Gender and Forced Displacement in Islam: Advancing a Protection Framework for Women

Abstract

While extensive scholarship exists on gender in Islam and asylum in Islam as separate domains, little attention has been given to their intersection. The specific risks and challenges faced by displaced women—who are disproportionately affected by conflict and displacement – are often overlooked in scholarship on Islam and forced displacement, which frequently adopts a gender-neutral approach, paying limited attention to the Islamic tradition’s emphasis on protecting women. This article addresses this gap by examining Islamic sources on the treatment of displaced women through a literature review and theological analysis. It introduces a conceptual “5x3” protection framework that is both gender-inclusive and faith-sensitive, aligning the needs of displaced women with the five maqā:sid al-sharī'ah (higher objectives of Islamic law) and three central rights in Islam: hijra (migration), amān (protection), and ighātha (relief). By applying a gender lens to these principles, the article highlights how Islamic traditions and philanthropy can theoretically address the specific vulnerabilities of displaced women. It provides conceptual resources for theorising women’s protection in displacement and underscores how a holistic consideration of the Islamic rights to migration, protection, and relief advances the maqā:sid al-sharī'ah objectives, preserving life and well-being for displaced women. The article concludes with recommendations for strengthening gender-sensitive protection in member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.