Are women in Islam slaves to their husbands or the husbands their maintainers and protectors

Women in Islam are always pitied by the non Muslims for they think Islam oppresses women who are kept in veils and treated like slaves by their husbands. And it is for this reason, women organizations around the world abhor Islam for suppression of rights of women in a free world where women roam around in much revealing dresses, openly coupling with the opposite gender while Muslim women are draped in cloaks that cover their entire body. 

Likewise the allowing of marriage with four wives is taken as usurpation of rights of women while in other religions the concept of one man-one woman for life exists when it comes to matrimonial relations. That is why whenever a Muslim is to portrayed, he is shown having four completely covered wives and a battalion of children.

This negative image of Islam is mainly due to the fact that most non Muslims act of heresy or the distorted knowledge fed to them by their priests and religious men. However, those who have read Islam, interestingly mostly the women, have reverted to Islam after knowing the true perspective of status of women in Islam in general and in matrimony in particular.

Today, to answer many a questions about status of women in Islam, we share an informative video at the end of the post to clear many doubts and put the tainted hearts at rest for Islam honour women much more than any other religion of the world. However, we before the video, let us a say a few words about status of women in marriage and the dignity Islam affords them to preserve their chastity, honour and purity.

This is a very important topic and one that is often misunderstood. Islam is very clear about the status of women within marriage, and it is not slavery. The Qur’an defines the husband–wife relationship as one of love, mercy, mutual respect, and responsibility, not dominance and submission.

What Does the Qur’an Say?

The key verse often referenced is: “Men are the qawwāmūn (maintainers, protectors, supporters) of women…” — Surah An-Nisa (4:34)

• The word qawwāmūn does not mean:
• Owner
• Master
• Superior
• Rather, it means:
• Protector
• Provider
• Caretaker
• Responsible guardian

So, a husband is someone who takes responsibility, not someone who controls or oppresses.

Islamic Marriage is Based on Mutual Rights

Let us just have a run down of responsibilities of man and women in a matrimony and see how a balanced approach exists in their mutual relationship:

• Husband’s Responsibilities
• Provide financial support (housing, food, clothing)
• Treat kindly and without harshness
• Protect, defend, and care for her well-being
• Wife’s Responsibilities
• Maintain dignity, respect, and loyalty
• Participate in mutual cooperation and harmony
• Build a loving and stable home

The Prophet ﷺ said: “The best of you are those who are best to their wives.” — Tirmidhi. This means a man’s character is judged by how he treats his wife.

Are Women Slaves to Their Husbands?

No. Absolutely not. The Prophet ﷺ clearly stated: “A woman is not to be harmed or oppressed.” (Sunan Ibn Majah). He ﷺ also said: “Your wives are your partners and your trusted companions.” (Masnad Ahmad)

The above quoted Hadiths clearly show that a wife is:

• A partner
• Not a servant
• Not property

Why Then Are Husbands Called Maintainers?

Because Islam assigns roles, not superiority. Men are required to:

• Earn and provide
• Protect the household
• Take accountability before Allah for those under their care
• Women are not required to:
• Earn money
• Spend on themselves or the household
• Exhaust themselves in labor or provision

And if a woman earns her own money — it is fully hers. The husband cannot take it.

The Model of Marriage in Islam

The Qur’an sums it beautifully:

“And among His signs is that He created for you spouses from among yourselves, so that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you love and mercy.” — Surah Ar-Rum (30:21)

Thus, marriage is meant to bring:

• Sukoon (peace)
• Mawaddah (love)
• Rahmah (mercy)
• Not fear. Not power. Not control.

Women in Islam are not slaves

At no stage or place, Islam commands men to take their wives as slaves and treat them something lower in status than theirs from both husband and wife are partners - a relation that is based on respect and dignity of each other.

This clearly means that"

• Husbands are responsible protectors and maintainers
• Wives are honored partners
• Marriage is based on love, respect, and mercy

When this balance is practiced, marriage becomes a form of worship — and a pathway to Jannah.

