The Grand Imam: Women Rights in the Holy Qur’an have no parallel in other Divine Books or in positive laws
His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Prof Ahmed Aṭ-Ṭayyeb, started the first episode of his Ramadan program on Egyptian TV talking about spouses and family rights in Islam. He pointed out that most of the family members gather in the house, especially seniors and influential members; the mother, alongside the children, and the husband, in the Holy Month of Ramadan. He noted that the month is an annual occasion to send the family many legal messages, which we deem are in the interest of the family and its stability. Such messages help families overcome potential problems that sometimes are the result of petty causes.
The Grand Imam said that we are not biased to women against men, or vice versa. We only look at reality and try to show the treasures in our great legal or jurisprudential heritage, which we deem are good enough in setting Muslim women in a steady position envied by other women in the world.
He also explained that the problem of women in our current Islamic society is the conflict between a trend that wants Eastern women to be a picture of Western women, and a second trend that wants them to return to the old centuries, or to be governed by ancient habits of ignorance era. Still, a third moderate trend tries to show the role of Islam in the liberation of women, adding "I’m one of those who believe that the Qur’an has no other counterpart, either among other Heavenly Books or among positive laws, in its liberation of women, both in terms of liberating them from old customs and traditions, and in acknowledging their full rights; within the framework of respect for their personality, humanity and potentials.
The Grand Imam added that the Muslim woman, or the Eastern woman in general, is still subject to customs and traditions constituting restrictions and impediments to her, stressing that if the Eastern woman loses her Oriental characteristics and the religious and moral principles established in our region, she will get stuck midways; meaning that she will be neither Western nor Eastern. Rather, we'll have a disfigured blend of both.
He also warned that the (Muslim) family is exposed to globalist plans, conferences and international programs that claim to represent the optimum life model, and to enjoy advanced thought. Sustained by great power and wealth, they claim to have the right to steer the world to follow their model, regarding women, education systems, arts or even creeds.
The Imam indicated that these Western trends call on the Arab and Islamic peoples to sign protocols or agreements that lend Eastern women a status equal to that of Western women. They do not take into account cultural and environmental differences.
For the Imam, environment, customs and traditions usually overcome the logic of religion regarding women's issues, showing that the logic underscoring Shari`ah and the family in the Holy Qur’an abounds with treasures, warning of corrupt interpretations of Islamic texts in favor of customs and traditions.
His Eminence concluded his speech by clarifying the status of women before and after Islam, citing the words of Omar Ibn Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him; “During the era of ignorance, we didn’t care about women until Islam came and revealed certain commands regarding them, and assigned certain shares for them”. A woman, before the advent of Islam, did not have the right to open her mouth in front of her husband, but after the advent of Islam, she could argue back.
The Grand Imam's program is broadcast at 6:15 pm daily, throughout the Holy Month of Ramadan. It discusses a number of Muslim family issues, the rights established in Islam for the husband and the wife, and how to preserve the family as a basis for a solid human community.