Nabihah Abdul Raheem

19th-century Syrian poet and reformer who challenged Ottoman gender norms through her writings and advocacy for women's rights

Nabihah Abdul Raheem (1830–1898) was a Syrian poet and social reformer whose literary works and public lectures challenged patriarchal traditions in the Ottoman Empire. Born in Damascus to a family of Ottoman officials, she mastered Arabic, Turkish, and French while secretly studying philosophy and science. Her 1852 poem "The Veil of Ignorance" became a clandestine bestseller, using metaphorical language to critique gender segregation. Middle East Studies Journal notes her unique use of Sufi poetry forms to convey feminist ideas.

Raheem organized underground salons where women debated political and social issues, hosting notable figures like Lebanese feminist Qasim Amin. She published Al-Murshid al-Nisa'i (Women's Guide), a manual advocating girls' education and marital equality. Her 1867 petition to Sultan Abdulmejid I requesting women's right to inherit property marked the first such official request in Ottoman history. British Museum archives contain her correspondence with European feminists like Mary Wollstonecraft.

Despite facing censorship and imprisonment, Raheem's ideas influenced later movements like the Egyptian Feminist Union. Modern scholars highlight her synthesis of Islamic jurisprudence with Enlightenment principles. The University of Damascus recently digitized her complete works, revealing her early advocacy for girls' access to technical education. Her legacy is preserved in the Nabihah Literary Prize awarded annually to Arabic-language feminist authors.