Inheritance by Muslim women

Islam not only allows women to inherit, it was the first major civilization in history to grant women legally guaranteed inheritance rights. This was revolutionary in the 7th century. Before Islam:

• Women were not considered inheritors.
• Often, women themselves were treated as property to be inherited.

The Qur’an explicitly commands that women must receive their rightful share of inheritance.

“For men is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, and for women is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave — whether little or much — a legal share.” — Surah An-Nisa (4:7)

This was revolutionary in the 7th century. 

Whereas in England the common law was enunciated in 1870 (Married Women’s Property Act), while in USA it started in late 1800s to early 1900s (varied by state). Interestingly, in Switzerland before 1985 husbands had legal financial control. 

Before these reforms:

• Western women lost ownership of property when they married.
• Their earnings and inheritance automatically belonged to their husbands.
• They could not open bank accounts without male permission.

Why Did Islam Specify Different Shares?

Now the most asked question about disparity in share of inheritance.  This is because financial obligations are different: While man is the maintainer of the household, a woman has no financial obligation and whatever she inherits is all hers and her husband cannot take control over it or spend it away without the consent of the wife.

The larger share to man basically is basically for hsi role as maintainer of the family for:

• He must financially support spouse and children
• Must pay mahr (marriage gift)
• Bear household expense since woman has no obligation in this regard.

So when a man gets a larger share, it is because he must spend it on the family, while the woman:

• Keeps her share entirely
• Does not owe a single cent to anyone

Islam’s system thus ensures that while women are financially protected, men are held financially responsible

Let us share a mind boggling video in the form of a debate which comes as a rebuttal in response to misconception about Islam and status of women. The video covers some of the oft raised question by non Muslims, specially the non Muslim women and answers some of the oft asked questions given herein under:

• Are Muslim women really oppressed?
• Is hijab imprisonment or liberation?
• Why do men get more inheritance? (although explained above)
• What about polygamy and women’s testimony?
• The truth about discipline in Islamic marriage

Now watch the video in the backdrop of above mention questions:

We hope this publication shuns any doubts in the mind of the non Muslims who think Islam still carries on the tradition of slavery which existed in Arabia at the time of evolution of Islam. In fact it was Islam which stopped burial of baby girls alive and slowly and gradually abolished the custom of slavery from Muslims. By the time of death of the Prophet ﷺ, slavery had been abolished altogether. So let us read about evolution of Islam which brought a unimaginable change in the social fabric of Arabia and introduced reforms that for the first time gave woemen to right to inheritance - something that came about in the non Muslim world many centuries later.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the reference material contained in Islam: My Ultimate Decision are that of the Islamic scholars / websites. We have shared these view as added information for better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the views owing to their own perception / school of thought being followed. If any one differs with the material contained in this blog, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make our posts all encompassing / comprehensive.

You may also refer to our reference page on Women in Islam and other Reference Pages created so far, to know more about Islam.

Photo: Royalty free photos from Pixabay

References:  | 1 |  2 | 3 |

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Rights of women in Islam

Islam came at a time when the world was utterly patriarchal where women had no rights, both as individuals and as part of a family, specially in matters related to inheritance. That is women's rights globally were limited and inconsistent, often dependent on social class, religion, and culture. The women had no rights at all in some of the major civilizations of the time and their rights ranged from very minimal to naught in many cases, wherein:

• Inheritance: Women typically did not inherit property.
• Marriage: They could be inherited as part of a man’s estate.
• Infanticide: Female infanticide was practiced in some tribes.
• Divorce and Custody: Women had no control over divorce or child custody.
• Property: Women could not own or control wealth independently.

Under such dark age of women's rights, the adevent of Islam brought sunshine to rights of women and by a rational analysis, the Qur'anic reforms—especially in Surah An-Nisa—were considered progressive and transformative, granting women rights that were rare or nonexistent in most other parts of the world at the time. In fact the rights of women mentioned in Qur'an paved way for the initiation of steps for the betterment of Muslim rights around the world.

