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the Prophet encouraged them to enter this profession. It is
said týat when Ald,
one of the companions was wounded by an arrow at
the Battle of al-Khandaq, the Prophet said, "Carry him to Rufayydah's
tent. 11 1 The Prophet would pass by him and say, "How did you sleep,
and how did-you awaken ?"2 which demonstrates both his concern for
the sick and his interest in Rufayydah's role as a nurse.
Another healer was al-Rabi. bin Mulaudh al-Ansarl. yyah.
Al-RabV'used to accompany the Prophet in battles., tend to the'wounded
and generally serve the fighters. Al-Rab! &
recounts, "we would carry
out the military campahgn with the Prophet and give the force to drink
and serve them and return the killed and wounded to al-Madinah.
Layla al-Ghl. fWriyyah was another woman who went out with the
Prophet in Jihad. She recounos: "I went out in battle with the
Prophet and I would treat and serve the sick. "
Kulaybah bint Slad al-Aslamiyyah, was a nurse as well as one of
Islam's mounted warriors. She witnessed battles and travelled great
distances. She was at Khaybar with the Prophet and was rewarded as
much as male warriors.
5 She participated with'men in the defence
of Islam. She also treated the wounded and the sick.
However, women's role in war was not confined only to nursing
and medical treatment, but they were also engaged in actual combat.
The most famous amongst such women was NasTbah bint Klab al-Maziniyyah,
who was married to Zayd bin*Tsim.
0
She had originally found the
Prophet on the battlefield at. Ukýd Is a nurse.
6
1. Ibid
2. Ibid
3. Ibid
4. Ibn Hajar: Op. cit., Vol. 8, P. 183
5* Ibn il-Ath-ir,
OP. cit., Vol. 7, P. 252 & ibn Hajar, Op* cit., Vol, 8, P. 176
6. Ibn al-Athrr, Op. cit., Vol. 7, P. 280 0
3
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