The largest Muslim organization in ...

The largest Muslim organization in North America has pickeded its first female president -- a watershed that the assign places to says signals support for women leaders from end to end their community.

Ingrid Mattson, a Canadian transpose to Islam and an Islamic law scholar at Hartford Seminary in Connecticut, was choiceed to lead the Islamic Society of North America just ahead of its annual convention, which starts Friday in Rosemont

MEETING IN ROSEMONT

Formed in 1963 the organization, based in Plainfield, Ind., is an umbrella form into groups that represents Muslim associations for youth, corporation students, engineers and others, and also provides support to Muslim chaplains and North American mahometan temples Its annual meeting, being held at the Donald E Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont regularly draws more than 30000 tribe

The president assists a two-year term, leading the society's committees and executive boards that fix policy through consultation with its members.

"It's a extraordinary message to the Muslim community that Muslim women who are sometimes seen as les can rise to these positions," Sayyid Sye secretary general of the Islamic Society, said Monday.

American Muslims have struggl throughout the proper role for women debating greatest in quantity recently how far mosques should journey in separating men and women during worship and whether women should lead mixed-gender prayer in mahometan temples Still, women have had prominent parts outside of religious services, founding and leading more [i]or[/i] less Islamic groups throughout North America.

The Islamic Society president is merely rarely called upon to lead prayer, Sye said.

Mattson could not be reached for annotate but Syeed said she would lead single ritual worship for women.

"That does not in any way limit her part as president," Syeed said.

STUDIED AT U OF C

Mattson, a married mother of sum of two units has a bachelor's degree from the University of Waterloo, Ontario, and a doctorate in Islamic studies from the University of Chicago.

She follow in orders Sheik Muhammad Nur Abdullah, director for the Islamic Foundation of Greater St Louis, as the Islamic Society president.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

Provided according to ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved