Over the past few years, it has proven difficult to gather all of the information needed to support sisters who wish to study abroad. In shaa Allah, progress is being made, but it does take time. It has taken more than 2 years to get all of the information needed to support the brothers at Madinah, and that is while I am a student there, so it is even harder when it relates to another city, and especially when dealing with the women’s departments of the various universities. Please be patient. If there are any sisters in Saudi who speak good/fluent Arabic and would like to help, they are more than welcome to post a comment.
There are several universities which have facilities for women, including one purpose built university for women in Riyadh. In fact, the only university which doesn’t have any facilities for women at the moment is Madinah. For more information about the other universities, see the Other Universities page.
As of now, Madinah university doesn’t have a women’s department. They have been given permission to open one, but at the moment it seems that the plan has not been implemented, or at least has not progressed to the stage where we have a fixed date. Recently, the Deputy Head of Admissions for Student Registration informed me that he knows of no plans to implement accepting applications from sisters in the near future, although the applications system is being designed to support it. However, rumours are abound that the department is close to opening, and as soon as I have any more information, inshaa Allah, I’ll post it here.
Therefore, I would recommend that sisters who want to study consider two options available to them:
- Other universities which accept women – see above.
- A husband who is accepted to study – if a sister is married to a husband who is a student, or even a husband who works in Saudi, there are several courses which sisters can enrol in – providing they get themselves a residency permit. For example in Madinah, there are some Arabic language courses for sisters who are resident here, provided by charities which operate independently of the university. Some of these courses are restricted to students’ wives only, but some of them are more flexible. Then there are some excellent courses for Arabic speaking sisters, which cover 2-3 years of quality Islamic education from some of the most prominent scholars in Madinah – not to mention the open classes by the senior scholars in Madinah. However, see the section on married students, to learn about some of the difficulties in this process.
Assalaam o alaykum akhi,
So are the halaqahs by our noble shayks in masjid an-nabawi also attending to by the sisters? If so, how do they go around in doing this? as the sisters place and brothers place are completely seperate!?
Or do they also have their own shaykhahs (female shaykhs) in the sisters side teaching?
If you could kindly get back to me.
Jazaak-Allaahu khaira
Wa alaykumussalaam warahmatullah,
There are women teachers of course, but the male scholars have the most famous halaqaat, and they also teach the sisters.
There are basically two main types of women’s teaching which is done by men.
* At the Masjid An-Nabawi, the audio is transferred from the shaykh’s microphone and broadcast into a certain area of the women’s section (which is completely separate, unlike Makkah, which is partially separate). The women who want to learn from that shaykh sit in that certain place, so that they can hear the audio.
* In the Islamic institutions, colleges, etc. – They teach via one way video link, and the sisters have an audio link and a classroom assistant who manages the whole thing. The shaykh can hear their questions, but can’t see them, and they can both see and hear the shaykh. The classroom assistant is a woman who makes sure they all behave themselves. There is an amazing 3 year course which is taught in this manner by some of the major scholars in Madinah.
I know there are women who teach as well, and I’m sure there are some prominent people of knowledge amongst them, but they don’t have a really open role, and the major halaqaat are still taught by the male scholars.
Allah knows best.
Wassalaamu alaykum warahmatullah,
Muhammad
Jazak’Allaahu khayr.
Keep up what u are doing masha’Allaah its very beneficial for the people who are striving to join you and study in the prestigious Islamic Jami’ah of Madeenah. May Allaah reward you for your efforts and asssistance ameen.
Asalaamu ‘alaykumwa rahmatulahi wa barakatuh.
Akhee I wanted to knw if sisters are able to have an interview as I plan on going for umrah this year with my brother. Insha’Allaah we will both apply for umm al qura, should I apply for the islamic jami’ah in madinah aswell or not? coz I heard wives of students and saudi’s might only be accepted. Baarak’Allaahu feekum!
