The Al-Azhar Council of Senior Scholars has responded to calls to include females into military service, stressing that “the recruitment of females is not necessary under Sharia.”“Islam has created an alternative for women to participate in wars and military actions, which is good cohabitation with their husbands, Hajj and Umrah,” the council explained. “Women are not required to be fighters or female soldiers in the ranks of the army, because this is a disrespect for her, especially with regard to her mixing with men in the army. The period of pregnancy for a woman also represents a period of divine conscription for her. The work of a woman in her home, having children and then taking care of them and managing her family affairs is more severe than the conscription of a man,” a statement by the council read. The council added that the only cases in which women may join the armed forces, is for administrative or medical work or providing services away from combat matters.

Source: Egypt Independent May 11, 2021 11:47 UTC