Women Scholars in Islamic History

Women have played a crucial role in Islamic scholarship from the earliest generations. Aisha bint Abu Bakr alone narrated over 2,000 hadiths and was consulted by the greatest scholars.

Early Women Scholars

• Aisha bint Abu Bakr: Greatest female scholar of Islam
• Fatimah bint Muhammad: The Prophet's daughter
• Hafsa bint Umar: Guardian of the Quran manuscript
• Umm Salamah: Major narrator and advisor

Later Scholars

• Fatima al-Fihri: Founded the University of al-Qarawiyyin (859 CE)
• Shuhda al-Katiba: 12th-century hadith scholar
• Zaynab bint al-Kamal: Taught hadith in Damascus