Women have played an important role in Islamic history, although historians have not always recognized it. At the beginning of Islam, the wives of Muhammad were especially important. Khadija, Muhammad’s first wife, is considered the world’s first Muslim. Already in 610 CE she believed in one God and in the message of the Quran. That was even before Muhammad realized he was a prophet. She is called “the mother of believers’ in Islam.”

Two other wives of Muhammad, ‘A’isha and Umm Salama, collected the stories and traditions of Muhammad, called hadith. These wives were important for helping believers understand Muhammad’s actions, sayings, and views, and in modeling how to live pious lives.

Muhammad’s daughter Fatima also became an important public figure in early Islam, even though Arab society still viewed women as inferior to men in many ways. Early Muslim female leaders played a role in warfare, too. ‘A’isha challenged the fourth Caliph for control of the Muslim community in 656 CE. After she lost at the Battle of the Camel, women were no longer allowed to lead Muslim armies.

In later Muslim empires, women also played important roles. For example, Shajarat al-Durr, wife of the sultan, reigned briefly as queen and then co-founded the Mamluk Dynasty.

Women were also prominent in the development of Sufism, the Muslim mystical movement. In the 8th century Rabi’a al-’Adawiyya was one of that movement’s first and most beloved poets. She is remembered as a saintly person.

Most women throughout Islamic history exerted their power in private life, where they were leaders within the households. At times, women have been excluded from public life by men. The wives of rulers were sheltered within harems and excluded from holding religious authority. Still, Muslim women have remained respected as mothers, wives, providers, and teachers of religious and social values to their children.

Source: Women in World History: Islamic Empire
Center for History and New Media, CC BY-SA 3.0