China’s Female Imams
China distinguishes itself in the Muslim world with a long tradition of female imams.
These imams or ahong – a Persian derived word – perform many of the same duties their male counterparts do. They lead prayers and teach the Qur’an but can’t lead funeral rituals or wash male corpses.
“In a country with about 21 million Muslims, women also have their own mosques to worship in – another practice different from other countries,” said Shui Jingjun, of the Henan Academy of Social Sciences who co-authored a book on the subject. Women administered these mosques and women serve as the imams there.
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While Muslims may debate about whether women can be imams, Morocco became the first country in the Arab world to officially sanction training female religious leaders in 2006.