As geographic and technological boundaries for spreading ideas continue to fade, the threat of extreme feminist ideas has risen in parallel. Feminism has now become one of the most complex issues confronting our Islamic societies, as it poses the risk of eroding the identity of our daughters in a bleak reality that already overlooks many of their rightful religious entitlements.
This paradox raises profound questions about the role, rights, and duties of young Muslim women in society. Addressing these concerns requires great wisdom and a deep understanding of the objectives of Islamic Sharia, with a clear awareness of the challenges and demands of our time. This is especially critical as we have seen, over the past few years, a noticeable rise in voices advocating for equality and liberation, influenced by Western ideas promoted by feminist movements under the banner of absolute equality with men.
In truth, engagement with feminist ideas is not new in the Arab world; however, its popularity has gained significant momentum recently. Arab women are now increasingly prominent in the call for equality across various fields, sparking questions about the role of feminism in shaping the contemporary identity of Muslim women and whether this movement aligns with prevailing religious and societal values.
Denying the impact of Western feminist movements on young women in the Arab and Islamic world would be burying our heads in the sand, especially when considering young women in major cities, where exposure to Western culture through media and social platforms is most pronounced, as recent studies suggest.
This influence could create a form of identity duality, where young women find themselves torn between preserving their religious values and traditions and their desire for openness and change. This conflict impacts various aspects of their lives, including attire, marriage, lifestyle, and even career aspirations.
Thus, a fundamental question arises: do these feminist calls align with the teachings of our noble religion? Are we in need of adopting Western concepts to achieve justice for women in our societies? If the answer is that Islam honored women and granted them their full rights 14 centuries ago, at a time when women were treated as commodities in most civilizations, then this is indeed true. The Quran establishes a principle of comprehensive equality between men and women, based on the ayah: “And due to the wives is similar to what is expected of them, according to what is reasonable.” (Al-Baqarah: 228) Yet, the continuation of the ayah states, “But the men have a degree over them [in responsibility and authority].” (Al-Baqarah: 228), a notion that seems incompatible with contemporary feminist discourse.
Nevertheless, we cannot deny that the reality of women in some Arab and Islamic societies does not fully reflect this Quranic principle. There are unjust practices and outdated traditions that deprive women of their basic rights in education, work, and freedom of choice. Here lies the real challenge: how can we restore the rights of Muslim women as guaranteed by Islam without falling into the trap of Western influences that may threaten our identity and values?
The call for absolute equality between men and women, as advocated by some Western feminist currents, disregards the natural differences Allah has created, each with wisdom known to Him. Allah created men and women with distinct characteristics and roles that complement each other for the cultivation of the earth. As Allah says, “And the male is not like the female.” (Aal-Imran:36) This difference is not a preference of one gender over the other; it is a diversity and complementarity that achieves balance in society.
It is, therefore, necessary to scrutinize the ideas of what is sometimes called “Islamic feminism”—an attempt to reconcile Western feminist ideas with Islamic teachings. This term itself is questionable, as Islam is complete in itself and needs no external additions. It is preferable to advocate for women’s rights within Islam without relying on foreign terms that may carry concepts contradictory to our faith.
One of these rights is a woman’s right to work, a right that Islam never prohibited. Lawful work, suitable for a woman’s nature and not conflicting with her familial duties, is universally permissible. In fact, Islamic history is filled with examples of working women, starting from the Ansar woman who engaged in work in environments quite different from the women of Quraysh in the Prophet’s time.
However, we must not forget that motherhood is the most honorable role for a woman, and that caring for the family is a significant responsibility that should not be undermined in the way we often observe in feminist narratives, which depict household roles as if they were a blemish or something women should rid themselves of.
A Foundational Pillar
As our faith teaches us, the family is the fundamental unit of society, and its soundness ensures the wellbeing of the entire community. The extreme calls for women to abandon their familial roles in pursuit of “self-fulfillment” are dangerous, threatening the stability of the entire Ummah.
The goal should be a balance between family responsibilities and personal ambitions, aligned with the moderate spirit of Islam, far from the competitive spirit that seems to underpin feminist movements, as though women are in a boxing match against men.
This approach extends to other issues, such as marriage. Feminists advocate re-evaluating what they term the “traditional roles of spouses,” which could destabilize the family with provocative questions like: Why should women take on household duties? Why shouldn’t men do them?
If Islamic Sharia has not made these duties obligatory in a legal sense, it is because they are rooted in the good companionship a woman shows her husband. Denying this also undermines the concept of qiwamah (responsibility), as established in the ayah: “Men are in charge of women.” (An-Nisa: 34)
Qiwamah means taking charge of matters responsibly, implying that it is the man’s duty, and it does not mean any oppression or deprivation of women’s rights, especially with the conditions outlined in the ayah: “By [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth.” (An-Nisa: 34)
Like a ship that can have only one captain, qiwamah organizes family life according to a sound natural order. It does not imply an absolute preference for all men over all women but is a duty placed upon men for financial support and care, not a means of control or tyranny.
The challenge our women face today is how to balance maintaining their Islamic identity with benefiting from the advancements of the modern era. Not everything from the West is pure evil, just as not everything old must be preserved. What is required is the use of reason and ijtihad (independent reasoning) to understand the spirit and objectives of Islamic Sharia.
Perhaps one of the most crucial areas of focus in this regard is empowering women through education and cultural awareness. An educated woman who understands her faith and her rights is better equipped to face contemporary challenges while preserving her identity. Additionally, we must work to correct misconceptions about women’s roles in society—whether those that marginalize her in the name of religion or those that seek to Westernize her in the name of liberation.
The path to a true revival of the Muslim woman’s role does not lie in abandoning her identity but in returning to the pure sources of Islam and implementing its compassionate teachings in our modern context. Islam is suitable for all times and places and contains solutions to all challenges we face, if we understand and apply it correctly. Women’s issues are societal issues for both men and women, and no society can advance if half of its members are marginalized or oppressed.
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