Elysian,

I have heard Imam Webb saying also that that hadith abroggated the Quranic ayats with respect to the Queen of Sheba.

I am a Muslim and as such will face Allah (swt) on the day of judgement w/o benefit of "scholars".

I reject any interpretation that states that hadith Supersedes or Abrogates Quranic principles. The Quran is protected, and the Hadith, no matter how "sahih" is still subject to to weakness due to the specific human intervention.

Also, regading men inheriting more than women, this is not true in all cases. But we know when it does happen it is because men are also required to financially suppport women.

Inaddition, even Imam Webb did state to me directly that there were other circumstances where women can lead men in prayers - such as when there are not other men who can do so.

Reality is that Shairah law as it stands has been developed by and large by misogynists. The Quran may have rejected the erroneous conceptions that women do not have souls, but the interpreters clearly are till in the dark ages.

Even Sheikh Hamza of Zaytuna admitted with reference to Imam Ghazali with respect to his attiude towards women that he was a man "of his times" ie he just assumed they were inferior.

Salaam

With regards to the issue of Dr.Amina Wadud, alot of it has been blown out of proportion and is a really misunderstood subject by the advocates of 'Women Imams'. Articles that i have read in favour of Dr.Amina have been presented by people who are not qualified to perform ijtihad, one only has to look at the credentials of these people to understand, regardless of whether the person is a professor or Imam, as being a professor or Imam does not qualify a person with the ability to perform ijtihad.

We all know from the hadith that Rasool-Allah (Sall Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) had allowed Umm Waraqah to lead Salaat, however this order was only peculiar to her, she was allowed to lead her household in prayer only, it is an order specific to her only and not to the masses.In the Usul of Islamic law and its legal maxims we do Not take a specific ruling with a general application. Denying the women the right to lead the Salaat is in no way demeaning to her at all, in the same way when she receives half the amount her brothers receive from inheritance, has any Muslim said that this was denying a fundamental right of hers? Absoloutely not, because this has been expicitly mentioned in Surah An-Nisaa verse number 11 of the Quran. An argument that has been put forward is that the Queen of Sheba was the ruler of a antion and that her nation was indeed a prosperous one, without a doubt this is true, but what one needs to keep in mind is that the Islamic Shariah which we have today through Rasool-Allah (Sall Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) was not around then, therefore those laws that were applicable in previous times may not be applicable today and may even have been abrogated, in response, the hadith states that a nation will not prosper under the leadership of a woman, this hadith has been recorded as Sahih in the collection of ahadith by Imam Bukhari and with regards to the issue of women leading nations it does have an abrigating effect. An Imam is a person who can be in the duty and service of the masses at all times, a person who can lead the Salaat at all times, the natural physical make-up of a women does not allow her to fulfil this duty as she has intervals every so often that make it Haraam for her to read Salaat in such a state. If any women were worthy of leading the prayer after Rasool-Allah (Sall Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) had blessed the hereafter with their presence then it would have been the Mothers of the Believers, is there any such report? The answer to that is an infallible 'No'.
Saying all this does not in any way mean that a lady cannot be an authority in Islamic law, women have reached the highest pinnacles of knowkledge in Islam and many great male Islamic scholars did have women teachers, however, with the issue of being an Imam in Slaat, this duty is just for Muslim males.
I'll finish here for now and would like to hear any response from anyone, sorry this could not be as detailed as i would have liked it to be, i am at work at the moment and time is restricting:)

And also in response to the question put forth by Ingenia, about 5 men and 1 women...the answer is, it is Sunnah for the women to pray Jumu'ah prayer and Fardh upon the men, if the men were new to Islam then it would be enough for them to pray their Zuhr Salaat, they can even make a congregation themselves and simply go through the prayer, if they dont know know the full surah's then they simply can read 3 ayats of the Qur'an in each cycle of prayer and ths will be enough for them, as for the women who knew more than them and was with them, it would be better for her to pray her Zuhr prayer behind the men, as the best place for a women to pray her Salaat is that place where only Allah and His angels can see her.

Wa'Salaam
Regards
Zafar

"And Remember Allah Much so that you may be successful"
(Surah Al- Jumu'ah)

I think it was great. We need someone to speak up and if that means making a "stunt" to draw attention, then great! One of the reasons the attendance is so low in our Masjids here, and elsewhere in the west, is the treatment, lack of access and respect, etc. that women have there.

For more info on women's rights and Islam...
Asra Nomani's site: www.asranomani.com

Muslim Women's League www.mwlusa.org

true. i think in that case it would be ok. but given this situation, do u think it was ok for her to go and pray in front of men and have a mixed congregation of men and women?