In a room buzzing with anticipation, a man cloaked in black takes his place atop a striking black-and-gold pulpit. He declares himself the divinely appointed successor of the Prophet Mohammed and the true inheritor of the religion of Islam. But this isn't your typical mosque gathering. Scanning the audience reveals something radically different: women from all walks of life fill half the seats, and not a single one is wearing a hijab—the head covering traditionally considered obligatory by Muslims worldwide.
What’s behind this bold departure from tradition? The man at the pulpit is none other than the Mahdi, the figure destined to revive and renew Islam. And he’s doing just that—starting with a bold and controversial claim that has sent shockwaves through the Muslim world: the hijab, he asserts, was never a religious obligation. God allows women freedom to choose whether to wear it or not. This is more than a statement; it’s a revolutionary shift in the understanding of women’s rights and roles within religion, challenging centuries of corrupt dogma.
Women's Rights and the Challenge of Islamic Law
It’s no secret that Islam, as it is commonly practiced today, struggles with a bad reputation when it comes to women’s rights. The Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research acknowledges this, noting, “Often, misrepresentations and misconceptions about how women are treated by Sharia are used to advance the notion that Islam is misogynistic.” But is this truly a matter of misinterpretation by average Muslims, or is there something more at play? Are the so-called scholars of Islam pulling the strings behind the scenes?
To unravel this, we need only look at some well-known cases. Scholarly fatwas on women’s issues range from the mundane—like prohibiting women from plucking their eyebrows—to the repulsive, such as permitting child marriage, and even the bizarre, like suggesting a husband can eat parts of his wife’s body in dire circumstances. While many Muslims are accustomed to ignoring these more extreme clerical decrees, a problem arises when such fatwas are enforced on a societal level. A prime example is the compulsory wearing of the hijab in Iran.
In late 2022, Iran witnessed a wave of anti-government protests over the compulsory hijab, sparked by the death of Jina Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman. She died after being beaten by the Gasht-e Ershad, Iran’s “morality police,” tasked with enforcing strict dress codes and behaviors supposedly rooted in Islamic law. These laws, defined by jurists claiming authority in Islam, led to protests that resulted in over 500 deaths and thousands of arrests. This is just one example where religious authorities have sanctioned violence against women under the banner of Islamic law.
In 2016, Pakistan’s Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), a body of non-working scholars advising the government on Islamic legal matters, issued a shocking ruling: it is permissible for a husband to "lightly" beat his wife if she disobeys his commands, including refusing sex or not dressing as he desires.
Violence against women, even when it leads to death, is often justified in so-called Islamic nations, with Pakistan leading the world in annual honor killings. And, according to a Pew study, a significant margin of Muslims in Muslim-majority nations believe that honor killings are justified in some circumstances.
Elsewhere, women face severe restrictions. In Saudi Arabia, women are bound by Islamic dress codes and must obtain male guardian consent for most legal actions, including travel and education. This country was famously the last on earth to allow women to drive.
In 2017 the head of fatwas in Saudi Arabia’s Assir governorate at the time, Saad al-Hijri, was caught on video arguing that women should not drive because their brains shrink to a quarter the size of a man’s when they go shopping. The nation only reversed the ban women driving in 2018, with Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United States admitting, “...the majority of the members of the Council of Senior Scholars in the Kingdom agree that Islam does not ban women from driving. This was a societal issue.” This inconsistency highlights a deeper issue: those with positions of power in religion are often guilty of equating cultural biases and personal opinions with divine law.
Afghanistan provides another grim example, where the Taliban, since its takeover in 2021, has banned women from attending school beyond the sixth grade. Despite these harsh realities, many point out that this is not what Prophet Mohammed taught.
Indeed, the Prophet's teachings starkly contrast with the actions of today’s so-called Islamic authorities. Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan has stated that 99% of what is known as Islam today is false and that reality is apparent. The religion of Prophet Mohammed has been corrupted, particularly regarding women’s rights. Instead of elevating women as the Prophet did, clerics have systematically eroded their rights, often reducing them to less than what non-Muslim societies offer. This is not just a misunderstanding—it’s a blatant distortion of the Prophet's true legacy.
Prophet Mohammed: An Advocate For Women
In an era where women were often silenced and sidelined, Prophet Mohammed emerged as an advocate for their rights. Imagine a world where daughters were buried alive simply for being born female—a practice so brutal yet tragically common in pre-Islamic Arabia. The Prophet Mohammed stood firmly against this, putting an end to female infanticide and taught that every child, regardless of gender, was a divine blessing.