The proponents of the allegations that Islam suppresses rights of women should know that asking women to wear Hijab is not suppression but adds dignity to women. They should instead focus on the status, repect, dignity and rights that Islam commands to be given to the women.

Today we share the 19th verse from Surah An Nisa (The Women) which mentions allowing women respect, status and rights never have been given before:

يٰۤـاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا لَا يَحِلُّ لَـكُمۡ اَنۡ تَرِثُوا النِّسَآءَ كَرۡهًا​ ؕ وَلَا تَعۡضُلُوۡهُنَّ لِتَذۡهَبُوۡا بِبَعۡضِ مَاۤ اٰتَيۡتُمُوۡهُنَّ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ يَّاۡتِيۡنَ بِفَاحِشَةٍ مُّبَيِّنَةٍ​ ۚ وَعَاشِرُوۡهُنَّ بِالۡمَعۡرُوۡفِ​ ۚ فَاِنۡ كَرِهۡتُمُوۡهُنَّ فَعَسٰۤى اَنۡ تَكۡرَهُوۡا شَيۡـئًـا وَّيَجۡعَلَ اللّٰهُ فِيۡهِ خَيۡرًا كَثِيۡرًا‏ 

(4:19) Believers! It is not lawful for you to become heirs to women against their will. It is not lawful that you should put constraint upon them that you may take away anything of what you have given them; (you may not put constraint upon them) unless they are guilty of brazenly immoral conduct. Live with your wives in a good manner. If you dislike them in any manner, it may be that you dislike something in which Allah has placed much good for you.

Let us review the meaning of this verse:

"Believers! It is not lawful for you to become heirs to women against their will." This means that the relatives of the husband should not treat the widow of the deceased as if she were a part of the inheritance and begin imposing their will on her. Upon the death of her husband a woman becomes independent. As soon as her legally-prescribed period of waiting ends, she is free to go to wherever she likes and to marry anyone she wishes.

• This prohibited the pre-Islamic Arabian practice where a man would "inherit" his deceased relative's widow (i.e., treat her like property).
• Islam abolished this abuse, affirming a woman's autonomy and consent in marriage.

"It is not lawful that you should put constraint upon them that you may take away anything of what you have given them; (you may not put constraint upon them) unless they are guilty of brazenly immoral conduct." This permission is intended not in order to provide them with an excuse to misappropriate her property but to exercise a restraint on her conduct and prevent her from lewdness.

• That is Men are forbidden from pressuring or mistreating their wives to force them to return the mahr (dowry) or other marital gifts.
• This applies especially in divorce, where financial abuse or coercion is prohibited.
• The only exception where some marital rights may be withheld is in case of clear, proven immorality (e.g., adultery).

"Live with your wives in a good manner. If you dislike them in any manner, it may be that you dislike something in which Allah has placed much good for you." This means that if the wife is either not beautiful or has some shortcoming because of which she does not seem attractive enough to her husband, the latter should not suddenly decide, in a fit of rage and disgust, to part with her. Rather he should act with patience and forbearance. It often happens that a woman lacks physical attraction but has other qualities which are of much greater value for the success of married life. Hence if such a woman finds the opportunity to express her qualities, the same husband who initially felt revulsion towards her becomes captivated by her attractive conduct and character. Sometimes in the early stages of married life a husband dislikes certain things in his wife, and this initial dislike may even grow to revulsion. Were a man to be patient and allow all the potentialities of the woman to be realized, it would become evident to him that her merits outweighed her weaknesses. Hence a man's haste in taking the decision to rupture the matrimonial bond is not praiseworthy. Repudiation of marriage should be a man's last resort, a resort towards which he should turn only in unavoidable circumstances. 

