Al-Muhaddithat: The Women Scholars of Islam

640 W Irving Park Rd,Chicago IL 60613

12 February, 2022

Description

Al-Muhaddithat: The Women Scholars of Islam By Shaykh Akram Nadwi , Dr. Tamara Gray, & Dr. Ingrid Matson This course is based on the book, ‘Al-Muhaddithat: The Women Scholars in Islam’ by Shaykh Akram Nadwi and will be taught by the author himself. This book serves as an accessible English language introduction to the multi-voluminous biographical dictionary that has also been researched and compiled by Shaykh Akram. These female scholars and their legacies have been preserved within Islamic history in a number of ways and their presence attests to a tradition of learning throughout the centuries. As hadith narrators, teachers, jurists, wives, mothers and daughters, these women have contributed to the growth and development of the Muslim community on a social, moral and intellectual level since the 7th century. They supported and were supported by others in such a manner that indicates a sense of mutual respect and cooperation. As Muslims today, we stand to benefit from these intentions and reciprocal values. Learning about these women and their context is “essential for a balanced appreciation of the role of women in Islamic society”. Learning Objectives: Learn about the changes in Islamic curricula studied by women over the centuriesBecome acquainted with a number of prominent and lesser-known female scholars in IslamLearn more about their lives, contributions and Islamic sciences studiedGain a greater understanding of their historical contexts About Shaykh Mohammad Akram Nadwi (Oxford) Shaykh Akram Nadwi studied and taught Shari’a at the Nadwatul ‘Ulama (India). He is a muhaddith specialising in ‘Ilm al-Rijal (the study of the narrators of Hadith) and has ijaza (licenses) from many mashayakh, including Abul Hasan Ali Al-Nadwi, Abdul-Fattah Abu Ghuddah, Ramadan Buti, AbdurRahman Kittani and Yusuf al-Qaradawi. Over the course of three decades he has authored, translated and conducted research on many titles related to fiqh, Qur’an, hadith and sufi orders. He has published widely in Urdu, Persian, Arabic, and English on Shah Wali Allah, a critical edition of Usūl al-Shāshī in Ḥanafī jurisprudence, original monographs on Islamic law, Quran and hadith sciences, and figures such as Abū Ḥanīfah, including his monumental 43 volume work on Al-Muhaddithaat –The Women Scholars in Islam. He was a research fellow at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Oxford University, and is recipient of the ‘Allāmah Iqbāl prize for contribution to Islamic thought and is the Principal and Co-Founder of Al-Salam Institute. As co-founder of Al-Salam Institute, he continues to teach advanced levels of Islamic Scholarship Program. About Dr. Tamara Gray Dr. Tamara Gray is a founder of Rabata, an organization dedicated to promoting positive cultural change through creative educational experiences. She holds a doctorate in leadership from the University of St. Thomas, a master’s degree in Curriculum Theory and Instruction from Temple University, and spent twenty years studying traditional and classical Islamic sciences, Quran, and Arabic in Damascus, Syria. Dr. Gray worked in the field of education for twenty-five years before moving into the non-profit world. She is now both the Executive Director of Rabata and its Chief Spirituality Officer. Her work includes the daily nitty gritty of project design as well as the support and mentorship of hundreds of women around the world. She is the instructor for more than ten subjects at Ribaat, teaches RabaTeens, and contributes to curriculum development. Dr. Gray is also an author and translator. Her publications range from several culturally appropriate English language curriculum programs to translations of sacred texts. She has authored two books: Joy Jots: Exercises for a happy heart & Project Lina: Bringing our whole selves to Islam, and co-translated the Mukhtasir al-Jami’ fi al-Sīra al-Nabawiyya by Samīra Zayid [Compendium of the Collection of Sources on al-Sīra al-Nabawiyya] In addition to her work at Rabata, Dr. Gray sits on the NoUsury board - on organization dedicated to giving small no-interest loans to those who are in need, ANd the Collegeville Institute’s Inter-religious Fellows Program, working to develop educational programming for faith leaders around social justice issues. She also serves as both faculty and an academic council member for The Islamic Seminary of America, teaches at the United Theological Seminary of the TwinCities and is a Senior Fellow at the Yaqeen Institute. She has recently joined the Fiqh council of North America in addition to her other responsibilities. Dr. Tamara is a mother of three, grandmother of two, an avid reader and a lover of cultures, people, coffee and food. Audience: Open to the general public Pre-requisites: None  AIC is currently an independent and urban-based institution in Chicago that serves a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and socio-economically diverse student population. The College was established in 1981 as a private, not-for-profit, four-year institution offering programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree in Arabic and Islamic Studies. In March 1982, the college purchased its present landmark building on Lake Shore Drive, previously the Immaculata Sisters High School, designed in 1922 by Barry Byrne, who had been trained in the studio of Frank Lloyd Wright. It is the first of Byrne’s designs in Chicago. Anticipating the construction of Lake Shore Drive, the building was built facing south. The building features slate roofing, classical windows, fine molding, marble flooring, and stunning stained glass. It was inducted into the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. AIC began its first academic semester in September 1983 as the first Islamic institution of higher education in the United States and may have been an idea ahead of its time, as ultimately efforts to offer degree programs were suspended in the 1990s. In 2010 American Islamic College reopened under a new administration and is rapidly moving forward, having recently received Degree Granting Authority for both a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree in Islamic Studies. In addition, AIC offers a variety of non-credit and non-degree classes that include: Islamic art (Arabic calligraphy and Ebru), music, and Arabic and Turkish languages. Numerous positive developments continue to enhance the campus. AIC has completely renovated its facility, including the auditorium, classrooms, offices, dormitory, and parking. In Fall 2014 AIC will welcome its second cohort of BA and MA students. On April 1st, 2014, AIC received Degree Granting Authority from the Illinois Board of Higher Education. The College is therefore now authorized to confer both Bachelors and Masters degrees in Islamic Studies.