How One Woman Is Redefining Islamic Education in Kashmir

• Mubeena Ramzaan founded Jamia Islamia Mehdul Muslimaat to educate women about their Islamic rights, challenging traditional misinterpretations that limit women’s freedoms.
• Her institution provides both religious education and practical skills to over 600 students and offers support to 500 widows and women facing marital difficulties.
• Despite initial resistance from religious scholars, her work in empowering women through correct Islamic interpretation earned her recognition among the world’s 500 most influential people.

In 2019, when a young woman from Kashmir appeared on a list of the 500 most influential people in the world, it left many people in shock and curiosity. Who is Mubeena Ramzaan? How did she make it to the list? But her students knew who she was and what she had been doing for the past decade, how she had awakened them from slumber and had become like a home to them.

Mubeena Ramzaan was born and raised in Kashmir’s apple town, Sopore. From a young age, she was deeply sensitive to the injustices faced by women in the name of religion. She wanted to look after people in need, people with low incomes, and women, creating a safe space for them. “I was a very sensitive child. Whenever I saw someone in miserable conditions, it made my heart ache, and the fact that I couldn’t bring them any relief was horrific in itself,” Mubeena recalls.

She completed her initial education at a local school before attending a private college in Sopore. After graduating, she pursued her dream of studying Islamic education at the University of Kashmir, where she completed her Master’s. Later, she went on to obtain her B.Ed., M.Phil., and Ph.D. in Islamic Law.

“While studying Islamic law, I understood how Muslim women have been subjected to extreme injustice by people who call themselves ‘Molvis’ (religious leaders). Islam is the only religion that provides property laws and other freedoms to women, but they never talk about such issues. They only talk about women’s responsibilities and how they should sacrifice themselves for their family,” Mubeena exclaimed with anger.

After completing her education and working as a research associate, Mubeena founded her own institution, “Jamia Islamia Mehdul Muslimaat.” Here, she educated young girls about the rights Islam had given them and taught them to interpret religious texts with an understanding of the context and timing of Quranic verses.

Ansar-ul-Nisa (she heads this socio-religious organisation) is committed to supporting those in need, including orphans, widows, and would-be brides. Meanwhile, Jamia Islamia Mehdul Muslimaat provides vocational training in skills such as cutting, tailoring, and computer literacy, empowering individuals to become financially independent. The school also offers free shelter, food, clothing, and education to all its students.

Currently, we provide only Islamic education, but in the future, we aim to establish an institution that offers both secular and religious studies, says Mubeena.

Many graduates of the school have gone on to establish their own educational institutions, contributing positively to society. Ansar-ul-Nisa also operates a 24×7 counselling cell, offering essential emotional and psychological support to those in need.

Citing a verse often used by preachers, Mubeena explained, “There is a verse in Surah Al-Ahzab (33:33): ‘Stay in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance. And establish prayer, give zakah, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah intends only to remove from you the impurity [of sin], O people of the [Prophet’s] household, and to purify you with [extensive] purification. Many preachers use this verse to tell women to stay indoors, forgetting the context and circumstances under which it was revealed. They exploit women’s lack of knowledge about religious texts to make them submissive.”

Mubeena emphasised that, in Islam, women have no economic liabilities—whatever they earn is theirs alone, and no one has the right to demand anything from their income. “The man is the ‘protector and provider’ of women,” she explained. “This shows the freedom Islam grants to women. But our preachers and Islamic scholars have miserably failed to teach men about their responsibilities and how they should treat women.”

Discussing property rights, Mubeena expressed deep concern: “Women are encouraged to give up their share of property to their brothers or in-laws to maintain the ‘good woman’ image in society. But if a woman asks for her rightful share, she is often fought off, and ties with her parents are cut just because she wants what Islam has already given her. They’ll give hundreds of sermons on a woman’s hijab but won’t say a word about the injustice she faces when she asks for her share of property.”

When Mubeena decided to open her institution, she faced resistance from scholars who said, “A woman is not allowed to run any institution.” Many condemned her efforts. But, as she says, “I knew my rights and obligations, so I stood on my feet, and with the help of Allah, I made history. The first three years were very tough, but after that, many like-minded people joined me and supported my cause. In 2014, I opened another institution called Ansar-ul-Nisa, a socio-religious organisation that provides support to women facing marital difficulties and helps those in need. That was also a huge success.”

Recalling the day she was named among the 500 most influential people, she said, “After that, people from different backgrounds—doctors, teachers, and others—came, supported, and showered love on this pious cause. I am thankful to all of them.”

At Jamia Islamia Mehdul Muslimaat, young girls are trained in practical skills and religious knowledge. “We provide them with vocational training so they can earn their livelihood without depending on the men in their families. Alongside this, we educate them on religious texts so that no one can exploit them in the name of Islam.”

Reflecting on her journey, Mubeena said, “At present, 600 girls are studying in the institutions, and about 500 widows also receive financial assistance. It makes me happy when I see girls becoming the best versions of themselves after leaving this institution. I feel grateful and proud that I could help them love Islam and Islamic teachings once again.”