Famous Women in Islam

What is the importance of discussing

gender issues in Islam?

Introduction

“Women are the twin halves of men”

The Muslim Woman

• What is the image of the Muslim woman in your mind?

oppressedSecludedUneducatedControlled by mensubmissive

What is the status of the Muslim woman today?

Has it deteriorated or become better over the years?

Why?

The status of the Muslim woman has deteriorated…thanks to feminism!

What is feminism?

What impact did it have on the Muslim world?

Feminism in the Muslim world is a Colonial legacy

• Did it really liberate Muslim women?

NO !

• Led to male disempowerment and women seeking employment

Status of women in the Prophetic Society

What was it like?

Was the society patriarchal?

• Marked difference in the Prophetic and post-prophetic period

• Women in the early Prophetic society were very much involved in the public sphere

• Example: Al Jahiz observed that with time it had become increasingly difficult for divorced Muslim women to re-marry

Some Prominent Women in the Prophetic Society

Ume-Aiman

Um-al-Fadl

Urwa

Asma bint-e-Abibakr

Ash-Shifa bint-e-Abdullah

Asma bint-e-Umais

Fatima bint-e-Qais

Ummaiyah bint-e-Qais

Nusaibah bin Ka’ab

Juwairiyah bin Abu Sufiyan

Ume-Habib bint Al Aas

Azda bint al Haris

Khwala bint al Azwar

Female Warrior Companions of The Prophet (saaw)

Hazrat Ayesha

Fatima Bint-e-Muhammad

Asma Bint-Abi Bakr

Zainab bint-e-Abdullah

Asma bint-e-Umais

Hafsah bint-e-Umar

Amrah bint-e-Abdurahman

Women Scholars of Early Islam

Amat-ul Wahid

Karima bint Ahmad

Shuhda

Fairoz bint Muzaffar

Aisha Bint Ali Bint Muhammad

Annas Khatoon

Zainab bint Yahya as Sulaimi

Ayisha bint Muhammad al Maqsidiyah

Fatima bint Muhammad as Samarqandi

The Prophet’s Wives and Companions as Benefactors

Zainab bint-e-Jash

Zainab bint-e-Khuzaima

Fatiha ummal Banin Shuja umal Mtawakil

Female Muslim builders

Al Udar al Kareema Banfsha bint Abdullah Mariam bin Shams Safiyah