Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, has warned of escalating threats to the Muslim family and stressed the need for an Islamic framework to protect women’s rights.
He made the remarks during a conference titled “The Role of Religious and Media Discourse and Its Impact on Protecting and Promoting Women’s Rights in OIC Member States,” according to the AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA),
In his speech, al-Tayeb criticised the “flood of imported Western theories” that attempt to reinterpret the structure of the family and reduce the role of mothers to mere reproductive tools.
He also highlighted the potential social risks posed by emerging technologies such as artificial wombs, which could weaken natural family bonds.
Al-Tayeb noted that Islam has historically upheld justice for women, including rights to inheritance, education, choice of spouse, financial independence, and the preservation of family names.
The Grand Imam added that the special status accorded to women in certain narrations of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) reflects their true virtues, rather than merely emotional considerations.
According to him, the gap between Islamic teachings and social realities today is largely due to the dominance of customs and popular culture over the guidance of the Qur’an and Sunnah.
This, he said, has contributed to the erosion of women’s rights and the spread of misconceptions about the status of Muslim women.
He also criticised the excessive inflation of dowries, describing it as an obstacle to societal morality and chastity. Dowries should symbolize affection, not serve as instruments of extravagance.
As a proactive measure, Al-Azhar’s Council of Senior Scholars has approved a set of resolutions forming an “Islamic Charter for Women’s Rights.” The charter emphasises equality in rights and responsibilities, full adherence to Islamic inheritance laws, the right to choose a spouse, the right to work in all professions, a prohibition on domestic violence, the criminalisation of arbitrary divorce, and recognition of women’s right to economic participation in family assets.
The charter is seen as an important step in upholding principles of justice and protecting women’s rights in modern Islamic society.
