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Women
and the seeking of knowledge
Question:
The Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu
`alayhe wa sallam) 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 masjid
in order to seek knowledge. Why do the scholars not follow
the example of the Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu
`alayhe wa sallam)? Although they do fulfill some of those
needs, it is not sufficient and we need more. Jazaa-Kallaahu
Khayr.
Response:
There is no doubt that such was the practice of the Messenger
of Allaah (sal-Allaahu
`alayhe wa sallam), as well as the scholars. Indeed, I
myself have done that here on a number of occasions as well
as in Makkah, Taif 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 al-Darb, Allaah
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
al-Islaam and al-Qur.aan al-Kareem. Similarly, women may write
to Dar al-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.
Shaykh
Ibn Baaz
Fataawa al-Mar.ah
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