Grand Imam of Al-Azhar announces decisions on women’s rights, warns against violence, calls for curbing divorce chaos

CAIRO – 1 February 2026:  Grand Imam, Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar, announced a set of decisions adopted by the Council of Senior Scholars of Al-Azhar concerning women’s rights in the modern era. 

He made the announcement during his address today, Sunday, at the conference titled “Investing in Religious and Media Discourse and Its Impact on Protecting and Promoting Women’s Rights in the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.”

The conference was held in the presence of Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, along with a number of ministers, officials, and scholars from Egypt and abroad. It was organized by Al-Azhar in cooperation with the National Council for Women and the Women’s Development Organization (WDO) at the Al-Azhar Conference Center.

The Council’s resolutions affirmed the principle of equality between men and women in rights and duties, emphasizing that distinction between the sexes is based solely on competence and merit, not gender. The Council stressed the obligation to grant women their rightful inheritance in accordance with Islamic law, rejecting any encroachment upon their shares. It also refuted calls for absolute equality between men and women where such claims contradict definitive religious texts.

The resolutions further affirmed that a guardian has no right to prevent a woman from marrying a suitable partner of her choosing without a legitimate reason. In cases brought before the judiciary, a judge has the authority to authorize the marriage.

The Council also confirmed that women may hold all positions for which they are qualified, including senior government posts. It ruled that women may travel without a male guardian, provided their travel is safe- whether accompanied by a trusted escort or using secure means of transportation that protect them from harm. The Council clarified that guardianship does not imply male superiority or authoritarian control by a husband, but rather constitutes a responsibility involving protection, care, and financial support.

In addition, the Council categorically prohibited domestic violence in all its forms, particularly violence against women, and warned against excessive dowries and the growing disorder surrounding divorce practices.

The Council deemed divorce without a valid justification to be an arbitrary act prohibited under Islamic law and subject to accountability, whether initiated by the husband or requested by the wife. Such practices harm the family, especially children, contradict the ethical objectives of Islamic law, and undermine the stability and continuity intended for marriage. Accordingly, divorce should be avoided as much as possible. Islamic law mandates arbitration between spouses before divorce is finalized, and scholars issuing fatwas are urged to adopt the most lenient opinion when assessing divorce-related cases.

Finally, the Council affirmed the obligation to compensate a wife who contributes to the growth of her husband’s wealth. This compensation should be granted by allocating her an equivalent share of the estate prior to its division if the amount is known, or through an equitable settlement, based on the assessment of experts and wise individuals, if the amount is unknown.