Folkloristan Profile picture
Jun 22, 2023 18 tweets 7 min read Read on X
Princesses, Queens, Regents and Warriors: a thread on some remarkable women from Muslim history
1/ Nusaybah bint Ka'ab (625 CE) - An early convert to Islam, Nusaybah participated in multiple battles, defending and protecting Prophet Muhammad. Her dedication and bravery earned her a revered place in Islamic history.
2/ Khawlah Bint al-Kindiyyah (7th century CE) - A warrior and leader, Khawlah and her female captains led an Arab army against a Greek invasion. Their inspiring leadership and courage turned the tide of battle.
3/ Abbasid Princess Zubaidah fought against the inequalities and corruption that plagued society, advocating for social justice and the welfare of the people. Known for her philanthropy, she built several waterworks, hospitals and the like.
4/ Princess Kalinyamat of Demak, known as the "Queen of Jepara," was a formidable figure in Java's history. She fought relentlessly to form a military strategy against Dutch and Portuguese colonial forces, defending the independence of Demak Sultanate.
5/ Terken Khatun of the Khwarezmian Empire was crucial in defending the empire against Mongol invasions in the 13th century. She supported both military strategies and diplomatic efforts to safeguard the Sultanate. She was captured when the Mongols ransacked the Khwarzem Shah's.
6/ Queen Safiatuddin Tajul Alam of Aceh blazed a trail as a courageous leader. She fought against Portuguese invaders, who aimed to subjugate Aceh and control its lucrative trade routes. She is remembered for her resistance, leadership, and protecting Aceh's Islamic heritage.
7/ Queen Goharshad of the Timurid Empire was a queen consort known for her patronage of art, architecture, and education. She built one the first Bimaristan (hospital) in the region of Khorasan, besides building an exquisite library, as well as several mosques and shrines.
8/ Queen Raziya from "Khandan-e-Ghulaman" (The Slave Dynasty) made history as the first and the only woman to rule in Delhi during the 13th century. Her reign was marked by a commitment to religious tolerance, administrative reforms, and the promotion of cultural patronage.
9/ Gewher Nasibe Sultan of the Sultanate of Rum is celebrated for her contributions to the arts and sciences during the 13th century.
10/ Queen Amina of Zazzau, a legendary warrior queen of the 16th century, left an indelible mark on the Hausa kingdom of Zazzau, present-day Nigeria. Known for her military prowess and leadership, she expanded her territory and fortified its defences.
11/ Queen Asma bint Shihab of Yemen, left a remarkable legacy as a ruler in the 12th century, despite being overshadowed by her husband's reign, she demonstrated political astuteness and maintained a strong influence over governance.
12/ Sultana Shajar al-Durr of Egypt, The Sultana of Pearls, established an empire, repelled the Crusaders and adopted culturally-syncretized architecture: indigenous Bahri Mamluk and Islamic. The Queen who was murdered deserves a thread of her own to tell her story.
14/ Queen Fatima al-Fihri of Morocco established the University of al-Qarawiyyin, in the 9th century, which remains an enduring symbol of scholarship, as well as intellectual and cultural heritage.

15/ Zainab Tari Soomro, a historical figure and a folk heroine from Sindh, gained recognition as the only Queen to be the Sovereign monarch of Sindh. She reigned for a decade, and legend has it that no foreign military invaded Sindh during her reign.
16/ Sultana Khadija of Maldives reigned during the 16th century and is notable for its focus on administration, strengthening the nation's trade and diplomacy.
17/ Queen Mahpeyker Kösem Sultan of the Ottoman Empire was a formidable political figure. She is known for her political acumen and the substantial influence she wielded behind the scenes, from social justice to military reforms.

Read our thread on Muslim women in the world of scholarship here!

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
 

Keep Current with Folkloristan

Folkloristan Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @folkloristan

Jun 27
How did the Islamic/Hijri Calendar come around? A thread:

When Hazrat Umar (R) was the Caliph, he realised that the Khilafat required a structured system of timekeeping to manage its affairs.

