Re: Who falsified this hadith? II
Another “reason” for rejecting the Hadith by Mernissi and her comrades is that according to them, it contradicts some “historical facts” whereby some nations actually prospered under women leaders. They cite examples of the Queen of Sheba, and in contemporary history Indira Ghandi, Golder Maier (Israel) Margaret Thatcher etc. They argue that the successes of […]
Another “reason” for rejecting the Hadith by Mernissi and her comrades is that according to them, it contradicts some “historical facts” whereby some nations actually prospered under women leaders. They cite examples of the Queen of Sheba, and in contemporary history Indira Ghandi, Golder Maier (Israel) Margaret Thatcher etc. They argue that the successes of these “outstanding” women as leaders are “historical realities” that are contradicted by the Hadith, and for this, the Hadith is not authentic.
We can respond to these claims in two ways ways: One, there is a rule that says Alhukmu lil galib wa al-Nadir La Hukma Lahu (judgment is based on the most common, not the most unusual). In every rule, it is said, there are exceptions. So, to establish that women are generally qualified for overall leadership one cannot make reference to a few women who have shown distinctive qualities of leadership in taking their people to material progress.
Secondly, the word falah as used in the hadith cannot be restricted to mean only material progression in this world. It is rather a more comprehensive word that refers to prosperity in this world and in the next. In fact, the word “prosperity” does not actually capture the wide meaning of the word falah.
All Muslims are unanimous on the fact that the Prophet (SAW) did not come to teach people how to succeed in the material life of this world. In fact his primary mission was to guide people on how they would be prosperous in the next world, without of course neglecting the luxuries of the first world. It is therefore a misrepresentation to restrict a prophetic statement, especially one on falah, to the mundane achievements in this world.