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Moorish/Maghrebi women in Islamic history [a thread]:
Asia (AS)
The first North African woman involved in the message of Islam, Asia was the wife of Fir’aun. She took in the Prophet Musa (AS) and raised him as her own child. She is one of the women referred to in the Quran, when she asked Allah to provide her a home in Jannah.
The first North African woman involved in the message of Islam, Asia was the wife of Fir’aun. She took in the Prophet Musa (AS) and raised him as her own child. She is one of the women referred to in the Quran, when she asked Allah to provide her a home in Jannah.
Lubna of Cordoba
Lubna was a scholar, poet and mathematician from Andalusia. Born a slave in the 10th century, she rose to great prominence and helped found the Medina Azahara library, compiling thousands of manuscripts. She also served as a secretary for the Caliph of Cordoba.
Lubna was a scholar, poet and mathematician from Andalusia. Born a slave in the 10th century, she rose to great prominence and helped found the Medina Azahara library, compiling thousands of manuscripts. She also served as a secretary for the Caliph of Cordoba.
Sitt al-Mulk
Sitt al-Mulk was born in modern Tunisia. After her tyrant brother Ibn Hakim’s disappearance, she acted as the Fatimid caliph in her nephew’s place in the early 1000s, ruling over the North African region and restoring the order her brother disrupted until her death.
Sitt al-Mulk was born in modern Tunisia. After her tyrant brother Ibn Hakim’s disappearance, she acted as the Fatimid caliph in her nephew’s place in the early 1000s, ruling over the North African region and restoring the order her brother disrupted until her death.
Zaynab al-Nafzawiyya
Zaynab was a Berber woman of great influence & wealth. Alongside her husband Yusuf, Zaynab ruled a vast empire in the 11th century that stretched across North Africa and Spain. Zaynab was renowned for her intellect and diplomatic skills throughout her reign.
Zaynab was a Berber woman of great influence & wealth. Alongside her husband Yusuf, Zaynab ruled a vast empire in the 11th century that stretched across North Africa and Spain. Zaynab was renowned for her intellect and diplomatic skills throughout her reign.
Aicha al-Manoubya
Considered a female Islamic saint, Aicha was a native of Tunisia. Throughout her life, she was said to have experienced various miracles. Aicha studied Sufism under the prominent sheikh Abu Hasan al-Shadili. She is revered in the region as a pious woman of God.
Considered a female Islamic saint, Aicha was a native of Tunisia. Throughout her life, she was said to have experienced various miracles. Aicha studied Sufism under the prominent sheikh Abu Hasan al-Shadili. She is revered in the region as a pious woman of God.
Sayyida al-Hurra
The Berber pirate Queen of Tetouan, Sayyida al-Hurra was a Moroccan leader in the 16th century. Her family originated from Andalusia but were exiled shortly after her birth. She was a clever and well-educated woman who defended Tetouan from Portuguese invaders.
The Berber pirate Queen of Tetouan, Sayyida al-Hurra was a Moroccan leader in the 16th century. Her family originated from Andalusia but were exiled shortly after her birth. She was a clever and well-educated woman who defended Tetouan from Portuguese invaders.
Fatima al-Fihriyyah
One of the most well-known women in Islamic history, Fatima founded the oldest existing university in the world. Originally from Tunisia, she founded the University of al-Qarawayyin in 859 in Fez, Morocco, which continues to enroll students to this day.
One of the most well-known women in Islamic history, Fatima founded the oldest existing university in the world. Originally from Tunisia, she founded the University of al-Qarawayyin in 859 in Fez, Morocco, which continues to enroll students to this day.
Hassiba ben Bouali
Hassiba was an Algerian revolutionary who joined her country’s fight for independence at the age of 16 in 1954. She became a national heroine when she and her comrades, including the famous Ali De La Pointe, were killed in the Battle of Algiers in 1957.
Hassiba was an Algerian revolutionary who joined her country’s fight for independence at the age of 16 in 1954. She became a national heroine when she and her comrades, including the famous Ali De La Pointe, were killed in the Battle of Algiers in 1957.
Nawal al-Saawadi
Nawal is an Egyptian writer, activist, psychiatrist, and physician born in 1931. Her works discuss feminism in the Islamic context and implements a medical perspective to Arab feminist theory. She is also a vocal advocate against the practice of FGM in Egypt.
Nawal is an Egyptian writer, activist, psychiatrist, and physician born in 1931. Her works discuss feminism in the Islamic context and implements a medical perspective to Arab feminist theory. She is also a vocal advocate against the practice of FGM in Egypt.
Fatima Mernissi
Known as the founding theorist of modern Islamic feminism, Fatima was a famous writer and sociologist from Fez. Having studied in Morocco, France, and US, she is credited with introducing Islamic principles to the feminist literary movement of the 20th century.
Known as the founding theorist of modern Islamic feminism, Fatima was a famous writer and sociologist from Fez. Having studied in Morocco, France, and US, she is credited with introducing Islamic principles to the feminist literary movement of the 20th century.
these are a select few of hundreds of named female figures in Muslim North African history, among the thousands of unnamed women who have shaped our history, and I encourage you to learn more! all good is from Allah swt and all errors are from my own incompetence <3
