Muslim Women: Past and Present

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Throughout the ages, from the earliest days of Islam to contemporary times today, Muslim women have been and continue to be active leaders in their communities and countries across the world. This directory is a growing archive of leading Muslim women scholars, activists, writers, politicians, artists, religious and spiritual leaders, civil society leaders and more. Please contribute to this archive by suggesting Muslim women to be featured through our recommendation form.

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Karima bint Ahmad al-Marwaziyya

Keep exclusively to Karima. Study the Sahih under no one else.

Abu Dharr of Heart, an illustrious scholar of the period- (Jennifer Heath, The Scimitar and the Veil: Extraordinary Women of Islam (Mahwah: HiddenSpring 2004), 147.

Known For: Best authority on Sahih of al-Bukhari
Dates: Hijri 358 - 461 (AH)
Common Era 969-1069 (CE)
Country: Afghanistan

About

Also known as Umm al-Karam, Karima bint Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Hatim al-Marwaziyya was raised in Mecca, living near the Holy Sanctuary there until her death at the age of 100. She never married.

She was considered a superior authority in the teaching of the hadith. Teachers of the hadith bear a great responsibility in Islam, because accuracy of transmission is so crucial. Karima learned the Sahih of al-Bukhari, one of the major Sunni hadith collections, from several sources. She and later taught and narrated the Sahih many times. Among those who narrated from her were al-Khatib al-Baghdadi and Abu al-Ghana’im al-Nursi. Many of her pupils studied the Sahih solely under her tutorship.

Sources

Heath, Jennifer. The Scimitar and the Veil: Extraordinary Women of Islam (Mahwah: HiddenSpring, 2004), 146-47. 

Al Sheikha Karima al-Marwaziyya

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This search feature will enable you to find Muslim women by their Country. We are actively building the archive of Muslim women leaders from the past, as well as from today, and we would welcome your recommendations of women to feature. Please complete our “Recommend Muslim Women” form and check the site again in the near future as we actively expand this section of the portal with your suggestions.
This search feature will enable you to find Muslim women leaders by entering the keyword(s) of your choice. If you cannot find a particular woman that you are looking for, please let us know by completing our “Recommend Muslim Women” form and check the site again in the near future as we actively expand this section of the portal with your suggestions.