Women's Military Contributions during the Prophetic ﷺ Era: An Analytical Juristic and Historical Study عہدِ نبوی ﷺ میں خواتین کی عسکری و فوجی خدمات: ایک فقہی و تاریخی تجریدی مطالعہ

الملخص

The Prophetic era (622–632 CE) represents a formative period in Islamic civilization, during which comprehensive principles were established for social, political, and military organization. Among the noteworthy aspects of this period was the active participation of women in military and defense-related activities. This study examines the military contributions of women during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) through a juristic and historical analytical approach. Drawing upon primary Islamic sources, including the Qur’an, Hadith literature, Sīrah works, and classical juristic texts, the research explores the diverse roles performed by female Companions in military campaigns. The study highlights women's contributions in military logistics, including the provision of water, food, and supplies to combatants; medical services, such as nursing, treatment of the wounded, and the establishment of the first organized field hospital under the supervision of Rufaydah al-Aslamiyyah (RA); and direct participation in defensive combat during critical situations, as exemplified by Nusaybah bint Ka‘b (Umm ‘Ammarah), Safiyyah bint ‘Abd al-Muttalib, and Umm Sulaym (RA). Furthermore, the research analyzes the juristic implications of these activities, particularly the legal status of women's participation in warfare, the conditions under which armed defense becomes permissible or obligatory, and the financial recognition of their services through the principle of Radhkh (special gratuity from war gains).

The findings demonstrate that women in the Prophetic era were not merely passive observers but active contributors to the military strength and security of the Muslim community. Their participation was organized, purposeful, and acknowledged by the Prophet (ﷺ), thereby providing an important historical and legal precedent for contemporary discussions on women's roles in military, medical, and security institutions within an Islamic framework.