Muslim Women: Past and Present

Recommend a Muslim Woman

Throughout the ages, from the earliest days of Islam to contemporary times today, Muslim women have been and continue to be active leaders in their communities and countries across the world. This directory is a growing archive of leading Muslim women scholars, activists, writers, politicians, artists, religious and spiritual leaders, civil society leaders and more. Please contribute to this archive by suggesting Muslim women to be featured through our recommendation form.

  • By Category
  • By Name
  • By Century
  • By Country
  • Search


Absh Khatun

Known For: Sovereign of the Sulghurid Dynasty
Dates: Common Era r. 1263-1287 (CE)
Hijri r. 662-686 (AH)

Country: Iran

About

Descended from Mongol nobility, Absh was the ninth and final ruler of Atabek dynasty, which is also known as the Sulghurid dynasty.

Absh married Manku Timur, the son of Khan Hulägo. After their union, they resided together in Urdu, capital of the Ilkhanate. However, after internal discord (the Khan dispatched an army to murder the Seljuk Shah in Shiraz), the Khan selected his daughter-in-law Absh Khatun to Shiraz to run the state, which was her homeland, in 1263.

It was a traditional means of consolidating power in the Ilkhanate to send daughters-in-law to sovereign states, indicating the great amount of power their women wielded.

Her return to Shiraz was greatly celebrated. Coinage was issued bearing her visage and Friday khutbahs were proclaimed in her name. She reigned until the end of the dynasty’s primacy.

Sources

Jackson-Laufer, Guida M. Women Rulers throughout the Ages: an Illustrated Guide, 1999. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO.

Mernissi, Fatima, and Mary Jo. Lakeland. The Forgotten Queens of Islam, 1993. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota.

RSS Bookmark and Share
This search feature will enable you to find Muslim women alphabetically by their first names. Many Muslim names have alternative spellings once rendered into English so if you cannot find the name you are looking for, please try the general search tab where you can enter keywords of your choice.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
This search feature will enable you to find Muslim women chronologically by the Common Era century. We are actively building the archive of Muslim women leaders from the past, as well as from today, and we would welcome your recommendations of women to feature. Please complete our “Recommend Muslim Women” form and check the site again in the near future as we actively expand this section of the portal with your suggestions.
This search feature will enable you to find Muslim women by their Country. We are actively building the archive of Muslim women leaders from the past, as well as from today, and we would welcome your recommendations of women to feature. Please complete our “Recommend Muslim Women” form and check the site again in the near future as we actively expand this section of the portal with your suggestions.
This search feature will enable you to find Muslim women leaders by entering the keyword(s) of your choice. If you cannot find a particular woman that you are looking for, please let us know by completing our “Recommend Muslim Women” form and check the site again in the near future as we actively expand this section of the portal with your suggestions.