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Is it permissible for a woman to run for president, and if not, then how was Queen Bilqis a queen, and is it permissible for a woman to work without necessity?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The opinions of reputable scholars have converged on the impermissibility of a woman holding the Grand Imamate (general leadership in religious and worldly affairs), based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) hadith: "No people will prosper who appoint a woman to lead them." This consensus has been narrated by many scholars. Maleness is considered an essential condition for the Grand Imamate because this position requires strenuous tasks and burdens that are not commensurate with a woman's nature, such as leading armies and participating in combat. The story of Bilqis cannot be used as an argument for the permissibility of a woman holding a leadership position in Islam, because the law of those before us is not a proof for us if it contradicts our law. Furthermore, Bilqis was from a people who worshipped the sun, and Solomon (peace be upon him) rejected her kingship and invited her to Islam. As for a woman's work, it is permissible with adherence to legitimate controls and manners that must be observed.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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