Muslim Women and the History of Science

Hawzah News Agency- Many of the women who were actively involved in healthcare during the times of the Prophet (peace be upon him) practiced on the battlefield: some solely assisted the wounded, while others also partook in the fighting.

Nusayba bint Ka`b al-Ansariyya was a well-known warrior and medical practitioner. Also known as Umm `Ammara, she was one of the earliest converts to Islam

She is most recognized for fighting against the pagan Meccans in the Battle of Uhud. When she wasn’t occupied in the battle, she attended to wounded soldiers. Outside the battle zone, she performed circumcisions.

Rufayda Bint Saad Al-Aslamiyya, who also lived at the time of the Prophet Muhammad, is often referred to as “the first nurse in Islam”. She assisted the wounded during the Battle of Badr.

Rufayda acquired most of her medical knowledge by assisting her physician father, Saad Al-Aslamy. She became an expert healer, to the extent that the Prophet would order all casualties be sent to her tent for treatment.

Other Muslim female nurses and medical practitioners who entered the battlefield and devoted their time and skills to healing the wounded during the time of the Prophet include Umm Sinan Al-Islami (known also as Umm Imara), Umm Matawe` Al-Aslamiyya and Umm Waraqa Bint Hareth.

Many medieval Muslim women successfully pursued mathematics along with their interests in other fields.

Historians such as Ibn al-Jawzi, Ibn al-Khatib Baghdadi and Ibn Kathīr praised Sutayta Al-Mahamali, who was taught under the supervision of several scholars.

She lived in the second half of the 10th century and came from an educated family in Baghdad. Her father was a respected scholar and judge.

Sutayta showed great skills in mathematics, which went beyond a simple aptitude to perform calculations. She excelled in hisab (arithmetics) and fara’idh (successive calculations).

Sutayta also made valuable contributions to fields such as Arabic literature, hadith and jurisprudence. She died in the year 377 H/987CE.

Lubna of Cordoba who was among the nobility of the Umayyad Palace in Andalusia was known for her love of academics. Her skills in writing, grammar, poetry, mathematics and other sciences were unparalleled.

Not only was she a figure of intellect, she rose to become the palace secretary of the caliphs Abd al-Rahmān III and his son al-Hakam bin `Abd al-Rahmān.

She was also known for her love of books, and put together a library formed of over half a million books [Ibn Bashkuwal. Kitab al-Silla. (Cairo, 2008), Vol. 2: 324].

Source: About Islam