The Arab armies that conquered the Levant in the seventh century AD were accompanied by a warrior poetess, Khawla bint al Azwar, who frightened foes and inspired friends. Below are some fascinating facts about that remarkable warrior woman.

The Islamic Warrior Poetess

Khawla bint al Azwar (flourished 600s AD) was a Muslim Arab poet and warrior who accompanied her elder brother during the Islamic conquests of Syria, Palestine, and Jordan. She fought at her brother’s side, and at the head of her own forces in independent command in numerous battles, and became famous for her fighting skill, courage, and toughness.

Khawla was the daughter of the chief of an Arab tribe, and during her youth, she was taught warrior skills such as swordsmanship and horseback riding at the side of her brother. She also learned poetry at her siblings side, who became a noted poet and warrior. When her brother converted to the then-new religion of Islam, Khawla followed his suit, and adopted the new faith.

In the Thick of Battle

She first gained note as a warrior in 634, during the Arab siege of Damascus, when her brother was wounded and taken prisoner by the city’s Byzantine defenders. Khawla donned armor and arms, and covered her face with a shawl to hide her gender. She then charged the Byzantine rearguard alone. She fought until reinforcements arrived to rescue her brother from captivity. At the battle of Ajnadayn later that year, her brother was again taken prisoner. Khawla again rushed to his rescue, covering her face and charging in alone until reinforcements arrived.

By the time the Byzantine forces were beaten back, Khawla was drenched in blood. The army’s commander, Khalid ibn al Walid, unaware of her identity or gender, ordered her to remove the shawl from her face. When she finally relented and he discovered that she was a woman, he ordered her to the rear. However, he soon changed his mind, and put her in command of a mobile column to pursue the fleeing Byzantines.

The adventures continued to come hard and fast for Khawla. On another occasion, she was herself captured during an enemy raid on the Muslim camp, and taken prisoner along with other camp women. The captives were taken to an enemy general’s tent, who divided the women as war booty among his officers as slaves and concubines.

Khawla roused the captives, and seizing tent poles, they fell upon their captors. During the confusion, she made her escape. To this day, she is remembered as one of the greatest female warriors in the history of Islam. Indeed, there is hardly any sizeable city in the Muslim world that does not have at least one school named after Khawla bint al Azwar.

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Some Sources & Further Reading

Badass of the Week – Khawla bint al Azwar

History Halls – Fighting Women: The Trung Sisters

Odyssey – Feminist Muslim Warrior Series: Khawla bint al Azwar, the Muslim Mulan