Munira Qubeysi is the head of the largest women-only Islamic movement in the world. It offers Islamic education exclusively to girls and women. Qubeysi commands around 80 schools in Damascus alone, teaching more than 75
thousand students. She is one of the most significant Islamic scholars in the world; her movement focuses on learning the Qur’an and six major hadith collections by heart. Qubeysi is arguably the most influential Muslim woman in the world, albeit in great discretion.
At a time when clandestine meetings of Islamic organizations are proscribed in Syria, Sheikha Qubeysi’s network, the Qubeysiat, has legally been permitted to host classes and meetings in
mosques since 2006—although they had been operating as a secret society for long before that time. Members of the Qubeysiat identify themselves, and ranks within the group, based on specific colors and articles of clothing—headscarves knotted at the neck, and overcoats denoting membership status. Women within the network are provided a unique role within Arab society as scholars and teachers exclusively catering to the needs of Muslim women; they provide an open forum to address religious questions and discuss religious issues.
Qubeysi is influential as the leader of an incredibly successful educational movement. The religious education of women had previously been neglected so the emergence of a female-specific
educational initiative has become very popular, making the Qubeysiat, in numbers, the leading Islamic movement in Syria. Qubeysi’s students are also at the forefront of a significant achievement in Islamic history in regards to education—no less than 70 Qubeysiat have memorized nine canonical books of Hadith with extensive chains of narration. By training this sizeable group of female scholars, Shiekha Qubeysi has made Islamic knowledge widely accessible, and is credited for the resurgence of Islamic education in the country.
Qubeysi’s influence in Syria is due to the fact that she has been able to develop a very large network of madrassas (religious schools) without attracting the criticism of the government, which has traditionally been dubious of large networks of Muslim organizations. The organization follows traditional Sunni practice, and follows the Shafi’i school of thought. Although member groups are found in Jordan, Kuwait and Lebanon, Damascus is the center of the revivalist movement.
Her spiritual movement continues, regardless of all politics.
Citizen of: Syria
Birth: 1 January 1933 (Age: 80)
Source of Influence: Administration of Religious Affairs, Scholarly
Influence: Scholarly Influence: More than 75 thousand students in Damascus alone
School of Thought: Traditional Sunni
Stay up to date on the latest developments with the Muslim 500. We’ll never share your email with others.
Please leave your suggestions for improving the Muslim 500 here:
