Women's Scientific and Educational Contribution to Islamic Sufism: an Analytical Study
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Abstract
This research aims to study the scientific and educational contribution of women in Islamic Sufism, by analyzing selected examples of Sufi women and their spheres of influence in the Sufi community. The research focuses on two prominent figures: Rabaa al-Adawiya, who contributed to the establishment of the dimension of divine love in Sufi thought, and Aisha al-Baouniyya, who highlighted the role of women in scientific production and Sufi authorship. The research also briefly refers to the model of Hafsa bint Sirin, which combined science and asceticism, to show the inclusiveness of the female presence. The research adopts a historical-analytical approach, where female models have been studied within their historical context, and their roles in education and counseling, knowledge transfer, and spiritual and social impact have been analyzed. The study reveals that women were not limited to the theoretical or spiritual aspect, but their contributions extended to Sufi and educational education, and the transmission of spiritual values to society, which confirms their active and diverse presence in the Sufi experience.The results indicate that women's contribution to Islamic Sufism was integrated between thought, authorship, and educational practice, and that women played a key role in the formulation and dissemination of Sufi discourse, emphasizing that their presence was not limited in time or place, but appeared in multiple regions of the Islamic world. The study concludes that re-reading the Sufi tradition while highlighting the role of women contributes to correcting stereotypes and strengthening our understanding of the history of Islamic Sufism and women's contributions to it.
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