One of the clearest standings of Islam is its fundamental support for seeking knowledge and its spread among human beings. There is no difference in this regards between men and women. In fact, a general overview of the Islamic teachings clearly shows that among all religions, Islam’s support for women’s education and learning is unique.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) has said about this issue,” Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every male and female Muslim (1)”.
The lives of examples Islam has put forward are true evidences for this stand. Islam has not only considered seeking knowledge and learning crucial for women, but also has allowed them to teach the knowledge they have gained if certain conditions are met.
Therefore, the habit of seeking knowledge was common among not only the wives and the daughter of the Infallible Imams (PBUT), but also all the other people who could somehow benefit from their knowledge, such that everyone of them could become a source of knowledge and progress for the Islamic nation.
For instance, at the time of Imam Kadhim (PBUH), a group of the Shiites went to Medina to ask the questions they had from the Imam (PBUH). Imam Kadhim (PBUH) was out of town at that time, so they wrote down their questions and gave them to the family of the Imam (PBUH), so that they would get the answers in their next trip.
Later, as they wanted to leave Medina, they met Lady Masumah (PBUH), daughter of Imam Kadhim (PBUH), and realized that she had provided answers to their question in writing. Delighted, they received the answers and left Medina for their hometown. On their way, they came across Imam Kadhim (PBUH) and narrated what had happened. Imam Kadhim (PBUH) asked for the answers her daughter had provided, studied them, and after he found them to be exactly correct, he repeated three times,” May her father be sacrificed for her…”
In fact, in the religion of Islam, women have reached, and continue to reach positions of accomplishment that they not only traverse the path of perfection themselves, but also help their society and nation to progress, and become references of knowledge for others.
(The above is a selection taken from “Hadrat Masumah (PBUH), the second Lady Fatimah (PBUH)”, by Hujjat al-Islam Muhammadi Eshtehardi (with some changes))
Footnotes:
1- The Messenger of God (peace be upon her and her family and peace be upon her) said: “Seeking knowledge is an obligation on every Muslim and Muslim …” (Uddah al-Daa’i, page 72)