Wa alaykumussalaam warahmatullahi wa barakaatuhu,
The university has sought and been given permission to open a women’s department, and we’re being told that they will accept sisters from abroad, with the usual condition that they have a mahram, inshaa Allah. However, as far as we can tell (I spoke to the Deputy Head of Admissions for Student Registration) there has been no progress at all so far. Certainly, they aren’t going to be accepting applications from sisters for the foreseeable future. I’m currently involved in preparing the new university website for admissions and over the next year the plan doesn’t have even a single mention of women’s facilities, or any provision for accepting applications from sisters.
I know that some sisters have spoken to individuals in the university who have mentioned next year. However, when you deal with people over here, you realise that a lot of the time people just say things, in a kind of ‘inshaa Allah, next year’ type of way, and they don’t actually mean it. It’s not that they intend to lie, it’s just a cultural thing in the way people speak.
So, at the moment it’s just Umm-ul-Quraa or Riyaadh.
May Allah make it easy for you,
Wassalaamu alaykum,
Muhammad
Salamualaikum Warrahmatullahi Wabarakatuh, Oh Brother in Islam, I have read all the stuff I am needed to do, for the most part I think I can do, but I just needed a bit on answering on my questions and I need a little bit of help with reference or contact, My question is, I know we can give the stuff in a package but I also know that we can go there for an interview. For the interview, is it before getting accepted or after? And my other question is I live in canada, Toronto. And am looking for atleast 2 good reference. If by any chance you know anyone then, can you please help me out, May ALLAH bless you in this Dunya And in the akhira.
Already replied to your first post. You didn’t have to post the same question on every single page!
Assalam-u-aaikum,,m dear brother in islam,i’ ve just completed m snr sec education & nw was vry egr to be a part of al-madinah university..but unfortunately we the muslim women are being deprived of our rught to get the RIGHT ISLAMIC KNOWLEDGE..Please mk it available for our community too,,wassalaam
Wa alaykumussalaam warahmatullah,
The university has been given permission to open a women’s section, at the moment we don’t have a timeframe for how long this is going to take. In the mean time, I highly recommend that you look into Umm ul Quraa university in Makkah and Ibn Saud university in Riyadh, both of which accept applications from sisters. If I get any updates I’ll post it on the sisters’ page inshaa Allah.
Wassalaamu alaykum warahmatullah,
Muhammad
Assalam alykum Warahmatullah,
Brother, Any update on this female section?
And akhi can u tell me anywhere i can go to gain knowledge,
I am 17 and NOT married NOR do i have a mahram who can go to STAY with me.
Do I have a SINGLE chance of getting accepted to ummul qura in makkah ON THE CONDITION that I try to marry or get married as soon as I find a SUITABLE one?
Plx help, i am getting kinda desperate over this…and frm Allah we seek help!
JazakAllah khayr!!
wassalam alykum
ur sister in islam
Wa alaykumussalaam warahmatullah,
Wallahi, I wish I had more to update. There just isn’t that much to update. I have two problems. The first is that there really isn’t very much information out there in the first place, especially with the slow pace of life in the Middle East. Secondly, I don’t have any really good contacts for Umm ul Quraa in Makkah. I have been looking for a brother studying there who can update the site to include more detail on Umm ul Quraa and/or Riyaadh.
Part of seeking knowledge is patience and perseverance. The more you seek knowledge and the closer you get to studying abroad, the more you realize just how much you need it. I’ve mentioned on the other pages, and I can only repeat again that I would be shocked if there weren’t opportunities to seek knowledge in your local area that you haven’t yet discovered. It took me to go to Madinah before I realized just how much knowledge was available locally when you look for it. Of course, it’s no substitute for going to somewhere like Makkah, but it is a start. If you haven’t already memorized the whole Qur’aan, for example, then that’s something that you can aim to start on right away.
You’ve got a lot of points on your side, not least of all your age, since you have plenty of time to plan your seeking knowledge and still be eligible for universities like Umm ul Quraa, who accept students 25 or younger.
Getting married to someone who also has aspirations to seek knowledge would obviously be a big help, but I know that’s easier said than done! But Allah makes it easy for whoever He wills.
