Kickass Muslim women throughout history: Celebrating International Women’s Day
This International Women’s Day, I want to celebrate brave and progressive Muslim women throughout history.
The stereotype of Muslim women within the media and wider society is deeply problematic, and needs to be challenged if we are to create an equal and fair society. Accomplishments by Muslim women are either ignored, downplayed or hijacked by ignorant views on Islam and women. We recently witnessed a classic example of this on a BBC interview with Zara Mohammed, the new leader of the Muslim Council of Britain.
This negative narrative of Muslim women is not my reality. That is because across the Islamic world, women have been at the forefront of history, asserting their power way before women had any rights in the west.
Patriarchy is definitely a problem; it has been and still is for ALL females. However, since Islam came with a radical message that granted women unprecedented rights, Muslim women have been fighting to hold their own in a male dominated world.
Women across Muslim lands have held all kinds of progressive roles. The dominating male landscape has downplayed these contributions over the years, but thankfully their legacy lives on.
I have selected a diverse group of Muslim women whose stories continue to inspire, and are a reminder that women have not been bystanders, but active participants on the world stage.
Muslim women in history:
Fatima al-Fihri (800-880)
Fatima al-Fihri founded and built the world’s first and oldest university in the world (UNESCO), the Al-Qarawiyyn mosque and university in Fez, Morocco. It was built in 859.
Fatima paid for it to be built with her inheritance, and it took 18 years to complete. She named it after her hometown in Tunisia.
Unfortunately, we still live in a world where some girls and women put their lives in danger to gain knowledge. In 2012, Malala Yousafzai was shockingly shot in the head by the Taliban for her right to pursue an education. This attitude is sad and ironic, considering the first university in the world was founded by a Muslim women.
I am so lucky to have visited the Al-Qarawiyyn mosque and university in 2001.
I remember a young boy, Mohammed following us around, trying to be our tour guide. He had the sweetest face and beautiful smile. I quickly found him very endearing. It was strange to see little kids being so street wise and having to act older than their years, But I guess this was pretty normal in the old city. I’m glad we took this picture together.
Razia Sultan (1205-1240)
Razia Sultan, the first woman Sultan of India, ruled the court of Delhi from 1236 to 1240. She did not want to be called Sultana, and insisted on the male term, Sultan.
She was a ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, who were part of the Mamluk slave dynasty.
Her father was Sultan Shams-us-din Iltutmish, and Razia was his only daughter.
Iltutmish ensured Razia was well educated and trained in archery, martial arts, and administration.
Razia’s father felt she would be a much better ruler than any of his sons. In a surprise move, he appointed her as his heir.
As ruler, she would appear in public dressed in traditional male attire. She rode on elephants through the streets of Delhi, making public appearances like the earlier Sultans.
She ruled efficiently, establishing law and order in Delhi. Her most trusted ally was an Ethiopian slave, Malik Yaqut, whom she appointed to a prominent position at court.
Nur Jahan (1577-1645)
Nur Jahan was the wife of Mughal Emperor, Jahangir.
The love story between the emperor and his wife is well documented, but she was much more than an object of the ruler’s affections.
She ruled alongside her husband, was very powerful and made important decisions.
“In act after act—hunting, advising, issuing imperial orders and coins, designing buildings—she ensured that her name was etched indelibly in public memory and in history,” says historian Ruby Lal in her book, ‘Empress: The Astonishing Reign of Nur Jahan.’
There are some key stories that stand out about Nur Jahan. She was said to have hunted tigers. “Killing a tiger was only considered the prerogative of the sovereign. The fact that Nur Jahan as a Queen hunted tigers tells us about her power in the court, which was almost equal to that of the Emperor.” (The Heritage Lab).
She was key in getting the Emperor released when he was taken captive by Mahabat Khan in 1626. She led the army into battle herself. There is a well-known image of Nur Jahan holding a gun (pictured above), kept at the Rampur Raza library, and it has been acknowledged by art historians as a real Nur, painted between 1612-1617.
Nur Jahan was one of the most influential leaders of the 17th century, a truly awe-inspiring Muslim woman!
Jahanara Begum (1614-1681)
Jahanara Begum was a Mughal princess. She was the eldest child of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
She was also the elder sister of the crown prince, Dara Shikoh and Emperor Aurangzeb.
After Mumtaz Mahal died at a young age in 1631, 17-year-old Jahanara became the Padshah Begum (First Lady) of the Mughal Empire.
She held immense influence over the court, and has been described as "the most powerful woman in the empire" at the time (Catherine Asher).
Ilhan and her family fled civil war in Somalia, and lived in refugee camps for many years. Her story is one of struggle, which is why she fights passionately for the rights of minorities.
When she was asked how she deals with constant attacks on her appearance and religion, she said: “I refuse to give oxygen to people who suck out oxygen.” (The Washington Post)
Ilhan wants her story to inspire others. “I would have loved to have heard a story like mine. I could have used it as an inspiration to get by. The lesson is to be hopeful, to dream and to aspire for more.” (The Guardian)
