can i have a source on this, this seems to be a anomile rather than normal again no muslim monarchy does this, and any attempt have been massive challanges. Again this isn't just a random sultanate its the ottoman empire the caliphate. Your effectively going to destroy its legitimacy one way or another doing this. People won't except a female caliph nor will they except a caliph who isn't sultan. Your just giving anyone a chance to use a valid argument to declare the caliphate forefitted. Again i think your overestimiating how big an issue this would be when there not otl example of a mass movement for female succession in muslim world with how important the religious conotations are here. So 32 years of a movement will change a 1,000ish institution in the caliphate?
If it's just about the Ottoman Sultan, that maybe fine. But because the Ottoman also claim the title of the caliphate, it will be more problematic.
Thats the issue ottomans have 2 major forms of legitimacy the dynasty which is male bloodline even modern otl, and caliphate of islam, both lost with this change. People fought for both of these reasons otl. Im not against female succession but with the ottomans without special reasoning such as no male heirs or them being children you can't just change it.
No it really isn't. Late Ottoman Society: The Intellectual Legacy states in 1877, the First Ottoman Chamber of Deputies stopped a bill passing a law to allow women to be able to inherit the Ottoman Throne by 7 votes. By 1915, despite Western claims, Ottoman society, barring the Harem of the Sultan, had become largely progressive in regards to Women so much so that when Abdulmejid II made his daughter the heir apparent in 1923 for the role of Caliph, almost everyone in the Islamic world accepted it, (people forget that the Islamic world was far more progressive until the 1920s and 30s) with Mustafa Kemal even stating that it was a good day for women in Islam with that proclaimation. In Islamic Theology, there are both for and against arguments for Women as head of state. Going to quote
Islamic View of Women Leadership as Head of State: A Critical Analysis by Mohammad Elius for this.
Arguments against women's leadership in Islam:-
1. Though the women have similar rights as men, yet men have a degree above them (Al-Quran 2:228). Hence the argument issince the man is superior to woman; she cannot rule over men.
2. Evidence of two women is equal to that of one man (Al-Quran 2:282). So, the argument is that a woman is half of a man and she cannot rule over him.
3. Men are the protectors and maintainers of women (Al-Quran 4:34). So, the argument is: If men are the protector of women, how can women rule over men?
4. When the prophet of Islam (Peace be upon him) heard that Persians had made the daughter of Kisra ruler over them, he said: Never shall a people prosper who make a woman their ruler
Arguments for Women's Leadership in Islam:-
1. There is no verse in the Quran regarding the permission or prohibition of a woman's rule in a country. The Quran is silent on this particular point. The silence of the Quran on this crucial issue means that it has been left to the Muslim community to decide according to the circumstances.
2. The women have rights similar to those of the men (Al-Quran 2:228). If men have the right to become head of the state or government, why can't a woman aspire for this office?
3. The story of a woman ruler, Bilqis, the Queen of Sheba, has been related by the Quran in its chapter 27 (Sura 27). From the description of the Holy Quran, we come to notice that:
a) Her rule was not that of an autocrat. She had the very good quality of consulting others on all important affairs of the state.
b) She was a very wise woman and her sound opinion could not be ignored. Prophet Solomon (A) tested her judgment by miraculously producing her throne in a disguised form and she recognized it.
c) And on the top of all she accepted Islam when she met the Prophet Solomon (A), despite the fact that she was the ruler of disbelievers and had lived all her life among the polytheists
4. The Quran has not talked to the rule of the Queen of Sheba with disapproval and condemnation. Rather her habit of the consulting others before taking decision on vital issues, her wisdom and sound judgment and her readiness to accept Islam at once rather than persisting in disbelief, have found special mention in the Quran.
5. According to the Holy Quran (9:71) both Muslim men and women are protecting friends of each other, they are to enjoin the right and forbid the wrong which is primarily the duty of the state and one needs to have a position to discharge it effectively. For performing this duty, Allah has made women as much protecting friends of men as men are of women. The Holy Quran directs women to discharge the duty of enjoining good and forbidding wrong which can be discharged most effectively by the ulil amr (person in authority) who symbolizes the State. The verse paves the way for the women to become the repository of state authority including the authority of the Head of the State (Usmani 1991: 258-61).
6. The functions of an Islamic state have been outlined by the Holy Quran in its verse 41 of chapter 22. These functions include establishing of prayer, collection of Zakat and enjoining good and forbidding wrong. The responsibility of discharging these functions has been laid on the shoulders of both Muslim men and women.
7. The supporters of the women's rule does not accept as authentic the narration (riwayah) pertaining to the daughter of Kisra since its reporter Abu Bakra was found guilty of false evidence and was even punished by Hazrat Omar (R) (Choudhury 1997:172).
8. Regarding the second narration (riwayah) Maulana Abdul Halim opines that this tradition has no origin (Hossain 1987: 225). According to Nawawi, it is fabricated and false (Hossain 1987: 225). Professor Doctor Abdul Hamid Mutawali gave his opinion that this tradition is one of the many forged and fabricated traditions (Hossain 1987:221). The reasons are:
a. It is not agreeable with human reason, logic and rationality. In fact, intelligence or rationality is not the preserve of men only. A large percentage of the male species is not intelligent enough. There may be women having more intelligence than man.
b. The tradition is contrary to the Quran when Allah stressed that the duty to enjoin the right and forbid the wrong is of men and women alike [Q.9:71]. How can the authenticity be acknowledged when women are considered defective in reason and religion?
c. It is contrary to the historical facts pertaining to the period of the Prophet (pbuh) and his rightly guided Caliphs (Khulafa AlRashidun). There are a number of precedents in which women were consulted or their opinions prevailed. It is widely known that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) consulted Hazrat Umme Salma (R) on the occasion of Treaty of Hudaibia and he followed her advice. Prophet Muhammad also followed the advice of Khadija (R) at the very beginning of revelation when he was frustrated. Hazrat Aisha (R) corrected Hazrat Abu Huraira (R) in respect of traditions on the basis of their contradicting the Quran. A lady interrupted Hazrat Umar (R) successfully with regard to his proposal about fixing the dower (Mahr) at a low level. After the assassination of Hazrat Umar (R) the board appointed by him for selection of a Caliph consulted women too.
There were also several Islamic Prophets and theologicians such as Mawlana Ashraf ali Thanvi, Imam Malik Allama Syaid Sulaiman, Syaid Sulaiman Nadvi who preached women's right to leadership as well.
Whew, my crash course on Islamic theology last summer paid off.
