In the future...

In the future, after Imam Mandi's reappearance and international revolution, women shall have key social roles and some of them shall be disciples of the Imam (a.s). Imam Baqir (a.s) stated: (By Allah, that three hundred and thirteen men will come to him (Imam Mandi (a.s)) along with fifty women ...) 1 This shows the women's future social role, especially because the first group of Imam Mandi's disciples has deep understanding and faith.

They are exceptional characters with especial intellectual and spiritual power. Abu Basir narrated, "Once, I asked Imam Sadiq (a.s): 'May I be sacrificed for you!

Shall be there other believers besides Imam Mandi's disciples on that time?' The Imam answered: 'There shall be other believers too, but those who shall work with him after his revolution shall be elites, Islamic authorities, the knowledgeable, agents, and judges."' 2 Preparation for the twelfth Imam's era necessitates, at least for the waiting women, studying Islamic jurisprudence and knowing social management issues, to be able to participate in that great international revolution.

There are also various viewpoints concerning women's judgment. Some Islamic jurisprudents do not permit ________________________ 1 Al-Ayyashi's exegesis, 1/65, Asr-i Zendegi, p.75. 2 Asr-i Zendegi, p.104; Muntakhab al-Athar, 485 woman's being a judge, some others believe that this issue should be solved by consensus, and still other jurisprudents, both in the past and today, allow woman's being a judge.

Among the late jurisprudents, the late Ayatollah Muqaddas Ardabili rejected the total abandonment of woman's judgment. 1 The argument of the opponents is not much grounded. Proving the consensus is also not easy. One of the arguments of the opponents is a tradition of Imam Sadiq (a.s) narrated by Abu Khadija who said, "Once, Imam Sadiq (a.s) sent me to the Shia with this message: 'Never go to corrupted judges in case of financial disputes!

Identify a man among yourself who knows halal (lawful) and haram (unlawful) so that I appoint him as your judge. Never refer to an oppressor judge.'" 2 It is doubtless that (man) does not mean a male person; rather it means a person who has an insight in Islamic rules and traditions to differentiate between the lawful and the unlawful. The criterion here is not femininity or masculinity at all.

As it was mentioned in the preface, most of the statements containing masculine references or pronouns are in fact general addresses to all human beings.