The Role of Women during the Time of the Prophets (A.S.)

By: Najmuddin Tabasi
In view of the fact that the women in the government of Hadrat al-Mahdi (‘atfs) will have the same role as that which they had had during the early period of Islam, we shall examine the role of women during that period.
Although hadiths indicate that they will treat the wounded and attend to the sick just like the (female) companions of the Messenger of Allah (S) did, perhaps this is just one example of the important services rendered by the women during that period. They might have performed other activities as well. They will perform the same roles during the period of Hadrat al-Mahdi (‘atfs). Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) said: “During the time of Hadrat al-Qa’im (‘a), the women will perform the same tasks they did during the time of the Prophet (S).”
Women during the wars of the Prophet (S) also shouldered other responsibilities such as delivering food and water to the combatants, cooking, keeping the belongings of the combatants, procuring medicine, delivering weapons, repairing equipment, transporting the martyrs, participation in defensive wars, encouraging combatants to go to the warfront, encouraging them at the scene of combat, and so on.
Imam as-Sadiq’s (‘a) comparison of the women in the period of al-Mahdi (‘a) with the women in the period of the Prophet (S) prompted us to mention some of their activities during the early period of Islam.
Some of the women who played important roles in these activities are the following:
1. Umm ‘Atiyyah. She participated in eight wars with the Prophet (S) (ghazwah). Treating the wounded was among the services she rendered.[30][201] She said: “One of my duties was guarding the belongings of the soldiers.[31][202]
2. Umm ‘Ammarah (Nasibah). Her acts of bravery in the Battle of Uhud were such that they were profoundly praised and appreciated by the Prophet.[32][203]
3. Umm Abih. She was one of the six women who made their way to the castle of Khaybar. The Prophet (S) asked them: “By whose order did you come here?” Umm Ubayyah said: “Since we could notice the sign of anger on his countenance, I said: ‘We have come here with some medicine to treat the wounded,’ so, the Prophet (S) agreed for us to stay. Our assignment in that war was treating the wounded and cooking food.”
4. Umm Ayman. She used to treat the wounded in the wars.[33][204]
5. Haminnah. She used to deliver water to the wounded and treat them. She lost her husband, brother and maternal uncle in the battlefield.[34][205]
6. Rabi‘ah bint Ma‘udh. She used to treat the wounded.[35][206] She said: “We went to the battlefield with the Prophet (S) and transported the martyrs to Medina.”
7. Umm Ziyad. She was among the six women who went to the war region of Khaybar to treat the wounded.[36][207]
8. Umayyah bint al-Qays. She became Muslim after the migration (hijrah) to Medina. She said: “I went to see the Prophet (S) along with a group of women from Bani Ghaffar. I said: ‘We want to be with you in going to Khaybar to treat the wounded and assist the combatants.’ Showing his happiness, the Prophet (S) said: ‘You move by the grace of God!’”[37][208]
9. Layla al-Ghaffariyyah. She said: “I was a woman who used to go to the war along with the Prophet (S) to treat the wounded.”[38][209]
10. Umm Salim. While pregnant, she delivered water to the combatants in the Battle of Uhud. She also participated in the Battle of Hunayn.[39][210]
11. Mu‘adhah al-Ghaffariyyah. She used to attend to the sick and treat the wounded.[40][211]
12. Umm Sinan Aslamiyyah. When going to the Battle of Khaybar, she said to the Prophet: “I want to go with you and treat the wounded, attend to the sick, assist the combatants, safeguard their belongings, and deliver water to the thirsty in the battle field. The Prophet (S) said: “You are permitted. Go with my wife, Umm Salamah.”[41][212]
13. Fatimah az-Zahra (‘a). Muhammad ibn Muslimah said: “In the Battle of Uhud the women were engaged in looking for water and they were fourteen in all. Fatimah (‘a) was also one of them.”[42][213]
The women used to carry the food and water on their shoulders, engage in the treatment of the wounded and give water to them.[43][214]
14. Umm Sulayt. ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab said: “During the Battle of Uhud, Umm Sulayt used to carry goatskins of water for us and engage in repairing weapons and equipment.”[44][215]
15. Nasibah. She participated in the Battle of Uhud along with her husband and son. She used to carry goatskins of water and give water to the wounded. When the war became intense, she also participated in the battlefield and sustained twelve wounds by the sword.[45][216]
16. Anisah. In the Battle of Uhud she went to see the Prophet (S) and said: “O Messenger of Allah! My son, ‘Abdullah ibn Salamah, was among the combatants in the Battle of Badr. Now, in the Battle of Uhud, he has been martyred. I want to bring him to Medina and bury him there so that his grave would be near (our house) and I would be near to him.” The Prophet (S) gave her permission. Anisah transported the pure corpse of her martyred son by means of a camel along with the corpse of another martyr of Islam named Mujdar ibn Ziyad, which was wrapped in a cloak, to Medina.[46][217]
This was just a glimpse of the activities and roles of women in the battles of Islam under the command of the Messenger of Allah (S). Perhaps, the cooperation of women in military and defense was meant to maximize all the combatant forces in the war and in confronting enemies. With the same objective in view, the women in the government of Hadrat al-Mahdi (‘atfs) will also play the roles the women played during the time of the Prophet (S).
During that period or prior to that, women will have various roles to play; propaganda against the Dajjal (the Anti-Christ) and warning the people against him will be among their roles and duties.
Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri said: “Wherever the Dajjal wants to go, a woman with the name of La’ibah (Tayyibah) will go there before him and say: “The Dajjal will come to you; keep away from him and beware of the consequences of his work!”