Is this true?

arzafar

Junior Member
It must shocked many people to know that for centuries Muslim women were teachers to men, where they preached openly in houses and mosques.

Among the examples –

1) Sheikha Nafisa who was one of the teachers of Imam Shafi ( he sat in her circle during the height of his fame ) ;

2) Sitt al-Wuzara was known for her acclaimed mastery of Islamic laws, and delivered lectures on religion in Damascus and Egypt

3 ) Karima al-Marwaziyya (d.1070 AD) who counted among her students the male scholars al-Khatib al-Baghdadi (d.1036 AD) and al-Humaydi (d.1095 AD).

4 ) Zaynab of Harran (d.1289 AD), whose lectures attracted a large crowd of students, teaching them the Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal, the largest known collection of hadiths.

5 )’Amra bin ‘Abd al-Rahman. Among her students, was Abu Bakr ibn Hazm, the celebrated judge of Medina, who was ordered by the caliph Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz to write down all the prophetic traditions known on her authority.

6 ) Umm al-Khayr Amat al-Khaliq (1408-1505), who is regarded as the last great hadith scholar of the Hijaz held classes on the hadiths.

7) The famous historian of Damascus, Ibn Asakir (1106-1175) had 80 women teachers.

8) The great Muslim male scholar Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti studied the Risala of Imam Shafi with Hajar bint Muhammad.

9 ) Afif al-Din Junayd, a traditionist of the ninth century AH, read the Sunan of al-Darimi with Fatima bin Ahmad ibn Qasim.

10 ) Zaynab bint al-Sha’ri (d.524/615-1129/1218). She studied hadith under several important traditionists, and in turn lectured to many students – some of who gained great repute – including Ibn Khallikan, author of the well-known biographical dictionary Wafayat al-Ayan.

11) Juwayriya bint Ahmad. ‘Some of my own teachers,’ said the scholar Ibn Hajar ( 1372-1448), ‘and many of my contemporaries, attended her discourses.’

12 ) A’isha bin Abd al-Hadi who for a considerable time was one of Ibn Hajar’s teachers, was considered to be the finest traditionist of her time, and many students undertook long journeys in order to sit at her feet and study the truths of religion.

i went to a site and found the above info. can anyone confirm it to be correct? please provide your source.
 

hana*

Junior Member
i cant verify the above for you but one thing is for sure, the Prophet (pbuh)'s wife, sayyida Aisha (rA) taught many men ahadeeth. Women also used to help out post battle by providing water and first aid to the injured men. also the first martyr in the way of islam was a woman. woman had a great role to play in early islam, but most people fail to give any credit.
 

arzafar

Junior Member
i know that but i just wanted to confirm that islam has had many eminent women scholars in the past, who taught men. maybe this is bidaah of some sort.

The current prevalent customs in the muslim world are rather dogmatic.
when i read the above article i was shocked!!! i mean i was brought up thinking that asking a woman about religion was undesirable or even forbidden. the dates given are between 1000 and 1200 AD and even as late as 1400 AD. what happened to the muslims after that??? Perhaps women in the muslim world aren't as free and respected as they once were.

Id better wait before speculating anything.
 

DanyalSAC

Junior Member
The Al Maghrib Institute has a class called "Torch Bearers: Scholars of Islam" and several of the scholars that they cover are women.

http://www.almaghrib.org/seminar_tb.php

That's a link to the class description, and it actually specifically mentions women scholars. Their classes are accredited and go towards a degree in Islamic Studies.
 

BinteShafi

Left long ago
:salam2:

I attended a course "Chronicles of Shariah" 2 years ago and we discussed this matter "Female Scholars" there with Sheikh. He did mentioned names of some female scholars of Muslim history. He also mentioned teacher of Imam Shafi. On the basis of that discussion, this article seems right to me. And Allah knows best.


