Amir? President? Head Sister? Khatun??

This blog is seriously not intending to be provocative but rather inquisitive and stems from a Flash POD Talk workshop that I was delivering to some students at a University. 

For those who are not aware of what a Flash POD Talk is, it is essentially a discussion between a group of individuals, usually students, on a subject matter that concerns them whether it is religious, political or social, it really doesn’t matter. However, one of the Flash POD Talk session objectives is to allow views and opinions to be made without interruption and understood using communication techniques such as active listening and reflective reframing. We only managed to cover active listening during this session but we had some very productive and interesting discussions. Towards the end of the day a couple of sisters had joined us and I suggested we speak about why there aren’t any Sisters who are heads of any ISOCs.

Yes this turned heads, raised eyebrows and grins. I promise this wasn’t pre-planned. But without telling you what we had actually discussed between ourselves who included the Head Sister and the ISOC President, Alhamdulillah the relationship between them is positive. Further, I would like to add the President of this ISOC has degree of maturity and wisdom beyond his years and I can see why he was elected with overwhelming support by both Sisters and Brothers.

I do find it interesting that some ISOC Presidents have not been elected but rather selected by the previous ISOC President and key members of his committee; this is by no means an improper way of doing things as long as everyone is happy with their current President’s judgement. However to whom is this ‘everyone’ limited to? I think this essentially needs to be determined by the culture and society the ISOC is embedded within and it is important that Sisters are in no way ignored. It is however more likely that considering that Sisters are very active within ISOCs, usually more so than the Brothers that it would be logical to include them in the selection or election process for the Presidential or Khatunate positions thereby amending the past practices towards something that is more just for the new climate. Radical huh?

Alas, such requests for change could very well lead to heated discussions over the permissibility of a woman to lead. Though it would be interesting to explore how the current hierarchical structure had been established in the first place; was it on this premise I wonder? Any insights would be very welcomed. Though the theological and legal debates around whether a woman can lead a nation are extensive, and while I have conservative personal preferences which are not necessarily hard and fast, I would imagine that leading a nation is definitely not like leading an ISOC.

Moreover, the fact that Sisters may not be able to occupy the executive functions would actually restrict and stifle significant suggestions from the Sisters whose views may not be readily heard because of this fact. How many sisters have often felt the Brothers on the other side of the purdah in the PR (that’s prayer room) are twiddling their thumbs whilst they are speaking? How many of you Brothers have done that? Honestly. Please note I say may, though it might not happen in all settings right now, it may happen in the future because of a simple structural problem. If your foundations are not strong, your walls, let alone your roof will remain very weak.

In the same instance, it is important to acknowledge whether instigating a change will lead to more disharmony and divisions which could then have an effect of cancelling any good that could possibly come out of this instigation than it would lead to unity and efficiency which would allow for greater goods and actions to be produced than prior to the change. The Prophet SWAS had wanted the Ka’ba to be extended to include the Hateem (semi circle close to the Ka’ba) but didn’t because of the opposition within the community (and his lack of funds) would lead to more harm than good, however, arguably in a situation where the freedom and intellect of a part of humanity is limited contrary to the spirit of Islam, change should be encouraged through wisdom and beautiful preaching.