Prophetess.

As-salamu alaykum,

As much of us are aware the Qur'an establishes give or take 25 different Prophets, starting with the Prophet Adam and ending with the final Prophet Muhammad. Ahadith and other Islamic literature expand on this list, mentioning other Prophets such as Urmiya and Samuil. The Qur'an alludes to even more, stating that "We assuredly sent amongst every People a messenger," though "some whose story We have not related to thee." This has led to some Muslims believing that figures such as Zoroaster, Mani, Krishna, and Buddha may have been Prophets.

But notably missing from the aforementioned list, especially when compared to Judeo-Christianity, is any Prophetess. In Judaism, Sarah, Miriam, Huldah, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, and Esther comprise the group known as the 'Seven Prophetesses'. From the list, only Sarah, wife of Abraham, and Miriam, sister of Moses and Aaron, have any notable mention in Islam. Christianity typically agrees with Judaism's 'Seven Prophetesses', while also adding in others, such Anna the Prophetess. While the thought of a female Prophet seems alien to Islam, many Islamic scholars regard multiple women as Prophetesses.

Mary, Mother of Christ, is often one of the first Prophetesses cited in Islam. As early as the tenth century, Islamic scholars, such as the Andalusian theologian Al-Qurtubi firmly believed that Mary had been a Prophetess: "Truly Maryam is a prophetess because God inspired her through the angel in the same way He inspired the rest of the male prophets." This sentiment was echoed by other scholars, such as Ibn Hazm. Al-Qurtubi based his view on the Qur'an itself, asserting that the Annunciation narrative found in Chapter 19th reconciled Mary's Prophethood. In Hadith, Mary is also listed among the women to attain perfection, which is also evidence used to support Mary's Prophethood.

While Al-Qurtubi only argued that Mary had been a Prophetess, other scholars hold different opinions, arguing that Eve, Wife of Adam, Sarah, Mother of Isaac, Jochebed, Mother of Moses and Aaron, and Asiyah, Wife of the Pharaoh, had also been Prophetesses. Notably, only Sarah is regarded as a Prophetess in Jewish and Christian thought. According to Al-Ash'ari, founder of the Asharite theology, any figure who received commandment from God, either directly or via an Angel was considered a Prophet(ess).

This post was not meant to convince anyone that any of the aforementioned women are Prophetesses, rather it was merely a post meant to learn about other points of view in Islam and too allow for discussion and conversation.

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