Aisha (poet)

ʿĀʾisha bint Aḥmad al-Qurṭubiyya (d. 1009/1010 CE, Córdoba, Spain), sometimes spelled Aysha or al-Qurtubiyya, was a tenth-century poet, most of her work was written in Arabic.

ʿĀʾisha bint Aḥmad al-Qurṭubiyya
Born
Córdoba, Spain
Died
Córdoba, Spain
OccupationPoet

Biography

It is assumed that ʿĀʾisha was probably born in Córdoba.[1] She is regarded as both a famed poet and calligrapher of Andalusia.[2] Little is known about her life and background, though it does seem clear that she was the sister of Muḥammad b. Aḥmad b. Qādim (d. 990 CE).[1] Other claims include that she was a princess of Cordova;[3] that her father's full name was Aḥmad b. Muḥammad b. Qādim b. Ziyād; and that she was the niece of the Cordovan physician and poet Abū ʿAbdallāh b. Qādim al-Ṭabīb.[1] Apparently she was a virgin throughout her life, never marrying.[1] Her death came at the beginning of the Fitna of al-Andalus in 1009.[1] 'Ibn Ḥayyān (d. 469/1076), quoted in Ibn Bashkuwāl's (d. 578/1183) Ṣila, praises, among other qualities, ʿĀʾisha's intelligence, her knowledge of literature and poetry, and her eloquence. Her handwriting was beautiful, and she made a practice of copying in her own hand the Qurʾān (maṣāḥif) and secular books (dafātir). She showed a great interest in science (ʿilm), which led her to collect books in what became a large and beautiful library.'[1]

Poetry

Aisha's poetic works are included in writing on medieval Moorish women poets, noted for their surprising vitality, freshness, and aggressive boldness.[4] Her poems were often read with applause in the Royal Academy at Cordova.[5] One of her most famous works is a poem turning down a marriage proposal by a male poet.[1] One example of Aisha bint Ahmad al-Qurtubiya's writing is:

I am a lioness
and will never allow my body
to be anyone's resting place. But if I did,
I wouldn't yield to a dog ─
and O! the lions I've turned away![4]

Her works included panegyrics addressed to contemporary rulers. A surviving example is a panegyric to Abd al-Malik al-Muzaffar (r. 1002–8 CE).[1]

Legacy

Aisha is included in the list of Notable Muslims in the 2002 special edition of Saudi Aramco World.[2]

Aisha is a featured figure on Judy Chicago's installation piece The Dinner Party, being represented as one of the 999 names on the Heritage Floor.[6]

References
  1. María Luisa Ávila, "ʿĀʾisha bt. Aḥmad al-Qurṭubiyya", in: Encyclopaedia of Islam, THREE, Edited by: Kate Fleet, Gudrun Krämer, Denis Matringe, John Nawas, Everett Rowson. Consulted online on 29 November 2017 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1573-3912_ei3_COM_22901>.
  2. "Notable Muslims" (PDF). Saudi Aramco World (Islam: An Introduction): 7. January–February 2002. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  3. Woman's rights and duties considered with relation to their influence on society and on her own condition. By a Woman. London: John W. Parker. 1840. p. 145.
  4. Kolb, Elene (9 July 1989). "When Women Finally got the Word". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  5. Chamberlain, Alexander F. (October–December 1903). "Primitive Woman as Poet". The Journal of American Folklore. 63. 16: 216.
  6. "Aisha". Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art: The Dinner Party: Heritage Floor: Aisha. Brooklyn Museum. 2007. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
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