Florence Nightingale has been recognized as the first nurse in the western world.
However, a Moslem nurse, Rufaida Al Aslamiya, is credited with being the first nurse, in the Prophet Mohammed's time, many centuries before Nightingale's time.
Rufaida Al Aslamiya was the daughter of a renowned healer, Saad Al Aslamy, in Saudi Arabia.
Like Nightingale, Rufaida Al Aslamiya gained her acceptance as a nurse through nursing the sick and wounded during times of war.
Women called 'Asiyal' or Awasi' (nurses) used to go out with the 'Mujahedden' in their holy wars.
The duties of nurses in times of war were to provide water for the sick and wounded, tend to their injuries, give medicine as needed, provide comfort measures, and transport the dead back to Madinah.
Like Nightingale, Rufaida Al Aslamiya is also credited as a leader in health care where she established clinics in the Mosque.
She is the founder of the first school of nursing for women.
She developed the first code of conduct and ethics many centuries before Florence Nightingale introduced nursing in the western world.
The following is a list of some of the first recorded Muslim nurses:
- Koaiba Bint Saad Al Asla Miya, known as Rufaida Al-Aslamiya (discussed above.)
She is credited with being the first Muslim nurse. Nursed the wounded and dying in the wars with the Prophet, Mohammed, in Badr invasion on 13-3-624G.
- Nosaib Bint Kaab Al Mazeneya
One of the Muslim women who provided nursing services to warriors at the Ohad invasion in the third Heira year - 625 G.
- Om Senan Al Esla Mey (Om Emara)
She became a Muslim and asked permission of the prophet, Mohammad, to go out with the warriors to nurse the injured and provide water to the thirsty warriors.
She became a Muslim after 'Hijera' and volunteered to be a nurse in the army after the opening of Khaibar.
She participated in gathering the Quran and providing her nursing services to the warriors in the Badr invasion.
Al Osimy M. (1994). Nursing in Saudi Arabia.
Jan R. (1996) Rufaida Al-Asalmiy, The first Muslim nurse. Image - the Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 28(3), 267-268. |
