Women`s Leadership in Islam Perspective of Abul A`la Al-Maududi and Yusuf Al-Qaradhawi (Study of Women as Regional Heads in Indonesia)

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the role and political participation of women in the 2024 regional elections and to examine the relevance of the thoughts of the two figures (Sayyid Abul A`la Al-Maududi and Sheikh Yusuf al Qaradhawi) to the context of women's leadership as regional heads in Indonesia, which adopts a democratic system but has a Muslim majority population. This research employs a qualitative method with a descriptive analytical and comparative library research approach, involving an examination of various sources, including books on Islamic jurisprudence, journals, documents, and other relevant records. The results of the study indicate that women's political participation in the 2024 regional elections has increased significantly, with 309 female candidates (19.92%), representing a 90% increase from the 2020 regional elections. The factors influencing the victory of female candidates are generally higher education, political experience, and support from political dynasties. However, they still face regulatory quota constraints, money politics, and negative stigma. A comparative analysis of the thoughts of Al Maududi and Al-Qaradhawi shows that Al-Qaradhawi's contextual approach is more relevant to the Indonesian context than Al-Maududi's textual interpretation, as it provides space for women's leadership at the regional level that aligns with the values of Pancasila and has the potential to support affirmative action policies for 30% female representation in politics, and has proven to have a positive impact on gender equality policies and inclusive regional development.