Friday, 23 March 2018

Hidden Female Figures in Islamic History

Have you heard of Nusayba bint Ka'ab?

The female warrior who courageously defended the Prophet (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) in several battles.

The one whom the Prophet (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said about her at Uhud, "Whenever I looked to the right or left, I saw her fighting in front of me."

The one whom the Prophet (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam)asked, "From where can anyone get courage like you, O Umm Umarah (her nickname)?"

Have you ever heard of Rufayda bint Sa'ad?

Also known as Rufayda al-Aslamiyyah, who was the first female nurse in Islamic history.

The Prophet (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) ordered the wounded and dying to be sent specifically to her tent during battles.

Learning medical knowledge from her father, she became an expert in the medical field, and began training other women companions to become nurses as well.

She was known as a kind, empathetic healer, as well as a compassionate social worker who took care of orphans, the handicapped and the poor.

Have you ever heard of Um Mihjaan?

The cleaner of the masjid, who beautified and maintained the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallams)Masjid.

He then asked to see her grave, and prayed his own individual Salat ul Janaazah over her.


Have you ever heard of Umm Sa'd Jamilah bint As'ad Ansariyyah?

A noble teacher of Islam.

It is reported that Dawud ibn Husayn, a companion of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wasallam), used to take Qur'anic lessons from her.

According to ibn Athir, Umm Sa'd had memorized the Qur'an and used to give regular lessons.

Have you ever heard of the female companion who owned her own farm?

She employed many men, and they tended to her crops.

Have you ever heard that many female companions were businesswomen?

Like the wife of Abdullah ibn Masud, who was the main breadwinner of her family, making handicrafts by her own hand and selling her goods in the marketplace.

Have you heard that Aisha bint Abu Bakr was actually considered a "Muftiyah" meaning a female Mufti?

Did you know that title could even exist for women?

Men and women would come from all over the Islamic world to consult her about the Shariah, and she would perform ijtihad and issue fatawa behind a curtain.
There are several times where she even corrected the fatawa of other sahaba, since she was privy to a lot of ahadith that others had not heard because of her close relationship with the Prophet (Sallallahu alahi wasallam)

Have you ever heard of Umm al-Darda?

A prominent female scholar and jurist of Islam in the 7th century .

Her class was attended by men and women, Imams, jurists, and Hadith scholars.

Have you ever heard of the numerous women scholars who played a pivotal role in the lives of many of the ulama we look up to?
The female scholar Nafisa bint al-Hasan taught hadith to Imam ash-Shafi'i.

Ibn Asakir al-Dimashqi took hadith from female narrators of hadith.

Have you ever heard of Fatima al-Fihri?

The educated Muslim woman who founded the world's very first university,

The University of al-Qarawiyyin, which still stands today as one of the most prominent institutions of Islamic learning.

These are just a few of the hidden female figures of our Islamic history.

Women who exercised the rights that Islam had granted her.
Learn about their names. Share their names.

Rewrite their names into the books of history.

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