Today our topic of discussion is Biographies Of Traditional Family .
Biographies Of Traditional Family
Role models upheld in front of Muslim girls were: Bibi Fatema (the Prophet’s daughter), Bibi Rahima (wife of the Biblical prophet Ayub), Bibi Khadija, Ayesha and other wives of Prophet Muhammad, Khaola, Umme Aban, Umme Amara (female warriors of the early Arab empire), Rabeya the mystic saint, Razia Sultan and Chand Sultana (heroic warriors closer to home), Gul Badan, Nurjehan and Jahanara (learned ladies of the Mughal Court), etc. They were all-time favourites, and their popularity endures to this day.
These historical figures each represented one all important virtue a young girl should inculcate. Thus Fatema’s life was an example of filial loyalty as was Jahanara’s (who also exemplified scholarship); Bibi Rahima was the ultimate example of devotion to husband and God; Khadija and Ayesha also stood for wifely love and devotion, Khaola, Umme Aban, Umme Hakim and other ‘biranganas’ were extolled for their valour in defending Islam and their own honour.
Rabeya alone was different in that she trod a homeless, heartless, husbandless path that of a sufi saint – an Islamic equivalent to Meera. Interestingly of the few Hindu women extolled by Muslims were Sita and Sati, both renowned for their wifely devotion.
As late as 1912/1926 Maulvi Dewan Nasiruddin Ahmed’s Pati Bhakti, handed out masahel (advice) for girls, and held up once more the examples of Hawa (Eve), Khadija, Ayesha, Sauda, Fatema, Asma binte Yezid, Umme Abban, Zobeda Khatun, Mumtaz Mahal, Romesa, etc.
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