Women and Ḥadīth Transmission: Prolific Role of Aisha in Validation and Impugnment of Prophetic Traditions

Abstract

Muslim history is animated with examples of women who mastered the art of ḥadīth (Prophetic traditions) sciences and besides this, they had also displayed their expertise in the field of Al-Jarḥ wa Taʿdīl (Validation and Impugnment) of Prophetic traditions. The science of Al-Jarḥ wa Taʿdīl is a very subtle and sensitive branch of Usūl al ḥadīth (the science of ḥadīth) which deals with acceptance or rejection of Prophetic narrations, based on the trustworthiness and weaknesses of ḥadīth narrator. Since the beginning of Islamic history, Muslim women have constantly taken a prominent part in narration, preservation, and memorization of ḥadīth, these efforts continued for a long time and there were numerous distinguished female scholars of ḥadīth who were treated with great honor. This study aims to investigate the contribution of these muḥaddithāt (female scholars of ḥadīth) in ḥadīth narration and specifically the significant role of Aisha (R.A.) in the field of Al-Jarḥ wa Taʿdīl. This study also aims to put forth the contribution of muḥaddithāt in ḥadīth narration during the early centuries of Islam parallel to their role in Al-Jarḥ and Taʿdīl of narrators. Furthermore, this study would be a humble effort to highlight the intellectual contributions of female Muslim scholars of ḥadīth to encourage women of today to carry this legacy forward by mastering this scholarly endeavour and continue the legacy of their pious predecessors.