Reviving Female Scholarship in the Ummah by Shaykh Nadvi*

Published by Islamic Circles on 10 November, 2005 - 08:20

Assalámu `alaykum wa rahmatulláhi wa barakátuhu .

I pray that you are under the shade of Allah's mercy,
in the circle of his generosity and in the remembrance
of his habib (saw)insha'Allah,

We would like to invite you to the following:

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Islamic Circles Presents:

REVIVING WOMEN'S SCHOLARSHIP IN THE UMMAH

By Shaykh Muhammad Akram Nadwi (Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies)*

Date: Sunday 13th November 2005
Time: 11am - 1pm
Venue: Froud Centre, 1 Toronto Avenue, off Romford Road, Manor Park,
London, E12 5JF

Despite constituting more than half the Ummah and being the most
active part of it, there are very few Muslim women scholars today.
In earlier generations after the Prophet (pbuh) the teachers of
many companions, tabi'een, great imams and revivers were women.
Furthermore, our brothers are lazy and apathetic nowadays. We have
many active sisters who are also professionals, but very few take
the route of becoming scholars of Islam. This is important,
particularly in the West where sisters do most of the work, but at
the same time, ask many questions which male scholars often fail
to respond to. Shari'ah Councils need women scholars but not
Islamo-feminist armchair critics or post-9/11 consultant types who
rate themselves just because they have a PhD. One often sees them
talking about politics in Islam on TV or radio, attending countless
demonstrations, and turning up at intensive courses hoping to
become a DIY Shaykha overnight.

How can sisters become real shaykhas or women scholars? What is
required of them and what is happening to women scholars in the
Muslim Ummah today? Is anything being done to help increase their
numbers? Is it practically possible in the West with domestic
obligations and other family commitments?

*Shaykh Muhammad Akram Nadwi studied and taught Shari'a at the prestigious
Nadwatul 'Ulama (India).He has ijaza from various scholars including
Shaykh Abul Hasan Ali Al-Nadwi, Shaykh Abdul-Fattah Abu Ghuddah
and Shaykh Yusuf Al-Qardawi. He has a doctorate in Arabic Language and has
authored and translated over 20 titles on Fiqh, Qur'an and Hadtih including
his 2 volume work on the lives of female companions (scholars) of the
Prophet. As a leading scholar steeped in traditional Islamic learning
and in modern academia, Shaykh Akram is currently a research fellow
at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Oxford University.

HOW TO GET THERE:

Buses: 25, 147, 86
Nearest Tube: East Ham (District Line)
Nearest Rail: Manor Park (From Liverpool St)


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DIRECTIONS:

Road: From the A406 (North Circular), turn off at Ilford and go towards
Central London along the A118(Romford Road). The Froud Centre is located
on the 4th intersection on the right.

Rail: Come out of Manor Park station onto Station Road. Cross over,
turn right and walk to the main traffic lights. Turn left at this
junction onto Romford Road. Walk 300 metres up the road.
The Froud Centre is located on the 5th intersection on the left.

Tube: Come out of East Ham station, cross over to the opposite side
and catch the 147 bus. Ask the driver to drop you off on Romford
Road near the petrol station. When you exit the bus turn left
and walk 100 metres up the road. The Froud Centre will be on your right.

For more information please contact:
Tel: 07092 032 763 / 07092 032 136
E-mail:

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Wassalaam 'alaikum wa rahmatullaah.

- Islamic Circles is a community-based initiative that has been
running at the Froud Centre since January 2001.We hold Islamic
lectures and Arabic classes on a weekly basis, and also organise
a wide range of projects and activities, including short courses,
seminars, workshops on issues relevant to the Muslim community,
social gatherings, and matrimonial events.

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