Khawlah bint al-Azwar

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Khawla bint Al-Azwar
Tarikhuna bi-uslub qasasi-Khawlah bint al-Azwar.jpg
Khawla, from Tārīkhunā bi-uslūb qaṣaṣī, 1935
AllegianceMuhammad
Rashidun Caliphate

Khawla bint al-Azwar (Arabic: خولة بنت الازور‎) was an Arab Muslim female warrior & Companion of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad.[1] She has been described as one of the greatest female warriors in history and was once compared to Khalid Bin Walid by opponents on the battlefield. She was the sister of Dhiraar bin Al-Azwar, the commander of the Rashidun army during the 7th century Muslim conquest. Born sometime in the seventh century as the daughter of Malik or Tareq Bin Awse, one of the chiefs of the Banu Assad tribe, Khawlah was well known for her bravery in campaigns of the Muslim conquests in parts of what are today Syria, Jordan, and Palestine. She fought side by side with her brother Dhirrar in many battles,[citation needed] including the decisive Battle of Yarmouk in 636 against the Byzantine empire. On the 4th day of the battle she led a group of women against the Byzantine army and defeated its chief commander, and later was wounded during her fight with a Greek soldier.

History[]

Early life[]

Born sometime in the seventh century in Arabia (modern-day Saudi Arabia), Khawlah was the daughter of one of the chiefs of Bani Assad tribe. Her family was among the first converts to Islam. Her father's name was either Malik or Tareq Bin Awse; he was also known as al-Azwar.

Siege of Damascus[]

Her talent first appeared during the Battle of Sanita-al-Uqab in 634, fought during the Siege of Damascus, in which her brother Zirrar (or Deraar) was leading the Muslim forces and was wounded and taken prisoner by the Byzantine army. Khalid ibn Walid took his mobile guard to rescue him. Khawlah accompanied the army and rushed the Byzantine rearguard alone. In her armor and typical loose dress of Arabian warriors she was not recognized as a woman, until she was asked by Khalid about her identity.

In the Battle of Ajnadin, Khawlah accompanied the Muslim forces to provide medical attention to wounded soldiers. After her brother Diraar was captured by the Byzantine forces, Khawlah took a knight's armor, weapons, and mare, wrapping herself in a green shawl. She fought a Byzantine battalion, who were attacking Muslim soldiers. Khalid bin Walid, the leader of the Muslim forces, ordered his soldiers to charge the Byzantine. Many of the Muslim soldiers thought that Khawlah was Khalid until Khalid appeared. The Muslim army defeated the Byzantines, who fled the battlefield. When Khalid found Khawlah, she was covered in blood. He asked her to remove her veil. After refusing several times, Khawlah revealed her identity. Khalid ordered his army to chase the fleeing Byzantines. After a search, the Muslim prisoners were found and freed.[2] One of the Rashidun army commanders, Shurahbil ibn Hassana, is reported to have said about her that:

This warrior fights like Khalid ibn Walid, but I am sure he is not Khalid.

Other campaigns[]

Some traditional sources claim that in another battle, Khawlah was captured after falling from her horse. After being taken to a camp with other women prisoners, Khawlah was to be taken to the leader's tent as he intended to rape her. Instead, Khawlah roused the other prisoners, who used the tent poles as weapons and attacked the Byzantine guards. According to ,[1] they managed to kill five Byzantine knights with Khawlah taking credit for one, including the Byzantine who insulted her.

Legacy[]

Many streets and schools in Saudi Arabia, are named after her.[citation needed] Jordan issued a stamp in her honor as part of the "Arab Women in History."[3] Many Arab cities have schools and institutions carrying the name of Khawla Bint al-Azwar.[4] Today,[when?] an Iraqi all-women military unit is named the Khawlah bint al-Azwar unit in Khawlah's honor. In the United Arab Emirates, the first military college for women, , is also named for her.[5]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "15 Important Muslim Women in History". Islamophobia Today. 12 March 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  2. ^ Abul Husn, Ma'an (May 2003). "Khawla Bint Al-Azwar: The Islamic Heroine".
  3. ^ "Khawla Bint Al Azwar, Warrior, Famous Arab Woman, Islam Religion Horse Animal, MNH Jordan". Raju2001. 12 February 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  4. ^ Abul Husn, Ma'an (May 2003). "Khawla Bint Al-Azwar: The Islamic Heroine".
  5. ^ "In pictures: Inside the UAE's first military college for women". The National UAE. Retrieved August 17, 2014.

Sources[]

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