al-Rawda al-Fayha fi Alam al-Nisa
- Author died
- 1233 AH
- Editions
- al-Rawda al-Fayha fi Alam al-Nisa
al-Rawda al-Fayha fi A‘lam al-Nisa (Arabic: الروضة الفيحاء في أعلام النساء, The Fragrant Meadow on Notable Women) is a biographical work on prominent historical women compiled by the Mosul-based historian and man of letters Yasin al-Khatib al-Umari (1157–after 1232 AH / 1744–after 1817 CE) .
Composition and Scope
In the introduction, the author states that from his early years he was devoted to reading works of history and literature, which led him to compile general historical chronicles and biographical treatises before deciding to compose a dedicated work on famous women (mashahir al-nisa) . The book is also referred to in bio-bibliographical sources under the variants al-Rawda al-Fayha fi Tawarikh al-Nisa and al-Rawda al-Fayha fi Mashahir al-Nisa .
According to the author's holograph colophon, he completed the compilation on the afternoon of Tuesday, 1 Dhu al-Qi‘dah 1204 AH . The work combines biographical sketches with historical narratives, poetry, prose passages, and various digressive literary benefits .
Structure and Contents
The author divided the work into an introduction, two main discourses (maqalahs), and a conclusion :
- Introduction (al-Muqaddimah): Spans approximately six folios and discusses indispensable preliminary benefits and concepts .
- First Discourse (al-Maqalah al-Ula): Dedicated to righteous and pious women (al-nisa al-salihat) . It opens with Eve (Hawwa), the mother of mankind , and includes notices on figures such as Rabi‘ah bint Najm al-Din Ayyub (sister of Saladin), Shajar al-Durr of Egypt, Umm al-Wahid bint al-Mahamili, Umm al-Fadl bint Abd al-Samad al-Harawiyya, Fatima bint al-Husayn al-Aqra‘, Fatima bint Za‘bal, the calligrapher and scholar Shuhdah al-Katibah, the poet Taqiyya bint Ghayth al-Suriyya, Nafisah bint Abd Allah al-Tarabulusi, Fatima bint al-Bulqini, and concludes with Khanum Sultan, daughter of the Ottoman sultan Suleiman the Magnificent .
- Second Discourse (al-Maqalah al-Thaniyah): Covers women celebrated for matters other than asceticism and religious piety, including queens, rulers, concubines, and poetesses . Among those treated are Muznah bint Abd Allah al-Kinani, the poetess ‘Inan (the slave-girl of al-Natifi), Badi‘ah the wife of the Mamluk sultan Qaytbay, ‘Abbasah bint al-Mahdi, Bikhan bint Shah Tahmasp I, Baduna the mother of Genghis Khan, Tarkan Khatun, and Sultan Bakht bint Timur .
- Conclusion (al-Khatimah): Spanning about ten folios, it is devoted to intelligent and witty women (adhkiya al-nisa), focusing on their cleverness, quick repartee, subtlety, and memorable anecdotes .
Manuscripts and Editions
An original holograph manuscript of the work, totaling 280 pages in medium quarto, was preserved in the library of the Marjan Madrasa in Baghdad , while another manuscript copy is preserved in the Taymuriyya collection in Cairo .
A version of the work was edited by Raja Mahmud al-Samarra'i under the title Muhadhdhab al-Rawda al-Fayha fi Tawarikh al-Nisa and published in Baghdad by the Iraqi Ministry of Culture and Guidance in 1386 AH / 1966 CE .
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