But his monumental impact didn't stop there. At a time when women were seen as little more than property, Mohammed shattered societal norms by granting them the right to inherit property—a radical shift that gave women financial independence and security. This is a right which Western women did not achieve until many centuries later. The Prophet Mohammed lived by the values he preached and spoke highly of the women in his household, crediting his wife Khadijah not only for her unwavering support but for her wealth, which played a crucial role in spreading his message (Shajara Tuba’a (Blessed Tree), Al-Shaikh Muhammad Mahdi Al-Hairi, Vol. 2, p. 233).
The Prophet also honored his daughter Fatimah Al-Zahraa with the profound statement, “Verily, Fatimah is nicknamed ‘the mother of her father’” (Al-Khasa’is Al-Fatimiyah, Shaikh Mohammed Al-Baqir Al-Kajouri, Vol. 1, p. 126), a testament to her importance in both his life and the spiritual heritage of Islam.
Even more remarkable, Mohammed didn't just talk about women's rights—he included women in the very heart of his community. He welcomed female disciples, honored female martyrs, and even had women who took up arms and fought in battle alongside him. Mohammed’s divinely inspired actions advanced women’s rights were nothing short of revolutionary.
So what about today? When the topic of mistreatment of women in Islam comes up, Muslims are quick to remind you of what an advocate the prophet was in his day and age for women’s rights and inclusion. However, today’s scholars and clerics do not seem to continue his legacy. The way they distort and tarnish the Prophet Mohammed's message makes it evident why the narrations state that the scholars of the end times are the enemies of Islam. Today, the only person truly upholding Mohammed's legacy regarding women is the Qaim of the family of Mohammed, otherwise known as the Mahdi, Aba Al-Sadiq (pbuh).
Meet The Women Behind the Revolution
In 2023, Aba Al-Sadiq addressed a provocative question in his series, The School of Divine Mysteries: Can women be prophets? His answer was a resounding yes. He explained that a prophet is simply someone who receives divine revelation, and the scriptures reveal many instances of women who communicated with God. He cited examples like Deborah, a judge who led the Israelites after Moses; Mary, the mother of Jesus, who received revelation through the appearance of an angel; and Lady Narjis, who followed a divinely inspired dream to find the Imam of her time. Aba Al-Sadiq emphasized that the distinction between male and female prophets lies not in their spiritual status but in the roles they played in society. In fact, some women, he asserts, have been better and closer to God than men. In fact, he asserted that some women have been closer to God than men, reinforcing that God judges by faith and sincerity, not gender.
"The potential is open for all of mankind based on their sincerity to reach through and go to the highest ranks that they can achieve," he declared, challenging long-held beliefs perpetuated by non-working scholars who have strayed from the true teachings of Islam. “And then here we have non-working scholars deciding from their own selves to come to the conclusion that it's not possible…”
This refreshing perspective on gender equality is just one piece of evidence pointing to Aba Al-Sadiq as the Mahdi, who, according to narrations, will gather both men and women in his close circle.
Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (pbuh): “The Mahdi will rise up … along with 313 men and fifty women without any previous arrangement among themselves, like separate clouds clustering in the sky, one after another.” Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 52, pg. 223
Certainly, we find women from this group of trusted advisors in the Mahdi’s household. Aba Al-Sadiq’s family has a strong presence of women. In addition to two sons and two biological daughters, he raised two adopted daughters from a young age alongside his wife, Norhan Hashem. Like the Prophet Mohammed, who began his mission with the unwavering support of his wife Khadijah, Aba Al-Sadiq’s call has been significantly supported by Norhan. Perhaps few people are aware of what an important role she has played in spreading this faith. Since 2011, she has served as the main translator of Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan’s works from Arabic to English, opening the door for a global audience to understand and embrace the teachings of the faith.
Prophet Mohammed taught that seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim and Norhan’s story just goes to show how impactful a woman with knowledge and an education can be. But her contributions extend far beyond her many works. Since the rise of the Black Banners in 2015, Norhan has served as the “mother of the believers,” the first lady of the Qaim’s community, and a role model to all women who entered the Call.
Another key female figure in the community is Hadil El-Khouly, a human rights activist who has known Aba Al-Sadiq since 2008. Hadil works with Amnesty International and serves as the Human Rights Outreach Coordinator for the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light. Through her work, she advocates for oppressed members of the faith worldwide, from freeing believers wrongfully imprisoned in nations like Algeria and Iran to coordinating with the United Nations to secure the release of 104 asylum seekers detained in Turkey in 2023. Her efforts are focused on defending the rights of believers who are persecuted for their faith, particularly in so-called Muslim nations where the scholars oppose the Qaim’s revival of true Islam.
