Amrah bint Abdurahman was an early Islamic jurist, mufti, and hadith scholar who died in 98 AH, corresponding to 717 CE. She belonged to the tabieen generation, the group of Muslims who followed the generation of the Prophet Muhammad’s companions, and became one of the most authoritative narrators of hadith reported by Aisha, the Prophet’s wife.
Who Was Amrah bint Abdurahman?
Amrah bint Abdurahman was a female Islamic scholar recognized as a jurist, mufti, and hadith specialist during the early period of Islamic history. She was one of the most prominent female Muslim figures in Islamic history, known as a jurist, a mufti, and a hadith specialist, and was one of the greatest Successors who came after the Prophet’s companions.
She is widely regarded among Islamic scholars as one of the most reliable transmitters of Prophetic tradition from the first century of Islam.
What Was Amrah bint Abdurahman’s Family Background?
Amrah bint Abdurahman was born during the era of the third Caliph Uthman ibn Affan, around 29 AH. She belonged to a household with a very strong commitment to Islam, as her grandfather, As’ad ibn Zurarah, was one of the very first people from Madinah to accept Islam.
| Bio Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Amrah bint Abdul Rahman ibn As’ad |
| Approximate birth year | 29 AH (during Caliph Uthman’s era) |
| Date of death | 98 AH (717 CE) |
| Generation | Tabieen (second generation of Islam) |
| Primary teacher | Aisha, wife of the Prophet Muhammad |
| Occupation | Jurist, mufti, hadith scholar |
| Husband | Abdul Rahman ibn Harithah ibn Al-Nu’man |
| Son | Muhammad, later known as Abul Rijal |
Who Was Amrah’s Grandfather?
Amrah’s grandfather, As’ad ibn Zurarah, was among the first 6 people from the Khazraj tribe whom the Prophet Muhammad met when they came to Makkah for pilgrimage. He accepted Islam on that day, alongside 5 of his companions. The following year, As’ad was one of 12 Muslims from Madinah who came to Makkah, met the Prophet, and pledged their loyalty to him. He was also the first to establish the Friday prayer in Madinah.
Some sources note this lineage is disputed, with certain accounts mistaking Amrah as the granddaughter of As’ad ibn Zurara due to his prominence as the first chief in Medina to convert to Islam.
How Was Amrah bint Abdurahman Raised and Educated?
Amrah grew up under the care of Aishah, the Prophet’s wife, and learned extensively from her, particularly her reported hadiths. This close relationship placed Amrah among the Tabi’in, the righteous predecessors who studied directly under companions of the Prophet.
Aishah was one of the most prolific reporters of hadith among the Prophet’s relatives and companions, and Amrah’s close association with her allowed Amrah to become one of the best and most reliable transmitters of hadiths reported by Aishah.
Whose Hadiths Did Amrah bint Abdurahman Narrate?
Amrah was among the most authoritative and reliable narrators of the hadith of Aisha, including her fiqh judgments, as well as hadith from Umm Salama, Rafi’ ibn Khadij, and Umm Hisham bint Harithah.
Imam Sufyan ibn Uyayynah stated that the 3 most knowledgeable people of the hadiths narrated by Lady Aishah were Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr Al-Siddiq, Urwah ibn Al-Zubair, and Amrah bint Abdul Rahman.
What Made Amrah bint Abdurahman an Authoritative Scholar?
Amrah’s scholarly authority was recognized by several prominent Islamic figures of her time.
The Caliph Umar ibn Abdul Aziz used to say that anyone wanting to learn hadith should go to Amrah. Imam Al-Zuhri described her as the great vessel of hadith. Imam Al-Hafiz Yahya ibn Ma’een stated that Amrah bint Abdul Rahman was a trustworthy authority regarding the Prophetic hadith.
Imam Al-Dhahabi described her as a scholar, a jurist, and an authority of vast knowledge who narrated numerous hadiths within the books compiled for Prophetic Hadith.
What Legal Case Did Amrah bint Abdurahman Influence?
When Muhammad bin Abi Bakr bin Hazm, the Judge of Medina, ruled in a case involving a Christian thief from Syria who had stolen something, he wrote to Amrah for advice. She informed him that he could not order the severing of the man’s hand, since a thief’s hand could only be cut off for stolen amounts exceeding one-quarter of a dinar, so he ordered the man released. The judge did not question her judgment or seek out other scholars.
Did Amrah bint Abdurahman Correct Other Legal Rulings?
Amrah was also a defender of social justice. On one occasion, she heard of an unjust decision passed in a court case and immediately protested against it, sending a messenger to declare the ruling both unjust and illegal. Her high rank and prestige led to the ruling being corrected immediately.
Her intervention in the Madinah theft case upheld justice and highlighted her expertise and moral courage, qualities that earned her the respect of both scholars and jurists.
What Was Amrah bint Abdurahman’s Family Life?
Amrah married Abdul Rahman ibn Harithah ibn Al-Nu’man and bore him a son named Muhammad, who later acquired the nickname Abul Rijal, meaning The Father of Men.
Who Studied Under Amrah bint Abdurahman?
Amrah trained several notable students and transmitters who carried her narrations forward within Islamic scholarship. Reported students and transmitters of her hadith include Urwah ibn Zubair, her nephew Abu Bakr ibn Hazm, Abdullah ibn Abu Bakr, Al-Zuhri, Amr ibn Dinar, her own son Abul Rijal Muhammad ibn Abdurrahman, and her grandchildren.
Why Is Amrah bint Abdurahman Significant in Islamic Scholarship?
Amrah bint Abdurahman holds significance in Islamic scholarship for 3 reasons:
- She stands among the most reliable narrators of hadith transmitted by Aishah, contributing directly to the preservation of Prophetic tradition
- Her legal judgment in the Madinah theft case demonstrated her authority in fiqh, influencing judicial decisions without her rulings being questioned by contemporary judges
- Her recognition by leading scholars of her era, including Caliph Umar ibn Abdul Aziz and Imam Al-Zuhri, cemented her standing as one of the foremost female authorities in early Islamic intellectual history
Sources: Wikipedia, Arab News (Adil Salahi), SeekersGuidance (Shaykha Tamara Gray), Islam.com.kw (Dr. Ali Al-Halawani), Wisconsin Muslim Journal, Kure Ansiklopedi.