Jurisprudential - legal studies of woman and family

Jurisprudential - legal studies of woman and family

The Historical-Social Context of Arab Society and the Evidentiary Role of "Sīrat al-mutasharriʿa" in Negating Female Governance

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
A;li Elahi Khorasani 1
hoda mostafaei 2
1 Ph.D. in Islamic Jurisprudence and Law, Researcher at the Applied Jurisprudence Department, Islam and Civilization Research Institute, Mashhad, Iran
2 Ph.D. Candidate in Women's Studies, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran
Abstract
In contemporary [Iranian] society, women's presence has been increasingly growing across significant scientific, social, and cultural spheres. The assumption of governance positions by women has emerged as a prominent issue in political and social discourse, as well as in women's studies. This topic warrants particular attention as some Islamic scholars, employing the Sīrat al-mutasharriʿa (normative practice of religious adherents [or the pious]) as evidence, argue that women lack the necessary qualifications for such leadership roles. This study employs a descriptive-analytical methodology to examine the evidential use of Sīrat al-mutasharriʿa regarding female governance. The research findings indicate that during the era of the Infallibles (ع), the legislative environment did not develop with sufficient certainty to establish Sīrat al-mutasharriʿa as proof of any religious prohibition against female governance, nor does the behavior of the devout necessarily reflect the tradition of the Infallibles (sunnat al-maʿṣūm). What some jurists have cited as evidence from Sīrat al-mutasharriʿa actually stems from the social customs of Arab society and the cultural practices of past communities. In reality, these arguments reflect residual Jāhilī (pre-Islamic) mentalities and negative perceptions regarding women's participation in governance.  
Keywords
Sīrat al-mutasharriʿa (normative practice of religious adherents)
female governance
Arab culture
era of legislation (ʿAṣr al-Tashrīʿ)
Subjects
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Jurisprudential - legal studies of woman and family
Volume 8, Issue 15 - Serial Number 15
September 2025
Pages 153-174

  • Receive Date 22 April 2024
  • Revise Date 31 May 2024
  • Accept Date 16 June 2024