Women and the Seeking of Knowledge

Women and the Seeking of Knowledge

Q. The Messenger of Allah used to set a special day for teaching the matters of the religion to the women. He also used to permit them to be behind the men in the mosque in order to seek knowledge. Why do the scholars not follow the example of the Messenger of Allah ? Although they do fulfill some of those needs, it is not sufficient and we need more. May Allah reward you.

A. There is no doubt that such was the practice of the Messenger of Allah as well as the scholars. Indeed, I myself have done that here on a number of occasions as well as in Makkah. Taeif and Jeddah.

I have no problem with setting apart a specific time for women in any locale if they want that from me. That is also the position of my scholar colleagues.

Furthermore  by the radio program Noor ala Ad-Darb 1[1] Allah has opened the way to much good. A woman can send her question to the program and during the program it will be answered. This program is aired two nights a week on the stations Nida-ul-Islam and Al-Quran al-Kareem

Similarly  women may write to Dar-ul-Ifta. In this case  a committee of scholars may respond to their questions. It has been designed for that purpose. In any case  knowledge is equally obligatory for both men and women. There is nothing to prevent a woman from attending lectures  with the condition that she is properly dressed and is not exposing any of her beauty.

Shaikh bin Baz