A Seat At The Islamic Table by Ayshat Micheal.

A Seat At The Islamic Table.
By Ayshat Micheal.

Please download the Instagram app and search up: theislamictable to view the finished project. Also follow along withe explanations below to understand what you are looking at. This project is inspired by Judy Chicago and her piece called the Dinner Party. My project consist of five important women that contributed to the spread of Islam - the religion a Muslim practices. I decide to do this because I believe when people talk about Islam they do not acknowledge these women as much as they acknowledge the men that contributed to the spread of Islam other that the Prophet Muhammad. At my seat at the Islamic table, I have it shaped in the moon and star symbol for Islam. The name of the women are Aisha Bint Abu Bakr, Fatimah Bint Mohammad, Khadijah Bint Khulaywid, Hajar, and Nusaybah Bint Ka'b Al Ansariyah.

Aisha Bint Abu Bakr: Aisha was one of the many wives of Prohet Muhammad (PBUH) but she was the most favored and loved. She had the title of Ummul-Mumeneen in English it means the Mother of the Believers and this was because of her pious ways. At the top of her table mat you will see that I wrote that in Arabic at the top and I wrote it in English on the rim of her plate. In the inner part of her plate, you will find that wrote multiple things in Arabic. The first one on top says Surah AnNur which is a chapter in the Qur'an that was revealed to clear her name when she was accused of adultery. Below that you will see "Aisha - RadiyaAllahu 'Anha" which means Aisha may Allah be pleased with her. This signifies her importance to the religion and not every women in Islam is recognized like this. The camel to the side represents the battle that she was involved in with Ali. Aisha was pious and loving but she was stubborn. This battle was caused by a political agreement that she had with Ali who was  a caliphate over the death of the second caliphate in Islam. She wanted the people that murdered Uthman to be prosecuted but Ali did not grow through it and they went to war. On her cup, the Arabic scripture reads "Muhammad Sallahu Alayhi WasSalam" which is the name of her only husband who was the messenger of Islam. Her attributes, accomplishments, and piousness is the reason why her name is very well known Muslim name.


Fatimah Bint Muhammad: Fatimah was one the many daughters of Khadijah and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) She was very close to her father and helped him get through his difficulties. She was a vibrant soul and this is why she was called "Al Zahra" meaning the shining one. I wrote this on her plate and added the sun on her spoon, fork, and cup because the sun is always shining. The word "Al Qur'an" written above her utensils because she enjoyed the recitation of the Qur'an.

Hajar: Hajar was the mother of Prophet Ismail and she was in known in the Christian religion as well. The Islmaic story is that she was in the hot desert and she needed water for her baby, Ismail. She was running back and forth between these hills named "Al Safa and Al Marwah" to find water. Doing this caused water to pour and the water is called Zam Zam water. On her table mat, you will see that I wrote the name of thehills in Arabic with two arrows in between them to indicate the running with number 7 in Arabic as well. You will also see two hills that depict the same story. When performing Hajj which is an Islamic spiritual journey that is performed everyday, this story is honored by walking bewteen the hills 7 times that are located in Saudi Arabia. On her cup, I wrote the name of her son in Arabic. This story is also depicted on her plate.

Nusaybah Bint Ka'b Al Ansariyah: Nusaybah was concerned of the equality of men and women, atht is why you see a Muslim man and women on her plate with the equal sign. When she asked the Prophet about why aren't women referred to in the Qur'an. Allah revealed the a verse (Chapter 33: verse 35) to clarify everything. This why you see the number 33:35 written in Arabic multiple times in Arabic and English on her utensils. On her plate it has the name of the chapter and the number of the verse in the background: Surah - means chapter in Arabic - Al Ahzaab and verse 35. On the stick of butter it says the first  4 words of the verse that was revealed when she asked about equality : Indeed Muslim men and Muslim Women.

Khadijah Bint Khualaywid: Khadijah was the first person that converted to Islam and I wrote that on her cup. She was Prophet Muhammad's first wife and they beared children together: Fatimah, Ummul Kulthum, Abdullah, Qaasim, Zaynab, and Ruqayyah. I wrote the name of her kids at the top and she had 3 other kids with 2 different men some died as an infant. On her plate says her name and the saying on the rim reads "May Allah be pleased with her" This is because she was one of the noble women in Islam. She was a successful business women, that is why you see the pound sign. Her pious behavior and her business ways are one to admire. Her attributes contributes to why so many women in Islam and sometimes out of Islam have her name. Mohammad was written in Arabic on her cup because she was his wife.