Can women seek knowledge in Islam?

The short answer

Yes. The Quran's praise of knowledge is addressed to believing men and women alike, the Prophet ﷺ set aside a special day to teach women at their request, and his wife Aishah (RA) became a teacher whom senior Companions consulted. Women learning their religion, and beneficial knowledge generally, is encouraged.

Evidence 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Explanation

The Quran's praise of knowledge is not limited to men. "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?" 1 applies to every believer, and the reward for righteous deeds is promised to "male or female" alike 2. The wives of the Prophet ﷺ were told to "remember what is recited in your houses of the verses of Allah and wisdom" 3, making their homes places of learning.

The women of Madinah took this seriously. They told the Prophet ﷺ that the men were taking all his time and asked for a day of their own. He agreed and gave them lessons, and they asked him questions directly 4. Aishah (RA) said of the women of the Ansar: "How good are the women of Ansar (helpers) that their shyness does not prevent them from learning religion" 5. Umm Sulaym began a sensitive question with the words "Allah is not shy of (telling you) the truth" 6.

Women also taught. When Companions disagreed about a ruling, Abu Musa went to Aishah (RA) to ask, and she told him not to be shy, answering from what she had heard from the Prophet ﷺ 7. Ash-Shifa' bint Abdullah had taught Hafsah (RA) to write, and the Prophet ﷺ asked her to also teach Hafsah the ruqyah (healing recitation) she used for skin eruptions 8.

So a girl or woman who studies, whether Quran, fiqh, medicine, teaching or any beneficial field, is walking a path the female Companions walked. As with everyone, the conditions are a sincere intention and keeping the rulings of Islam in how and where one studies.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Quran Az-Zumar · 39:9

    Those who know are not equal to those who do not know.

    أَمَّنۡ هُوَ قَٰنِتٌ ءَانَآءَ ٱلَّيۡلِ سَاجِدࣰ ا وَقَآئِمࣰ ا يَحۡذَرُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةَ وَيَرۡجُواْ رَحۡمَةَ رَبِّهِۦۗ قُلۡ هَلۡ يَسۡتَوِي ٱلَّذِينَ يَعۡلَمُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَۗ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُوْلُواْ ٱلۡأَلۡبَٰبِ ۝٩

    Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing [in prayer], fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [like one who does not]? Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?" Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding

  2. 2
    Quran An-Nisaa · 4:124

    Whoever does righteous deeds, male or female, as a believer will enter Paradise.

    وَمَن يَعۡمَلۡ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ مِن ذَكَرٍ أَوۡ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤۡمِنࣱ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ يَدۡخُلُونَ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ وَلَا يُظۡلَمُونَ نَقِيرࣰ ا ۝١٢٤

    And whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while being a believer - those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged, [even as much as] the speck on a date seed

  3. 3
    Quran Al-Ahzaab · 33:34

    The Prophet's wives are told to remember the verses and wisdom recited in their homes.

    وَٱذۡكُرۡنَ مَا يُتۡلَىٰ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ مِنۡ ءَايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡحِكۡمَةِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ لَطِيفًا خَبِيرًا ۝٣٤

    And remember what is recited in your houses of the verses of Allah and wisdom. Indeed, Allah is ever Subtle and Acquainted [with all things]

  4. 4
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 101
    Sahih Bukhari

    Women asked the Prophet ﷺ for a special day of teaching, and he gave it to them.

    Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri:Some women requested the Prophet (ﷺ) to fix a day for them as the men were taking all his time. On that he promised them one day for religious lessons and commandments. Once during such a lesson the Prophet said, "A woman whose three children die will be shielded by them from the Hell fire." On that a woman asked, "If only two die?" He replied, "Even two (will shield her from the Hell-fire)

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ الأَصْبَهَانِيِّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا صَالِحٍ، ذَكْوَانَ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ،‏.‏ قَالَتِ النِّسَاءُ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم غَلَبَنَا عَلَيْكَ الرِّجَالُ، فَاجْعَلْ لَنَا يَوْمًا مِنْ نَفْسِكَ‏.‏ فَوَعَدَهُنَّ يَوْمًا لَقِيَهُنَّ فِيهِ، فَوَعَظَهُنَّ وَأَمَرَهُنَّ، فَكَانَ فِيمَا قَالَ لَهُنَّ ‏"‏ مَا مِنْكُنَّ امْرَأَةٌ تُقَدِّمُ ثَلاَثَةً مِنْ وَلَدِهَا إِلاَّ كَانَ لَهَا حِجَابًا مِنَ النَّارِ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقَالَتِ امْرَأَةٌ وَاثْنَيْنِ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ وَاثْنَيْنِ ‏"‏‏.‏

  5. 5
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 332c
    Sahih Muslim

    Aishah praised the Ansar women because shyness did not stop them learning the religion.

