One example of a great Muhaddithah (scholar of Hadeeth), a non-Arab, of the 13th Century. ‘Non-Arab’ is outlined because many feel that these great women were great only because they were lucky to have Arabic as their mother-tongue and ancestry was from the Arabs. On the contrary, many of our great scholars, even from among the men, the likes of Imam Al-Bukhari were not from the lineage of the Arabs. In the same way, the Muhaddithah, Amat Al-Ghafoor bint Is-Haaq Al-Dihlawi was from Delhi — India.
Her father was one of leading scholars of India and so she would learn from his company, covering many books of Hadeeth and Fiqh with him. In this way, she acquired high authority in both Hand Fiqh. Her father married her to a scholar; whenever he faced difficulty he would turn to his wife. Amat Al-Ghafoor .
Al-Hasani says, ‘When her husband, himself a great scholar, faced any difficulty in Hadeeth or Fiqh he would consult her and benefit from her.’
Truly this is a blessing that Allah blesses to whomsoever he wishes of his believing maid-servants.