• “Live with them honorably (عَاشِرُوهُنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ)”: Islam commands respectful, kind, and just treatment of wives. This includes emotional care, fair financial support, and dignity in interaction.
• “If you dislike them… Allah may place much good in it.” A reminder that dislike is not sufficient reason to mistreat or divorce a spouse. Sometimes patience leads to unexpected blessings.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم has said: 

• For God, divorce is the most reprehensible of all lawful things.' (Abu Da'ud, Talaq', 3; Ibn Majah, 'Talaq', 1 - Ed.) 
• In another tradition the Prophet (peace be on him) said: 'Marry and do not go about divorcing. For God does not like men and women who keep on changing partners merely for a change of taste.' (al-Tabrani, cited by 'Ajluni in Kashf al-Khifa. vol. 1, p. 304 - Ed.)

Let us now share some Hadiths attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ which add explanation to the above quoted verse:

1. Marriage Requires Consent

• The Prophet ﷺ said: “A previously married woman should not be married until she is consulted, and a virgin should not be married until her permission is sought.”
• The companions asked: “How is her permission given?” He replied: “By her silence.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 5136; Sahih Muslim)
• This supports the Qur’anic prohibition of forcing women into marriage or treating them as inherited property.

2. Kindness Toward Women

• The Prophet ﷺ said: “The best of you are those who are best to their wives, and I am the best among you to my wives.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, 3895 – Hasan Sahih)
• This echoes "live with them honorably" from 4:19.

3. Avoid Divorce Without Good Reason

• The Prophet ﷺ said: “Among lawful things, divorce is the most hated by Allah.” — (Sunan Abu Dawood, 2178 – Hasan)
• Supports the verse’s guidance on not rushing into divorce due to dislike alone.

4. Justice and Mahr (Dowry)

• The Prophet ﷺ said: “If a man gives a woman a heap of gold as dowry and then divorces her, he is not allowed to take anything back.” (Reported by al-Bukhari in practice and confirmed by Qur’an 4:20)
• Aligns with the verse’s warning against taking back what was given unfairly.

Lessons from Surah An-Nisa:19

• Marriage is based on consent, not coercion.
• Women have dignity, legal rights, and protection from abuse.
• Men are commanded to treat their wives with fairness and kindness.
• Patience in marriage can lead to unexpected blessings.
• Financial rights of women (like dowry) are inviolable.

Let us understand Islam in its totality, rather than collecting bits and pieces from here and there without looking in to the context and creating misunderstandings.The non Muslim women should be thankful to Islam for its laws and concessions about women that paved way for their independence and rights they had never known before.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Photo | references: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

For more posts on status of women in Islam, please refer to our exclusive page: Women in Islam. You may also refer to our reference page on Selected verses women exclusive Surah An Nisa (The Women)

For more Q&A about Understanding Islam, please refer to our reference page: Understanding Islam - Frequently asked Q&A

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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The Benevolent treatment of daughters would protect parents against Hell-Fire (Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)

Women in Islam assume a very elevated status and at many a places in Qur'an, believers have been commanded to be extra courteous and respectful towards women. Whereas many critics of Islam accuse Islam for being unjust to women and restricting their independence confining them to homes and forcing them to drape themselves in Hijab. There is  a long list of such accusation about women and their ill treatment. Such negative attitude stems from ignorance or base propaganda. Whereas more and more non-Muslims are entering fold of Islam, a majority of which is women. Non-Muslim women get attracted to Islam for the very elevated status Islam accords to women.

There is two complete chapters, namely Surah 4. An Nisa (The Women) and Surah 58. Al Mujadilah (The Pleading Woman) dedicated to women and their special status in Islam. In times when Islam was taking its roots among the pagans of Arabia, there was an abhorring tradition of burying the newly born baby girls alive as the pagans of Arabia considered them a too lowly creature and against their honour. This tradition was strictly abolished upon proclamation of Islam. We have already published a post based on the inhuman treatment to newly born baby girls. Please read our post: When the girl-child buried alive shall be asked for what offence was she killed.

