Bibi Raji –15 Centuries of Female Scholarship

In this series, Shaykha Tamara Gray narrates the stories of great Muslim women through the centuries, who excelled in fields of Islamic knowledge, science, and philanthropy. This segment features Bibi Raji from the 9th century.

Bibi Raji was from Delhi, and lived in the 9th century of the Islamic calendar. She is known for her establishment of buildings and institutions, some which are still standing today, including the Dargha Suleman. By doing this, she was leaving a legacy that would remain for years to come.

She was deeply concerned about the accessibility of education, and would give scholars stipends and awards for their work. She would also give students scholarships and pay for their expenses.  This was a far cry from today’s education system, where teachers make low wages and students fall to huge loans. Bibi Raji was dedicated to giving to both educators and students, so that could concentrate on the quality of their work.

Bibi Raji was also dedicated to uplifting women’s education. She opened a girls’ school with the ethos of ensuring that women could access education and the resources that came with it. She was a trailblazer for women’s education and female representation, centuries before the Western societies caught on.

With gratitude to Shaykha Tamara Gray and Rabata.