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Bismillaah Al-Hamdulillaah wa salatu wa salaamu ‘ala rasulullaah
Amma-ba’d

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Below is an excellent yet brief discussion from the Hadeeth scholar of the era, al-Imaam Muhammad Naasirud-Deen al-Albaanee (rahimahullaah), regarding an aspect of the role of women in da’wah. I have discussed this issue many times over the years with my brothers in the da’wah and always inclined towards the position that women should attend the duroos of the Salafi mashayikh and tullaabul-’ilm and not insist on women establishing circles in the Masaajid, claiming that “they will attract an all-female audience!”

Indeed is it known that the Prophets and Messengers (alaihimus-salaatu was-salaam) were all male, and was not said by those who believed and followed them, “Why has Allaah not sent a female Messenger for the women?”. The Prophets were sent by Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) and they came with Revelation for their particular nation, which would consist of males and females, they would judge between them by way of the Book that they were sent with, amongst the males and females – and our Lord oppresses no one. This continued until the sending of our Messenger Muhammad (salallaahu ‘alaihi wassallam) – the finality and seal of the Prophets sent to the whole of mankind and jinn, male and female.

This of course does not exclude the women from teaching as is well-known in Islaam. Shaikh al-Albaanee (rahimahullaah) stated:

“So, if there is found amongst the women today, those who were given something from knowledge and sound understanding derived from the Book and Sunnah, then there is no problem that she has a private sitting in her house or in one of the homes of the sisters, this is better for them.” (See below the full quote).

This is the woman who is firmly grounded in knowledge – affirmed by those who are known for knowledge themselves. Not merely a sister who sets herself up as a teacher (and starts teaching in her home) without being grounded in knowledge or is unknown to the Scholars and the students of knowledge. She should be known to the scholars and/or the students of knowledge who, in turn, are themselves well-known …..

Abu Khadeejah ‘Abdul-Wāhid Alam
Salafi Publications, Birmingham, England.

Women Callers Teaching in the Mosques
Imaam Muhammad Naasirud-Deen al-Albaanee (d.1420H)
Translation by Abu Suhayl Anwar Wright

Imaam Muhammad Naasirud-Deen al-Albaanee (d.1420H) – rahimahullaah – said whilst mentioning the benefits extracted from the hadeeth (no. 2680) in as-Saheehah (6/401),

in it is the permissibility of making promises (al-waâd) and al-Bukhaaree (d.256H) inserted a chapter heading for this hadeeth with the name, Should there be a day of learning made specifically for the women?

I say (al-Albaanee):

As for what has become widespread here in Damascus in recent times from the women going to and from the mosques at particular times to have lessons from one of them (i.e. the other women) who call themselves women callers (daaiyaat) as they claim, then that is from the newly invented matters which were not present during the time of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) or the time of the Salafus-Saalih. Rather, that which was known is that they must be taught by the righteous Scholars in a particular place just as it comes in this hadeeth, or they were taught in the lessons of the men, but separate from them in the mosque if possible. If the case is not like this, they will be overtaken by the men, and knowledge would not be able to be obtained or be asked about.

So, if there is found amongst the women today, those who were given something from knowledge and sound understanding derived from the Book and Sunnah, then there is no problem that she has a private sitting in her house or in one of the homes of the sisters, this is better for them.  How can this not be when the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said regarding (the women) and the congregational Prayer, And their homes are better for them.So if this is the affair regarding the Prayer, which it is incumbent that in it the woman has to adhere to the etiquette and modesty which she is not abundant in outside of the Prayer, how can she not have even more of this quality in seeking knowledge??  Especially because one of them raises their voice and another may also do this along with her, so there occurs this reprehensible, repugnant buzzing noise in the mosque, and this is what we have heard and witnessed unfortunately.

Then afterwards I saw this newly invented matter traverse to other lands like Amman (Jordan) for example. We ask Allaah for the well being from every newly invented innovation.

Imaam al-Albaanee – rahimahullaah – said commenting on the hadeeth (no. 1999) in Saheehut-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb (2/442),

And its takhreej (i.e. the above hadeeth) is in as-Saheehah (no. 2680) and there I mentioned the innovated matter of the women teaching other women in the mosque, just as some of them do in Damascus and in other places. Indeed, the Prophet spoke the truth when he said, And their homes are better for them.

Taken from Qaamoosul-Bida’ (p. 430).

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