Casablanca — HM King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, accompanied by HRH Prince Moulay Rachid, presided, on Saturday at the Royal Palace in Casablanca, over the fifth religious lecture in a series of such lectures given during the holy month of Ramadan.

The lecture was delivered by Professor Naïma Jamal Bennis, member of the local Ulema Council of Fez, on the theme "the Bei'a of women and the foundations of their rights in Islam, drawing on the Hadith, according to Tirmidi reporting the statement of Omaïma Bint Raquiqa who said: I pledged allegiance to the messenger of God, peace and blessing be upon him, in company with a group of women.

He told us: as much as you can. I said: Allah and his messenger and more merciful to us than we are to ourselves."

In light of this Hadith, the professor explained that the pledge of allegiance by women is a significant event in the prophetic tradition and in the history of Islam, as it reflects the status of women as fully fledged members equal to men in the Muslim community.

She added that, except few specific rules relating to physiological differences, the same rights and obligations generally apply to men and women in Islam.

Bennis shed light on the historical context of the women's pledge of allegiance which took place in the 6th year of the Hegira, at the end of which the treaty of Hodeibia was sealed, marking a truce between the Muslims and the idolaters of Quraish.

She noted that during this period several tribes and groups joined Islam in Medina, underscoring the role of the pledge of allegiance at that era in as far as it represented a revolution in their status compared to the conditions inflicted on them by the Arabs during the Jahiliyyah and in others civilisations.

Professor Naïma Jamal Bennis also explained the concept of the pledge of allegiance in Islam, which means obeying Allah, his messengers and the members of the community who are in legitimate authority in terms of protecting the religion and managing collective affairs.

The lecturer also highlighted Islam's pioneering role in granting women fundamental rights including the right to a dignified life and the right to equality as well as other economic and social rights.

In line with the precepts of Islam, the professor said, Morocco spared no effort to give women the status that they deserve. Today, she added, Morocco, under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, achieved considerable progress in terms of empowering women.

Afterwards, the Sovereign was by several prominent Islamic figures.

On the same occasion, Endowments and Islamic Affairs Minister presented to the Commander of the Faithful copies of the annual publications of the Ministry.