Teaching Women to Write

Question

Regarding a certain section of Bihishti Zewar (“Heavenly Ornaments”), the Barelvis raised the objection that it is not permissible for women to write, though they are certainly permitted to acquire the religious sciences. In this connection they also cited a hadith prohibiting it. This worthless one himself heard from the Grand Mufti of Aligarh, Mawlana Hafiz Hafizullah ﵋, that teaching girls to write is not permissible according to the Sacred Law — the noble hadith contains a clear prohibition of it.

Answer

In one place in the noble hadith a prohibition against teaching a woman to write has come, and in another place an encouragement to do so has come. Therefore the commentators on hadith have written that where there is a danger of trial (fitna)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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