Sahabiyyah RA of African Descent

International Day for Women and Girls of African Descent – 25 July

Honouring History, Celebrating Legacy, and Amplifying Voices

Background & History of the Day                                                                     

The International Day for Women and Girls of African Descent is observed annually on 25 July. It was established by the United Nations in 2020, following years of advocacy by Afro-descendant women across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa. The day is an opportunity to recognize the contributions, resilience, and struggles of women and girls of African descent around the world. It aligns with the UN International Decade for People of African Descent (2015–2024), which promotes recognition, justice, and development for African-descendant communities globally.

This observance brings attention to the multiple layers of discrimination faced by women and girls of African descent based on race, gender, and socioeconomic status. It also seeks to elevate their voices, histories, leadership, and cultural heritage.

Why It’s Important to Highlight Sahabiyyat RA of African Descent

While much focus is rightly given to prominent Companions RA of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the stories of Sahabiyyat RA (female companions) — especially those of African descent — are often less known, yet they offer powerful examples of faith, strength, and service to Islam. Honouring their lives and earning from their legacies is deeply meaningful for many reasons:

1. Restoring Historical Representation in Islamic Narratives

Women like Umm Ayman RA (Barakah bint Thaʿlabah), an Abyssinian woman and beloved caretaker of the Prophet ﷺ, played central roles in the early Muslim community. Despite her African lineage and status as a freed slave, the Prophet ﷺ called her his mother after his own mother and promised her Paradise. Learning about her reminds us that early Islam upheld a message of equality, dignity, and anti-racism.

Other Sahabiyyat RA such as Sumayyah bint Khayyat RA, often believed to have African roots, was the first martyr in Islam — a woman of courage and unwavering faith. Their stories break racial and gender stereotypes and emphasize that virtue and value lie in character and belief, not in lineage or status.

2. Inspiring Youth, Especially African-Descended Girls

Knowing that some of the most honoured women in Islam were African reminds young Muslim girls of African descent that they are part of a rich, spiritual, and noble legacy. Representation matters. When they learn about figures like Umm Ayman RA, it empowers them to embrace their identity with pride, knowing that they too can be leaders, nurturers of faith, and defenders of justice.

3. Reclaiming Forgotten Heroines of Islam

The lives of Sahabiyyat RA of African descent have often been marginalized in both secular and religious retellings of history. Reviving their stories is part of correcting historical erasure and acknowledging their immense contributions. It also challenges modern notions that disconnect African heritage from Islamic leadership and excellence.

4. Connecting Islamic Heritage with African Identity

This day offers Muslims a chance to bridge faith and cultural heritage, highlighting that African identity and Islamic piety are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, they have always been intertwined since the earliest days of Islam — from the migration to Abyssinia to the loyalty of African companions of the Prophet ﷺ.

On 25 July, as the world honours women and girls of African descent, it is both timely and meaningful for the Muslim community to reflect on the lives of African Sahabiyyat RA. Their stories are not just part of Islamic history — they are pillars of it. Teaching their legacy ensures that future generations grow up with a fuller, richer understanding of the diversity and depth of early Islam, and feel seen, valued, and inspired by those who came before them.