H.E. Dr. Nazir Mohammed ‘Ayyad, Egypt’s Grand Mufti, President of the General Secretariat for Fatwa Authorities Worldwide, affirmed that women’s dignity and rights are firmly protected under Islamic law, emphasizing that qawamah (family leadership) is a responsibility aimed at protecting the family and preserving its stability, not an authority to inflict harm or abuse. Speaking at the international symposium “The Role of Religious Leaders in Combating Violence against Women” in Jeddah, Dr. Ayyad stressed that marriage in Islam is founded on affection, mercy, cooperation, and mutual support, and called for correcting misinterpretations of religious texts concerning women and the family.

Dr. Ayyad further stressed that combating violence against women requires a responsible religious and fatwa discourse that corrects misconceptions and rejects selective or fragmented interpretations of Islamic texts. He called for specialized premarital education addressing the religious, psychological, and social dimensions of family life, alongside stronger cooperation among religious, educational, and media institutions. He also advocated integrating family harmony and conflict-management skills into educational curricula to promote respect for women, prevent family violence and family breakdown, and strengthen social stability.