Muslim women and African queens

[nervous-chic]

Muslim women and African queens

 

 

Women were instrumental in making a difference in their respective societies.

 

 

By Leila Diab

 

In the Islamic faith, a well read, educated woman is referred to as an alimah. Her religious knowledge and cultural sophistication accords her respect among her peers, as well as their acceptance of her recitation of the Quran, written poetic verses and enchanting songs. These traditional Muslim women can be traced back to Ayehsa, the beloved wife of the Prophet Mohammed (p.b.a.h) and later to Ayesha bint Talal who shared much of her knowledge of astronomy, literature and history with scholarly men during the period of the Caliphate of Damascus.

 

In the Dar al-Islam of the 20th century, the well known Egyptian singer, Um Khulthoum, better known as the Star of the East, began her singing career as a young child by reciting or singing Quranic verses from the Quran. Muslims as well as non-Muslims were mesmerized by Um Khulthoum's Quranic verses set to music and songs. Um Khulthoum's Arabic songs such as, Hadith al roo'h (Sayings of the Soul and the Prophet) reverently captures one's conscience and the classical age of Islam and the Muslim woman.

 

Drawing upon the presence of the diverse ethnic Arab African connections, during pre-Islamic and Islamic civilization, the intelligence and the noble glory of Great African Queens became successfully visible social, economic and political forces. For example, Nigerian Queen Amina from 1588-1589 chose to learn military skills from warriors. Her military achievements brought her great wealth and power. During her 34-year reign she expanded the Nigerian province of Zazzua to its largest size ever. Her main focus was not on the annexation of neighboring lands but on forcing local leaders to accept vassal status and permit the Hausa traders of Nigeria safe passage. Also Queen Amina is credited with popularizing the earthen city wall fortifications, which later became characteristic of Hausa city-states. As a true warrior, she had ordered the building of defense walls around each military camp that she had established. Many of these protective walls are still in existence today.

 

 

Queen Kemut, better known as Queen Cleopatra of the ancient land of Egypt, (69-30 BC), came to power at the young age of seventeen and is one of the most popular of the seven Egyptian queens of ancient times. She was instrumental in making Egypt the number one super power during her reign as queen. According to Egyptian scholars, Queen Cleopatra spoke many languages. Corruption, greed and betrayal ended her reign as Queen of Egypt. She chose suicide over her capture by the Roman army.

 

Ironically, there are many African Queens that have been either ignored or simply erased by modern historians. However, one such story about a beautiful and powerful African woman is Makeda, the Queen of Sheba (960 BC).

 

In the nation of Ethiopia that was once known as Nubia, Kush, Axum and Sheba it also had many beautiful and powerful queens of Ethiopia. Makeda, the Queen of Sheba was the symbol of beauty, (960 BC) wealth, and deep spiritual

 

wisdom.

 

Many of the ancient Queens of Africa were warriors who were involved in the process of building states and nations to serve the needs of their societies. As warriors, they were in a position to eliminate people who were cruel and corrupt influences in their societies. In exercising their power, they took control of resolving economic problems, centralized their power in order to increase population growth and promoted domestic and external relations with other regions.

 

African Queens and Muslim women have earned a significant place in history. They are women who were instrumental in making a difference in their respective societies by exerting their personal commands with intelligence and a leap of faith. The spotlight continues to shine on their place in history.

[nervous-chic]

you see my sistahs 'n brothas, muslim women have their place in history. we need to remember that the next time someone tries to say "oh, poor women, they are being oppressed" and sum 'ish like dat.

[Qac Qaac]

thanks sis. as a historian student. i know, for fact everytime muslim ummah goes down, is when we don't have a woman scholar. that is for sure, and any learned man could tell u that. once again thanks..

[Reality Check]

Originally posted by nervous-chic:

you see my sistahs 'n brothas, muslim women have their place in history. we need to remember that the next time someone tries to say "oh, poor women, they are being oppressed" and sum 'ish like dat.

Who said they were oppressed then? They are oppressed now.

 

BTW, nice article!

[-Serenity-]

Originally posted by Devil's Advocate:

Who said they were oppressed then? They are oppressed now.

Totally true. The state of the muslim woman just seems to have gone down the drain.

[Khayr]

Salaamz,

 

Many of the ancient Queens of Africa were warriors who were involved in the process of building states and nations to serve the needs of their societies.

So reading from the examples given by this article, African Women and in general Muslim Women are preferred to be MANILY and can be

VERY MASCULINE and this this is indeed

a PRAISEWORTHY QUALITY. :confused:

 

These are the qualities that are highlighted in this article. :rolleyes:

 

you see my sistahs 'n brothas, muslim women have their place in history. we need to remember that the next time someone tries to say "oh, poor women, they are being oppressed" and sum 'ish like dat.

Why should you care what they say unless you don't Believe in what you are FOLLOWING to be TRUE?

 

Could this be an Inferiority Complex???

[Reality Check]

Originally posted by Khayr:

Salaamz,

 

So reading from the examples given by this article, African Women and in general Muslim Women are preferred to be MANILY and can be

VERY MASCULINE and this this is indeed

a PRAISEWORTHY QUALITY. :confused:

Lol, where in that article did you read that they were mascular and manly? They learned strategic techniques, yes. and if they were smart, used the men to carry out those strategies ..just like other male empire-builders who had their minions carry out the hardwork! So Khayr, do you think women who are in leadership positions can not retain their feminity or have you been brainwashed by the media you so often speak of?