Narrative Validating of Women's Governance Condemnation (Case Study: Abū Bakrah's Narratives)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Theology, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.

2 Associate Professor, Department of Hadith and Quran Sciences, Qom University, Qom, Iran.

Abstract

The development of Muslim women's activities and role-accepting in various social layers, including policy making and governance, has always been under the influence of various narratives, such as "Lan Yufliḥa Qawmun wallaw Amruhum Imraʼah," "Yakhruju Qawmun Halakay lā Yufliḥūna Qāʼiduhum Imraʼata Qāʼiduhum fil Jannat," and "Halakat al-Rijālu ḥīna Aṭāʼat al-Nisāʼ," which are attributed to Abū Bakrah. This has constantly posed a serious challenge and relegated women's status in social activities, handing over the role of shaping to men. The present study aims to demonstrate, through analytical and descriptive methods based on library sources, the emergence and significance of such narratives, which have been widely cited by jurists to restrict women's access to social positions and major decision-making. The research results indicated that the narratives discussed by Abū Bakrah, a freed slave of the Prophet, were introduced in Basra and the narrator justified his non-interference in the Battle of the Camel by fabricating this text and attributing it to the Prophet. The "Lan Yuflaḥ" narrative and its similar counterparts, in addition to having weak Isnād, contain texts that contradict historical reports, as evidenced by the just and rational governance of two Iranian queens in the Sasanian government.

Keywords


Volume 1, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1
January 2024
Pages 161-198
  • Receive Date: 28 November 2023
  • Revise Date: 04 December 2023
  • Accept Date: 06 December 2023
  • First Publish Date: 22 December 2023
  • Publish Date: 22 December 2023