Women to Become Muftis

The chief Muslim cleric in Syria is taking the “very brave and unprecedented step” of training women to become muftis, the pro-government website Sada Syria reported on June 10.



The website reported that Grand Mufti Ahmad Badr al-Din Hassoun had been preparing women to become muftis for about a year.



Muftis issue fatwas or edicts and offer advice on religious matters. Female muftis are rare.



Hassoun said the female muftis would only issue religious rulings for women, according to the Al-Arabiya website.



During a meeting with a delegation of American scholars and researchers on June 10, the chief mufti said women were valued by the Prophet Muhammed, and should not be marginalised from political and religious life.