Mufti women in Islam

1-11-2003 | IslamWeb

Question:

Do women exist in Islamic history, who are educated as a Mufti and are allowed to make a Fatwa?
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

The women of the Salaf (rightly guided predecessors) used to give Fataawa from what they knew and learnt from the revelation.

For example, it was confirmed that women sought Fataawa from 'Aa'ishah may Allaah be pleased with her in matters of menses. [Al-Bukhari]

Besides, Abu Moosa Al-Ash'ari may Allaah be pleased with him said: "We, the companions of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) never had some confusions about a Hadeeth and asked 'Aa'ishah may Allaah be pleased with her about it except that we found that she had knowledge about it." [Al-Albaani classified it as Saheeh [authentic]

Moreover, Al-Bukhari may Allaah have mercy upon him mentioned that Um Ad-Dardaa' may Allaah be pleased with her was a female jurist. Ibn Katheer may Allaah have mercy upon him reported in his book entitled Al-Bidaayah Wan-Nihaayah that men used to learn from her (Um Ad-Dardaa') and seek jurisprudence knowledge from her and that was in the north wall of Damascus mosque. The Caliph 'Abdul-Malik may Allaah have mercy upon him used to sit in her teaching circles during his caliphate.

Allaah Knows best.

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