Allaamah Jalaaluddin Abdurruhmaan Suyooti rahmatullahi alayh is an Islaamic scholar of great renown of the tenth century. Allaamah. his vast knowledge is evident from his many writings which can easily fill a whole library and establish a separate institution of knowledge and research. A great part of this knowledge was acquired not from male teachers only, but also from female teachers. At that point in time, it was very commonly seen that women were deeply involved in imparting higher learning.

Juwayriyyah Bint Abul F'adhl: She is the daughter of Haafiz Abul Fadhl Iraqi. She studied ahaadith from her father and other renowned Scholars like Abubakr Haashmi. Ibne Haatim. etc. Imam Sakhaawi who is her student writes, she had special knowledge in hadith and many Imams benefited from her knowledge.

Women in the Field of Islamic Knowledge and Islamic Arts

Aishah radhiallahu anhaa-. Urwali Ibne Zubayr praises her in the following words, "I have never come across anyone as well versed as her in Qur'an, faraa'idh (inheritance), halal, haram, poetry, history of the Arabs and their lineage. She was an expert on medicine as well.

Once Ibne Mulaykah asked her where she had acquired her knowledge of medicine, to which she replied, "When Rasulullah (saws) fell ill and a foreign delegation showed him treatment. I memorized it." She was also an expert in arithmetic. Many Sahabah (ra) enquired various Masaa'il from her. including on inheritance.

Umme Dardaa radhiallahu anhaa: She was the wife of Aboo Dardaa (ra) and possessed great knowledge. Imam Bukhari has mentioned her in his Saheeh.

Fatima Bint Qays radhiallahu anhaa: She possessed a great understanding of llm. She once debated with Aishah and Umar radhiallahu anhumaa on a certain matter for a prolonged period but they were unable to change her opinion. Imam Nawawi writes. "She was among the first women to make Hijrah and possessing such excellent intelligence, many Ulamaa gave preference lo her opinion.

FEMALE TEACHERS OF A GREAT SCHOLAR
Allaamah Jalaaluddin Abdurruhmaan Suyooti rahmatullahi alayh is an Islaamic scholar of great renown of the tenth century. Allaamah. his vast knowledge is evident from his many writings which can easily fill a whole library and establish a separate institution of knowledge and research. A great part of this knowledge was acquired not from male teachers only, but also from female teachers. At that point in time, it was very commonly seen that women were deeply involved in imparting higher learning.

Daughter of Sa'eed Ibne Musayyib: Sa'eed Ibne Musayyib was a Tabi'ee and had a daughter who had become famous for her knowledge and achievements.TIhe Khaleefah proposed marriage to her but she refused and instead married one of her own poor students who was also an Aalim. The day after his marriage to her, as he prepared to leave for the lessons being taught by Sa'eed Ibne Musayyib. she said to him, "Stay here. 1 shall teach you that knowledge which Sa'eed Ibne Musayyib teaches."

The wife of the author of Badaa 'i'-'Ussanaa'i': She was such a great jurist of her time that at one stage, the issuing of fataawa was solely dependant on her. Seeing her excellence, her father announced that whoever excels in knowledge and is proficient in Fiqh, will get his daughter's hand in  marriage. It was then that the book Badaa'i 'ussanaa'i was written and when its author placed this work before the girl's faiher, he approved of it and gave his daughter's hand in marriage to the author. Thereafter the knowledge of husband and wife gained such authority that no fatwa was regarded as reliable until it was not signed by husband, wife and her father.

Daughter of Imam Tahaawi: The standard of her knowledge was so high that the Imam used to dictate to her hadith and fiqh while she penned it down.

EIGHTY WOMEN TEACHERS: The famous Muhaddith. Haafiz Ibne Asaakir had attained knowledge from various teachers, eighty of whom were women.

The Daughter of Ibne Sammaak: The daughter of the famous scholar, Ibne Sammaak Kufi, used to correct him during his lectures.

Fatimah Nishapuri: She was from among the tutors of Zunnoon Misri and he benefited from her immensely.

Asmaa Bint Abdullah: She was a Muhaddithab of the ninth century and according to Imaam Sakhaawi she had attained permission (to relate ahaadith.) from twenty six teachers.

Urnme Bakhtar Bint Muhammad: She was the student of the renowned scholars Imam Mizzi and Imam Barzaali. Many Ulamaa in turn benefited from her and she granted permission to Ibne Hajar.

Juwayriyyah Bint Abul F'adhl: She is the daughter of Haafiz Abul Fadhl Iraqi. She studied ahaadith from her father and other renowned Scholars like Abubakr Haashmi. Ibne Haatim. etc. Imam Sakhaawi who is her student writes, she had special knowledge in hadith and many Imams benefited from her knowledge.

Hasla Bint Hasan: She acquired knowledge from Imam Barzaali and Imam Mizi. She also learnt certain chapters of Tinnizi from them. Haaflz Ibne Hajar has mentioned her in "Mu'jamush Shuyookh".

Khadeejah Bint Ibraheem: She studied under the famous Muhaddith Qasim Ibne Muzaffar and other top ranking Muhadditheen. Haafiz Ibne Hajar narrates from her.

Khadeejah Bint Ali: She studied Muwatta Imam Maalik from 'lz Ibne Kuwayk accompanied by her father. Imam Sakhaawi is her pupil.

Khadeejah Bint Umar: She studied most of Saheeh Bukhari and Daarami from the Muhaddith of the century, ibne Sadeeq. Senior Ulamaa narrates from her.

Ruqayyah Bint Yahyaa: Imam Sakhaawi says that she taught hadith and many Imams of hadith have studied under her. In many different cities of Hijaaj there are people who have heard hadith from her.

Zaynab bint Abdullah: Her father was a Haafizul Qur'an and a Haafizul Hadeeth. He first made her memorize the Qur'an and then taught her the following books; Umratul Hawi, Mukhtasar Abi Shuja', Bukhari and Muslim Shareef..

Zaynah Bint Kamaal: She hailed from a learned family. Her mother and sister are counted from among the senior Muhaddithaat. She was also a Qaariyah and had a special
fervour for studying seerah of Rasullullah (saws)

Sarah Bint Umar: Allaaniah Sakhaawi writes that prominent Ulamaa heard hadilh from her and her death was a great loss to the Ulamaa of Egypt

Aishah Bint Ali: Her grandfather Abul Haraam as well as her father was Muhadditheen. Her son was also from among the senior Ulamaa. She first studied Hadeelh under her grandfather and thereafter from many other renowned Ulamaa. Haafiz Ibne Hajar has mentioned her in his book and said that in the latter part of her life many Ulamaa studied under her. Allaamah Sakhaawi writes that she had memorized Ahaadith and had a special interest in Fiqh and Seerah. She had an extraordinary memory and level of intelligence.

Aishah Bint Haadi: Allaamah Sakhaawi referred to her by the title of Masnadud Dunya. She had heard hadith and attained permission from many senior scholars and had many students.

Zaynab Bint Umme Salamah: Ibne Abdul Bar says: "She was the most learned of her time."


AL-MADINAH VOL 3 ISSUE I

Orchards of Love

FAQR (POVERTY / HUNGER) Sheikh Kabeer Aarif Abu Abdullah Qarshi (rahmatullahi alayh) describing true Faqr (i.e. poverty and hunger for Allah’s Sake), said that this hunger is accompanied by pain and pleasure. In this pain and pleasure is the yearning (for Allah Ta`ala).