He called a gathering of the Sahabah (R) and other experts for their suggestions. Image
Some suggested adopting the Roman calendar, known for its widespread use in the West.

Another suggestion came from Hormuzan, a newly converted Persian official, who proposed the Persian calendar. Image
Image
Both were dismissed. These systems, though organized, reflected foreign cultures and histories.

Hazrat Umar (R) was of the opinion that what Muslims needed was a calendar rooted in their own identity and faith. Now that it was established that a new calendar must be put forth - Image
Image
Read 6 tweets
May 18
In Tijjani literature, we find a Wazifa to bring down the oppressor. 🧵

The Wazifa is to be done in a group of three people, on Saturday, during the hour of Saturn.

The first person begins by making the intention to destroy an oppressor out loud, naming him thrice. Image
Image
The other two people are to say “Ameen” when the dua for the destruction of the oppressor is made.

One by one, all three people must recite “Ya Khafid” 33 times.

Al Khafid (ٱلْخَافِضُ) - “The Abaser” - is one of Allah’s names - He is the one who exalts and humbles everyone. Image
Image
The wazifa is completed by all three people raising their hands to make Dua.

One person leads the dua, praying for the fall, destruction and humiliation of the tyrant, and the other two people must say Ameem.

When making dua, it is better to use the tyrant’s full name. Image
Read 4 tweets
Jan 18
In medieval Muslim astrology, each Zodiac Sign had a Jinn associated to it. A thread on Zodiac Jinns from the Ajaib al Makhlooqat wa Gharaib al Maujoodaat, one of the most important works on Islamic cosmology and mythology:

The Jinn of Hamal (Aries) Image
The Jinn of Thawr (Taurus) Image
The Jinn of Jawza (Gemini) Image
Read 12 tweets
Jan 8
Königin Pauline Württemberg wearing a Kashmir Paisley Shawl. Painting by Joseph Karl Stieler – ca. 1825. She was born a Württemberg and married a Württemberg. She is holding her son Karl who married Grand Princess Olga, and a Morris Rug

A short thread on the history of paisley: Image
Image
In the Indo-Persian world, the Paisley, originally known as the Boteh/Ambi/Koyari/Kalka was influenced by the shape of a Cypress tree, or small, unripe Mango, both of which have strong cultural connotations of life and prosperity. Image
Image
The Paisley motif, which evolved from the original buta design, became particularly prominent as it was adopted by Scottish weavers in Paisley, who produced imitations of Kashmiri Pashmina shawls. Image
Image
Read 7 tweets
Dec 30, 2024
Music has historically been at the forefront of resistance around the world.
During the 1940s, Urdu poetry took centre stage as protests erupted across British India, with calls for Independence louder than ever. A thread: Image
During the Pakistan Movement (1940-47), amid calls to join the Muslim League, Fateh and Mubarak Ali Khan sang the Qawalli, “Muslim Hay tou Muslim League Main Aa” - it not only became a hit but also became a slogan for the Muslim League. Image
Kaifi Azmi penned the poem: Aurat. It centres female agency, and participation in the Pakistan movement. Both revolutionary and romantic, it is reminiscent of what Jinnah thought and said about the political participation and agency of women. Image
Image
Read 6 tweets
Oct 1, 2024
When Sikandar conquered parts of the Indian Subcontinent, he appointed one of his men there, and went back.
Soon after, the people of the Subcontinent rebelled against him, and appointed a new King. Image
However, he soon turned tyrannical, and no one dared to utter a word against him. A great philosopher at the tome, tried to make the King see sense, however, he was imprisoned. Image
When the King needed the philosopher, he freed him again, and the scholar then wrote the book, Kaleela Wa Dimna. Kaleela and Dimna are two jackals, the main characters in the story. Image
Image
Read 5 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Don't want to be a Premium member but still want to support us?

Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal

Or Donate anonymously using crypto!

Ethereum

0xfe58350B80634f60Fa6Dc149a72b4DFbc17D341E copy

Bitcoin

3ATGMxNzCUFzxpMCHL5sWSt4DVtS8UqXpi copy

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us!

:(