In terms of the mahram, as far as I know it is a fixed condition for being accepted, and Allah knows best.
May Allah make your search for knowledge easy,
Wassalaamu alaykum warahmatullah,
Muhammad
JazakAllah khayr akhi
Can u pls tell me if ummul-qura university (makkah) accepts students for faculties other than the arabic and islamic faculties?
ur sister
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Sorry, I missed your comment in my inbox.
I honestly don’t know. I haven’t heard of them accepting students from other disciplines, but I’ve mostly been concerned with the Arabic/Islamic studies side of things. It might be worth calling them to find out.
aS salamu alaikum
I am a asister interested in studying in Saudi. I will inshaAllah apply to umm al Qura but I wanted to know whether Taibah University in Madinah accepts USA applicants for undergraduate study?
as Salamu ‘Alaykum
I just spoke to Dr. Al-FiFi (hafidhahullaah) and I asked him about any updates and all he said was ‘next year inshaa Allaah’ – even though I thought they would have an update on their site by now, wallaahu a’lam. He also sounded quite tired, so I didn’t ask any further.
As was mentioned before, these things do take time and we need to be patient and we need to make duaa for those who are working towards such excellent initiatives, inshaa Allaah.
I’m hoping to call by the end of this year inshaa Allaah. If anyone else has updates, feel free to post.
Fi amanillaah
Muhammad is correct – things do take a long time in Saudi.
Inshaa Allaah, i’m hoping to call them as soon as I get credit – so will update on here inshaa Allaah.
Was Salam
Yasmin
ameen to your ad’iyah.
He said to check the site within 3 months – i.e. August inshaa Allaah and there should be an update.
I’ll also be calling them again by then to confirm things, inshaa Allaah.
Was-Salam
Assalawalaikum,
Does any one have any update about the sisters inshallah?
Wa alaykumussalaam,
No update from my side. I’m hoping to get some news about Madinah opening a sisters’ facility when I go back but it’s important to understand that things can take a VERY long time in Saudi. For example, the Faculty of Islamic Law had a new building which was built and complete for a good couple of years before they moved into it. Inshaa Allah things are improving though, and if I hear anything, I’ll let everyone know inshaa Allah.
May Allah make it easy for us all,
Wassalaamu alaykum,
Muhammad
as-Salaamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullaah wa barakaatuh
I spoke with the friend of dr. saleh y/day and he knew that I was from the west and he gave me some details about when the Uni will open etc and he never said that the Uni is restricted to saudi women only. He even asked which country I was calling from
Just thought to clarify this.
Was-Salam
Wassalaamu alaykum warahmatullahi wa barakaatuhu,
May Allah make it easy for you to seek knowledge in a way that pleases Him.
I still think the issue is not clear at the moment. Those of us who live in Saudi know that what they say to you on the phone is often very very different from what actually happens – this is often not intentional, but the decision is often made at ministerial level and can be changed without notice. For that reason, I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up, but I very much hope that the university does go through with their plans and make the applications process available to all.
I’ll change the page text to reflect the new information though….
Wassalaamu alaykum,
Muhammad
Wa alaykumussalaam,
As I mentioned on the ‘married students’ page, Madinah does not allow students to bring their wives and students should think very very carefully before committing to study. The reason I say so is that many students quit when they realise that they can’t bring their wives, or when they have to be away from them for a long period of time.
Some students try to bring their wives in different ways, please see the page on ‘Married students’ for more information. Many of these ways are risky but al-hamdulillah, some students manage it.
Also consider other Saudi universities which may allow a student to bring their wife.
May Allah make it easy for you,
Wassalaamu alaykum,
Muhammad
Assalamualaikum
akhi, hope u r fine alhamdhulillah, akhi i got married 5 months ago, so i wanted to bring my wife also to madina for the arabic studies as it is mentioned in the sisters side.. what is the process to apply for that let me know soon about the accomodation etc etc.. if not is there any way to get her with me to madina .. insha allah
jazaakallahu qairun ,
abdul rehman haran