During the Safavid and Qajar periods, women had a notable presence in various scientific and educational fields. Examining women’s Islamic education and conducting a comparative study of these two periods, in light of their prevailing social and cultural contexts, can lead to a more accurate understanding of women’s educational and scholarly status in the history of Islamic Iran. The Safavid period, marked by the official establishment of Shiʿism, and the Qajar period, characterized by intellectual and social transformations, provided different conditions for the development of Islamic education. Therefore, comparing these two periods appears necessary.

The main objective of this study is to comparatively examine the content and methods of women’s Islamic education during the Safavid and Qajar periods. The research question focuses on identifying the similarities and differences in the content and teaching methods of women’s Islamic education in these two eras. This study employs a descriptive–analytical method and is based on historical sources, with the data analyzed qualitatively.

The findings indicate that women’s Islamic education in both periods had a relatively similar structure and primarily emphasized the transmission of religious knowledge. However, differences influenced by the social, cultural, and institutional conditions of each period can be observed in the organization and implementation of educational practices. Overall, these educational activities played an important role in shaping women’s scholarly and cultural status in society.