Rufaida al-Aslamiya

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Rufaida al-Aslamiya (also Rufaida al-Aslamia , Arabic رفيدة الأسلمية, DMG Rufaida al-Aslamīya , or Rufaida bint Saʿd , Arabicرفيدة بنت سعد; * around 620 ; Date of death unknown) was a Muslim nurse and caregiver . She is considered to be the first professional nurse and first female surgeon in Islam.

Childhood and youth

Personal background

Rufaida al-Aslamiya was born around 620 as the daughter of the doctor Saʿd al-Aslami into the Bani Aslam clan of the Banu Khazradsch tribe . These were among the first to welcome the Islamic prophet Mohammed and Islam to Medina . Al-Aslamiya became known for participating with other Ansār women in greeting Mohammed in Medina.

Al-Aslamiya is described as a kind and empathetic nurse and a good organizer. With her medical skills, she trained other women to work as nurses, including the well-known women at Muhammad's side such as Aischa bint Abi Bakr . In addition, al-Aslamiya helped children in need, took in orphans and helped the poor.

Medicine in the family tradition

Al-Aslamiya was born into a family with close ties to the medical community. Her father Saʿd al-Aslami was a doctor and mentor under whom Rufaida learned her first medical knowledge. She devoted herself entirely to the care and care of sick people and became an excellent healer. Although she had no powers like men reserved for amputation and surgery, al-Aslamiya applied her knowledge. In many battles she worked in field hospitals in her tent, and Mohammed ordered all wounded to be brought to her so that al-Aslamiya could take care of her.

It is also documented that al-Aslamiya cared for injured soldiers during the jihad , just as she gave the dying protection from the wind and heat in the desert.

Historical Aspects of Nursing in Arabia

Pre-Islamic and Islamic Era (570–632 AD)

The development of female nursing and surgery from the Islamic era to modern nursing has been marked by cultural barriers and social pressures. Although there is little written documentation of the historical development of nursing from the pre-Islamic period, the social and moral mindsets during Muhammad's reign provide insight into the understanding of roles and expectations of nursing staff at the time. A clear difference to the Christian conception of illness, which is viewed as a god-given punishment, Muslims place great value on ritual cleansing of the body, daily prayers and strict rules on nutrition.

During the era of Muhammad, which was marked by holy wars, the medical care of the sick was mainly the responsibility of the doctors. They visited the patients' homes and diagnosed the medical problems and prescribed medication. Nursing by women was essentially limited to the physical well-being and emotional support of the sick.

After Mohammed to the Middle Ages (632–1500 AD)

Front door of an ancient hospital in Salé, Morocco designed by Muslim architects

After Muhammad's reign, the intensity of the holy wars and civil unrest subsided, and advances in technology and architecture led to the construction of a number of new hospitals and new treatments. During this phase, female nurses were still reduced to simple duties, such as serving food or giving prescribed medicinal potions. The development of social and religious norms made it necessary to introduce wards in which patients were treated separately by gender. Male patients were treated only by men, women treated the female patients.

Revolutionary developments in care

Al-Aslamiya as the founder of Islamic care

Al-Aslamiya is described as a charismatic leader who was the first woman to appear as a nurse in Muslim times. There is some minor scholarly debate as to whether al-Aslamiyah was "technically" the first female nurse and surgeon, but Middle Eastern states are unanimous in recognizing al-Aslamiya as the “very first” nurse. Around 1200 years before Florence Nightingale, al-Aslamiya dedicated himself to developing and improving care. Al-Aslamiya is credited with founding and running the first nursing school in the Islamic world, even if the location of the school is not known. AL-Aslamia advocated preventive measures and recognized the value of health education . It is possible that she not only trained the companions of Muhammad, but also did social work within the community. The Prophet gave al-Aslamiya permission to set up a tent inside a mosque and offer health-related training courses to parishioners. From today's standpoint, this was an outstanding achievement as women were not encouraged to hold public meetings in a mosque.

Origins of acute care

The mosque in Salaman, next to the al-Aslamiya the wounded from the grave battle supplied

Al-Aslamiya used her medical skills and experience to set up the first ever documented mobile care unit capable of meeting the medical needs of a community. The focus of the work in the units was on hygiene and the stabilization of patients before further and invasive treatment began. Al-Aslamiya had trained a group of the female companions of Muhammad in acute care and they asked him for permission to go into battle and care for the wounded before the battle of the trenches . Mohammed gave permission and the women were so successful that Mohammed al-Aslamiya gave a share of the spoils of war. During the military conflict, al-Aslamiya led other groups of volunteer nurses to the battlefields in order to be able to treat the wounded immediately. She was also involved in the battles of Badr , Uhud and Chaibar , among others .

reception

The stories of al-Aslamiya were passed down from generation to generation of Saudi nurses as a role model and are still valued by many modern Saudi nurses today. Every year, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland at the University of Bahrain awards a student with the coveted and prestigious Rufaida Al-Aslamia Prize in Nursing Sciences. The award is given to a student who provides long-term and excellent care for his patients. A building of the well-known College of Nursing and Maternity Care, the Aga Khan University in Pakistan was named after al-Aslamiya.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g Kolleen Miller-Rosser, Ysanne Chapman, Karen Francis: Historical, Cultural, and Contemporary Influences on the Status of Women in Nursing in Saudi Arabia published in OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing :, edition Retrieved June 11, 2006 (English)
  2. ^ A b Salin Al-Hassani: Women's Contribution to Classical Islamic Civilization: Science, Medicine, a nd Politics , Muslim Heritage (English), accessed June 17, 2020
  3. ↑ Asmaa Tabaa: Stars in the Prophet's Orbit Hussen Obiadi Bookbinding, chap. 60 Rufaida al-Aslamiyya (English)
  4. ↑ Jonathan Lyons: Early Islamic Medicine in Laphams Quarterly (English), accessed June 17, 2020
  5. ↑ M. Patricia Donahue: Nursing: the finest art. An illustrated history Mosby, 2010 ISBN 978-0323053051
  6. ↑ Kolleen Miller-Rosser, Ysanne Chapman, Karen Francis: Historical, Cultural, and Contemporary Influences on the Status of Women in Nursing in Saudi Arabia published in OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing :, Issue 11, 2006 (English) accessed on June 17, 2020
  7. ↑ a b R. Jan: Rufaida Al-Asalmiya, the first Muslim nurse. in The Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 1996, 28 (3), pp. 267–268 (English)
  8. ↑ N. El-Sanabary: Women and the nursing profession in Saudi Arabia in Nancy Bryant (ed.): Women in nursing in Islamic societies Oxford University Press., 2003 ISBN 978-0195798883 (English)
  9. ↑ Samar Yahya: Rufaida Al-Aslamia - the first Muslim nurse in Saudi Gazette from March 31, 2017 (English) accessed on June 17, 2020
personal data
SURNAME al-Aslamiya, Rufaida
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Rufaida Al-Aslamiya, Rufayda bint Saʿd
BRIEF DESCRIPTION first Muslim nurse and surgeon
DATE OF BIRTH around 620
DATE OF DEATH 1st millennium