Q: AoA imaam i’m a female and I’m a little concerned and confused by you. i have admired your views and followed very closely. infact i have enjoyed your eid talk so much that i even stayed to listen to your second talk/ Not only because you our imaam i have respect for you also because of how you handle media and other releated inquires.  However, i am disappointed in your latest bashing towards woman.  let me make it brief.  I wanted to run for the MSA presidency. I did not because of health reasons. I i’m hoping that I can next year. You have said that woman cannot be president and that respectable woman would NOT EVER BE president. This is causing hostilities amongst the girls. As you can understand that those of us that want to run will not do so due to your insensitive comment of us being not respectable.  That is why we have a gal has stepped down. becuase of you. Can you please clarify your position. Also why as an imaam would (name removed)  step down? and personally we woman dont care if ( xxx)  is president or not. we more concerned about the implication of wehat you said because it does not add up to your speeches and interviews and tafseer which are online.
Jak
Answer: Walaikumsalam, due to the above question coming in by different people within a short time span, we have chosen to answer. It is not done to divide the community or the student organization.
As a developing and growing community, we need leaders from both genders to assist our community in moving forward. Our religion has never been against male or female leadership. We have been told that MSA members are moral and upright. We do not see a problem in female leadership. Any leadership that is within the parameters of our religion should be accepted and promoted for the good it creates.
We are less concerned with the accusation that has been placed upon the imaam. We are more concerned about the deception that is attempted to divide our community and student groups. Not only is this wrong, it is a form of fitnah making. We pray to Allah that he guides us away from such untoward behavior. Additionally, we are unaware of anyone stepping up or stepping down from the MSA. Your question of anyone stepping up or down should be directed to MSA.

I appreciate your inquiry.  I also appreciate you wanting clarity directly from me, instead of naively accepting the words of others. Shaytan has many ways of distracting people from their goal, do not let yourself be distracted, ameem.
Allah certainly knows best.

p.s. We have omitted the name of the female above. We have done so, mainly because we do not think that such a person would accuse the imaam of such a claim.  The community and its leadership are aware that the imaam has never opposed anyone leading our community or any student group while upholding good principles, regardless of gender.