Grand Imam of Al Azhar: Islam affirms women’s equality with men, frees them from pre-Islamic cultural oppression

CAIRO – 1 February 2026: The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar emphasized that before Islam, women’s dignity was largely unrecognized, but Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) affirmed their equality with men, called for their respect, and Islamic law freed women from pre-Islamic cultural oppression.

During his speech at the Al-Azhar Conference Center in a conference titled “Investing in Religious and Media Discourse and Its Impact on Protecting and Promoting Women’s Rights in the Countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation,” Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb emphasized the significance of the conference and warned of the dangers of framing women’s issues solely through Western theories and movements. 

He criticized recent decades’ global discourse on women’s rights, which he argued promotes a “revolution against the family” and seeks to confine women beyond traditional roles, referencing Simone de Beauvoir’s description of marriage as “an eternal prison for women.”

Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb criticized Western feminist movements, which he described as a “women’s revolution” or “new rights theory,” for redefining family structures and introducing concepts such as same-sex parenting, artificial wombs, and assisted reproduction. He warned that these developments threaten traditional family and religious values and emphasized that the conference aims to counter these trends before they impact the Arab and Muslim world.

He framed the discussion of women’s issues from three perspectives, highlighting first the Islamic Sharia perspective, which he said historically liberated Muslim women from pre-Islamic cultural restrictions of denial of education, ownership, inheritance, and even the right to life—imposed by civilizations like Greece, Rome, India, and pre-Islamic Arabia.

Sheikh Al Azhar emphasizes that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) promoted the equality and dignity of women, declaring them counterparts to men and instructing respect for their rights. He abolished female infanticide and granted women unprecedented rights like inheritance, education, choice of husband, financial independence, and the ability to initiate divorce, establishing equality in obligations and responsibilities. 

The Prophet even highlighted women’s merits, sometimes giving them preference. Despite these Islamic teachings that empower women socially, economically, and politically, contemporary society often fails to reflect this vision, the Grand Imam continued.

Also, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar urged simplifying dowries and making marriage easier, in accordance with Islamic teachings.

In a televised speech, Pope Tawadros II highlighted the importance of combating extremism, noting Egypt’s tradition of moderation and tolerance. He condemned female genital mutilation (FGM) and early marriage as harmful practices with serious physical, psychological, and social consequences, emphasizing the need for societal awareness. 

He stressed the role of religious discourse, education, media, and public culture in promoting guidance and awareness. On women’s rights, he affirmed that women are equal partners to men, and called for ongoing discussion and advocacy of human and women’s rights across all sectors of society.

Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, on behalf of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, participated in the opening of the conference titled “Investing in Religious and Media Discourse and Its Impact on Protecting and Promoting Women’s Rights in the Countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.”

The conference is being held at the Al-Azhar Conference Center on February 1–2, 2026. It is organized in partnership between Al-Azhar, the National Council for Women, and the Women’s Development Organization (WDO), a specialized international governmental organization affiliated with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, headquartered in Cairo.

The conference brings together ministers, governors, senior officials, media leaders, parliamentarians, diplomats, and representatives from international and regional organizations across OIC member states. It also includes prominent religious scholars and leaders from Al-Azhar and other Islamic institutions, as well as representatives from universities, research centers, civil society, and cultural institutions.

The conference is organized as part of Egypt’s presidency of the eighth OIC Ministerial Conference on Women (held in Cairo in July 2021), following a resolution calling for an international conference on women’s rights in Islam, with a focus on the role of religious and media discourse in protecting and promoting those rights.

Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, the Prime Minister, toured exhibitions showcasing a wide range of Egyptian handicrafts, including traditional clothing, leather goods, cosmetics, natural oils, and fabric paintings, highlighting women’s economic empowerment. He also visited the Noura and Nour program pavilion and Al-Azhar’s exhibition of scientific and religious publications.

He then attended the conference opening session, which featured a Quran recitation, a short film, and speeches by key figures including Dr. Afnan Al-Shuaibi (Women’s Development Organization), Mr. Hussein Ibrahim Taha (OIC), Ms. Amal Ammar (National Council for Women), Pope Tawadros II, and Grand Imam Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb.

The conference emphasized that recent social, economic, and cultural changes in the Islamic world have significantly affected women’s rights. Integrating religious and media discourse is seen as essential for fostering a supportive environment that empowers women and protects their rights, with enlightened religious messages being most effective when responsibly amplified through media.