropriate to look at it as a precondition to a society becoming culturally advanced.
So looking at how things unfolded in Muslim societies one is struck by how gradually the role of women was diminished and confined. It had the inevitable consequence that education of women lagged and the inevitable regression of the progress continues to today. Today unfortunately the majority of Muslim women are illiterate. How will this trend be reversed? Women will need women teachers since most live in conservative rural societies. Additionally they need to get back the sense of valued members of society. Indeed in an Islamic society the core role is that of the mother. She is around whom the family is built (and family is the core unit around which society is framed), she is the nurturer of the next generation. She needs to again be valued ahead of men. As I mentioned in a previous blog, there is no theological hindrance to women becoming Imam, just a strong cultural one. But if Muslims are to break out of this downward spiral it is now critical that women are restored to their natural role. Maybe there are other ways to achieve this goal but certainly having women Imams will get the job done.
One country is taking the first steps. In Morocco women are being trained, along side men, to become Imams. However there is a difference.
Women murshidats are empowered to do everything that the male clergy does, except lead Friday prayers, the most sacred of ceremonies. This is a primary reason they’ve been given title of “murshidats,” or “guides” rather than “imams,” or “leaders.”
It is a good first ‘baby step’. Let’s hope that other Muslim nations realize that this is not about women’s liberation. It is about a better future for all Muslims.
Khalid Shah, 50, is an American Muslim who came to the U.S. 32 years ago. He and his wife have lived in the St. Louis area since 1990, and have been active in a variety of interfaith activities as well as in the local Muslim communities. They have both spoken about Islam at a variety of houses of worship. After working as an engineer for most of his career, he is currently a small business owner. 
Khalid, this is a good discussion. I agree with some of your points. In eary Islam which was the time when Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him was in Arabia, education women was a great achievement both in religion (Islam was the only reason of cultural emancipation at that time). Islam stresses the importance of rights of all humans irrespective of their gender and race. So yes, it was a huge cultural change. You bring out a very controversial point about women as imams esp leading friday prayers. You stated that there is no theological hinderence in women becoming imams. This is a very strong statement. With all due respect its better that one clarifies opinions as personal vs what religion teaches.