    A'isha reported:Asma (daughter of Shakal) asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about washing after menstruation. He said: Everyone amongst you should use water (mixed with the leaves of) the lote-tree and cleanse herself well, and then pour water on her head and rub it vigorously till it reaches the roots of the hair. Then she should pour water on it. Afterwards she should take a piece of cotton smeared with musk and cleanse herself with it. Asma' said: How should she cleanse herself with the help of that? Upon this he (the Messenger of Allah) observed: Praise be to Allah, she should cleanse herself. 'A'isha said in a subdued tone that she should apply it to the trace of blood. She (Asma) then further asked about bathing after sexual intercourse. He (the Holy Prophet) said: She should take water and cleanse herself well or complete the ablution and then (pour water) on her head and rub it till it reaches the roots of the hair (of her) head and then pour water on her. 'A'isha said: How good are the women of Ansar (helpers) that their shyness does not prevent them from learning religion

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ، بَشَّارٍ قَالَ ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ الْمُهَاجِرِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ صَفِيَّةَ، تُحَدِّثُ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ أَسْمَاءَ، سَأَلَتِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ غُسْلِ الْمَحِيضِ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ تَأْخُذُ إِحْدَاكُنَّ مَاءَهَا وَسِدْرَتَهَا فَتَطَهَّرُ فَتُحْسِنُ الطُّهُورَ ثُمَّ تَصُبُّ عَلَى رَأْسِهَا فَتَدْلُكُهُ دَلْكًا شَدِيدًا حَتَّى تَبْلُغَ شُئُونَ رَأْسِهَا ثُمَّ تَصُبُّ عَلَيْهَا الْمَاءَ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ تَأْخُذُ فِرْصَةً مُمَسَّكَةً فَتَطَهَّرُ بِهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَتْ أَسْمَاءُ وَكَيْفَ تَطَهَّرُ بِهَا فَقَالَ ‏"‏ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ تَطَهَّرِينَ بِهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ كَأَنَّهَا تُخْفِي ذَلِكَ تَتَبَّعِينَ أَثَرَ الدَّمِ ‏.‏ وَسَأَلَتْهُ عَنْ غُسْلِ الْجَنَابَةِ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ تَأْخُذُ مَاءً فَتَطَهَّرُ فَتُحْسِنُ الطُّهُورَ - أَوْ تُبْلِغُ الطُّهُورَ - ثُمَّ تَصُبُّ عَلَى رَأْسِهَا فَتَدْلُكُهُ حَتَّى تَبْلُغَ شُئُونَ رَأْسِهَا ثُمَّ تُفِيضُ عَلَيْهَا الْمَاءَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ نِعْمَ النِّسَاءُ نِسَاءُ الأَنْصَارِ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَمْنَعُهُنَّ الْحَيَاءُ أَنْ يَتَفَقَّهْنَ فِي الدِّينِ ‏.‏

  6. 6
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 130
    Sahih Bukhari

    Umm Sulaym asked the Prophet ﷺ a sensitive question, saying Allah is not shy of the truth.

    Narrated Um Salama:Um-Sulaim came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said, "Verily, Allah is not shy of (telling you) the truth. Is it necessary for a woman to take a bath after she has a wet dream (nocturnal sexual discharge?) The Prophet replied, "Yes, if she notices a discharge." Um Salama, then covered her face and asked, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Does a woman get a discharge?" He replied, "Yes, let your right hand be in dust (An Arabic expression you say to a person when you contradict his statement meaning "you will not achieve goodness"), and that is why the son resembles his mother

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلاَمٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ زَيْنَبَ ابْنَةِ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ، قَالَتْ جَاءَتْ أُمُّ سُلَيْمٍ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَسْتَحْيِي مِنَ الْحَقِّ، فَهَلْ عَلَى الْمَرْأَةِ مِنْ غُسْلٍ إِذَا احْتَلَمَتْ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ إِذَا رَأَتِ الْمَاءَ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَغَطَّتْ أُمُّ سَلَمَةَ ـ تَعْنِي وَجْهَهَا ـ وَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَتَحْتَلِمُ الْمَرْأَةُ قَالَ ‏"‏ نَعَمْ تَرِبَتْ يَمِينُكِ فَبِمَ يُشْبِهُهَا وَلَدُهَا ‏"‏‏.‏

  7. 7
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 349
    Sahih Muslim

    Abu Musa went to Aishah to resolve a question of fiqh, and she answered him.

