Rahma Roshadi, Indonesia
In recent years, support for women has grown rapidly, especially through social media. This trend is not only followed by women themselves but also by men who feel the need to express solidarity on gender issues.
On platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and X, hashtags and campaigns promoting women’s empowerment can go viral within hours. This wave of attention creates the impression that society is entering a new era where women are finally receiving greater recognition.
Yet behind all the noise lies a serious question worth pondering. Is this support truly born out of a deep awareness of women’s rights and status? Or is it merely the product of a passing social trend – an echo without substance, lacking a solid foundation?
The wave of digital feminism
The rise of digital feminism is one of the most striking signs of the social media era. We are witnessing a global movement that encourages women to share experiences of violence and discrimination that had long been hidden.
At the grassroots level, many women’s communities now use social media to raise awareness about reproductive health, domestic violence and the need for fairer employment opportunities.
On the positive side, the advocates of digital feminism believe that it has opened a space for women to speak out. Those who were previously silenced now have channels to express themselves, find support, and even build networks of solidarity across borders.
The digital world offers women the chance to create, to shape public opinion, and to contribute from the comfort of their homes. It is undeniable that this space has driven social change and opened public conversations on issues once considered taboo.
At the same time, there is a downside that must be recognised. Many campaigns end up limited to slogans and hashtags, with no real follow-up. The phenomenon of “jumping on the bandwagon” is common. Support is voiced while an issue is trending, but quickly disappears once public attention shifts. For some, such support is more about appearing relevant or gaining social validation than showing genuine commitment to the cause of women.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa, in his address at the Lajna Imaillah UK Ijtema 2025, drew attention to this very point. The world today often portrays women as weak, which makes online campaigns for women appear even more widespread – sometimes joined by men as well.
Yet, Huzooraa explained, many of these statements remain shallow, as they show little effort to highlight women’s true positive potential. Too often these movements are coloured by a desire for unrestrained freedom, grounded only in human logic rather than deeper values.
Gender equality in Islam
Looking back through history, Islam from the very beginning brought forward progressive teachings regarding gender relations. The Holy Quran explicitly states that men and women are equal before God in matters of faith, deeds and reward.
“Whoso acts righteously, whether male or female, and is a believer, We will, surely, grant him a pure life; and We will, surely, bestow on such their reward according to the best of their works.” (Surah an-Nahl, Ch.16:V.98)
Islamic history also records many remarkable women who played significant roles in society. Khadijara bint Khuwaylid, the first wife of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa, was a successful businesswoman who laid the financial foundation of the family and a vital supporter of the early mission of Islam.
Aisha bint Abu Bakrra is remembered as one of the greatest narrators of hadith and a leading authority in Islamic jurisprudence of her time.
Nusaybahra bint Ka‘b is known as a valiant fighter who took up arms to defend the Holy Prophetsa on the battlefield.
Rufaida al-Aslamiyyah is often recognised as the pioneer of medical and nursing practice in Islamic history. These examples affirm that Islam has never closed the door for women to take active roles in social, economic, intellectual and even political spheres.
Huzooraa, in various sermons, has emphasised that Muslims, in particular Ahmadi women, can proudly declare that over 1,400 years ago Allah and His Messengersa had already established the equality and freedom of women.
Thus, the concept of gender justice is not something foreign or newly imported into Islam; it has always been an integral part of the faith.
On the other hand, the modern feminist ideology that developed in the West often advances the spirit of absolute freedom and complete equality, which at times clashes with Islamic principles.
Feminism frequently insists that men and women must be identical in every aspect, including social roles and family responsibilities. Yet Islam emphasises not sameness, but balance – between rights and duties. We must be discerning, because what appears to be “the same” is not always fair or balanced.
For example, Islam establishes that the father is responsible for providing for the family, while the mother is not burdened with this obligation, even though she fully retains the right to own and manage her own wealth.
If the principle of being “the same” were applied, then women too would be forced to provide financially in all circumstances. That may seem equal, but it is not balanced, as it ignores women’s biological and psychological burdens, such as pregnancy and childrearing.
Another example can be found in the laws of inheritance. Men receive a larger share, not because they are more noble, but because financial responsibility rests on their shoulders. By contrast, whatever a woman inherits is entirely her own property, with no obligation to spend it on the family.
If “equal shares” were enforced, women would still enjoy their wealth, while men would remain financially responsible for dependents. This would in fact create imbalance, not fairness.
If the principle were simply “the same,” then men and women would be expected to follow identical dress codes. For instance, men would also have to cover their hair and wear long-sleeved clothing every day, or women would be free to dress in relatively more revealing outfits. That might appear equal, but in reality it is not balanced – especially when cultural practices vary widely from one country or region to another.
