Famous Women in Islamic History Tarek, Abu Noman Moahmmad Imam,

Famous Women in
Islamic History
Tarek, Abu Noman Moahmmad
Imam, Islamic Society of Kingston
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Muslim Women in History
 Scholars
and Muhaddithat
 Worshippers and Mystics
 Orators and Preachers
 Warriors
 Benefactors
 Women of General Excellence
 Poetesses and Women of Eloquence
 Many Women of Political Acumen
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Some Generalizations About Women in the
Prophetic Age
Critical
Consciousness
Counselors
Women and the Hijaab
Women at Work
Facility of Movement
Women and Dynamic Participation
Rich, Mature, Helpful, Honorable Lives
Knowledgeable
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KHADIJAH:
THE ARCHETYPE
 Family
and Character
 Wealth and Status
 The First of the Believers
 Esteemed Counselor
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Famous Companion Women
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Sumayya - first martyr of Islam
Umm Aiman Barakah
Umm Salamah
Fatima
Samra bint Nuhayk al Asadiyya - market
inspector
Ash Shifa bint Abdullah - skilled in medicine
public administration - Umar appoints her wali
of administration of the marketplace
Too many!
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WARRIOR WOMEN
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Took part in battles by carrying water, nursing wounded,
some also fought!
Safiyya bint Abdul Muttalib, ras saw aunt killed a spy with a
tent pole
Khaibar & Umayyah bint Qais & the women of Banu
Ghifaar
The Yarmuk contingent
Azdah bint al Harith: Heroine of Battle of Maisaan banners made out of headscarves to reinforce the army!
THE BLACK KNIGHT: Khawlah bint al-Azwar
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Nusaibah bint Ka’b al-Ansariyah
 Al-’Aqabah
 The
Battle of Uhud
 The Prophet’s Praise - ‘I did not turn right or left in
the Battle of Uhud but that I saw her fighting near
me.’
 Her Wounds
 Later Events: Ridwaan & Yamaamah
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Muslim Women and Hadith
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Women An Essential Element From the Beginning
to the End
Bearing the Light of ‘A’ishah
Transmitters of Hadith & Scholars of Hadith
Transmitters = Raawiyaat
From the Prophetic Period till the Compilations
Scholars = Muhaddithaat
From the Compilations till the modern age
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Aishah: The Greatest Woman of Her Age
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‘A’ishah’s Breadth
‘A’ishah the Scholar of Law
‘A’ishah the Giver of Fatwaas [Independent Rulings]
Transmitter of Hadith Among The Six Transmitters of
1000 (Aishah 2210)
‘A’ishah as Educator and Public Speaker
 ‘A’ishah Teacher of a Nation
 The Seven Fuqahaa of Madinah [Maalik]
 ‘A’ishah Unmatched in Eloquence and Oratory
Whenever we Companions of the Prophet encountered any difficulty in the matter of any
hadith we referred it to Aishah and found that she had definite knowledge about it. (Abu
Musa al-Ash'ar)
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Women of Power:
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The number of women who were politically prominent are well over
a hundred: Umayyads, Abbasids, Turks, Persians, Mongols, Indians,
and others.
Shajar ad-Durr - Sultana est control over Egypt, led resistance
against 7th Crusade, captures leader St. Louis
Shaghab - ruled Abbasid empire for a time, helped public audiences,
governors and judges reported to her
Radiyah Begum - ruled Delhi took firm control of the gov’t., did
justice, led her armies and was famed for fair dealing.
Two Rulers in Modern Times: Sakandar Begum took authority in
the principality of Bhopal in Central India- Great pilgrimage 1863
daughter ruled until 1901
Contemporary times
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Al Udar al-Karimah Shihaab ad Din Salaah
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Died 762 H / 1360 CE - VICEGERENT QUEEN OF YAMAN
Lordly Lady of Piety, Goodness, Sharp Intelligence, Decisive Resolve,
Calm Forbearance, & Supreme Political Acumen
Patroness of Scholars and Upright Men of Religious Piety
Champion of the Poor and Needy: She would go secretly from house to
house of the poor, seeking to learn their needs and giving them
Generous Gifts
She built great schools and mosques in Zabid, Ta’izz, and throughout the
land
In the 14 Months of Her Son’s Absence (Jihad to protect the Egypt):
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She Established Internal Security in Yaman
She Established Administrative Order
She Established JUSTICE throughout the land
She Did Remarkable Good by way of Charity
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Famous Women Benefactors in Islam
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Mosque endowments, Great School Builders, Stipulations
and Trusts
Turkaan Khatuun 487 / 1094, wife of Malik Shah
Radiyah Begum of the Dehli Sultanate
Nur Jehan & Jehangir - The Coinage, Helping the People,
Hindu Reform
Saint of Fez: Fatimah al-Fihriyah d. 265/ 880
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Her Family and Inheritance, The Qarawiyiin Mosque Project
Al Andalus mosque in Fez built by sister
Banafshaa’ ar-Rumiyah d. 399 / 1008:
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Restorer of a City Renovating Baghdad
Her Own School and Endowment, Her Special Zakat al-Fitr
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Zubaidah bt Ja'far b al-Mansur d. 216/831
Wealthiest and most powerful woman in the world of her time.
