Why wasn't any woman chosen as a prophet?

[Zainab_M]

After I circulated the article Reward of Women in Paradise, a hasty relative wasted no time asking me why was no woman chosen as a prophet in the past.  


The precise reason for this would be known to Allah Almighty alone and His reasons are NEVER flawed.

We can analyze the Quran and deduce what obviously may have been the reasons for it.  There are several factors that need to be taken into consideration.  

Prophet Mohammed (pbuh), the final Prophet lived in the 7th century.  This era and all those prior to it, constituted of a totally male dominated society worldwide. This was a culture constructed by the human mind, not the Divine commandments.  Under such circumstances one doesn't need to be a genius to gauge that the task of a Prophet in the 7th century and much earlier was definitely not suitable for women nor would women want to carry it out.  In fact, its hurdles would make it virtually impossible for women to shoulder such a mission.   If you read the historical data of all Prophets in the Quran and through reliable historical sources, you'll find that all the top priority of every Prophet's mission was to categorically confirm the truth of Monotheism, that there is only ONE Allah, followed by other responsibilities.  All Prophets had to travel in plenty, meet and talk to people (many of whom were strangers), negotiate with heads of states and tribal leaders, and fight for protecting their people and themselves.  Such a mission was by no means a woman's job in those days; and to a large extent, even at present many women would by no means feel too comfortable in such a situation.

It's important to note that the Quran has held many women in very high esteem which I think, for all practical purposes regarding Maghfirah in the Hereafter, would be in no way inferior to the reward of prophethood.  Women mentioned in the Quran and who must be respected by believers are:  Virgin Mary, wife of Pharoah, mother of Moses, the Queen of Sheba, wife of Zachariah (who was the mother of Prophet Yahya).  There could be more I cannot recall at the moment.

Allah revealed in the Quran that He sent angels to women to deliver to them truthful revelations from Him. The angels gave glad tidings to Virgin Mary of the birth of a son, angels came to the house of Prophet Abraham and his wife to give them the news of the birth of a son in their old age, to the mother of Prophet Moses to cast him into the river and assuring her of his safety and Prophet Moses' sister made her best efforts to restore him back to his mother.  Many scholars take these revelations or Nubuwwa as signs of prophethood or a status very near to it.  But only Allah would know about this best.  We don't have the authority to make such decisions. I would only say that these revelations were a proof that these women were unusually special in the Sight of Allah on account of their piety, the ajr of which will be very great Insh'Allah.

We have read enough to know that the responsibility of prophets was no fun.  It was not like being a president or a prime minister or a king where one enjoys endless power, perks & protocols with little work and minimal of accountability or nothing at all.  Therefore, it was very considerate of Allah to grant women with so much respect and rights and also absolve them of such difficult and hectic tasks that might risk their safety and increase their anxiety.

Most important of all, Allah has made is ample clear throughout the Noble Quran that regardless of gender, everyone will be judged and rewarded or punished in accordance with the strength of their Faith and deeds on the Day of Judgment.  So, as a woman I feel that if prophethood wasn't bestowed on any woman in the past, it's totally insignificant.  Here's how I see it:  Whether man or woman, we need to be focused on our responsibilities as humans as elucidated in the Quran.  And let Allah Almighty take care of whatever He has clarified belongs to His Domain.  Allah has said in the Quran that He knows best with whom to place His Message, so who are we to question His choice?  We know for SURE that Allah is totally impartial and Divine Justice in absolutely infallible.  Whether or not women were chosen by Him as prophets, we don't need to worry about it. 

If you read the various collections / versions of the Hadith and the New Testament, you'll come across the particulars of many women said to have attained perfection.   But since these writings have been tampered by human hands for so many centuries, I'm not comfortable taking them as my source of information.  I would depend only on the Quran.

If this question is to put to hardline 'negatively innovative' traditionalists, including Christians and Jews, several of them might come up with very misogynistic ideas.  If this post is read by modernists, they will jeer cynically and hurl sarcasm.  These are two extreme groups who need to be ignored.  Whatever they say or claim are their their personal thoughts, and The Almighty will deal with each person He is displeased with on that Day.  The Truth consists of only what is mentioned in the Quran and what we understand from the Quran.  

Only Allah knows best.  


Related post:
Reward of women in Paradise

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Most important of all, Allah has made is ample clear throughout the Noble Quran that regardless of gender, everyone will be judged and rewarded or punished in accordance with the strength of their Faith and deeds on the Day of Judgment.    

Very wise and complete piece.  The above is one of the most significant excerpt of this post.  It conforms totally with the information given in the Quran.  On reading the following verse, there should be no more questions nor confusions nor anything to worry about in the mind of a true believer. 
 
"Whosoever does right, whether male or female, and is a believer, him verily we shall quicken with good life, and We shall pay them a recompense in proportion to the best of what they used to do."  16:97 - An Nahl

[Zainab_M]

Most important of all, Allah has made is ample clear throughout the Noble Quran that regardless of gender, everyone will be judged and rewarded or punished in accordance with the strength of their Faith and deeds on the Day of Judgment.    

Very wise and complete piece.  The above is one of the most significant excerpt of this post.  It conforms totally with the information given in the Quran.  On reading the following verse, there should be no more questions nor confusions nor anything to worry about in the mind of a true believer. 
 
"Whosoever does right, whether male or female, and is a believer, him verily we shall quicken with good life, and We shall pay them a recompense in proportion to the best of what they used to do."  16:97 - An Nahl

Thank you dear Sister Heba.   Also thanks for quoting V.16:97, a similar one is V.4:124 which I quoted in the link post.

Feminists keep going wild asking this question why women aren't prophets .. as if they really care.

[Heba E. Husseyn]

You're welcome Sis ..

.....
Feminists keep going wild asking this question why women aren't prophets .. as if they really care.

 😀 true .... and in reality most modern feminists are themselves one of the top misogynists deeply influenced either by politics or by their plaster-saint icons or simply venting their personal frustration. 

[Zainab_M]

So correct Sis .....

[N. Truth Seeker]

Very sensible post Sister Zeynab.  Insh'Allah, I will soon be printing this post.  There is one very loud and domineering feminist sister in our discussion group who wants to discuss why no women were prophets. I will Insh'Allah present the very logical points in this post, but I know she will keep howling.  I am not the type to complain about someone in their absence but this sister, when she speaks, she won't let anyone else talk nor listen to them.  No matter what anyone says on any other topic, she will twist and turn it around and give it a gender issue touch.  Some time ago, some folks in our group gave her the nickname "nuisance."   To be thoroughly honest, I agree ..

[Heba E. Husseyn]

👍


😅


Presenting the points of this post to such persons is a waste of time.  They welcome it only as an excuse to quarrel .. trying to make a genius out of themselves with their combative stance. 

Quoting the last paragraph of Sister Zeynab's post which says it all:

"If this question is to put to hardline 'negatively innovative' traditionalists, including Christians and Jews, several of them might come up with very misogynistic ideas.  If this post is read by modernists, they will jeer cynically and hurl sarcasm.  These are two extreme groups who need to be ignored.  Whatever they say or claim are their their personal thoughts, and The Almighty will deal with each person He is displeased with on that Day.  The Truth consists of only what is mentioned in the Quran and what we understand from the Quran." 

[N. Truth Seeker]

Absolutely spot on.