    Abu Musa reported:There cropped up a difference of opinion between a group of Muhajirs (Emigrants and a group of Ansar (Helpers) (and the point of dispute was) that the Ansar said: The bath (because of sexual intercourse) becomes obligatory only-when the semen spurts out or ejaculates. But the Muhajirs said: When a man has sexual intercourse (with the woman), a bath becomes obligatory (no matter whether or not there is seminal emission or ejaculation). Abu Musa said: Well, I satisfy you on this (issue). He (Abu Musa, the narrator) said: I got up (and went) to 'A'isha and sought her permission and it was granted, and I said to her: 0 Mother, or Mother of the Faithful, I want to ask you about a matter on which I feel shy. She said: Don't feel shy of asking me about a thing which you can ask your mother, who gave you birth, for I am too your mother. Upon this I said: What makes a bath obligatory for a person? She replied: You have come across one well informed! The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: When anyone sits amidst four parts (of the woman) and the circumcised parts touch each other a bath becomes obligatory

    العربية

    وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ حَسَّانَ، حَدَّثَنَا حُمَيْدُ بْنُ هِلاَلٍ، عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، - وَهَذَا حَدِيثُهُ - حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ هِلاَلٍ، قَالَ - وَلاَ أَعْلَمُهُ إِلاَّ عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، - عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، قَالَ اخْتَلَفَ فِي ذَلِكَ رَهْطٌ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالأَنْصَارِ فَقَالَ الأَنْصَارِيُّونَ لاَ يَجِبُ الْغُسْلُ إِلاَّ مِنَ الدَّفْقِ أَوْ مِنَ الْمَاءِ ‏.‏ وَقَالَ الْمُهَاجِرُونَ بَلْ إِذَا خَالَطَ فَقَدْ وَجَبَ الْغُسْلُ ‏.‏ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى فَأَنَا أَشْفِيكُمْ مِنْ ذَلِكَ ‏.‏ فَقُمْتُ فَاسْتَأْذَنْتُ عَلَى عَائِشَةَ فَأُذِنَ لِي فَقُلْتُ لَهَا يَا أُمَّاهْ - أَوْ يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ - إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكِ عَنْ شَىْءٍ وَإِنِّي أَسْتَحْيِيكِ ‏.‏ فَقَالَتْ لاَ تَسْتَحْيِي أَنْ تَسْأَلَنِي عَمَّا كُنْتَ سَائِلاً عَنْهُ أُمَّكَ الَّتِي وَلَدَتْكَ فَإِنَّمَا أَنَا أُمُّكَ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ فَمَا يُوجِبُ الْغُسْلَ قَالَتْ عَلَى الْخَبِيرِ سَقَطْتَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ إِذَا جَلَسَ بَيْنَ شُعَبِهَا الأَرْبَعِ وَمَسَّ الْخِتَانُ الْخِتَانَ فَقَدْ وَجَبَ الْغُسْلُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  8. 8
    Hadith Sunan Abi Dawud 3887
    Sahih graded by Al-Albani

    Ash-Shifa' had taught Hafsah writing, and the Prophet ﷺ asked her to teach her a ruqyah too.

    Narrated Ash-Shifa', daughter of Abdullah,: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) entered when I was with Hafsah, and he said to me: Why do you not teach this one the spell for skin eruptions as you taught her writing

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ الْمِصِّيصِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ، عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ كَيْسَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ أَبِي حَثْمَةَ، عَنِ الشِّفَاءِ بِنْتِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَتْ دَخَلَ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَنَا عِنْدَ حَفْصَةَ فَقَالَ لِي ‏ "‏ أَلاَ تُعَلِّمِينَ هَذِهِ رُقْيَةَ النَّمْلَةِ كَمَا عَلَّمْتِيهَا الْكِتَابَةَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

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