THE 500 MOST INFLUENTIAL MUSLIMS - CESD

24HER EMINENCE SHEIKHA MUNIRA QUBEYSILeader of the Qubeysi MovementMunira Qubeysi is the head of the largest women-onlyIslamic movement in the world. It offers Islamic educationexclusively to girls and women. Qubeysi commandsaround 80 schools in Damascus alone, teachingmore than 75 thousand students. She is one of the mostsignificant Islamic scholars in the world; her movementfocuses on learning the Qur’an and comprehensive Hadithcollections by heart. Qubeysi is arguably the mostinfluential Muslim woman in the world, albeit in greatdiscretion.Country: SyriaDate of Birth: 1933Source of Influence: ScholarlyInfluence: More than 75 thousandstudents in DamascusaloneSchool of Thought: TraditionalSunniRank: 2010:24 · 2009:31 Female Muslim OrderAt a time when clandestine meetings of Islamic organizations are proscribed in Syria, SheikhaQubeysi’s network, the Qubaisiat, has legally been permitted to host classes and meetings inmosques since 2006—although they had been operating as a secret society for long beforethat time. Members of the Qubaisiat identify themselves, and ranks within the group, basedon specific colors and articles of clothing—headscarves knotted at the neck, and overcoatsdenoting membership status. Women within the network are provided a unique role withinArab society as scholars and teachers exclusively catering to the needs of Muslim women; theyprovide an open forum to address religious questions and discuss religious issues.Milestones in Islamic EducationQubeysi is influential as the leader of an incredibly successful educational movement. Thereligious education of women in Syria had previously been neglected so the emergence ofa female-specific educational initiative has become very popular, making the al Qubaisiat,in numbers, the leading Islamic movement in Syria. Qubeysi’s students are also at the forefrontof a significant achievement in Islamic history in regards to education—no less than70 Qubaisiat have memorized the ‘Nine Texts of the Sunna’ which include major canonicalbooks of Hadith with extensive chains of narration in addition to the entire Qur’an. Bytraining this sizeable group of female scholars, Shiekha Qubeysi has made Islamic knowledgewidely accessible, and is credited for the resurgence of Islamic education in Syria.Leading an Islamic Revival in SyriaQubeysi’s influence in Syria is due to the fact that she has been able to develop a very largenetwork of madrassas (religious schools) without attracting the criticism of the government,which has traditionally been dubious of large networks of Muslim organizations. The organizationfollows traditional Sunni practice, and follows the Shafi’i school of thought. Althoughmember groups are found in Jordan, Kuwait and Lebanon, Damascus is the center of therevivalist movement.74