A resolution passed by Samastha Kerala Jem’iyyathul Ulema, a leading Muslim scholarly organisation in Kerala, has triggered a fresh debate on the role of Muslim women in public life.
The resolution was adopted during a conference of the body, where scholars raised concern over what they described as ‘increasing attempts to draw Muslim women into public activities’ that could distract them from what they see as their ‘core responsibilities’.
Samastha, a Muslim scholarly body, passed a resolution advising that Muslim women should not be encouraged to participate in public activities that distract them from what it described as their fundamental responsibilities.
— IANS (@ians_india) February 10, 2026
The resolution emphasized modesty, adherence to… pic.twitter.com/FWxoxjhqzQ
In the resolution, the scholars stressed that modesty and dignity are central values for women in Islam and said these qualities should guide both personal conduct and social engagement.
They emphasised that traditional Islamic teachings set clear boundaries, which, according to them, are essential for both material well-being and spiritual growth.
At the same time, the organisation clarified that Islam grants women clear rights, including the right to education, employment, inheritance, and an independent spiritual identity. However, it warned that the influence of modern lifestyles and liberal ideas could push women to cross moral limits, especially in public spaces, which the scholars said should be avoided.
The resolution specifically stated that efforts to pull Muslim women into public roles that take them away from their “fundamental responsibilities” should not be promoted. It also called for protecting what it described as the special care Islam gives to women’s dignity and safety.
The scholars advised women to study the examples of the women who were companions of Prophet Muhammad and their pious successors as role models. They warned women against what they referred to as “distorted progressive arguments” that, in their view, ignore long-standing religious guidance.
