Salaam,
Q. I have sent a link that talks about how the President of ISNA Dr. Ingrid Mattson offered a prayer at the inaugural National Prayer Service. She is the first woman president of ISNA. So I was wondering is it permissible for a woman to offer a public prayer like that?

Answer:

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It is not befitting for a believing man and a believing woman that they should have any choice in their matter when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter; and whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, (in the manner in which they present themselves and those under their responsibility, then such a person) surely is indeed on an apparent wrong path.

1. Islam does not despise the opinions or the prayers of woman. However, Islam has laid down principally governed behavior for men and woman. Many Hadeeth are reported from woman, including woman who are part of the personal family of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam). However, a Muslimah representing an Islamic organization should be sensitive in the manner in which they present their ‘Islamic knowledge.’  None of the female sahaba ever displayed themselves nor made a public spectacle of their religiosity. Nevertheless, despite their challengers, their contribution remains superior to that of modern men and woman.

2. Dr Ingrid Mattsons display of self and religion had not been viewed by us. Her being part of a religious organization, we willing to give her the benefit of doubt as to the display of herself. We must believe that she presented herself as an Islamic representative at a time of need due to no other qualified muslim male scholars being able to fulfill the task she was called upon to do.   It is also our belief that as a ‘leading’ Muslimah of an organization representing Islam, she had followed the Islamic criteria of modesty, privacy, attended the event with a mahram, did not socialize with ghiar mahram, dressed as a physical and spiritual embodiment of a true Islamic/Muslim woman. Her comments and protocols were part of sunnah, the sunnah of Sayyidina Aysha, Sayyidina Fatimah, and other leading woman of Islam. Should her display of self be in violation of the true embodiment of Islam and the identity of a good Muslimah, then in the interest of Muslims in America, Dr. Ingrid Mattson would be proving detrimental to Islamic practices.

3. Should more qualified Muslim scholars exist, then her attending would be part of making a mockery of her ‘Islamic knowledge’ as well as her Islamic organization.

4. A prayer done under the umbrella of wrong can be termed as curse, not a prayer. May Allah save us all, Ameem.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.