“For [the scholars], you cannot believe in the Mahdi and advocate for women’s rights. These two things clash. Their ‘imam al-Mahdi’ is an imam who will come and confirm the status quo. That’s it. If the imam comes with a message that’s revolutionary or that changes the status quo, the scholars would tell you no. They don’t want an imam Mahdi who advocates for women’s rights.”
Hadil explains, “What we have learned in the dawa is that women, just like men, have the ability to elevate spiritually and reach the highest of ranks. Some women are even higher than men in spiritual ranks, as we know from the story of Zainab and even Fatima Al-Zahra, who was higher than many prophets. This directly clashes with mainstream Muslim scholars who teach that women are categorically inferior by nature and therefore can never be equal to men in their understanding of religion, let alone their standing in society.”
As for the idea that female companions will join the Qaim, Hadil explains that while they are aware of the prophecies, they would reject women who speak out on issues Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan has denounced. She highlights that he has strongly condemned many of the core abuses women face in the Muslim world, such as child marriage, female circumcision (FGM), and domestic violence. But his advocacy for women doesn't stop there. In 2015, Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan made a groundbreaking statement about the rights of husbands and wives. He declared that, contrary to popular belief, wives are not obligated to do housework or childcare. In fact, a woman has the right compensation for performing those tasks. This stance places him at odds with the scholars as Hadil notes,
“...their “imam al-Mahdi” would not speak up or would not speak for women’s rights or any of these issues so of course when the dawa comes and it challenges that then they would have to fight it and speak against it.”
Hadil has the unique distinction of being dubbed “a woman worth 1,000 men” by Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan. She works tirelessly, putting her professional skills to use for the cause, and she is not alone. According to the narrations, 13 of the 50 female companions of the Mahdi will be on the front lines of the battlefield, acting as medics. (Mustadrak Safinat Al-Bihar, Ali Al-Namazi Al-Shahroudy, 1419 ed., v.4, p.90). There are women already fulfilling this role, in a sense, serving as doctors within the community of the Qaim. Aliaa Shareef, a Swedish general practitioner and Vanessa Debora Gardea Vega, a cardiologist from Mexico both heard the Call and jumped at the chance to join the community of Aba Al-Sadiq.
Aliaa explains that walking with the Qaim has allowed her the freedom to be respected simply as a human being.
“I feel Muslim women are living in even worse conditions than the women who lived in the pre-Islamic era,” Aliaa states. “With the Qaim, I'm valued as a human being; there's no difference between me and a man or any other woman except in my level of faith. No one can judge my faith except God and the Qaim. So I'm not judged, not looked at as a second-class citizen. I'm not evaluated based on my look. I'm truly respected for my humanity.”
Vanessa shares a similar sentiment, stating that her desire to do God’s will compelled her to join the Qaim:
“I got inspiration because I know Aba Al-Sadiq is the actual messenger sent by God. I wanted to join his call because I searched other religions and asked God about Aba Al-Sadiq. I love my profession, but for me, the most important thing is what God wants from me, and I am certain that God wants me to be part of the Qaim’s rise.”
Faithful women have forged the foundation of the Qaim’s community, and one of the most notable pillars is a woman named Bibi Zohra, a 70-year-old widow who made the bold and courageous choice to leave everything behind and migrate to the Mahdi back in 2016. She is the matriarch of a tribe of over 40 family members who have all served by the Mahdi’s side for the better part of a decade.
Bibi Zohra publicly speaks out on the Mahdi Has Appeared satellite channel in the Urdu language, calling people from the Indian Subcontinent towards the Mahdi. She is a living example of how the Mahdi gathers people of all ages, genders, and religious backgrounds.
Some might find it surprising that a young German woman from an atheist background is now urging others to embrace the message of the Prophet Mohammed, but that’s precisely Caroline Hören’s story. Caroline found herself knocking at the Mahdi’s door in 2011 after actively searching the world for the truth. She now serves as one of the heads of Security at the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light’s UK headquarters. She acknowledges that Aba Al-Sadiq’s inclusivity is logical, given that he is the savior for all mankind, not just the men.
