One of his most outstanding visions of Islamic moderation is to ensure that women can play an active role in various fields. Women’s participation in public life becomes one of the crucial pillars in Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and will contribute significantly to the promising future of the kingdom.

One notable step is the appointment of women in highly prestigious regional organizations. Deemah Alyahya, for example, has been appointed secretary-general of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), which groups Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Nigeria and Oman. The potential economic cooperation in the DCO can reach up to US$2 trillion. The appointment of Alyahya came after Saudi Arabia was elected president of the organization.

The choice of women for key positions is proof of the crown prince’s intention to boost confidence among women in assuming strategic positions in public domain, while also ensuring the path of Islamic moderation. Women become the central force in making Saudi Arabia one of the most influential economic powers of the future.

Hopefully, the move will trigger a larger wave of moderation across the Islamic world.

Previously, MBS had allowed  women to drive cars and participate in the defense sector. He also encouraged women to play an active, leading role in the economy. In the past decade, the number of female entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia increased by about 35 percent. In addition, in 2020, MBS also appointed 10 women to occupy leadership positions in the management of two holy mosques, namely al-Masjidul Haram in Mecca and al-Masjid al-Nabawi  in Medina.

Saudi women definitely gained momentum to participate in various public spheres and to serve the country. Under MBS's leadership, Saudi Arabia continues to progress and morph into a country that embraces moderation.

MBS consistently demonstrates his commitment to creating a brighter future for Saudi Arabia. “We will not go backward to the dark times like 30 years ago, which have ravaged the Middle East. We're going to get past that, with all of our might and it starts right now. Saudi Arabia will uphold the values of Islamic moderation. Saudi Arabia will embrace all religions and all countries," he once said.

MBS looks serious in his effort to become the new symbol of hope for Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia's growing and blossoming face of moderate Islam is an ijtihad (endeavor) that inspires the rest of the Muslim world. The path of moderation is in fact the command of God, as stated in the Quran, “And We have made you a moderate people,” (Al-Baqarah [2]: 143).  

Imam al-Razi in Mafatih al-Ghayb asserts that what is meant by "moderate people" are those who build justice and fairness. One way to define what is meant by fair and balanced is to provide a fair and equal opportunity for women to have public roles, as in the case of MBS.

In recent decades, as MBS acknowledges, the Middle East has been overrun by extremism. In fact, extremism is a global threat that all nations must counter in a serious, massive, and measured manner.

Moderation is the opposite of extremism. We have seen moderation serve as an effective way to counter extremism.

MBS-styled moderation acknowledges the role women can play in building a nation anew and promoting civilization all over the world. It is therefore a tragedy when we saw a woman in Makassar and another in Jakarta commit an act of terrorism recently.

Women’s active involvement in public life is indeed the basis of a nation’s civilization and the world’s. The Sustianable Development Goals also underscore the need for the world to promote gender justice. The more opportunities for women the more likely we can prevent them from engaging in terrorist networks as in the Makassar and Jakarta attacks.

It is interesting to notice the steps MBS is taking as he leads Saudi Arabia on its historical journey. The oil-rich country will continue to make breakthroughs that mark the progress of time. The ability to adapt and contextualize conservative religious understanding by formulating Islamic moderation will bring changes not only in Saudi Arabia but also the world.

Sukarno in his book Under the Banner of the Revolution referred to Saudi Arabia as country that will always do its ijtihad for reform. Because everything on the face of the earth will continue to reform and evolve, panterei.

For Indonesia, the efforts by MBS only prove that we have been on the right track. Since the 15th century until today, this Muslim-majority country has shown the moderate, tolerant and friendly face of Islam.

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The writer is a Muslim scholar, Nahdlatul Ulama and chairman of The Middle East Institute, Jakarta.