c. 2006 Religion News Service

(UNDATED) When Ingrid Mattson was elected head of the Islamic Society of North America in August, she became not only the first female leader in the organization’s 43-year history, but also its first North American-born president.

Mattson, raised as a Catholic in Ontario, converted to Islam nearly 20 years ago after meeting West African Muslims in Paris. Today she is professor of Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations at Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Conn., and director of the seminary’s Islamic Chaplaincy Program.

RNS spoke with Mattson about the significance of her election.

Q: Does your election as the first female president indicate that North American Muslims are becoming more liberal?

A: The North American Muslim community is simply dropping unnecessary ideological barriers to women’s leadership. This is the result of a long process of sifting through the Islamic tradition to distinguish normative Islam from culturally specific practices.

“Liberality” cannot be a goal in itself. Muslims are obliged to sincerely strive to understand God’s guidance. In my understanding, Muslims were being faithful to the core values of our faith with this election.

Q: Do you think your election would have been possible in another country? Are American Muslims simply more comfortable with women in leadership roles?

A: My election was possible because ISNA is a membership organization that elects its leaders. This leadership structure is more common in America than in many other countries. Women have been elected to the highest political office in a number of Muslim-majority countries: Turkey, Indonesia, Pakistan and Bangladesh. This suggests to me that the main barrier to women’s leadership is an undemocratic power structure, wherever it may be.

Q: When the Episcopal Church elected its first female leader in June, many said it would cause a split. Is your election causing any rifts in the Muslim community?

A: ISNA does not claim to represent all the Muslims in North America; we represent our members. Since our members elected me in overwhelming numbers, the decision was not controversial within our community. Although we have received some negative feedback from a few people, up to now, I’ve received many more kind messages and supportive calls, especially and most significantly, from other Muslim leaders.

Q: You do not support women leading mixed-gender ritual prayer. But will your election inadvertently further the cause of Muslim women’s religious leadership?

A: The issue of (women) leading prayer of mixed gender congregations is a red herring to me. Women can be the imam of a female congregation, so there is no religious ritual that a woman cannot lead in some context. Religious leadership in Islam comes from being able to speak authoritatively about Islam _ to preach, teach and give guidance. Women can do all these things.

It is time for more formal recognition of the religious leadership Muslim women are already exercising, for example, to establish positions in Islamic centers for female religious and spiritual leaders to work alongside male imams.

Q. Critics often say: “Where are the moderate Muslim leaders? Why aren’t they angry about terrorism?” How do you respond to those questions?

A: The moderate leaders are there! Tell me, for example, what is the religious identity of the Afghans who are trying to establish a democratic government, who are teaching girls in school, who are in the army and the police force defending their citizens against terrorism? They are Muslims!

Unfortunately, the media seem to identify the religious identity of Muslims when they are doing bad things, not good things.

Q: Terror plots in London have raised the specter of “home-grown terrorists.” How can Muslim communities prevent violent extremism from developing in the U.S.?

A: Violent extremism is an aberration in any society. I am not an expert on terrorism, but what I’ve learned from other experts is this is not simply an ideological problem _ terrorists have political claims that need to be analyzed and understood.

Muslim leaders are responsible for countering any claims that Islam justifies terrorism and extremism. But Muslim communities are not equipped to identify and prevent terrorist attacks _ that is the responsibility of the government.

Q: What do you think Muhammad would have said about violence committed in the name of Islam?

A: Muhammad prophesied that there would be outwardly religious Muslims who would commit terrible acts of violence in the name of “justice.” Muslims know they are obliged to stop these people if possible.

Q: How would you describe yourself as a Muslim _ traditional, progressive?

A: I am a Muslim who is doing her best to be obedient to God by seeking guidance from the Quran and the (example) of the Prophet Muhammad. I am highly deficient in my attempts, but I am hopeful of God’s mercy.

Q: You wear a headscarf, but many American Muslim women do not. Is it something you advocate for others?

A: I believe that a hair-covering for women is required by Islamic religious law. If someone asks my legal opinion, I will tell them that. But this is not an issue I have prioritized as one that needs advocacy.

Q: You are the mother of two children. What’s it like raising Muslim American teenagers?

A: Wonderful! My children are, as the Quran says, the “delight of my eye.” I do worry about the kind of world we adults are leaving for them. Teenagers need to have hope for a great future, and we are making things rather miserable.

KRE/PH END USEEM

Editors: To obtain a photo of Ingrid Mattson, go to the RNS Web site at https://religionnews.com. On the lower right, click on “photos,” then search by subject or slug.