Al-Azhar Graduates Organization held an international symposium at the headquarter for the organization’s branches abroad under the title “The importance of educating women and their role in society from an Islamic perspective.”
Members of the organization’s branches abroad participated in the symposium, especially women from different countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, Nigeria, Somalia, India, and Britain, via video conferencing “zoom” technology. This workshop comes in response to the Taliban government in Afghanistan’s decision to prohibit women’s education at the university level.
Some of the participants in the symposium, especially women from different countries, delivered some words expressing their sadness as a result of the issuance of such a decision prohibiting women’s education, stressing that the right to education is available to both sexes without discrimination.
Dr. Muhammad Al-Mahrasawi, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al-Azhar said that, presently, when the world refers to human rights, it advocates for preserving human dignity and applying laws that guarantee all rights and duties for people, whether they are men or women. We find that Islam, for more than 1400 years now, emphasizes justice and equality between the sexes and doesn’t distinguish between humans except in terms of piety, not in shape, color, or gender.
Islam took care of women’s rights. Because she is the maker of civilizations and generations, she is the mother, sister, wife, and daughter; Islam preserves women’s rights, and high status and rebukes those who prefer the male over the female.
He also made it clear that Islam cared for women and forbade exposure to them even in the abode of war, referring to the life of the Prophet, peace be upon him, with his wives. He pointed out their tenderness and softness and advised men to deal with them gently. Islam preserved the status of women and raised their statures.
Osama Yassin, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the organization, referred to the role of the Grand Imam, Sheikh of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, in condemning the decision to prohibit women’s education in the university journal in Afghanistan. It is inconsistent with the teachings of true Islam and what it achieved for women in terms of a decent life that raises their status.
Dr. Saif Ragab Qazamel, former dean of the Faculty of Sharia, confirmed in his speech that Islam cared for women and men alike, as the woman completes the man and vice versa. The remarkable Islamic history reveals to us many female companions who are jurists and their positions in the invasions and wars, some of whom defended the Prophet, peace be upon him, in the Battle of Uhud.
He added that it is their responsibility to elevate the status of society. Raising the new generation needs strong and educated women. Nowadays, there are women who hold the highest positions in various scientific, cultural, societal, and religious fields.
Our daily lives now need women qualified with science and knowledge to protect their offspring and the sons of the Islamic nation, as a whole, from the dangers of displacement and division. Also, denying women education is a waste of energy as women currently represent half of society, occupy vital positions, and have proven as hard-working at their jobs as men. Islam gave women a value that makes them the whole of society, not half of it.
