Progressive Islam and Women’s Religious Leadership: Analysing the Emergence of New Models of Shared Authority

Abstract

In response to radical interpretations of Islam numerous progressive Muslim movements have emerged in order to demonstrate that Islam can be both equitable and inclusive. This paper is focused on two progressive organisations: Muslims for Progressive Values and El-Tawhid Jumma Circle and their practice of shared authority. Shared authority necessitates that leadership responsibilities are shared among the congregation and that religious leadership positions are open to all. In practice this means that women can assume religious leadership roles. Using field work data, this article will examine the experiences of progressive Muslim women who take up leadership positions in new Islamic organisations. It will be argued that progressive Muslims are creating alternative shared authority structures within their congregations in order to construct egalitarian worship spaces and open religious leadership to women.