When most people think of a Muslim scholar, a grey haired, bearded man will most likely come to mind.

Yet, according to the findings of one scholar, until the 16th century, women were among the most respected, well travelled and prolific of Muslim scholars.  In 2007, Mohammad Akram Nadwi, published a 40-volume biographical dictionary revealing a rich history dating back 1, 400 years of female hadith scholars across the Muslim world.[1] Hadith are sayings of the Prophet Muhammad and are one of the primary sources of Islamic knowledge.

Nadwi, who initially said he only expected to find 20 or 30 women of influence, has found accounts of over 8,000 women teaching hadith classes to men and women in important mosques and colleges, issuing fatwas, interpreting the Qur’an and debating with and criticising rulers.[2] These women, who taught and practised across the world from Syria and India to Egypt, Morocco, Iraq and Spain, were applauded and respected by their male and female peers alike.

Read about Umm al-Darda, one of the Al Muhaddithat. 

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[1] Mohammad Akram Nadwi Al-Muhaddithat: The Women Scholars in Islam (2007)
[2] Carla Power, ‘Reconsideration, A Secret History’ New York Times (2007)