ABSTRACT
in speaking of female spirituality in the context of the Islamic tradition, one must turn not only to the possibilities of the spiritual life for Muslim women but also to those aspects of Islam which possess a feminine dimension. One must consider the spiritual life of the great female saints, from those who belonged to the household of the Prophet to saintly women who have adorned every century of Islamic history to this day. One must also study the spiritual aspect of those everyday roles of women, which are sacralized by virtue of being lived and practiced according to the Sharīʿah and, therefore, in conformity with God's Will. Likewise, one must delve into Sufi teachings and practices as they apply to women and as they provide concrete paths for spiritual realization. Finally, it is necessary to recall the feminine aspect of Islamic spirituality as such, as reflected in the doctrines concerning the nature of God, the wedding of the soul and the spirit, and the feminine symbolism employed in discussing the nature of the Divine Essence and the human being's quest of the Divine Beloved. Throughout all these discussions, one must also remember that female spirituality in Islam partakes of the immutability and continuity that characterize the Islamic tradition itself.
