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


Sultan Raziyya

Sultan Raziyya was a great sovereign, and sagacious, just, beneficent, the patron of learned, a dispenser of justice, the cherisher of her subjects, and of warlike talent.

David E. Jones, Women Warriors: A History, Potomac Books, Inc.  July 2005. P. 42

photo of Sultan Raziyya Credit: Heba Amin

Known For: Sultan of Delhi in India from 1236 to 1240; first woman ruler in Muslim and Turkish history
Dates: Hijri 601-637 (AH)
Common Era 1205-1240(CE)
Country: India

About

Raziyya, or Razia, was the Sultan of Delhi in India from 1236 to 1240. Her father, Iltutmish, appointed her as his successor just before he died.  As a result of Iltutmish’s choice of successor, rioting erupted.  Raziyya sought to quell the disruptive bureaucrats and nobles by riding as a soldier on a horse throughout the streets. As she solidified her power, she believed that appropriating a masculine image would help her maintain control, so she dressed like a man, wearing a turban, trousers, coat, and sword. Contrary to custom, she appeared unveiled in public.

Raziyya was known for her belief that the spirit of religion is more important than its parts. She established schools, academies, centers for research, and public libraries.

Many different sections of the community opposed her rule and attempted to defy her in many different ways.  After a relationship she had with an Abyssinian slave was exposed, her enemies tried to use that against her.  This caused a split in factions and later a revolt against her led by her childhood friend Altunia.  Iltutmish’s younger son, who had been working with Altunia, was then put on the throne and Raziyya was imprisoned. However, she later married Altunia, who had gone unrewarded by the conspirators. Altunia and Raziyya were later killed as they attempted to reclaim the sultanate.

Sources

David E. Jones, Women Warriors: A History(Brassey’s, 2005),  42-43.

N. Jayapalan,History of India: From 1773 to Lord Minto,Including Constitutional Development (Atlantic Publishers & Distri, 2001), 10-11.

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.