The Female Factor: A Socio-Historical Analysis of Women Scholars’ Role in Shaping Hadith Discourse DOI:10.5281/zenodo.13738637

Abstract

The female companions of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) played a crucial yet often underappreciated role in the development of Islamic thought, Quranic interpretation, and Hadith preservation. This article delves into the lives and contributions of these remarkable women, focusing on their scholarly insights and their impact on the Muslim community. The research study seeks to reclaim the intellectual contributions of women scholars in Hadith literature in early Islamic history. By focusing on the exegetical roles of the female companions, the article provides valuable insights into how these women shaped the understanding of the sayings of the prophet Muhammad (SAW). The study's main objective is to highlight the significance of female scholars in the early centuries of Islam and its relevance to contemporary Islamic thought. This paper provides the role of selected prominent female companions in Hadith narration. Through an analysis of historical sources and intellectual insights, this paper explores these prominent women scholars' intellectual and spiritual legacy in shaping Hadith discourse, whose wisdom continues to resonate within Islamic scholarly works in contemporary times.