■ Who Was the Greatest Woman Poet of the Arabs?
Her real name was Tamadir bint Amr, but the world knows her as Sayyidah Khansa (رضي الله عنها) — a legendary Arab poet whose sorrow turned into timeless poetry, and whose courage made history.
She belonged to the Sulaym branch of the Qais tribe — a noble lineage with deep desert roots. Her family name, traced through many generations, reflects the strength of Bedouin nobility and poetic excellence.
Her first marriage was to Rawahah bin Abdul Uzza of her own tribe. After his passing, she married Mirdas bin Abu Aamir. By the time the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ declared his Prophethood, she was already older in age. But age never blocked truth from entering her heart.
She heard of Islam and came with a group of her tribesmen to meet the Prophet ﷺ. As she recited her poetry before him, the Prophet ﷺ was amazed by the depth of her words and the brilliance of her language.
During the caliphate of Sayyidina Umar (رضي الله عنه), Sayyidah Khansa (رضي الله عنها) traveled to Iraq with her 4 sons to fight in the Battle of Qadisiyyah against the Persian Empire. On the eve of battle, she delivered a powerful address to her sons:
❝My sons! You have willingly accepted Islam and migrated. You brought your old mother to the battlefield. By Allah, you are sons of one man and one woman. Your loyalty has never been in question. Fighting disbelievers is the greatest virtue. Allah ﷻ says: ‘O you who believe! Be patient and firm…’ So rise early and fight till your last breath!❞
With her words burning in their hearts, all 4 sons entered the battlefield — and all four were martyred.
When the news of their martyrdom reached her, she thanked Allah ﷻ and showed no sign of regret, only pride in their sacrifice. Sayyidina Umar (رضي الله عنه) continued giving her a yearly stipend that had previously been given to her sons.
She lived for 10 more years after sacrificing her sons, and passed away in 24 A.H. Her 4 brave sons — Abdullah, Abu Shajrah, Zaid, and Mu’awiyah — remain symbols of devotion and martyrdom.
Sayyidah Khansa (رضي الله عنها) is known in Arab literary history as the greatest female poet of all time. She mastered the art of elegy — poetry mourning the loss of loved ones — especially after the death of her brother Sakhr, whose passing shattered her heart.
One of her most famous verses is:
❝Sakhr is followed by very prominent people,
As if he were a mountain whose peak is glowing with fire.❞
Her poetry was so powerful that it earned her a special banner at the entrance of her tent during the great Ukkaz poetry fair — it read:
“The Best Elegy Writer Among the Arabs.”
Famous poets like Nabigha admired her brilliance, saying,
❝If I had not heard Abu Busir (A’sha), I would have declared Khansa the greatest poet of all.❞
Her poetry was later compiled and printed in 1888 C.E. in Beirut, along with notes and elegies from other women poets. In 1889, it was translated into French, spreading her legacy even further.
Sayyidah Khansa (رضي الله عنها) was more than just a poet. She was a mother of martyrs, a pillar of Islamic womanhood, and a shining example of strength, intellect, and faith.
Aal-e-Qutub Aal-e-Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi 