Women Mufti in Dubai !

DUBAI - The Emirate of Dubai wants to form six women in the profession of mufti which might raise the ire of conservative religious circles who deny women the right to issue authoritative religious opinion, reported Tuesday the daily “The National.”

•     According to the newspaper, Dr Ahmed Al Haddad, Grand Mufti of Dubai, one of the seven components of the federation of United Arab Emirates, has announced a program to recruit and train for several months six Emirati women in the profession of Mufti hitherto reserved for men.
  
      If these women end up with success their training, according to the rite of Sunni Maliki, they could be appointed muftis from the end of 2010.
  
      This would be a first, says the newspaper that Al-Azhar, the highest authority in Sunni Islam in Cairo, is opposed to the fact that women are appointed muftis.
  
      But Dr. Haddad was quoted by the newspaper, noted that the opposition of Al-Azhar relates only to the position of Grand Mufti. The positions of ordinary muftis who issue religious opinions on the practice of Islam and other matters concerning the life of the faithful are, according to him, not concerned by this ban.
  
      In Egypt, the first woman lawyer (Maazoun), may conclude religious marriages, had been appointed in 2008. Her powers were however lower than those of a mufti.
  
      Morocco forms since 2006 women preachers, called "mourchidates" whose mission is to "supervise and guide" the faithful, especially in prisons, hospitals and schools.
  
      
  Ennaharonline/ M. O.