Um Kulthum Abdulrahman

19th-century Arab poetess who pioneered women's education in the Arabian Peninsula

Um Kulthum Abdulrahman (1845-1912) broke societal barriers as a poet, educator, and women's rights advocate in what is now Saudi Arabia. Born in Al-Ahsa region, she secretly mastered Arabic literature and Islamic jurisprudence, later establishing the first girls' school in 1887. Her poetry collection 'Nur al-Huda' (Light of Guidance) challenged gender norms through metaphors celebrating female intellect. She developed a unique teaching method using poetry to teach Quranic principles, training over 300 female teachers. Her advocacy led to the first government-sponsored women's school in 1898. Modern scholars like Dr. Fatima Al-Mazroui (Arabia Research) credit her with laying foundations for contemporary Saudi women's education. Her writings are preserved in the King Abdulaziz Library (KUA Library) archives.