Islam, however, does not operate in this way. It emphasises balance. Women are instructed to observe modest dress, while men are commanded to lower their gaze.
Both are directed towards the same goal: preserving dignity and preventing moral corruption. Yet the form of instruction is tailored to each gender’s circumstances. It is not about being “identical,” but about being proportionate.
This debate often surfaces in public discourse. Some argue that Islam restricts women’s freedom, while others insist that Islam in fact honours women by granting them protection and placing them in a dignified position.
Misunderstandings usually arise because religious teachings are read through the lens of patriarchal culture or interpreted selectively, without appreciating the principles of justice and balance that lie at the heart of Islam.
Relevance in today’s era
In the digital age, the challenges faced by Muslim women have become increasingly complex. On one hand, the online world opens vast opportunities for self-expression, entrepreneurship and outreach. Many Muslim women today are active as educators, online business owners and content creators who share positive messages. They prove that the sharia does not restrict creativity or participation, so long as moral values and dignity are preserved.
On the other hand, the trend of feminism based solely on the logic of absolute freedom has begun to influence the younger generation. There is a tendency to view certain Islamic teachings – such as the obligation to observe modest dress or the concept of family leadership – as unjust restrictions. Yet a deeper reflection reveals that these rules were in fact established to safeguard women and to uphold social balance.
For this reason, it is vital for Muslim women to approach gender-related trends with wisdom and discernment. Genuine support is marked by consistency, grounded in knowledge, and expressed through meaningful action within society. By contrast, support that remains at the level of slogans or hashtags will soon fade away without leaving any real impact.
From the perspective of tawhid (oneness of God), all human beings are equal before God, and true distinction lies in righteousness, not in gender. With this principle, gender bias and discrimination can be reduced, while affirming that the struggle of women is not merely about demanding rights, but also about fulfilling their devotion to Allah.
“Surely, men who submit themselves [to God] and women who submit themselves [to Him], and believing men and believing women, and obedient men and obedient women and truthful men and truthful women, and men steadfast [in their faith] and steadfast women, and men who are humble and women who are humble, and men who give alms and women who give alms, and men who fast and women who fast, and men who guard their chastity and women who guard [their chastity], and men who remember Allah much and women who remember [Him] – Allah has prepared for [all] of them forgiveness and a great reward.” (Surah al-Ahzab, Ch.33: V.35)
This verse highlights the fundamental spiritual equality of both men and women. Each has the same opportunity to attain a lofty rank in the sight of Allah. One’s worth is not determined by gender, but by the level of piety and righteous deeds they perform.
More specifically, the key to realising gender justice in Islam lies in education. The family, as the smallest unit of society, plays a central role in instilling egalitarian values and mutual respect from an early age.
Children – both boys and girls – need to be taught that they are equal before Allah, and that every role they take on should be carried out with a deep sense of responsibility.
Identity, spirituality and the future
To conclude, Ahmadi Muslim women need not feel inferior, nor feel compelled to seek validation by imitating modern feminist trends.
From the very beginning, Islam has affirmed the noble status of women and granted them wide scope for participation.
The real challenge lies in reviving these values amidst entrenched patriarchal cultures and the currents of global ideologies that can at times be misleading.
Huzooraa has said that the establishment of Lajna Imaillah was so that the piety and potential of its members may shine brightly and be recognised by the world. Thus, Ahmadis must raise their standards of spirituality and morality, devote themselves wholly to Allah the Almighty, and stand firmly upon truth. (Ibid.)
We must remain conscious that worldly goals are not the ultimate purpose of life. The moral quality expected of every Ahmadi is to continuously strive to strengthen their faith.
It is not sufficient to merely utter the shahadah; true conviction requires a wholehearted effort to live by the commandments of Allah, for every believer will inevitably face trials and challenges.
Study and reflect upon the Holy Quran – consider the more than 700 commands of Allah: what He enjoins and what He forbids.
Every Ahmadi must elevate the standard of their faith and their prayers, and also keep in mind the Lajna pledge that is so often recited in Jamaat gatherings. If this pledge is truly lived, then surely divine blessings will descend upon you.
Participate in jamaat activities with a spirit of obedience. Hold firmly to this identity and this beauty, so that we may stand apart with a distinct character from the rest of the world.
If Ahmadi women live by all these teachings, then they are not only reforming themselves, but also becoming those who purify the world from the chaos that surrounds it. To achieve such a lofty goal, however, requires great sacrifice. (Ibid.)
Amidst the strong currents of digital feminism, Muslim women have a unique opportunity to show that their struggle is not merely a passing viral trend, but rather a lifelong journey rooted in faith.
By upholding the just and balanced teachings of Islam, they can demonstrate that true gender justice is not simply unbounded equality, but rather honour, responsibility, and dignity – bestowed with the pleasure of Allah.
