Women's Membership in the Shura Council from the Perspective of Islam

Abstract

Among the important issues that must be considered in addressing contemporary jurisprudential and intellectual matters is the question of women’s membership in the Shura Council, along with an assessment of its social, familial, and religious impacts. This paper analyzes the issue through examining Islamic legal evidence and reflecting on modern realities. The research adopts a comparative analytical methodology, presenting the views of both opponents and supporters, with a focus on Qur’anic verses, Prophetic traditions, and scholarly opinions. The findings suggest that the view of those who oppose women’s membership is closer to the correct position. This conclusion is based on several considerations: that a woman is primarily responsible for managing her household and raising her children—roles which conflict with the demands of serving in Shura councils; that permitting such participation may lead to mixing of genders and temptation, which Islamic law warns against; and that the Qur’anic verse indicates the principle of a woman’s primary place being her home, rather than engagement in public affairs that might harm her faith or modesty.