In the Name of Allah, The Most-Beneficent, The Most-Merciful. All praise is due to
Allah alone, and may His peace and blessings be upon the final messenger, Muhammad,
who was sent as a mercy to all of mankind.
The Quran is the final revelation and the Word of Allah revealed to all of mankind. It
is the guide to the straight path leading those who believe in it, ponder over its meanings
and live by it to an everlasting abode in the gardens of paradise. Allah states, “Indeed this
Quran guides to that which is most suitable and gives good tidings to the believers who
do righteous deeds that they will have a great reward.” (Surat Al-Israa, 9) The Prophet
Muhammad, peace be upon him stated, “I have left you with two matters which will never
lead you astray, as long as you hold to them: the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of his
Prophet.” (Al-Muwatta’, 1661)
Here, it is clear that the Quran is the main source of guidance and holding fast to it
and to the prophetic traditions are the uncompromisable means for remaining firm on the
straight path and a protection from being misguided. From the most essential means of
holding fast to the Quran is to read it, ponder over it, understand it, live by it and memorize
it. Therefore, the need for qualified Quran teachers who are entrusted to pass this
knowledge on to the future generations is of utmost importance.
“The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it”
Allah the All-Mighty has preferred both the teacher and the learner of Quran over
others, and the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, mentioned that, “the best of you
are those who learn the Quran and teach it (to others).” (Al-Bukhari) From this, some
questions may be asked, and that is, can women teach the Quran? Do women fall under
this noble category and are they given this glad tiding like men to become from the best
of people in the Sight of Allah? In short, the simple answer is, yes!
The importance of the Muslim woman in field of Islamic knowledge in general and
in teaching the Quran more specifically, cannot be undermined. By understanding the
legacy of female scholarship in Islam, its impact on the Ummah, as well as the dire need for righteous female figures in our current times of trials and tribulations, then it has
become more crucial for the Muslim woman to tread the path of Islamic knowledge so
that the Islamic nation will rise once again, by the Will and Permission of Allah.
The first step to achieve this is by studying, learning, memorizing and teaching the
Quran. The Quran is the foundation and key to all other Islamic sciences, without it, no
other Islamic sciences can exist. By doing so, she will be motivated with a sincere heart
to acquire the right tools in the fields of Quran, Tajweed, Tafsir and the Arabic language to
reap the full benefits in this world and the hereafter, not only for herself, but for other
women and the children of this Ummah, so that her virtuous efforts in teaching the Book
of Allah are a true cause for the uprightness and victory of the Muslim nation as a whole
and for generations to come.
Understanding the virtues of knowledge in Islam and the great ranks achieved by
those whom Allah has endowed with knowledge, gives women a strong incentive to strive
to attain such a noble status in the Eyes of Allah, the All-Mighty. As previously mentioned,
the basis of Guidance is found in two main sources, the Quran and the Sunnah of the
Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. Both men and women are commanded to
sincerely and wholeheartedly uphold the laws of Islam, to implement it in our daily lives
and to call others to right guidance.
Allah has stated that, “And remember (O you the members of the Prophet’s family,
the Graces of your Lord), that which is recited in your houses of the Verses of Allâh and
Al-Hikmah (i.e. Prophet’s Sunnah – legal ways, so give your thanks to Allâh and glorify His
Praises for this Qur’ân and the Sunnah ). Verily, Allâh is Ever Most Courteous, Well-
Acquainted with all things.” “Surely ˹for˺ Muslim men and women, believing men and
women, devout men and women, truthful men and women, patient men and women,
humble men and women, charitable men and women, fasting men and women, men and
women who guard their chastity, and men and women who remember Allah often—for
˹all of˺ them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.” (Surat Al-Ahzab: 34-35)
The virtues of knowledge are many and Allah draws our attention to this in the
Quran:
“Allah elevates those of you who believe and those who have been given
knowledge”. (Al-Mujadallah, 11)
“Say: “Are they equal, those who have knowledge and those who don’t?” (Az-
Zumar, 9)
The Quran Will Intercede on the Day of Judgement
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “The Quran is an intercessor – something
given permission to intercede, and it is rightfully believed in. Whoever puts it in front of
him, it will lead him to Paradise; whoever puts it behind him, it will steer him to the
Hellfire.” (At-Tabarani)
As for those who dedicate time to reciting the Quran in their homes, then it has
been narrated by Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that, ““When the Quran is
recited in a home, that house becomes spacious and comfortable for those who live
there. Angels remain present within it, devils stay away from it, and its blessings increase.
