In Islamic jurisprudence, jihad is obligatory for both Muslim men and women in order to defend the land of Islam. Women can also participate in the primary jihad, although they are prohibited from fighting face-to-face with the enemy. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, not only allowed women to participate in wars but also assigned them specific roles and a share of the booty obtained. For instance, in the Battle of Khaybar (the seventh year of the Hijra), he divided part of the booty among them, and during the Battle of Bani Qurayzah (the fifth year), a woman named Nasiba was present and took her share.
By reviewing reports of women’s presence on the battlefield, it becomes evident that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, permitted those women who volunteered and possessed the necessary skills and courage for jihad, such as treating the wounded, cooking, and sewing musket bags, to be present.
Hazrat Umm Salama, may Allah be pleased with her, participated in eight campaigns (Uhud, Khandaq, Khaybar, Hudaybiyyah, the Conquest of Makkah, Hunain, Taif, and Tabuk). Umm Amara, may Allah be pleased with her, is also notable for participating in seven campaigns.
Women actively contributed to war efforts and served the army and mujahideen during the Prophetic era. Besides cooking, providing water, and preparing supplies for the mujahideen, women engaged in nursing, helping, and caring for the wounded.
Hazrat Hafsa bint Sirin, may Allah be pleased with her, reported: “A woman came and spoke about her sister, whose husband had fought twelve times alongside the Holy Prophet, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, and said: ‘My sister was present with them in six campaigns.'”
In Sahih Bukhari, it is narrated by Hazrat Rabi bint Mo’az: “We women used to go on campaigns with the Holy Prophet, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him. We would provide water for the mujahideen, treat the wounded, and bring the dead and injured back to Medina.” The Holy Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, approved women’s participation in these activities as long as they adhered to the guidelines of hijab, politeness, and modesty.
Hazrat Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, recounts: “In the Battle of Uhud, when the Muslims were defeated and left the presence of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, I saw Hazrat Ayesha and Umm Salim, who had their veils up, and their anklets were visible. They were quickly bringing water bags.” Another narrator adds: “They carried water bags on their backs, emptied them into people’s mouths, and returned to refill them for the thirsty.”
Hafiz Ibn Hajar Asqalani, may Allah have mercy on him, mentioned in his book Fath al-Bari that a woman named “Rafidah Aslamiyeh” was skilled at treating the wounded. She established a tent in her name during the Battle of Khandaq, where she welcomed the wounded and provided relief and treatment. When Sa’ad bin Mo’az was wounded, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, ordered, “Take Sa’ad to Rafidah’s tent so that I may visit him closely.”
Imam Muslim, may Allah have mercy on him, narrates from Umm Atiyah, may Allah be pleased with her, who said: “I participated in seven campaigns with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace; he placed me near his belongings, and I cooked for him, treated the wounded, and cared for the sick.”
Allama Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, reports that Asma bint Yazid, the cousin of Mo’az bin Jabal, may Allah be pleased with him, participated in the Battle of Yarmouk, where she killed nine Romans with a pillar from her tent.
Books documenting the campaigns of the Holy Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, have recorded the heroic deeds of women. Nasiba, daughter of Ka’ab, known as Umm Amara, was a woman who provided water to the Muslims during the Uhud campaign. When the Muslims retreated, she set down what she was carrying and rushed into the fray to defend the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. She was wounded in this battle and willingly sacrificed her well-being to protect the Prophet. She regarded death as sweet in her pursuit of truth and the defeat of falsehood. It was during this encounter that the Holy Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, prayed for her and her family, stating, “Everywhere I looked, I saw Umm Amara,” and remarked to her son, “Your mother’s position is superior to that of so-and-so.”
Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that six believing women were present with the army that besieged Khaybar. They supplied arrows to the mujahideen, kneaded flour, treated the wounded, and recited poetry.
During the Battle of Hunain, Umm Salim brandished a dagger, using it to slash the belly of every unbeliever who approached her. Imam Muslim, may Allah have mercy on him, recounts from Hazrat Anas, the son of Umm Salim, that Umm Salim picked up a dagger during the Hunain campaign. When her husband, Abu Talha, observed her, he said to the Holy Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, “O Messenger of Allah, this is Umm Salim holding a dagger.” The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, then asked her, “What is this dagger for?” She replied, “I have taken it so that if a polytheist approaches me, I will tear his belly.” The Prophet smiled at her response.
The Presence of Women in Battlefields
Muslim women were actively engaged in many battles; for example, they fought alongside the Muslims in the Battle of Yarmouk. Whenever the Islamic army faced adversity or their plans were compromised, the women would ascend hills and encourage the troops to fight. They would even throw stones at their husbands and brothers who attempted to flee the battlefield, running among the ranks of soldiers to bolster the morale of the fighters.
Saeeda, daughter of Asim, recounts: “On that day (during the war against the Romans), I was with the women on top of a hill. When the right wing of the army faltered, Afira, daughter of Ghafar, addressed us: ‘O Muslim women! Watch over the men, care for your children, and go to greet them by encouraging and inciting them to war.’ At that moment, the Muslim women stood firm and hurled stones at the soldiers. The daughter of As bin Manba cried out: ‘May Allah disgrace the man who flees from protecting his wife.’ The women would admonish their husbands, saying: ‘You are not our husbands if you do not drive away these unbelieving assailants from us.'”
