Rufaydah Al Aslamiyyah, the first nurse in Islam

Rufaydah Al Aslamiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) was the first nurse in Islam who used to treat the Muslim war-wounded in the battles which the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) fought to spread Islam.

Rufaydah had a tent for medical services used to treat the war-wounded by the help of some venerable Companion women. So, she used to treat them with her medical knowledge and the experience which was known at that time.

The mission of Rufaydah was noble and humane, and refuted every claim against Islam. The enemies of Islam describe Islam as a religion against women and wants to marginalize women without giving them active role in life, so they should not learn or work.

Allah forbid that Islam to be as they claim. She (may Allah be pleased with her) is worthy to have a prize with her name on to excel the certified prize under the name of the British lady "Florence" the lady with the Lamp and the pioneer of nursing in the modern time.

She used to treat war-wounded in the European battles, however nurses may face some false accusations where many people think that nurses are not fit to be mothers. Therefore, people refuse to marry nurses even if they are from their relatives and I think that is unjust judgment on nurses.

Women, who hold fast with their religion and manners, will not suffer fear while dealing in commerce, medicine, nursing, or education, and there is no justification to refuse to marry them.

A nurse who does a human and noble work through which she takes salary from the people and reward from the Lord should be responsible, especially when she deals with the public. She is in a dire need to resort to Allah, think carefully in her human work, keep away from applying makeup or adornments, and should follow the work system applied in the country where she works to ensure her full rights, guard her dignity, and protect herself against humiliation or exploitation as long as she protects herself, proving for all people that she can be a good mother, a conservative wife, and a woman of important role in her society, looking after patients, keeping their secrets, and treating them in a humane and elegant way with wisdom and good observation.

These lines contain a call for people to stop talking badly about Muslim women who serve patients and people should lower their gazes when dealing with them.

People should appreciate their efforts and respecting them because they earn their living and want to prove their selves through that noble work. The foolish should not look inferiorly to them or despise them and causing people to doubt their behavior; all these indicate the ignorance of those people who slander Muslims in their honors.

Islam respects man and woman equally and ensures the rights of each one of them, organizes their lives, and protects them from being lost in work or at home.