Question:
Why is it difficult for women to study their own religion in a Muslim country and it is easy for brothers? I mean it should be easy for every Muslim, so that people could have a knowledge about their religion.
Fatwa:
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Islam has given the woman the right to study and be educated in a similar way to men. Anas said that the Prophet said: “Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon each and every Muslim”. [Ibn Majah; and Al-Albani classified it is an authentic Hadeeth]
The saying of the Prophet “Upon each and every Muslim” includes males and females.
As seeking knowledge is permitted by the Sharee'ah (Islamic law), then there is no harm for a woman to go out to seek knowledge as long as she adheres to the Islamic requirements; like observing Hijab, avoiding mixing (of males and females), avoiding speaking with men in a soft or attractive manner, and having her husband's permission.
There is no difficulty for a woman to learn the aspects of her religion. The matter is easy and the ways of seeking knowledge are many. In fact, there are many recorded materials on religion that a woman can listen to at home, and she can also go out to seek knowledge by attending the lectures organized by women, or the general lectures, and so on, but with the religious requirements already mentioned.
Allah Knows best.
Fatwa answered by: The Fatwa Center at Islamweb