Jakarta, September 2, 2026 — Education is one of the important paths to human dignity and open up space for equality for women. This message was conveyed by the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu'ti in a sermon at the Prophet Muhammad's birthday celebration, which was also attended by the Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon; the Secretary General of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek), Badri Munir Sukoco, and the ranks of Kemendikdasmen and all employees on Wednesday (2/9) at the Baitul Tholibin Mosque, Jakarta.

In his sermon, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu'ti emphasized that religious, educational, and scientific spaces should not be solely for men. Women have equal rights and opportunities to learn, develop their potential, achieve, and play a role in society. "Religious spaces should not and should not be solely for men," he said.

According to Abdul Mu'ti, this message is in line with one of the important values that can be learned from the history of the Prophet Muhammad's apostleship, namely respect for humans and the elevation of the dignity and status of women.

The Minister of Elementary and Secondary Education explained that throughout history, women were once considered a second-class or second-class member of society . Women were considered second-class, even viewed as obstacles. The arrival of Islam, through the Prophet Muhammad, brought a mission to honor humanity and elevate the dignity of women.

These values, she continued, need to be translated into today's educational landscape. Women should have ample opportunities to pursue higher education, produce scientific work, and contribute to the development of science. "Our argument, of course, is based on morality, in recognizing women who achieve," she said.

Education Paves the Way to Equality

Minister of Elementary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu'ti also urged the public not to limit women's abilities based on various preconceived notions. One such myth is the myth that doubts women's intelligence.

He touched on the popular view that women's intelligence is only half that of men. He argued that the reality in the world of education actually shows that many women are capable of achieving excellent academic results. "There has been a myth circulating among Muslims, referring to a popular hadith that states that women's intelligence is half that of men. But the one who narrated it was a man," he said.

Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu'ti then called for a closer look at the facts in the educational environment. At various graduation ceremonies, women often emerge as top graduates. This demonstrates that women possess exceptional intellectual abilities and deserve equal opportunity to develop. "The fact is, there are many outstanding women today. If we attend graduation ceremonies, the majority of the top graduates are women," he said.

She also highlighted women's memorization abilities as a potential that can be developed through education. Therefore, women's potential should not be limited by stereotypes but should be supported through access to education and opportunities to excel. This message becomes even more relevant when education is understood not only as a process of acquiring knowledge but also as a means of building character, opening opportunities, and preparing each individual to contribute to society.

Women as Subjects of Science

Furthermore, in his sermon, Abdul Mu'ti also touched on Aisyah's role as an integral part of the history of Islamic scholarship. He argued that discussions about women in Islamic history need to be placed within a broader perspective, including examining women's contributions as subjects of knowledge.

Aisha is known for her pivotal role in the transmission of knowledge and hadith in Islamic history. This demonstrates that women have held a significant position in intellectual life since the early days of Islam. Therefore, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu'ti encouraged a comprehensive reading of women's history and contributions. Women are not merely positioned as objects in history, but also as subjects capable of producing knowledge, developing science, and contributing to civilization.

In commemoration of the Prophet's birthday, the Ministry of Elementary and Secondary Education (Kemendikbud) provided space for female preacher Ustazah Oki Setiana Dewi to recount the life story of the Prophet Muhammad, which is rich in character-building values. In her sermon, Ustazah Oki explained that since childhood, the Prophet Muhammad's life story has provided important lessons about character building and empathy. The Prophet Muhammad experienced various losses and hardships from an early age, including becoming an orphan and later an orphan. However, these experiences shaped a person who is able to feel and understand the hardships of others.

"The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had to experience that pain to empathize with his people. In our lives, God sometimes tells us to experience that to develop empathy for those who may have similar stories," Oki said.

According to Oki, the Prophet Muhammad's exemplary conduct was also evident in his morals, which led the community to bestow upon him the title "Al-Amin," or "the trustworthy." This title was given for a reason, but rather because the community directly observed the congruence between his words and actions.

"If someone is given a title that reflects their character, that's correct. People always give them titles that reflect their character. Because of his deeds, the Prophet Muhammad was given the title Al-Amin," he said.

This message also emphasizes the importance of providing education that provides every student with the opportunity to develop according to their potential and abilities. Inclusive and equitable education is one of the foundations for building a generation that values diversity, achievement, and the contributions of each individual. *** (Author: Ririn, Documentation: Rayhan/Editor: Uly)

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Writer: Ririn Ramandani

Editor: Denty Anugrahmawaty

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