:wasalam:
 

a_muslimah86

Hubbi Li Rabbi
Staff member
1) Sheikha Nafisa who was one of the teachers of Imam Shafi ( he sat in her circle during the height of his fame ) ;

Can you locate the full name of this woman?..I googled it in Arabic..and I found two results..one of a woman from a much later generation who taught the Qura'an in its 10 qiraa'aat..and one who is a descendant of Rasulullah (saaws)...and *her* biography is all over the Shia and Sufi sites..so I didn't read too much into it...especially when I noticed the strange shirk-like details in her bio (i.e. praying at her grave grants all dua'as!..astaghfirullah al-adheem)..in other words...the woman in question is either the later shaikha who taught Qura'an and was known for her mastery of *that* field (and obviously didn't live around the time of Al-Shafe'ey)..or the Shia/Sufi version full of the typical "grave this" and "baraka that"

2) Sitt al-Wuzara was known for her acclaimed mastery of Islamic laws, and delivered lectures on religion in Damascus and Egypt

If you're talking about Sitt Al-Wuzaraa'a bint Asa'ad ibn Al-Manja At-Tanookhiyya Al-Hanbaliyya...then you've got a *hit*..in that this figure does exist..*but*..she was not a master in *Islamic* laws..as the details you provided makes her sound..she narrated Sahih Bukhari (and other books of hadith)..and the masnad of Al-Shafe'eiy..and she's mentioned in Ibn Katheer's book "Al-Bidaya Wan-Nihaya" (The Beginning and The End)..

3 ) Karima al-Marwaziyya (d.1070 AD) who counted among her students the male scholars al-Khatib al-Baghdadi (d.1036 AD) and al-Humaydi (d.1095 AD).

This is also sound...Her name is Karima bint Ahmad bin Mohammad bin Hatim Al-Marwaziyya and she was nicknamed "Ummu Al-Kiraam" [Mother of the Regarded/Respected Ones] she was one of the students of the knowledge of Al-Bukhari..in-fact she was quite known for her knowledge in his work..the above scholars are two of many who learned from her..and regarded Muslim Historians such as Al-Hafidh At-Thahabiy used her works for their works..Ibn Al-Jawziy was also another scholar who took from her works..I just think there's an incorrection in the date provided for her living..I think it's incorrect..but I will double check on that when I have more time inshallah..

4 ) Zaynab of Harran (d.1289 AD), whose lectures attracted a large crowd of students, teaching them the Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal, the largest known collection of hadiths.

If you're talking about Ummu Abdullah Zainab bint Ahmad bin Abdul-Raheem bin Abdul-Wahid bin Ahmad Al-Maqdisiyya who was known as "Bintul Kamaal" [Daughter of Perfection]..then again the information is based on a real figure..because the woman I named was a highly regarded scholar of hadith..in-fact she was a *muhadditha* herself..and many great scholars learned from her...including Tajul-Deen As-Sabkiy...if you're talking about another Zainab..then I have no information to provide because the only things I found regard the woman I mentioned..

5 )’Amra bin ‘Abd al-Rahman. Among her students, was Abu Bakr ibn Hazm, the celebrated judge of Medina, who was ordered by the caliph Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz to write down all the prophetic traditions known on her authority.

This woman would be 'Amra bint Abdul-Rahman bin Sa'ad bin Zurara bin 'Adas Al-Ansariyya An-Najariyya..she was raised by our mother 'Aisha (raa)..and was considered the best of those who narrated from our mother (raa)..she also narrated from our mother Ummu Salama (raa)..Omar ibn Abdul-Aziz used to refer to her in matters of knowledge and fiqh..and Abu Bakr ibn Hazm is actually one of her nephews..and her sons were Al-Haritha and Malik...who also narrated hadiths from her...her influence is apparent in the various hadith narrations in the books of hadith...

6 ) Umm al-Khayr Amat al-Khaliq (1408-1505), who is regarded as the last great hadith scholar of the Hijaz held classes on the hadiths.

I found *very brief* information on her..saying that she was the last narrator of Sahih Al-Bukhari from Hijaz...and that she was amongst the very best in her narration...the source I found it on I am not familiar with its credibility..so I cannot tell you if the information is valid or not..I am sorry..