With this premise in the backdrop, let us today share a n important Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in which he specifically talks on how the Benevolent treatment of daughters would protect parents against Hell-Fire. 

This Hadith is quoted in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: Book 45 The Book of Virtue, Enjoining Good Manners, and Joining of the Ties of Kinship - كتاب البر والصلة والآداب / Chapter # 46 The Virtue Of Treating Daughters Well / باب فَضْلِ الإِحْسَانِ إِلَى الْبَنَاتِ ‏‏‏) as Hadith number # 2629 as under:

'A'isha, the wife of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ), said:

A woman came to me along with her two daughters. She asked me for (charity) but she found nothing with me except one date, so I gave her that. She accepted it and then divided it between her two daughters and herself ate nothing out of that. She then got up and went out, and so did her two daughters. (In the meanwhile) Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) visited me and I narrated to him her story. Thereupon Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said: He who is involved (in the responsibility) of (bringing up) daughters, and he accords benevolent treatment towards them, there would be protection for him against Hell-Fire.

Arabic Text:

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ قُهْزَاذَ، حَدَّثَنَا سَلَمَةُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ حَزْمٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، ح

وَحَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ بَهْرَامَ، وَأَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُمَا - قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، أَنَّأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَتْ جَاءَتْنِي امْرَأَةٌ وَمَعَهَا ابْنَتَانِ لَهَا فَسَأَلَتْنِي فَلَمْ تَجِدْ عِنْدِي شَيْئًا غَيْرَ تَمْرَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ فَأَعْطَيْتُهَا إِيَّاهَا فَأَخَذَتْهَا فَقَسَمَتْهَا بَيْنَ ابْنَتَيْهَا وَلَمْ تَأْكُلْ مِنْهَا شَيْئًا ثُمَّ قَامَتْ فَخَرَجَتْ وَابْنَتَاهَا فَدَخَلَ عَلَىَّ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَحَدَّثْتُهُ حَدِيثَهَا فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَنِ ابْتُلِيَ مِنَ الْبَنَاتِ بِشَىْءٍ فَأَحْسَنَ إِلَيْهِنَّ كُنَّ لَهُ سِتْرًا مِنَ 

النَّارِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

This is how Islam accords a very high status for the parents of daughters for on the Day of Judgment,  lovingly, well groomed and raised daughters will become a shield for their parents against the fire of Hell. Let all those parents blessed with daughters be mindful of the blessings of Allah they have been blessed with in the form of their daughters. While sons too are a blessing of Allah, nonetheless, the raising of daughters take precedence over them for they are guests in their parent's' house and would leave one day after marriage. A better trained girl when becomes a mother, she continues to transform the preferential treatment meted out to her by her parents so that her daughters to learn the same and the cycle should continue.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Please refer to our reference page: Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ related to Muslim Women  for more Hadiths on the status of women in Islam.

You may also refer our reference page: Collections of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Rewards and Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

Photo | Source of Hadith | The blessing of having daughters |

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Women in Islam: World's first University founded by a Muslim Woman

Whenever the mention of women in Islam comes, many non Muslims take them to be illiterate, oppressed hidden behind the veil or hijab, cut from the modern day developments and streams of education. But the opposite is true. Islam emphasizes education of male and female both as both have a specific role to play for being an important and useful part of the society. While there are many names that are attributed to Muslim women for their contribution to every field of education, science and social development, it may come as surprise to many, both Muslims and non Muslims that the first ever university in the world was established by a Muslim women in Morocco in 9th century AD.

This great Muslim woman was Fatima bint Muhammad Al-Fihriya Al-Qurashiya (فاطمة بنت محمد الفهرية القرشية‎)  who established a masjid in the city of Fez in present day Morocco. 

Fatima al-Fihri was born in 800 A.D. She was the daughter of Mohammed Bnou Abdullah al-Fihri - a rich merchant who settled in Fez with his family during the reign of Idris II.

