Women Scholars in the Islamic Tradition

By Dr Sara Saigol

A review of the most recent Saturday Online Masterclass, Dr Shuruq Naquib's 'Women Scholars in the Islamic Tradition.'

Dr Shuruq Naguib, Lecturer in Islamic Studies at Lancaster University took us on a journey of Women Scholars, Hadith Narrators, Jurists, Teachers and those who were integral to revelation.

Let me share a few nuggets with you Insha Allah:
- Women studied alongside men in the masajids and this was considered very normal and a gender neutral space to learn. As learning moved into madrasahs alongside mosques, the number of women studying religion dropped. With the need to travel to hear new Ahadith narrated with their chains, the number of female scholars fell further.
- Women excelled in Hadith studies and men would often learn from them, at their feet, and attain ijaza from them. 
- Zaynab Bint al Kamal taught Ibn Hajar al Asqalani as well as Ibn Batuta who received ijaza from her.
- Al-Suyuti the famous Mujaddid named 10 women amongst his teachers and mentioned them in terms of great respect for their piety and characters. 
The Quran
- Khawla bint Tha’laba’s complaint about her husband was responded to by Allah in Surah Mujaadila 
Her narrative is recorded by Imam ibn Hanbal.
Hadith Narrators 
- A’isha RA transmitted 2210 and many led to fiqh rulings.
A’isha would sometimes correct influential companions on Hadith transmission that she felt did not fit with the sunnah eg the view that women became impure during their monthly cycles and should separate beds. She challenged this. 
It was said by companions, “Whenever any matter became difficult for us the companions asked A’isha RA”
Modern times
Aisha ‘Abd al-Rahman (Bint al-Shati’) wrote biographies of the women in the Prophet SAW’s life and interpreted the Quran. 
She wrote to Al Azhar asking why women were not allowed in for a period of time after colonialism. This was reversed in 1956.

Many more fascinating facts were mentioned and it was well worth logging online!!

Go to our EVENTS page to find out about more upcoming online events InshAllah!