Who was the first woman hafiz of the Quran?

The first woman to memorize the entire Quran was Umm al-Mu’minīn Ḥafṣa bint ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنها), daughter of Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab and wife of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Historical Islamic sources unanimously affirm her as the foremost female Ḥāfiẓa among the Sahābiyyāt (female Companions).

Key Evidence of Ḥafṣa was the first woman hafiz of the Quran:

1. Explicit Historical Recognition
   • Renowned scholars like Al-Dhahabi in Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ and Ibn Kathir in Al-Bidāya wa-l-Nihāya identify Ḥafṣa as the first woman to achieve complete Quranic memorization during the Prophet’s lifetime.
2. Guardianship of the Quranic Manuscript
   • After the Prophet’s death, the official compiled Quranic pages (ṣuḥuf) were entrusted to Ḥafṣa’s custody, a role demanding her mastery of the text. Caliph ʿUthmān later used her manuscript as the primary reference for the standardized Muṣḥaf.
3. Direct Prophetic Endorsement
   • The Prophet (ﷺ) praised her religious devotion:
     “She is fasting and praying frequently, and she will be my wife in Paradise.” (Al-Ṭabarānī)
   • Her rigorous worship routine (qiyām al-layl, fasting) facilitated deep Quranic internalization.

Other Early Female Ḥuffāẓ Among Sahābiyyāt:

While Ḥafṣa was the first, other notable female Companions who memorized the Quran include:

• ʿĀʾisha bint Abī Bakr (رضي الله عنها)
• Umm Salama (رضي الله عنها)
• Umm Waraqa bint ʿAbd Allāh (رضي الله عنها), whom the Prophet permitted to lead household prayers due to her Quranic expertise.

Why Ḥafṣa Precedes ʿĀʾisha in Memorization?

• Chronological Advantage: Ḥafṣa embraced Islam earlier (pre-Hijra) compared to ʿĀʾisha, who was younger.
• Textual Custodianship: Her role as keeper of the Muṣḥaf implies prior complete memorization.
• Scholarly Consensus: Classical sources consistently list her first among Quran-preserving women.

Legacy:

Ḥafṣa’s achievement set a paradigm for Muslim women’s scholarship. Her preservation of the Quran ensured its textual integrity for generations, earning her the title “Ḥārisat al-Qurʾān” (Guardian of the Quran). Modern Ḥifẓ programs for women globally trace their inspiration to her precedent.

For those aspiring to memorize today, her life exemplifies that piety and systematic revision (her daily worship habits) are the keys to Quranic mastery.

“Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave—even if you must go to China.”

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Conclusion:

The first woman to memorize the entire Quran was Ḥafṣa bint ʿUmar, daughter of Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab and wife of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). She safeguarded the Quranic manuscript after the Prophet’s death, setting a lasting example for women in Quranic memorization.