Is it permissible for a woman to assume ruler-ship in Islam, with evidence from the Qur’an?

It is not necessary for every issue to have a specific proof from the Qur'an; rather, many rulings have been established by the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet, and a Muslim is required to follow the proofs from both the Qur'an and the Sunnah. Evidence from the Qur'an and Sunnah indicates that it is not permissible for a woman to hold public office. From the Qur'an, there is the Almighty's saying: "Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given some over others and what they spend from their wealth." (An-Nisa'/ 34). From the Sunnah, there is the hadith of Abu Bakrah, may Allah be pleased with him: "Never will a people succeed who appoint a woman to govern them." (Narrated by Al-Bukhari). This indicates the prohibition of appointing a woman to general leadership, because the one chosen for leadership must possess a great degree of mental perfection, decisiveness, and strong will. These qualities contradict what women are inherently created with, namely, deficiency in intellect and weakness in thought, along with strong emotions.