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What are the permissible studies for a woman to learn?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The Islamic Sharia encouraged seeking knowledge for both men and women. It was narrated from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: "Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim." Women during his time, peace and blessings be upon him, strived for knowledge and asked him to dedicate a day for their admonition.

The foremost thing a woman should prioritize in her learning is gaining understanding of her religion, acquiring knowledge of the correct creed, and understanding what validates her worship. The Muslim community must teach its women what is essential for them in non-religious sciences, such as women's medicine, to avoid men seeing their private parts. It is permissible for a man to treat a woman only out of necessity, with the obligation to lower his gaze except for the affected area.

There are other fields a woman can learn, such as education, to teach her female counterparts. A woman must adhere to the Sharia's regulations in her learning, such as being cautious of mixing with men in classrooms and observing the prescribed hijab, so she goes out modestly, not displaying her adornments or wearing perfume.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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