Sakina Hassan

Sheikha Sakina Hassan was a pioneering Egyptian Quran reciter who made history in the early 20th century as the first woman to record the Holy Quran. Born blind in the late 1890s in the Minya Governorate, Sakina Hassan demonstrated an extraordinary aptitude for the sacred sciences at a young age, successfully memorizing the entire Quran and mastering the intricate degrees of Arabic Maqamat (musical scales). Sakina Hassan achieved significant national visibility as the first woman to pass the rigorous exams required to recite the Quran on Egyptian national radio. Her voice, celebrated for its exceptional beauty and technical precision in Tajwid, reached millions through these broadcasts and commercial gramophone records. During the “Golden Age” of Egyptian recitation, she was a household name, frequently traveling to perform at Ramadan nights and spiritual gatherings across Egypt and as far as Istanbul, where she was sent by high-ranking officials who admired her talent. Her public career as a reciter faced a major turning point in the late 1930s when religious authorities issued edicts discouraging the public broadcasting of female voices in Quranic recitation. While she eventually transitioned to other forms of spiritual and folk chanting, Sakina Hassan remained a revered figure in Egyptian history. Her early recordings of Surah Taha and Surah al-Najm are still cited by scholars as evidence of a time when female reciters played a central, professional role in the public honoring of the sacred text. Sakina Hassan passed away in 1948, but her legacy continues to be a source of inspiration for the modern revival of female Quranic scholarship. Today, she is remembered as a trailblazer who proved that technical mastery of the Quran is not bound by gender. Her historic contributions have been highlighted by contemporary platforms like the Qariah app and the “Dawlet El Telawa” program, serving as a vital reminder of the enduring presence of women in the preservation and artistic expression of the Word of Allah. ---------- Support Quran Central and earn ongoing reward. Donate: https://qurancentral.com/donate/ ----------