His Eminence Dr. Nazir Mohammed Ayyad, Egypt’s Grand Mufti and President of the General Secretariat for Fatwa Authorities Worldwide, delivered a speech at the launch ceremony of the International Program for Women Leaders Worldwide, affirmed that Islam honored women and recognized them as equal partners in building civilization, promoting development, and fostering social stability. The Grand Mufti stressed that empowering women educationally, socially, and economically is fully aligned with the higher objectives of Islamic law, while extremist and irregular fatwas concerning women threaten the stability of both the family and society.

He further highlighted the role of Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta in advancing a balanced and contemporary religious discourse that supports women’s legitimate rights and addresses modern challenges within the framework of Islamic principles. Dr. Ayyad also emphasized the importance of confronting rigid and misguided interpretations through scholarly initiatives, awareness programs, and cooperative efforts aimed at promoting moderation, coexistence, peace, and sustainable social development.

Held under the gracious patronage of His Eminence the Grand Imam, Prof. Ahmed al-Tayeb, the event was jointly organized by the World Organization for Al-Azhar Graduates, the Faculty of Islamic Sciences for International Students, and the Arkan Foundation for Sustainable Development under the slogan: “Through Knowledge and Leadership, We Shape a Generation that Changes the World.”