Fatima was a strong believer. When she inherited a huge amount of money at the time her father and her husband died, she decided to use it to build a mosque which her Muslim community in Fez urgently needed, large enough to fit an ever-growing number of believers. Herself a highly educated woman, her dream was to do something for the educational uplift of her area. Thus she conceived the idea of building a mosque, which was urgently needed for the people of her community which was ever increasing. She supervised the building process herself and almost the entire inherited money was consumed in her project that was later to become the oldest university of the world. 

Initially a madrassa (school) was established withe masjid which later developed into a university in 895 CE in the city of Fez.  From the 10th century the famous mosque of al-Qarawiyyin became the first religious institute and the largest Arab university of North Africa. It attracted a lot of students and renowned scientists. [1]

They date al-Qarawiyyin's transformation from a madrasa into a university to its modern reorganization in 1963. Some sources, such as UNESCO and the Guinness World Records, cite al-Qarawiyyin as the oldest university or oldest continually operating higher learning institution in the world. Education at the University of al-Qarawiyyin concentrates on the Islamic religious and legal sciences with a heavy emphasis on, and particular strengths in, Classical Arabic grammar/linguistics and Maliki Sharia, though lessons on non-Islamic subjects are also offered to students. [2]

The University of Al Quaraouiyine became a state university in 1963 and now awards degrees in Islamic, religious and legal sciences with an emphasis on classical Arabic grammar and linguistics and law.  Interestingly, teaching is still delivered in a very traditional manner, whereby students are seated in a semi-circle around a Sheikh (Islamic scholar), who prompts them to read sections of particular texts, asks them questions on aspects of grammar, law, or interpretation, and explains difficult points. [3]

As per Wikipedia, Al-Qarawiyyin also compiled a large selection of manuscripts that were kept at a library founded by the Marinid sultan Abu Inan Faris in 1349. The collection housed numerous works from the Maghreb, al-Andalus, and the Middle East. Part of the collection was gathered decades earlier by Sultan Abu Yusuf Ya'qub (ruled 1258–1286), who persuaded Sancho IV of Castile to hand over a number of works from the libraries of Seville, Cordoba, Almeria, Granada, and Malaga in al-Andalus/Spain. Abu Yusuf initially housed these in the nearby Saffarin Madrasa (which he had recently built), but later moved them to al-Qarawiyyin. Among the most precious manuscripts currently housed in the library are volumes from the Al-Muwatta of Malik written on gazelle parchment, a copy of the Sirat by Ibn Ishaq, a 9th-century Quran manuscript (also written on gazelle parchment), a copy of the Quran given by Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur in 1602, a copy of Ibn Rushd's Al-Bayan Wa-al-Tahsil wa-al-Tawjih (a commentary on Maliki fiqh) dating from 1320, and the original copy of Ibn Khaldun's book Al-'Ibar (including the Muqaddimah) gifted by the author in 1396.

Fatima al-Fihri today is considered a saint and she is much respected among the believers especially in Fez. In 2017, a prize was created in Tunisia in her honor. It rewards initiatives which encourage access to training and professional responsibilities for women. Furthermore, an academic program and a scholarship given to students from Europe and North Africa pay tribute to Fatima al-Fihri.

Please watch an informative video on the evolution and development of the university:

Note: We have only provided the bare minimum information on Fatima al-Fihri and her pursuits to establish the masjid and later turned into a university. For detailed information, please refer to reference sources given below, specially the Wikipedia.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the reference material contained in Islam: My Ultimate Decision are that of the Islamic scholars / websites. We have shared these view as added information for better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the views owing to their own perception / school of thought being followed. If any one differs with the material contained in this blog, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make our posts all encompassing / comprehensive.

You may also refer to our reference page on Women in Islam and other Reference Pages created so far, to know more about Islam.

Photo: University of Al Qaraouiyine (Wikimedia Commons / Author: Abdel Hassouni)

References:  | 1 |  2 | 3 |

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