Women of Islam: The Great Ladies Who Shaped the Islamic Civilisation

Issa Meyer
Paperback
9781919299655

From the earliest days of Islam — Mothers of the Believers, daughters of the Prophet ﷺ, and among his Companions — women stood at the heart of every trial and triumph. Few traditions can claim such an active and vital female presence from their very beginnings.

After the passing of the Messenger of God ﷺ, they became scholars and teachers, guardians of sacred knowledge, and patrons of learning. From Baghdad to Cordoba, the great ladies of Islam’s Golden Age — poets, artists, princesses, and philanthropists — shaped the intellectual and cultural life of their time.

Facing the Crusades, the Conquista, or the first waves of colonization, some even rose as leaders of armies; and during the Ottoman “Sultanate of Women,” they guided the destiny of the most powerful empire of the Muslim world. From Mughal India to Istanbul and across Africa, their influence shone through their charity, intellect, and architectural legacy.

Through vivid chronicles spanning centuries and continents, Women of Islam pays homage to these remarkable figures — a resounding testament to the deep harmony between the true spirit of Islam and the flourishing of women.

Contents
1. Mothers of the Believers
2. The Daughters of the Messenger
3. The Sahabiyat: The Greatest Generation
4. Scholars and Mystics
5. First Ladies
6. Women of al-Andalus
7. The Lady of Cairo: The Saga of Shajar al-Durr
8. The Free Ladies of the Conquista
9. The Ottoman Sultanate Women
10. Jewels of Hind
11. West Africa's Scholar-Princess: The Story of Nana Asma'u
12. Queens of the Islands: The Sultanas of Aceh