Girls’ education is in reverse gear – can Sheikh Al-Issa steer it back on course?
Every child gets at least some opportunity to learn, right?
For us in the West, formal education is a gift we take for granted, but the reality is that worldwide, 122 million girls are out of school, and in low-income countries where girls do enroll at school, their drop-out rates are higher than for boys. In South Sudan, over two-thirds of children aged between 6 and 17 have never even stepped foot in a classroom. And in conflict-torn countries like Libya and Syria, the problem is reaching crisis point.
Where global education leaders once celebrated rising literacy rates, we are now seeing a growing gender apartheid. And nowhere is this problem more acute than in the Taliban’s Afghanistan, where over 1.4 million girls are being excluded from classrooms.
If we don’t educate our girls, we are setting them up for lifetimes of poorer health, higher risk of poverty, and greater vulnerability to exploitation, violence, and child marriage. These devastating impacts echo across the generations.
And this form of oppression makes no sense for the societies that enable or endorse it: In Muslim countries alone, keeping girls out of schooling is draining economies of a staggering $5.7 trillion in unrealised potential.
Statistics aside, it’s time to stop talking about the problem and put words into action. And the person making this happen cuts an unlikely figure.
In January, the Muslim World League (MWL) called a summit in Islamabad, Pakistan to initiate action. Its convenor was Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, the Secretary-General of the MWL and religious thought leader who has made a name for himself in successfully bringing together multi-faith coalitions and uniting diverse communities across ideological chasms.
With the International Conference on Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities, his aim was to bring togethera coalition of women’s activists, policymakers, politicians, NGOs and religious scholars to secure consensus in support of girls’ education across the Muslim world.
The delegates – including human rights advocates like Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, state leaders, UNICEF, and even the most conservative Islamic sects – formed an unlikely but critical alliance. And their triumph was a unanimous agreement that affirmed girls’ fundamental right to education – not just as a social and moral duty, but as a religious obligation in the name of Islam: The Islamabad Declaration.
And it was all possible because Sheikh Al-Issa saw the potential where others only saw barriers. His efforts were supported by Malala during her keynote speech when she said, “In Afghanistan, an entire generation of girls will be robbed of its future… As Muslim leaders, now is the time to raise your voice, use your power.”
As Secretary-General of the MWL, Sheikh Al-Issa represents a vast network of 139 countries and over 1,200 scholars. And as an Islamic leader, he stands apart. He is known for his emphasis upon moderation in an increasingly polarized world, proving that faith can be a force for modern progress rather than a barrier to it.
Unafraid to be politically controversial – engaging with figures such as King Charles III, Pope Francis and evangelical figures –or shy away from activism, Sheikh Al-Issa is driven by an unwavering commitment to serving humanity through justice and inclusivity. He has used his influence to condemn terrorism and religious extremism, emphasizing time and time again that Islam is a faith of compassion, knowledge, and progress.
He broke new ground in 2020 by leading a delegation to Auschwitz, standing with Holocaust victims to boldly condemn antisemitism. And now, he is using his sway to contest extremist narratives around the world, such as the Taliban’s oppressive policies against women. And by uniting a wide cross-section of Islamic sects with grassroots civil society, he may just have the power to drive lasting change.
Sheikh Al-Issa’s mission has always been to unite Islamic thought and mobilize it into action. In 2019, he rallied over 6,000 scholars to endorse the groundbreaking Charter of Makkah, affirming human rights, gender equality, education, and religious tolerance as core values that should be embraced globally. The Charter now serves as a guiding blueprint for global leadership and shaping pivotal events, including the recent summit in Pakistan.
Sheikh Al-Issa is not just a religious leader – he is a reformer, a bridge-builder, and a voice of moral clarity in a time of division.
And the Islamabad Declaration may be his greatest achievement to date. Because it is calls such as this which can force change upon societies and regimes that fundamentally oppose the education of women – like the Taliban.
Sheikh Al-Issa spoke of the significance of this moment himself, calling the Declaration as not “merely a ‘call,’ a ‘declaration,’ or simply a ‘statement of stance.’ Rather, it represents a qualitative transformation in supporting girls’ education.”
His straightforward and profound philosophy is that faith should integrate with education and social progress, not exist separately from them.
That central concept delivered other tangible outcomes at the conference, securing several key initiatives and partnerships between the Muslim World League and such organizations as the UNHCR (UN High Commissioner for Refugees), with the United Nations University for Peace and UNICEF, amongst others, to provide scholarships for girls’ education, integrate it with green skills programs, and deliver a worldwide Islamic awareness-raising campaign on the issue.
This is the start of the work: But these powerful new alliances are the first step to pulling down the Taliban’s flawed, anti-Islamic ideology and empower girls and women across Afghanistan, Iran and the wider Global South to achieve better outcomes for their lives.
Sheikh Al-Issa’s mission is clear: “This initiative, with God’s help, will be both effective and tangible through the substantive agreements signed. It will not be a temporary appeal, an empty declaration, or simply a symbolic stance. Rather, it will represent a qualitative transformation in advocating for girls’ education – bringing prosperity to every deprived girl and every community in dire need of the contributions of both its sons and daughters equally.”
By bridging theology and real-world action, he is redefining faith leadership. Through grassroots collaboration, advocacy for women’s education, and diplomatic engagement, he champions a model where scholars don’t just endlessly preach – they drive change.
His quiet revolution may be the breakthrough needed to safeguard girls’ education worldwide and change the lives of millions.
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