But when the Quran is not recited in a home, that house becomes cramped and
uncomfortable for its inhabitants. The angels depart from it, devils enter it, and its
blessings decrease.” (Sunan Darimi, Hadith: 3352)
Female Scholars in Islam – Gems from the Past and Our Example to Follow
Given the emphasis that Islam places on knowledge, then it is no secret that the
legacy of female scholarship can be traced back to the first generation of Muslim women
from the time of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. Furthermore, it is known that
from the greatest narrators of prophetic hadith is the mother of the believers, ‘Aisha bint
Abu Bakr As-Sideeq, may Allah be pleased with them both. Female Islamic scholarship
comprises of women who have surpassed many men in the fields of Islamic knowledge
ranging from Fiqh, Hadeeth and History throughout Islamic history. The influence of
female scholarship and their combined intellectual and spiritual guidance on their
students are a great cause of overall success of the Ummah.
Below is a short list of noble Muslim female scholars and their contributions.
- Aisha bint Abu Bakr (RA): One of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon
him), she was a profound scholar of both the Quran and Hadith. Many companions
and subsequent generations learned from her vast knowledge, establishing her as a
significant early teacher in Islam. (Online Source) - Al-Shifa bint Abdullah al-Adawiyyah: A highly intelligent and literate woman during the
time of the Prophet Muhammad, she was an early convert to Islam. She is noted as
the first woman in Islam to be a teacher, teaching others, including Hafsa bint Umar
(another wife of the Prophet), how to read and write. (Online Source) - Hafsa bint Umar (RA): The daughter of the second Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab and a
wife of the Prophet Muhammad, she was literate and known for her knowledge. The
first official written copy (mus’haf) of the Quran was entrusted to her care. (Online
Source) - Umm al-Darda as-Sughra: A famous female jurist and scholar of the 7th century, she
taught Hadith and Fiqh (Islamic law) in Damascus and Jerusalem. Men and women
would attend her learning circles. (Online Source) - Fakhr-un-Nisa Shuhdah (Shuhdah al-Baghdadiyyah): Known as “The Pride of Women,”
she was a celebrated scholar and calligrapher in the 12th century who taught Hadith
and other Islamic sciences in Baghdad to many students, including notable male
scholars. (Online Source) - Fatima al-Fudayliya (Al-Shaykha al-Fudayliya): An 18th-century scholar from Baghdad
who was a master of Hadith and Fiqh. She moved to Makkah, where she held classes
for women and a few prominent male scholars, delivering lectures near the Kaaba. - Shaykha Nafisa bint Abu al-‘Ala: An authority on Quranic recitation in Egypt, she lived
to be about 77 years old and was completely engrossed in teaching the Quran. She
taught many notable figures, including the renowned Shaykha Umm Sa’d. (Online
Source)
Women play such an important role in building the strong foundations of this
ummah. It is through women that societies rise and fall. A strong Ummah is heavily
dependent on the uprightness and righteousness of its women, and the uprightness of
the woman is in her holding fast to the Quran and the pristine teachings of Islam. She will
know that through her efforts in cultivating her own children and being a source of
guidance by teaching the Quran, whether to other women or children, that this ummah
will rise and succeed in the way that is pleasing to Allah, the All-Mighty.
Women Learning Quran in Today’s Age
How can a woman learn Quran during our times? Most Islamic centers and
masaajid hold Quran memorization circles for women, and some women hold Quran
circles privately within their homes, so women have the option of learning Quran in the
company of other sisters. The reality though is that not all women can physically attend
classes at the masjid all the time, so from the blessings of Allah in the technological age
is that Allah has made learning online easy from the comfort of one’s home, and the
same reward can be attained. Qualified female Quran teachers can be accessed through
online methods and this is indeed a great blessing which has eased the means for
women to study the Quran and seek knowledge.
May Allah make the Quran the spring of our hearts, and the light of our chests, the
banisher of our sadness, and the reliever of our distress. Ameen.
This article was written by Maha Kalaf.
