Women on the Pilgrimage to Fostering Social Cohesion & Peacebuilding: Understanding Islamic Principles

Abstract

Women are fundamental drivers of change within their communities and society. They carry the responsibility to nurture their families and teach the next generation of children.  By increasing their role in social cohesion and peace-building, their family, community, and country will benefit. The literature identifies that gender equality and equal opportunities for women and men without discrimination of colour, creed, religion, and ethnicity and protection of religious and ethnic minorities are considered the most critical elements for social cohesion in a society. The objective of this research is to explore, how women can play their positive roles in the abovementioned domains by following their religion and living in the Islamic paradigm and structure.  For this purpose, the teachings of the Last Prophet ﷺ are very much hoped to guide the female fabric of society that how they can remove the social injustice and inequalities, violence and extremism and particularly can provide the rights to people from different racial backgrounds or people of a different faith along with the respect for every faith, their followers, their sacred text and worship places. It is then incumbent upon the scholars to identify and highlight the Prophetic teachings for better understanding to cope with the perplexing situation. The study will also discuss that without following the real teachings of Islam, we would be unable to establish a peaceful and cohesive community. The study will be qualitative and the methodology to be used in the discussion will be the inductive approach.