Islamic scholars have played a vital role in the development of Islamic sciences and knowledge from the dawn of Islam to the present day. Scholars are considered a source of knowledge and hold a distinguished position in the Quran as many scholars have contributed to shaping and developing Islamic thought. The history of the Islamic world is filled with many prominent scholars in all Islamic sciences.
Women have participated in various fields, and there have been many female jurists who have contributed to research and education, proving that knowledge is not limited to men. In this article, we will learn about female scholars of islam from the dawn of Islam to our present era.
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The Importance of Knowledge in Islam
The Holy Quran urges the necessity of knowledge and learning due to the status of knowledge and scholars in Islam. The first Ayat of the Quran that Allah SWT revealed to Prophet Muhammad PBUH began with the word “Iqra” (Read), which indicates the importance of knowledge, awareness, and understanding in Islam. There are also many Ayat and Hadiths that indicate the importance of knowledge and learning. Allah SWT said in His Holy Book:
يَرْفَعُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ
Yarfaʿu Allahu alladhīna āmanū minkum wa-alladhīna ūtu al-ʿilma darajāt.
“Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were granted knowledge to degrees.”
The Prophet PBUH said:
من سلك طريقًا يلتمس فيه علمًا سهّل الله له طريقًا إلى الجنة.
“Whoever takes a path seeking knowledge, Allah will make the path to Paradise easy for him.”
There are many other sources in the Quran and Sunnah that urge the pursuit of knowledge. There are many scholars in Islam, not only in Islamic fields but also in many fields such as medicine, chemistry, algebra, and other sciences. There are also female scholars of islam who have excelled in Fiqh and Islamic sciences.
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Female scholars of islam
Knowledge in Islam was not limited to men only, but there are female scholars of islam who have a clear imprint in transmitting the teachings of the Islamic religion:
Aisha bint Abi Bakr
Aisha, the wife of the Prophet PBUH, is considered one of the most important female scholars in the Islamic world. She spent many years in the Prophet’s house, and therefore, she was a reference for all scholars of the Islamic world in jurisprudence and legislation. She conveyed all that she saw from the Prophet PBUH.
The Prophet PBUH taught her many rulings, especially those related to women’s Fiqh, and she lived for many years after the death of the Prophet PBUH, dedicating herself to spreading the teachings of the Islamic religion.
Zainab bint Jahsh
Zainab bint Jahsh, another wife of the Prophet PBUH, is considered one of the most important female scholars of the Islamic religion. The Prophet PBUH married her after her divorce from Zaid bin Haritha. After that, she spread the teachings of the Islamic religion.
Hafsa bint Umar
Hafsa bint Umar, one of the wives of the Prophet PBUH and the daughter of one of the most important companions, Umar ibn Al-Khattab, was one of the most important sources through which the Quran was compiled during the reign of the Commander of the Faithful, Umar ibn Al-Khattab, because she devoted herself to reciting and contemplating the Quran since the death of the Prophet PBUH.
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Al-Shifa bint Abdullah
Al-Shifa bint Abdullah was one of the best female scholars in Islam as she was one of the few who learned to read and write since the pre-Islamic era and taught Muslim women to read and write. She also taught many boys, which led to the rapid spread of Islam. One of the most important women who studied under her was Hafsa bint Umar, the wife of the Prophet PBUH.
Karima bint Ahmad
She was one of the geniuses of the Islamic religion as she transmitted many Hadiths and went on a scientific journey to Jerusalem and transmitted many Prophetic Hadiths during this journey. She left a distinct mark in many Islamic sciences, especially Hadith science, and she played a major role in the book Sahih Al-Bukhari.
Umm Salama
Umm Salama was one of the most important women with sound opinions. Her opinion was taken in many important matters in the Islamic religion, including the Day of Hudaybiyyah. She was characterized by many positions that indicate steadfastness in religion and strength of character. She made sacrifices in many situations, including the first migration of Muslims to Abyssinia, and contributed significantly to the spread of knowledge after the death of the Prophet PBUH.
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Contemporary female scholars of islam
The role of women in Islam is not limited to Quran only, but there are female scholars of islam in many fields:
Scholars in Hadith
Dr. Aisha Abdel Rahman, known as Bint Al-Shati’, is considered one of the most important Hadith scholars in our contemporary world. She held many positions and worked as a writer, thinker, professor, and researcher until she became a professor of Tafseer and higher studies at the Faculty of Sharia. She contributed to transmitting the Prophetic Hadiths to many people throughout the Arab world.
Scholars in Tafsir
There are some scholars who have excelled in the field of Tafseer the Quran, and among the most important of these women are Dr. Amani Fahmy and Dr. Fatima Abdel Rahman. They have a great impact on interpreting the Quran in an easy and simple way, and they wrote some religious children’s stories that explain some of the teachings of the Islamic religion.
Scholars in Fiqh
Many women have participated in transmitting Islamic Fiqh, especially women’s Fiqh, such as the Fiqh of worship or the Fiqh of purification. There are many women who have excelled in transmitting the teachings of Fiqh in many Fiqh institutes.
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Major Challenges Faced by Women Scholars
There are many challenges that many female scholars have faced, and one of the most important of these challenges is some old customs and traditions that prevent women from education and work. Some women may also be subjected to domestic violence, early marriage, or some habits of discrimination between males and females.
However, with the tremendous progress in the modern era, women have a clear role in many fields and have been able to face many challenges. There are now female scholars of islam who have excelled in many fields, both Islamic and non-Islamic sciences.
Women in the Quran and Hadith
Many women have participated in interpreting some Quranic sciences and some Prophetic Hadiths and transmitting them correctly, whether in schools or in Fiqh institutes. Among the most important women’s writings in Quranic and Hadith science are the book “The Quran and Contemporary Interpretation” and the book “The Quran and Human Issues,” written by Aisha Abdel Rahman. There are many other Islamic books written by many women.
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The Role of Women in Teaching Islam
There are many Muslim women today who have become among the most important scholars who establish some centers to teach generations the Holy Quran and the teachings of the Islamic religion and spread Sharia sciences.
There are also many women on digital platforms who publish the teachings of the Islamic religion, some Sharia sciences, and some Fiqh rulings that pertain to women, which has led to the widespread spread of the Islamic religion, especially to new generations.
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The Global Impact of Women Scholars
female scholars of islam have influenced local and international society, and there are now many programs that are prepared and presented by some women, and these programs have an important role in spreading the teachings of the Islamic religion.
Social media and digital platforms have also helped many women in spreading the teachings of the Islamic religion. Among the most important Islamic programs are “Women’s Magazine” and “Jannati” and other programs presented by many women.
We have seen how female scholars of islam have influenced religious life throughout the ages, and all segments of society must support these women and help them in presenting Sharia and Fiqh sciences.
