The Afghan Taliban's Decision To Deny Women Modern Education Violates Islamic Principles

By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam 21 February 2023 Taliban's Decision To Prohibit Women And Girls From Attending University In Afghanistan Violates Sharia Law Main Points: 1. The Taliban's decision has prompted many social media users to wonder whether Islam prohibits women from receiving an education. 2. How did the Taliban forget the history of Muslim men and women who pioneered in science, education, politics, and the rise of Islamic societies, past and present?" 3. The Taliban is attempting to prevent Muslim Ummah women from obtaining an education through a variety of means, despite Islam's support for female education ---- Representative Photo ----- In a new step towards further restrictions on Afghan women, the Afghan Taliban banned university education for girls. This decision dealt a blow to the country and was strongly condemned at the international level, a process that is still ongoing. The decision of the Taliban was openly condemned by the majority of Muslim countries, particularly Turkey and Saudi Arabia. However, the Taliban's decision has prompted many social media users to wonder whether Islam prohibits women from receiving an education. When people wear the cloak of Islam to prevent women from obtaining an education, a question must arise in people's minds. According to what we have read in the Qur'an and Hadith in this regard, Islam commands both men and women to acquire knowledge. Knowledge could be defined as either modern knowledge or religious knowledge. As a result, women are not prohibited from learning modern sciences in the Qur'an or Sunnah. This is why the vast majority of Muslim scholars around the world acknowledge that women can study both religious and modern studies. Sheikh Al-Azhar Ahmed al-Tayeb sent a message to the world about Afghan girls and women a few weeks ago. In this message, he stated that the Taliban's decision to prohibit women and girls from attending university in Afghanistan violates Sharia law. He stated that Al-Azhar University deeply regrets the Afghan authorities' decision to prohibit Afghan girls from attending the university. This Talibani decision violates Islamic law and the clear demand that men and women must acquire knowledge from the lap of the mother to the grave. He went on to say that the call of Islam has produced great minds among talented women throughout Islam's scientific, political, and cultural history, and that this is still a source of pride for every Muslim who is faithful to Allah, the Messenger, and the Shariat. Sheikh Al-Azhar stated that the Taliban's decision demonstrates that the Taliban did not pay attention to the more than two thousand hadiths in the most authentic Sunni books, which were narrated by Hazrat Ummul Muminin Ayesha, the Prophet's wife and the mother of the believers. "How did the Taliban forget the history of Muslim men and women who pioneered in science, education, politics, and the rise of Islamic societies, past and present?" he asked. Furthermore, Sheikh Al-Azhar stated that this shocking decision for the consciences of Muslims and non-Muslims should not have been made by any Muslim. He stated that he, along with Jamia Al-Azhar scholars all over the world, are proud to oppose the Taliban's decision. We see it as a decision that is not in accordance with Islamic Sharia and directly contradicts the call of the Holy Quran. The Sheikh of Jamia Al-Azhar warned Muslims and non-Muslims alike against the Taliban's belief, idea, or illusion that it is forbidden to educate women and girls. He also urged Afghanistan's rulers to reconsider their decision and reminded us all that nothing from Allah will be of use to us on the Day of Judgment, not money, honour, or politics. However, the tragedy is that the Taliban declared their decision to be correct. Nida Mohammad Nadeem, the Taliban government's minister of higher education, defended the decision, claiming that the decree was issued to prevent mixing of genders. He went on to say that some subjects are taught in universities that violate Islamic principles. The Taliban did not specify which principles are incompatible with Islam. Despite promising a more moderate rule that respects the rights of women and minorities, the Taliban have widely implemented their interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia, since taking power in August 2021. Gender mixing is merely an excuse to keep women out of school. The reason for this is that the problem of gender mixing could be solved by providing education in two shifts, one for boys and one for girls. Many countries are dealing with two such shifts in education for girls and boys. The Taliban's goal, however, is not to find a solution, but to keep girls from attending university. To summarise, the Taliban is attempting to prevent Muslim Ummah women from obtaining an education through a variety of means, despite Islam's support for female education. ---- Kaniz Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam. URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/afghan-taliban-women-education-islamic-principles/d/129157 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism