Zaynab bent Youssef
Zaynab bent Youssef Ibn ‘Abd al-Moumen (Arabic: زينب بنت يوسف بن عبد المومن; c. late 12th century – c. early 13th century ?)[1] was an Almohad princess who took part at conferences on the sources of the law,[2] she went down in history as a learned woman.[1] She was the daughter of Almohad caliph Abu Yaqub Yusuf.[3]
Life[edit]
Zaynab was born in Andalusia.[1] She received a sophisticated education, studying philosophy, al-kalam (theology) and usul al-fiqh (Islamic law).[1] She became a learned woman whose sound opinions were recognized.[1] She was then engaged to her cousin, Abou Zayd Abd Ar-Rahmane, who lived in Tunis.[1]
However, on her way there, the boat of Princess Zaynab was attacked by Sicilian pirates. She was taken as a captive to the palace of William II of Sicily, known by the nickname of William the Good. When he discovered Zaynab's identity, he ordered that she be treated with respect and brought with dignity to her father's palace.[1] However, for some twenty years, relations between Sicily and Morocco had been tense,[1] because of the military operations that Morocco had carried out to free the port of Kairaouane from Sicilian occupation.[1] Touched by such treatment, the Almohad caliph Abu Yaqub Yusuf sent a diplomatic mission to thank William II for his kindness. Without delay, in August 1181, Morocco and Sicily signed a peace and trade agreement.[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glacier, Osire; PhD. "Zaynab, la fille du calife almohade Abou Yacoub Youssef (fin du 12ème siècle – première moitié du 13ème siècle ?) | Études marocaines, Osire Glacier" (in French). Retrieved 2022-10-15.
- ^ El Bouhsini, Latifa. "Les rescapées de lʼoubli dans les écrits et dans lʼhistoriographie du Maroc entre le XIème et le XIVème siècle" (PDF). p. 25.
- ^ El Bouhsini, Latifa. "Survivors of Oblivion in Moroccan Sources and Historiography from the XIth to the XIVth Century". Hespéris-Tamuda LVI (1) (2021): 17-33 (PDF) (in French). p. 25.
Zaynab bent Youssef Ibn 'Abd al-Moumen the Almohad who took part in conferences on the sources of the law