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Women in Scholarship in the Medieval Muslim World



During Islam's golden age, women shined. Their brilliance and intelligence illuminated the path towards progress and enlightenment. Some of these women who left a mark on the world:


Umm Ma'bad was a Bedouin woman, and a poet, who was a companion of the Prophet Muhammad (S). Her house was in a place where many people and caravans used to pass by. She was so kind towards them that she known for her hospitality. 


Umm al-Darda, also known as Sughra al Dimashqiyya, lived in the 7th century. She was one of the earliest female Muslim scholars, known for her knowledge of hadith and jurisprudence.


Layla, a companion of the Prophet (S), was a teacher. She taught many other people how to read and write. Hafsah bint Umar, one of the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) was also her student. She was also a healer, and was later given the title of Al-Shifa bint Abdullah.


Rabia al-Adawiyya, more often known as Rabia Basri, lived in the 8th century. She was a Sufi, and was known for her poetry and teachings on Islamic spirituality.


Nafisa bint al-Hasan was a scholar from the 8th century. She was a scholar and teacher, who taught Islam. She is the best known female scholar of the Hadith in Egypt.


Karima al-Marwaziyya was a pilosopher and scholar who wrote on logic, ethics, and theology.


Fatima bint Sa'd al-Khayr was born in Kashgar, China. She became an accomplished scholar by the age of 19, Fatima bint Sa’d al Khair was a student to the great teachers from the generation before hers and became a sought after teacher of Islamic thought and philosophy wherever she travelled around the world.


Zaynab al-Shahda (tenth century); lived in Baghdad originally from Dinawar; calligrapher renowned for her work in fiqh (Islamic law) and hadiths.


Fatima al-Samarqandi was a renowned expert in Calligraphy, Islamic Law, Qur’an, and the Hadith.


Sutayta, a remarkable Seljuk scholar who thrived in multiple fields including Arabic literature, hadith, jurisprudence, and mathematics. She devised solutions to many equations cited by fellow mathematicians, showcasing her algebraic talent.


Aisha al-Ba'uniyya was a poet and a scholar who authored several works on Islamic spirituality and Sufism.



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