 Wife of Harun ar-Rashid
 Benefactor of political acumen and standing.
 Noble woman. Great wealth. Generosity. Munificence.
 Great Intellect and profound opinions.
 Eloquent master of Arabic
 Builder of cities and Civilization
 Makkah’s Water Supply
 The Pilgrimage Route
 Patroness of Writers, Poets, and Physicians - even Christians,
the poor the needy, religious scholars and men of piety
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Famous Women of Knowledge in Islam
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Law and General Islamic Sciences
 The Legacy of the Prophet’s Wives and Companions
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Rabi'ah Bint Mu'awwad - great scholar of fiqh, taught ntellectual scholars of Madina
Umm 'Atiyyah - sahabah and learned scholars among the tabi'een used to come to her
to learn various aspects of Islamic jurisprudence, narrated many ahadith.
A'isha bint Sa'd bint ibn Abi Waqqas - daughter of great Sahabi. She was very learned
in Islamic sciences to the point that Imam Malik, Hakim ibn Utaybah and Ayyub as
Sakhtiyani, the famous jurists and scholars of ahadith were her pupils.
Sayyida Nafisa: Granddaughter of Hasan - A large number of pupils came to her
from different places to learn from her. Imam Shafi'i was one of her pupils.
Fatima bint Qays - discussed a juristic point with 'Umar and 'A'isha. Imam Nawawi
said, "She was one of those who migrated in the early days, and possessed great
intellect and excellence.”
Hafsa bint Sirin - sister of M. Sirin. Memorized Quran at 12, read 1/2 Quran each
night. Prayed and fasted incessantly.
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Famous Muslim Women Poetess
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Walladah bint Mustakfi (c. 1001-1080 C.E.) - daughter of the
caliph of Cordoba in Islamic Spain. Cordoba was a tolerant,
multicultural society, famous for its many libraries and
sophisticated literary life, in which women were often scholars.
After her father's death, Walladah inherited enough wealth to
guarantee her independence. She was well known as a poet and
hosted literary gatherings for both men and women.
Nana Asma’u, Maryam bint Sh. Uthman dan Fodio - poems and
compendiums on legal commentaries
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Rabia al Adawiya al Qadsiyya
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Named rabia 4th girl, orphan, slavery, freed, known as Rabia of
Basra
Retreated to desert for life of worship
Led a life of poverty and rejected rich marriage offers
Many famous ppl came to learn from her including Hasan al
Basri
Rabi'a is probably best known for her emphasis on unselfish
love for Allah (swt): loving Allah (swt) only for His sake, and
not for fear of punishment or desire of reward. She prayed:
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"O Allah! If I worship You for fear of Hell, burn me in Hell, and if I worship
You in hope of Paradise, exclude me from Paradise. But if I worship You for
Your Own sake, grudge me not Your everlasting Beauty. "
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The Critical Consciousness of the
Companion Women
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What made them amazing?
 Women are the full sisters of men
 Full Social and Political Participation
 Work in and outside the Home
 Social Contributions
 Social and Societal Maturity
 Education: Obtained Ijazas, attended study
circles, taught others, est. institutions
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Quranic Women
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Hawwa - not to blame
Maryam - Quranic ideal
Bilqis - queen of sheeba - consulted advisors,
ruled her kingdom, passes judgements, leads
her ppl to Islam
Asiyaa wife of Firawn, saves Musa
Wife of Aziz, Ibrahim, Lut
Response to women - Mujadilah
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Contemporary Heroines
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Zaynab al Ghazali - Return of the
Pharoah
Maryum Jameelah -prolific author,
corresponded with Maududi
Khadijah Haffajee
Shahina Siddiqui
Ingrid Mattson
Maha Genaidi
...
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Conclusions
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Finding the balance
Searching Out the Real Picture
Our Need of a Definitive View
Himaar Miskeen :) - moral for Muslim women
of today
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