These are the ones I can google thus far...I am lacking in time a bit so I will inshallah finish the other part later..but so far...it all seems good (except maybe for the first one and the last one)..the only thing I couldn't confirm also to a lack in time are the dates provided I did notice a conflict between the ones quoted in your posted and the ones I was coming across in my search..so that should be taken into count..mind you..putting the sources for you would be quite hectic..because I read 3-4 sites for each woman just to confirm and make sure that the information I was getting is sound..and all I could find is in Arabic unfortunately...if this causes any inconvenience..I apologize greatly...and inshallah what I related will be of benefit to you

:wasalam:
 

BinteShafi

Left long ago
Woww...Masha Allah. Very well done sister Muslimah86. May Allah grant you highest reward.

Jazaki Allahu Khayran Kathira my dear sister in Islam,


:wasalam:
 

arzafar

Junior Member
i am angry and disappointed at the male dominance in every aspect of life in much of the muslim world. :angryred:

We have given islam a bad name in the world. May Allah have mercy on us and on our scholars for our individual and collective failures in practicing and delivering His final message!
 

arzafar

Junior Member
Can you locate the full name of this woman?..I googled it in Arabic..and I found two results..one of a woman from a much later generation who taught the Qura'an in its 10 qiraa'aat..and one who is a descendant of Rasulullah (saaws)...and *her* biography is all over the Shia and Sufi sites..so I didn't read too much into it...especially when I noticed the strange shirk-like details in her bio (i.e. praying at her grave grants all dua'as!..astaghfirullah al-adheem)..in other words...the woman in question is either the later shaikha who taught Qura'an and was known for her mastery of *that* field (and obviously didn't live around the time of Al-Shafe'ey)..or the Shia/Sufi version full of the typical "grave this" and "baraka that"



If you're talking about Sitt Al-Wuzaraa'a bint Asa'ad ibn Al-Manja At-Tanookhiyya Al-Hanbaliyya...then you've got a *hit*..in that this figure does exist..*but*..she was not a master in *Islamic* laws..as the details you provided makes her sound..she narrated Sahih Bukhari (and other books of hadith)..and the masnad of Al-Shafe'eiy..and she's mentioned in Ibn Katheer's book "Al-Bidaya Wan-Nihaya" (The Beginning and The End)..



This is also sound...Her name is Karima bint Ahmad bin Mohammad bin Hatim Al-Marwaziyya and she was nicknamed "Ummu Al-Kiraam" [Mother of the Regarded/Respected Ones] she was one of the students of the knowledge of Al-Bukhari..in-fact she was quite known for her knowledge in his work..the above scholars are two of many who learned from her..and regarded Muslim Historians such as Al-Hafidh At-Thahabiy used her works for their works..Ibn Al-Jawziy was also another scholar who took from her works..I just think there's an incorrection in the date provided for her living..I think it's incorrect..but I will double check on that when I have more time inshallah..



If you're talking about Ummu Abdullah Zainab bint Ahmad bin Abdul-Raheem bin Abdul-Wahid bin Ahmad Al-Maqdisiyya who was known as "Bintul Kamaal" [Daughter of Perfection]..then again the information is based on a real figure..because the woman I named was a highly regarded scholar of hadith..in-fact she was a *muhadditha* herself..and many great scholars learned from her...including Tajul-Deen As-Sabkiy...if you're talking about another Zainab..then I have no information to provide because the only things I found regard the woman I mentioned..



This woman would be 'Amra bint Abdul-Rahman bin Sa'ad bin Zurara bin 'Adas Al-Ansariyya An-Najariyya..she was raised by our mother 'Aisha (raa)..and was considered the best of those who narrated from our mother (raa)..she also narrated from our mother Ummu Salama (raa)..Omar ibn Abdul-Aziz used to refer to her in matters of knowledge and fiqh..and Abu Bakr ibn Hazm is actually one of her nephews..and her sons were Al-Haritha and Malik...who also narrated hadiths from her...her influence is apparent in the various hadith narrations in the books of hadith...