“I think that there is a general problem for women to play important roles in religious organisations. Not only in the Muslim world - where obviously women have very little influence - but also for example in the catholic faith where all bishops and priests are male by default. And the Mahdi will solve this problem just like he solves all other injustices and problems in the world.
There are for sure some traditional Muslim men who find it strange that the Mahdi has women by his side who play an important role in the rise. But overall I see that it makes sense to people - of course the savior of all of mankind doesn’t just come for men. He comes for all people and he treats all people equally. So if men can work and support the Mahdi, women will have the same opportunity.”
The opportunity for women to serve has always been present in the ministries of true prophets, even when history has failed to record it accurately. In his book, The Goal of the Wise, Aba Al-Sadiq discussed one such example: Mary Magdalene. According to several apocryphal texts, which the Catholic Church excluded from the Bible, Mary was the closest and most faithful of Jesus’ disciples. The early church downplayed her importance and even portrayed her as a prostitute for centuries until correcting this historical inaccuracy in 1969. Aba Al-Sadiq has revealed even more about her. Due to her undying devotion and faith, Mary went on to play a crucial role in propagating Jesus’ ministry after the crucifixion. She was a messenger of Jesus, and the Qaim similarly has women in the role of reaching out to believers worldwide.
One woman who performs this task is Ailia Muhammad, a former Twelver Shia who joined the community of Aba Al-Sadiq over a decade ago. Now she works to spread the Call as a show presenter and coordinator of the outreach department for the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light. She is quick to note how different God’s system of justice is from the corrupt alternatives.
“Our roles or places in society are either established by a system of God or by an ungodly system,” Ailia says. “A system of God allows that everyone is free and living to their full capacity. Women in both Eastern and Western society testify to being placed in suffocating positions.”
As a person speaking to new believers who enter the call every day, Ailia is witnessing firsthand how much the stance of the Mahdi is resonating.
“I have seen women from almost every kind of social structure enter this call. Some came from extremist religious backgrounds, some from liberal households; some are professionals with full-time careers, and others are housewives. All of them were dissatisfied with the world they came from and found solace in the freedom found for women in the Divine Just State—a place where women are treated as exactly what they are: human beings with the potential to reach the highest of places.
The Mahdi comes to establish peace and justice, and Aba Al-Sadiq has woken both men and women up to realizing our potential to reach anything, our opportunity to be part of creating a better world, and our human right to serve God alone as His people.”
A Call for All
Growing up as a devout Catholic, I never imagined that my journey would lead me to the community of the Mahdi. But here I am, drawn by a sincere search for God that brought me into the embrace of Aba Al-Sadiq’s teachings. Over the years, I’ve had the honor of being a part of the community of the Qaim. As one of his disciples, I can personally attest that his doors are open to all who seek truth, without reservation.
In 2023, I was invited to appear as a guest on Aba Al-Sadiq’s series, The School of Divine Mysteries. My presence as a woman, and one without a hijab, sparked criticism from some viewers. But this is where Aba Al-Sadiq’s courage and commitment to equality truly shine. His decision to feature female students isn’t just symbolic; it’s a testament to his unapologetic stance that God’s call is universal, cutting across gender, background, and societal expectations.
As a former Catholic, I can’t help but draw parallels between Aba Al-Sadiq and Jesus Christ, who defended his female disciples against those who sought to silence them. In Aba Al-Sadiq, I see that same spirit—a leader who, through his actions and teachings, is not just transforming the opportunities for women like me but is also inspiring us to draw ever closer to God. As he so beautifully said, “[God Almighty] doesn't look at the bodies, but He looks at the souls, and the potential is open for all of mankind based on their sincerity to reach through and go to the highest ranks that they can achieve.” And isn’t that the true justice of God? In a world that often judges by appearance, status, or gender, Aba Al-Sadiq reminds us that the divine measure is faith alone. And in that, there is hope for us all.
The Mahdi is not only revolutionizing Islam but also transforming women's rights in a powerful and liberating way! He breaks down old dogmas and sets new standards for equality. This movement is not just progress - it’s a huge leap towards a future filled with justice and strength!
It's time to leave outdated beliefs behind and celebrate the freedom that women have always deserved!
This is such an outstanding article! Every men and every woman should read it.
The All-Compassionate has blessed humanity greatly by his Divine Light Aba Al-Sadiq(FHIP).
Aba Al-Sadiq(FHIP) is truly a Light in the midst of a horribly dark world.
The woman have not a right place in menu Islamic countries so the appear of Aba Al Sadiq as. Opens the opportunity to have rights also explains the real right. That we have God bless you always.