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Queens and Prophets

How Arabian Noblewomen and Holy Men Shaped Paganism, Christianity and Islam

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Queens and Prophets

By: Emran Iqbal El-Badawi
Narrated by: Lara Sawalha
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About this listen

Contrary to popular assumption, Arab women were instrumental in shaping world history. Between Rome's intervention in the Arabian Peninsula and the Arab conquests, noblewomen ruled independently, conducting trade and making war. Their power was often celebrated as queen, priestess and goddess. With time they delegated power to the most important holy men of their age, influencing Arabian paganism, Christianity and Islam forever.

Empress Zenobia and queen Mavia supported bishops Paul of Samosata and Moses of Sinai. Paul was declared a heretic by the Roman church. Moses began the process of mass Arab conversion. The teachings of these men survived under their queens, setting in motion seismic debates that would fracture the early churches and lay the groundwork for the rise of Islam. In Mecca, lady Khadijah used her wealth and political influence to employ a younger man then marry him against the wishes of dissenting noblemen. Her husband, whose religious and political career was influenced by her, was the prophet Muhammad.

Long overdue, Queens and Prophets is a landmark exploration of the legacy of female power in late antique Arabia.

©2022 Emran Iqbal El-Badawi (P)2022 W. F. Howes Ltd Christianity History Islam Middle East Women Royalty Middle Ages War Africa Marriage Iran

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Most relevant  
The credits of this book are still rolling, as it were, as I write this. I have enjoyed this book immensely, it has been informative without being heavy, well reasoned and opened up to me a part of the world I knew very little about. He writes with humility, and the humility carries over to having someone else read his book - a woman, moreover.

I loved it and I’m very glad I got it after listening to him on a podcast (The Ancients).

Outstanding redressing of history

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