Mufti women in Islam
Fatwa No: 86679

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 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 in matters of menses. [Al-Bukhari]

Besides, Abu Moosa Al-Ash'ari said: "We, the companions of the Prophet never had some confusions about a Hadeeth and asked 'Aa'ishah about it except that we found that she had knowledge about it." [Al-Albaani classified it as Saheeh [authentic]

Moreover, Al-Bukhari mentioned that Um Ad-Dardaa' was a female jurist. Ibn Katheer 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 used to sit in her teaching circles during his caliphate.

Allaah Knows best.

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