An Analytical Study of the Nature and Aspects of Pakistani Women's Contributions to Understanding the Quran

Abstract

The multifaceted services rendered by Pakistani women in the promotion of Qur’anic understanding through teaching, authorship, organization, da‘wah, welfare, and charitable institutions demand an independent and serious scholarly study. The contributions of Pakistani women to the understanding of the Qur’an have not remained confined to instruction and teaching alone; rather, they have transferred Qur’anic comprehension from the individual level to society and from society to the institutional level. Renowned figures such as Dr. Farhat Hashmi, Nighat Hashmi, Riffat Jabeen Begum, Tahir-ul-Qadri’s wife, Mahmooda Begum (wife of Maulana Maududi), Masooda Manzoor Hashmi, and Mahmooda Manzoor harmonized Qur’anic understanding with contemporary demands and established a living relationship between the Qur’an and the hearts and minds of women. Their efforts not only enhanced religious consciousness among women but also enabled them to play an active role in practical da‘wah, moral development, and social reform.Similarly, women’s contributions at the foundation and organizational levels transformed the understanding of the Qur’an into an organized movement. Through institutions such as Kasuri Welfare Trust, Kashf Foundation, Fakhr Foundation, and other organizations, Qur’anic understanding was integrated with social welfare, economic self-reliance, and moral training. These institutions represent a practical manifestation of the reality that Qur’anic understanding is not merely theoretical knowledge but a comprehensive system for shaping practical life. Through these institutions, women conveyed the Qur’anic message of justice, mercy, and responsibility to the underprivileged segments of society.At the organizational level, women affiliated with Tehreek-e-Minhaj-ul-Qur’an, Jamaat-e-Islami, Dawat-e-Islami, and the Da‘wah Academy (International Islamic University) made Qur’anic understanding an effective means of collective da‘wah, character building, and intellectual guidance. Under these organizations, women played a significant role in nurturing an intellectual generation through Qur’anic lessons, training sessions, study circles, and educational programs—one that regards the Qur’an not merely as a book of recitation but as a complete code of life for humanity.The present research, titled “The Services of Pakistani Women in the Understanding of the Qur’an: A Study of Its Dimensions,” seeks to examine the various dimensions in which Pakistani women served the cause of Qur’anic understanding, the methods they employed, and the intellectual and da‘wah-oriented impacts of their efforts.

Keyword: Quran. Pakistani Women, Quran Knowledge, Services, Interpretations, Translations, Books, Schools, Teaching