Muslim Women: A Biographical Dictionary

Islam has always provided an incredibly flexible environment in which women may flourish and achieve their true potential. Looking back to the time of the Prophet, may Allah (swt) bless him and grant him peace, women were extremely active in all areas of life. The negative stereotype of the role of Muslim women, which is often trumpeted in the media, stems from ignorance of the reality of the position of women in Islam. This dictionary is a comprehensive reference source of women throughout Islamic history from the first century A.H. to roughly the middle of the thirteenth century A.H. A perusal of the entries shows that Muslim women have been successful as, for example, scholars and businesswomen as well as fulfilling their roles as wives and mothers for the past fourteen centuries. In an age when limiting perspectives have come to be the norm, this is a most timely work.

Aisha Abdurrahman at-Tarjumana Bewley is one of today's most prolific translators of classical Arabic works into English. She is not only learned in the Arabic language but also well-versed in the basic meanings and nature of the teachings and history of Islam. Being herself a Muslim, her knowledge is born of experience and direct transmission, not simply academic theory and learning by rote. For more than twenty-five years she has been concerned with making the contents of many classical works in Arabic more accessible to English-speaking readers for the first time, including Al-Muwatta' of Imam Malik (Madinah Press, 1991) and the Tabaqat of Ibn Sa'd, published as The Women of Madina (Taha Publishers, 1995) and The Men of Madina I and II (TaHa Publishers, 1997 and 2000).