Sutayta al-Mahamali: Pioneering Muslim Woman Mathematician of the Islamic Golden Age

By Afroz Khan, New Age Islam 28 June 2025 Sutayta al-Mahamali, a 10th-century Muslim mathematician from Baghdad, excelled in algebra, inheritance mathematics, and Islamic jurisprudence. Trained by her scholar father and renowned teachers, she solved complex problems, contributed to the House of Wisdom, and issued legal opinions as a mufti. Main Points: 1. Sutayta al-Mahamali, a 10th-century Muslim woman, excelled in algebra and inheritance mathematics. 2. Born in Baghdad to a family of scholars, her father was a renowned judge. 3. Trained by prominent teachers and studied Al-Khwarizmi’s mathematical works. 4. Her expertise was recognized, and she contributed to scholarly discussions. 5. She issued legal opinions as a mufti, blending mathematics and jurisprudence. ----- The Islamic Golden Age (622 to 1258) itself comprises many great Muslim personalities, in that period many outstanding Muslim individuals have made significant contributions in their respective fields in the fields of science, medicine, jurisprudence, astronomy and mathematics, in which Muslim women have also been equally entitled. Sutayta al-Mahamali was one such great Muslim female mathematician who has made a very important contribution to mathematics. She found solutions to many mathematical problems by acquiring unique knowledge in algebra, genealogy (Fara'id) and jurisprudence. She is credited with being the first female mathematician. Sutayta al-Mahamali is believed to have been born in the late 9th century or early 10th century. She was born in a prestigious family of Baghdad, her family was a family of scholars, her father Abu Abdullah al-Hussain was a judge and her uncle was a Hadith scholar. The qualities of the family were nurtured in Sutayta and the family environment nourished the qualities in her. Sutayta's father Abu Abdullah al-Husayn was a famous judge. He wrote many books on Islamic jurisprudence including Kitab fi al-Fiqh, Salat al-Idain. He wanted Sutayta to become an Islamic scholar, so he started imparting religious education to his daughter. Sutayta's father gave great importance to education, but when he saw that Sutayta was also interested in mathematics, he started imparting education to Sutayta in both subjects. He appointed many famous teachers for Sutayta, prominent among whom were Abu Hamza b. Qasim, Umar b. Abdul-Aziz al-Hashimi, Ismail b. al-Abbas al-Warraq and Abdul-AlGhafir b. Salamah al-Homsi In addition, he gave his daughter a copy of the famous mathematician Al Khwarizmi's book "The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing". Sutayta began to study and solve mathematical problems through that book. Sutayta soon discovered that about half of the book dealt with inherited mathematics. She was not only solving problems from Al Khwarizmi's book, but also creating general solutions to types of problems, which can be called a logical extension of The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing (Dale Debaksi). "Sutayta al Mahamali was called a genius by not one but three historians of the Islamic Golden Age - Ibn al-Khatib Baghdadi, Ibn al-Jawzi and Ibn Kathir." She used her mathematical knowledge to resolve complex inheritance disputes and ensure the fair distribution of wealth according to Islamic law. Her valuable knowledge helped her solve many complex problems. As a young woman, she often reflected on the mathematics of inheritance, cubic equations, and algebraic theories. "Today, in the West, Sutayta would be called a "Renaissance woman," but the Renaissance in Europe appeared only four centuries later." (Mehmedovic, 2020) Sutayta al-Mahamali's expertise in mathematics was known to those working in the Bait al-Hikma (House of Wisdom). Her mathematical suggestions were discussed in scholarly discussions in the Bait Al-Hikma at that time. She devoted all her time and energy to mathematics, especially inheritance mathematics. Not only did she make valuable contributions in the field of mathematics, she was also an expert in Islamic law. She was a jurist, jurisprudence and the interpretation of sacred texts. She also issued legal opinions in collaboration with other scholars. She was also a recognized mufti. Her mathematical knowledge was so unique that the eminent scholars of the House of Wisdom of that time consulted her on complex mathematical problems. Many scholars of that time appreciated her talent and accepted her mathematical knowledge. It is believed that she died in 987. Sutaita al-Mahamali had acquired the knowledge in the 10th century itself, which took another 200 years for the Europeans to understand. Her suggestions and conclusions are still used to solve mathematical problems. Such a great personality was not given the place in history that she deserved. She was a man of extraordinary talent. She expanded algebra and genera with her intelligence. Her contribution cannot be ignored ---- Afroz Khan is a teacher by profession. She primarily writes about women and Islam. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Education. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/sutayta-mahamali-muslim-mathematician-islamic-golden/d/136012 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism