Rufaydah al Aslamiyah(ra) - The Lady with the Tent

𝑳𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒂𝒎𝒑, 𝑭𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒍𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑨𝒓𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒂 ...

For some Sahaba(ra) their lives are like open books, with much known about them. But then there are others with fewer recorded incidences, but still open a window into the incredible lives and contributions they made, catapulting them into the annals of history.

From the tribe of Aslam in Madinah, Rufaydah al Aslamiyah(ra) was one such person from among the early believers. 

She was there beside the women as they welcomed the Prophetﷺ to Madinah; also present when the qibla changed towards Makkah. But her legacy was to be the indispensable nursing skills she provided at a time when many battles occurred in the early days of Islam. Her first mention was at the Battle of the Trench, when Sa’d ibn Muadh(ra) was struck by a spear in his brachial artery, a serious injury. The Prophetﷺ said, “Place him in the tent of Rufaydah’s in the mosque, until I can visit him shortly.” [Adab Al- Mufrad]

So Rufaydah’s Tent became famous, not only for its location but for the valuable first aid it provided. Rufaydah(ra) cared for the sick and wounded, a necessary job that rapidly expanded her knowledge in the field of medicine and nursing; making and applying medications and treating wounds to broken bones. She spent generously of her own wealth providing treatment, taking no wage, only hoping for reward from Allah(swt). There is a difference of opinion on whether her tent was present in every battlefield, or just pitched in the Prophet’s Mosque, Allah knows best. Still the Prophet’sﷺ biography does reveal female companions were involved in care of the wounded and gave water to the thirsty in the battlefield. Rufaydah’s Tent was known to provide care and specialise in this expertise, like a field hospital, providing sanctuary for the injured to rest and be treated away from the harsh heat of the desert. As for the Sahabiyaat who trained under her wing; they served the wounded whilst preserving their honour, safety and maintaining their covering.

Rufaydah’s story is a notable example of a time where skills were clearly not restricted to men, rather women of Islam acquired and practised such skills too, and were relied upon and encouraged, even in the most challenging of times.

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