Frankly, women have been making slow progress in the field of Islamic work. Islamic work is something that appears like something new for women in today’s society. However, it was not something strange in the past. Women used to work for the spread of Islam. They had been doing so since the time when Prophet’s wives were active in teaching and spreading Islam among women. Women have been preaching Islam for ages. If we look back at our history, we find that in the past there were many women who were jurists, hadîth scholars, and preachers.

In spite of the fact that every year thousands of women graduate from al-Azhar University’s Faculty of Islamic Law, we find that the number of active women preachers in Egypt can be counted on the fingers of one hand. This is an unhealthy situation. We need to ask: Have we failed so miserably in graduating suitably qualified Muslim women preachers who can go out in society and engage in the dissemination of Islam?

At the same time, we feel that there are women preachers out there, but regrettably there are also people out there who do not wish to let the way be open for them.

IslamToday: Please explain the need for Muslim women preachers and tell us what is required of them.

The obligation to preach Islam is the same for men and women. The Qur’ân discusses men and women together in this respect, when it says: “The believers, men and the women, are guardians of each other; they enjoin good and forbid evil, keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, and obey Allah and His Messenger; (as for) these, Allah will show mercy to them; surely Allah is Mighty, Wise.” [Sûrah al-Tawbah: 71]

No Muslim can be barred from calling others to Islam. Allah says: “Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching and argue with them in the best of manners.” [Sûrah al-Nahl: 125]

When a woman preaches Islam to other women like herself, she is able to empathize with them and understand their problems more clearly. She is able to be more persuasive and influential, especially in matters that women cannot freely discuss with men. When the woman preacher has a good understanding of people and is firmly grounded in Islamic knowledge, she can have an influence on women in all walks of life. A Muslim preacher needs to have the proper background and the ability to work with others. A woman in this field can bring together her special skills, her cultural understanding, her experience, and her knowledge of Islamic Law. In this way, she can benefit herself and bring benefit to others.

A woman can accomplish so much in this way. She can speak to the mothers who are the very heart of the family and of society, since they are the ones who are raising and preparing the next generation. She can provide guidance to the women who attend her lessons, counseling them in how to relate to their husbands. She can explain to them how they are responsible for those in their care, because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for those in your care.”

Every woman who works in the field of Islamic work must fulfill the following conditions: She must have sufficient knowledge about the things she teaches others, so that she does not give them misinformation. She must have insight into what she is calling them to. She must have a perceptive understanding of the Prophet’s life and knowledge of the Qur’ân and its sciences. She must be a role model for other women through her good morals and manners.

IslamToday: Some people look upon Muslim women preachers with suspicion. Is there any justification for this?

This is true. The reason for it is the general ignorance in society about Islam, especially since the times that people generally became far away from their religion. This is not only true for women, but for men as well. During the centuries of colonial occupation, the Muslim edifice was weakened. As a result, traditions and customs took over in determining how women were regarded in society. Women took many steps backward because of this. They lost what they had formerly achieved of progress and development in Muslim society, and as a consequence, they became religiously illiterate.

At the same time, it became so that anyone would speak about Islam, regardless of their knowledge and aptitude.

The main focus of preaching Islam is supposed to be to disseminate the message to the non-Muslims. However, today, most efforts are spent trying to better the Islamic understanding of the Muslims.