Mahjoobah Billah 12B March 12, 2017
Influential Women in Islam
There are many influential Muslim women who contributed to Islamic history and society now, but some of the greatest ones are not recognized enough for their efforts. These women make all women feel powerful and motivated enough to do the same, to pass along the message. Some of these women who contributed to Islamic history are: Aishah bint Abi Bakr, which almost everyone knows about, Naseebah bint Harris, who is also known as Umm Attiya, and Zaynab Al-Ghazali who was an Egyptian activist during the 1900s.
Aishah bint Abi Bakr is known for her extensive knowledge for Islam, being a social and military leader, and for narrating many hadiths. She was married to the Prophet (S) and he died in her arms. When he, (S), died, she led an army against Ali, the Fourth Caliph. After her defeat in the Battle of the Camel, she was under house arrest and during that time she taught religious instruction. Naseebah bint Harris, who was also known as Umm Attiya, was an influential woman that we do not hear of much during our childhood, but she has certainly contributed a lot to Islamic history. When the Prophet (S) arrived in Madinah during the migration, Umm Attiya gathered all the Ansar women to pledge that “they would not indulge in polytheism, they would avoid theft and fornication, they would not kill their children, they would not accuse anyone falsely, and lastly, that they would not decline to do good deeds” (Nadvi). Umm Attiya participated in seven battles in which she cooked meals for the fighting Muslims, looked after their luggage, and nursed the wounded. …show more content…
When Zainab (RA) died, the Prophet (S) guided her on how to give her the funeral bath. The companions and the followers of the companion learned the method on how to give a funeral bath. She also learned from the Prophet (S) that mourning over a death should not be more than three days and obeyed the Prophet when her son passed away – she only grieved for three days. So, Umm Attiya is best known for her participation in the battles and for teaching others on how to give the funeral bath. Zaynab Al-Ghazali was an Egyptian activist during the 1900s. In 1936, when Zaynab was only eighteen years old, she started the group Muslim Women’s Association, which encouraged Muslim women to “incorporate” Islam into their everyday lives. She was a supporter of The Society of the Muslim Brothers which was founded by Hasan al-Banna in 1928, and was wanted by Hasan Al-Banna to create a division of the Muslim Sisters. Although she declined the offer, she promised cooperation. After the Society of the Muslim Brothers collapsed in 1948, she supported Hasan Al-Banna to create an Islamic State, but Al-Banna was assassinated soon afterwards. Zaynab Al-Ghazali also believes in the religious and social duty of being married. During her first marriage, her husband did not agree with her Islamic activism so she divorced him. Her second husband was more understanding and did not stop her from fulfilling her mission in the service of the Islamic cause. She never neglected her duty as a wife or mother while doing her mission. After her second husband …show more content…
If we can try to devote our lives for the cause of Islam and make changes in the United States, that will be a great duty for us.
Works Cited
"About Us." Yasmin Mogahed A Life of Submission A Piece of Serenity RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2017.
Ambreen. "Aisha Bint Abu Bakr." WISE Muslim Women. ASMA Society, 02 Nov. 2010. Web. 12 Mar. 2017.
Ansari, Saeed Ahmed, Syed Suleman. Nadvi, and Abdussalam Nadvi. "Hazrat Umme Atiyya." Women Companions of the Holy Prophet and Their Sacred Lives. New Delhi: Islamic Book Service, 2001. N. pag. Print.
Lensay. "Zaynab Al-Ghazali." WISE Muslim Women. ASMA Society, 20 July 2011. Web. 12 Mar. 2017.
"Linda Sarsour, Executive Director." Arab American Association Of New York. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2017.
Razali, Nur Z. "7 Facts About Linda Sarsour You Probably Didn't Know." Mvslim. N.p., 17 Sept. 2016. Web. 12 Mar. 2017.
"Zaynab Al-Ghazali." Jannah.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar.
Influential Women in Islam
There are many influential Muslim women who contributed to Islamic history and society now, but some of the greatest ones are not recognized enough for their efforts. These women make all women feel powerful and motivated enough to do the same, to pass along the message. Some of these women who contributed to Islamic history are: Aishah bint Abi Bakr, which almost everyone knows about, Naseebah bint Harris, who is also known as Umm Attiya, and Zaynab Al-Ghazali who was an Egyptian activist during the 1900s.
Aishah bint Abi Bakr is known for her extensive knowledge for Islam, being a social and military leader, and for narrating many hadiths. She was married to the Prophet (S) and he died in her arms. When he, (S), died, she led an army against Ali, the Fourth Caliph. After her defeat in the Battle of the Camel, she was under house arrest and during that time she taught religious instruction. Naseebah bint Harris, who was also known as Umm Attiya, was an influential woman that we do not hear of much during our childhood, but she has certainly contributed a lot to Islamic history. When the Prophet (S) arrived in Madinah during the migration, Umm Attiya gathered all the Ansar women to pledge that “they would not indulge in polytheism, they would avoid theft and fornication, they would not kill their children, they would not accuse anyone falsely, and lastly, that they would not decline to do good deeds” (Nadvi). Umm Attiya participated in seven battles in which she cooked meals for the fighting Muslims, looked after their luggage, and nursed the wounded. …show more content…
When Zainab (RA) died, the Prophet (S) guided her on how to give her the funeral bath. The companions and the followers of the companion learned the method on how to give a funeral bath. She also learned from the Prophet (S) that mourning over a death should not be more than three days and obeyed the Prophet when her son passed away – she only grieved for three days. So, Umm Attiya is best known for her participation in the battles and for teaching others on how to give the funeral bath. Zaynab Al-Ghazali was an Egyptian activist during the 1900s. In 1936, when Zaynab was only eighteen years old, she started the group Muslim Women’s Association, which encouraged Muslim women to “incorporate” Islam into their everyday lives. She was a supporter of The Society of the Muslim Brothers which was founded by Hasan al-Banna in 1928, and was wanted by Hasan Al-Banna to create a division of the Muslim Sisters. Although she declined the offer, she promised cooperation. After the Society of the Muslim Brothers collapsed in 1948, she supported Hasan Al-Banna to create an Islamic State, but Al-Banna was assassinated soon afterwards. Zaynab Al-Ghazali also believes in the religious and social duty of being married. During her first marriage, her husband did not agree with her Islamic activism so she divorced him. Her second husband was more understanding and did not stop her from fulfilling her mission in the service of the Islamic cause. She never neglected her duty as a wife or mother while doing her mission. After her second husband …show more content…
If we can try to devote our lives for the cause of Islam and make changes in the United States, that will be a great duty for us.
Works Cited
"About Us." Yasmin Mogahed A Life of Submission A Piece of Serenity RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2017.
Ambreen. "Aisha Bint Abu Bakr." WISE Muslim Women. ASMA Society, 02 Nov. 2010. Web. 12 Mar. 2017.
Ansari, Saeed Ahmed, Syed Suleman. Nadvi, and Abdussalam Nadvi. "Hazrat Umme Atiyya." Women Companions of the Holy Prophet and Their Sacred Lives. New Delhi: Islamic Book Service, 2001. N. pag. Print.
Lensay. "Zaynab Al-Ghazali." WISE Muslim Women. ASMA Society, 20 July 2011. Web. 12 Mar. 2017.
"Linda Sarsour, Executive Director." Arab American Association Of New York. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2017.
Razali, Nur Z. "7 Facts About Linda Sarsour You Probably Didn't Know." Mvslim. N.p., 17 Sept. 2016. Web. 12 Mar. 2017.
"Zaynab Al-Ghazali." Jannah.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar.