The Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism stresses that Islam regards the pursuit of knowledge as a fundamental religious duty for all—women included. Yet extremist groups misinterpret sacred texts to deny women this crucial right, undermining both religious teachings and societal advancement.
Islam’s Foundation for Knowledge and Equality
Islam’s earliest divine revelation opens with the command “Read in the name of your Lord who created…” (Qur’an, 96:1) and universalizes the obligation to seek knowledge for every Muslim, male or female. The Al-Azhar Observatory underlines that education is a civilizational necessity—vital for nurturing righteous generations and achieving social balance.
The Prophet’s Championing of Female Education
According to Al-Azhar’s analysis, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) made education for women a priority. He organized dedicated study sessions for them, delivered independent sermons, and entrusted women with the preservation and transmission of Hadith and Sunnah. Islam liberated women from the margins of ignorance that prevailed before the Prophetic era, affirming their educational rights as both religious and civilizational foundations.
Extremists Twisting Scripture to Exclude Women
The Observatory laments that extremist factions selectively and wrongly interpret religious texts to marginalize women and restrict their educational rights—from primary school to university levels. These oppressive practices, it clarifies, have no grounding in Islam; instead, they reflect extreme socio-cultural conditions that distort the religion. Such groups ignore the Prophet’s authentic model, which treated women as full partners in progress and affirmed equality in both humanity and responsibility—echoed in his declaration, “Women are the counterparts of men.”
The Broader Harm of Educational Exclusion
Depriving women of education is not only a violation of a genuine religious right but also a major barrier to societal development. History and contemporary examples—from societies dominated by extremist rule—show that sidelining women correlates directly with stagnation and regression. This exclusion has no relation to the Prophetic approach, which upheld women’s contributions to progress. Conversely, true Islamic methodology considers educating women an investment in both the present and future of the Ummah, and that guiding and nurturing them correctly is the cornerstone of raising generations and advancing societies.
From: radionisaa