I found *very brief* information on her..saying that she was the last narrator of Sahih Al-Bukhari from Hijaz...and that she was amongst the very best in her narration...the source I found it on I am not familiar with its credibility..so I cannot tell you if the information is valid or not..I am sorry..

These are the ones I can google thus far...I am lacking in time a bit so I will inshallah finish the other part later..but so far...it all seems good (except maybe for the first one and the last one)..the only thing I couldn't confirm also to a lack in time are the dates provided I did notice a conflict between the ones quoted in your posted and the ones I was coming across in my search..so that should be taken into count..mind you..putting the sources for you would be quite hectic..because I read 3-4 sites for each woman just to confirm and make sure that the information I was getting is sound..and all I could find is in Arabic unfortunately...if this causes any inconvenience..I apologize greatly...and inshallah what I related will be of benefit to you

:wasalam:

i tried searching the names but i was getting arabic sites so i couldn't discover anything.
:jazaak::jazaak::jazaak:

next time somebody (muslim or non muslim) puts you off for your religious views because you are a female, tell them to kindly take an about turn and do a forward march until they are out of sight.
 

weakslave

Junior Member
i am angry and disappointed at the male dominance in every aspect of life in much of the muslim world. :angryred:

We have given islam a bad name in the world. May Allah have mercy on us and on our scholars for our individual and collective failures in practicing and delivering His final message!

The righteous man knows his place in society, and the righteous woman also knows her place.

We have great examples of women: Khadijah (RA), Aisha (RA), Maryam, Asia, and Saffiyah the aunt of the Prophet SAAWS.

And this verse in the Quraan:

'"And Allah presents an example of those who believed: the wife of Pharaoh, when she said, "My Lord, build for me near You a house in Paradise and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds and save me from the wrongdoing people."'

[66:11]

Allaah gives an example of those who believed, a word to encompass both men and women. And this shows the high status Allaah has given to the wife of the Pharaoh because of her piety.

BUT..

Here we have to pause for a moment and be intelligent human beings.

1. Both men and women must keep their duties to Allaah. This must happen on several levels: men to lower their gaze, women to cover up from head to ankle, men and women to avoid flirting/idle talk amongst each other, and men and women not to intermingle. You see when righteous men came to learn from knowledgeable women they did so behind a barrier. Much like how the Prophet SAAWS addressed the opposite sex.

2. Men and women must keep their duties to their parents/spouses. The laws in Islaam are sufficiently clear on what a man can and cannot do, and what a woman can and cannot do. If we do not understand this we can get ourselves in a lot of trouble with Allaah (SWT).

3. Allaah has chosen boundaries and laws for men and women. These boundaries represent the perfect man and the perfect woman. It is forbidden for men to imitate women, and for women to imitate men. And for those who transgress Allaah's laws will be cursed until they change.

Listen to this haadith from the Prophet (SAAWS):

"Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: Allah's Apostle cursed those men who are in the similitude (assume the manners) of women and those women who are in the similitude (assume the manners) of men"

I don't need to give examples of our current day to day lives where men imitate women, and women imitate men. My Allaah forbid us from being among them.

Understanding the religion correctly is important. Yes some men oppress their women folk, and yes, some women transgress and expose themselves and force themselves into positions of leadership. But Islaam is not to be judged on those people! May Allaah protect us and guide us all to His straight path.

And Allaah knows best.
 

icadams

Junior Member
It amazes me that so many people can be surprised by the fact that there were, and are, Muslim women teachers. It should be the knowledge of Allah that we look for in a teacher, not their gender.
 

hana*

Junior Member
br Ayman1, i was going to say exactly what you said in youre post, jazakAllah for doing so.

i also want to give a modern example of muslim women teachers, if you look at syria you see that it is the women that are actively involved in daawah and teaching of islamiyaat and tajweed and Quran. if you look at the mosques, it is the women who are teaching in them and not the men.

:wasalam:
 
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