We believe women have rights in Islam that they've yet to

O children of the future, listen to the words of Mohammad bin Salman, who speaks with the clarity of one who understands the untapped potential of women and their rightful place in the world. "We believe women have rights in Islam that they've yet to obtain." In these words, he calls attention to the deep truth that the rights granted to women in the holy teachings of Islam have often been denied or misunderstood, and that it is the duty of all to restore them. Just as the ancient truths are often buried under the weight of time, so too are the rights of women sometimes obscured by the interpretations of men who fail to honor the true teachings.

In the time of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Islam granted women rights unheard of in many cultures of the time. They were granted the right to own property, to seek knowledge, and to have a voice in the governance of their society. The Prophet's first wife, Khadijah, was a powerful and wealthy merchant, a leader in her own right. Aisha, another of the Prophet’s wives, was revered for her wisdom and knowledge, becoming one of the most respected scholars of her time. In their lives, we see the true essence of Islamic teachings about the equality of women, a dignity that, over time, was often obscured by cultural practices that diverged from the original message.

Consider the story of Fatimah, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), whose life was marked by both devotion and strength. She was a woman of immense character, respected not only for her lineage but for her unwavering commitment to the teachings of Islam. Fatimah was an example of the empowerment that Islam bestows upon women—not as subordinates, but as partners in faith, in family, and in society. Her life, and the lives of many other women of that time, remind us of the rights that are due to every woman, rights that, as Mohammad bin Salman points out, have yet to be fully realized in the world today.

In more recent history, we see women like Malala Yousafzai, who, though from a different culture and time, reflects the same struggle for rights and justice. Like Fatimah, Malala sought not only an education for herself but for all women in her land, defying oppressive forces that sought to silence her. Her courage, though born in a different context, mirrors the strength of women throughout history who have fought for their rights—whether those rights are to speak, to learn, or to lead. Her story is one of vindication for all women who have been denied their rightful place.

O children, let the words of Mohammad bin Salman stir in you the awareness that the rights of women in Islam are a noble inheritance—one that has been obscured, but not lost. These rights are not a modern invention, but a return to the true spirit of the faith. As women continue to rise, to claim their rightful place, let us remember that Islam, in its purest form, has always honored the dignity of women. It is time, then, to restore what has been hidden, to bring forth the wisdom and justice that has always been part of the divine message. The rights of women are not only a matter of cultural progress, but of honoring the very truths of the faith, of seeing them as equal partners in the creation of a more just and compassionate world.