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Muslim Women:
A Biographical Dictionary
By Aisha
Bewley
Pages: 221 Paperback
Description from the publisher:
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).
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