DUBAI: Saudi women need not wear the abaya — the loose-fitting, full-length robes symbolic of religious faith — a senior member of the top Muslim clerical body said, another indication of the Kingdom’s efforts toward modernization.
On his radio show named Friday Studio aired on Neda Al-Islam radio station on Friday Feb. 9, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Mutlaq, a member of the Council of Senior Scholars, said Muslim women should dress modestly, but this did not necessitate wearing the abaya.
Friday Studio is a weekly Islamic show that discusses Islamic teachings, answers questions from the audience and issues fatwas by the show’s permanent guest Al-Mutlaq.
“More than 90 percent of pious Muslim women in the Muslim world do not wear abayas,” Sheikh Mutlaq said on Friday. “So we should not force people to wear abayas.”
While not necessarily signalling a change in the law, the statement is the first of its kind from a senior religious figure. It follows the recent pattern of freedoms the Kingdom has been witnessing with the ascent of young Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to power.
Only the government-appointed clerics associated with the Council of Senior Scholars are allowed to issue fatwas, or Islamic legal opinions. Their interpretations of Islamic law form the basis of Saudi Arabia’s legal system.
Saudi women have started wearing more colorful abayas in recent years, the light blues and pinks in stark contrast with the traditional black. Open abayas over long skirts or jeans are also becoming more common in some parts of the country.
The trend marks a major change in the last couple of years. In 2016, a Saudi woman was detained for removing her abaya on a main street in the capital of Riyadh. Local media reported that she was detained after a complaint was filed with the religious police.
The Kingdom has seen an expansion in women’s rights recently, such as the decision passed to allow women to attend mixed public sporting events and the announcement that Saudi Arabia would grant them the right to drive.
These are some of the many changes the country has undergone in recent months, hailed as proof of a new progressive trend in the deeply conservative Muslim Kingdom.
But despite these changes, the gender-segregated nation is criticized for its continued constraints on women. Activists have blasted the country’s guardianship system which requires a male family member to grant permission for a woman to study abroad, travel and other activities.
Long robes not necessary attire for Saudi women — senior cleric
Long robes not necessary attire for Saudi women — senior cleric
Saudi program opens doors to historical research for local, international scholars
- Starting in May, Darah’s International Visitor Program offers access to rare manuscripts, archival photos, and oral histories
Riyadh: The first session of the International Visitor Program for local and international researchers, organized by the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, known as Darah, will begin in May.
According to Turki Al-Shuwaier, CEO of Darah, the program is a strategic initiative aimed at supporting researchers from within and outside the Kingdom, enabling them to conduct qualitative studies that leverage Darah’s research resources and specialized expertise.
He told Arab News: “The program contributes to strengthening cooperation with academic institutions, research centers, and archival libraries locally and internationally, as well as promoting specialized knowledge production and providing a stimulating environment for the development of research and knowledge paths.”
The program seeks to foster constructive scientific cooperation and open new horizons for documenting national history, giving researchers access to rare documents, historical manuscripts, archival photographs, and oral recordings.
Al-Shuwaier said the program aims to support methodological diversity in handling historical sources and encourage the use of modern academic approaches that contribute to developing knowledge about the history of the Kingdom, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Arab and Islamic worlds.
He added: “Darah seeks to enable researchers to make the most of their research residency at the foundation, and we are keen to provide the necessary academic support and scientific supervision by our specialists, ensuring a successful research experience for all.”
The program targets a diverse range of qualified researchers, including faculty members, graduate students, and specialists in relevant fields. It lasts between one and three months and is extendable “according to a scientific evaluation mechanism.”
Al-Shuwaier noted that Darah is leveraging its capabilities to support serious scientific research, concluding: “Through this program, we seek to contribute to enriching historical knowledge and promoting awareness of the importance of heritage and history in shaping the future.”
