Women: "Knights" in All Fields ... Will Lexicographers Eventually Recognize Their Vital Role?

Ibn Sidah, described as a genius of his time and the most knowledgeable of all people of Andalusia in grammar, language, and poetry, refused to recognize the existence of female knights. Ibn Manzur quoted him in his Arabic dictionary, Lisan al-Arab, as saying, "We have not heard of female knights." Ibn Sidah made this statement even though he was familiar with historically unforgettable models of Arab female knights, such as Khawla bint al-Azwar, Asmaa bint Yazeed and her sister-in-law Umm Salamah. There is also Nusaybah bint Ka'ab who was praised by the Prophet, "Whenever I turned left or right, I saw her fighting for me".  And we cannot forget the only woman who has ever been praised by Arabs in the longest Arab biography in history, the Vigorous Princess. Its manuscripts, which are maintained in the British Museum Library and the Berlin Public Library, consist of more than 23,000 pages. This biography competes with those of the strongest of knights, including Antarah ibn Shaddad, AlZeer Salem, Zair Salem, and Abu Zayd al-Hilali. However, some Arab lexicographers still believe that knighthood should be restricted to men and only applied in battle. However, Arab culture sees knighthood as an ethical ecosystem that transcends genders and focuses on human beings and their values, regardless of their race, religion, and colour. Thus, if knighthood prides itself on male and female knights, it ought to also pride itself on the ecosystem of values on which it is based, such as courage, loyalty, dignity, etc. These values are attributed to both men and women. Ab? al-?ayyib Al-Mutanabbi was in the right when he said, “For the feminine gender is no shame for the sun, Nor is the masculine gender an honor for the crescent moon”. So if Arabs did not associate knighthood with a certain social class (Antarah), or a certain gender (Nusaybah bint Ka'ab), and the Arab collective mind did not mind attributing this noun to women and even preserved female knighthood through biographies (such as The Vigorous Princess), then why did Ibn Sidah who occupied a very prestigious status in the world of linguistics, said that he had never heard of a "female knight"? Some people may accuse him of discrimination towards women and some may argue that there are masculine Arabic nouns that cannot be feminized, which are linguistic traits that are devoid of any transcendental classification purpose, due to job characteristics that were conventionally reserved for males and not females. Some may argue using the old saying: عائشة كانت رجلة الرأي (Aisha had stronger opinions than men). However, all of this is said to shed light, as I intend, on our extreme need as specialists in the Arabic language and its sciences, who are engaged and interested in its development, to be less strict and re-examine and re-develop some of the old rules to keep up with modern times. No matter the language, it needs to coexist with its environment and cannot survive unless it evolves. I think that one of the reasons behind the survival of the Arabic language throughout these centuries and despite the extinction of many languages is its ability to grow and keep pace with each century. This important and vital role is entrusted to language specialists and Arabic lexicographers, which must let go of some of their strictness and reconsider anything that would enrich, promote, grow, and develop the language in order to keep up with modern times. The UAE has already assumed this role and has led, as usual, this initiative in the Arab world. It has presented the "Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language" to advance the Arabic language, arabization, and Arabic translation, and to find new words and terms that are compatible with this era. On the ground, as part of its calling to restore civilization, the UAE was able to create new expressions, such as "people of determination" for people with special needs, which has become the new designation used in all Arabic-speaking countries. The UAE is also reinforcing the meaning, significance, and value of the expression "female knights", through several initiatives. Female knights have become an integral part of the UAE police, and female cavalry divisions even boast about their achievements. The UAE has also launched many female horse races, such as the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy (FBMA) International Show Jumping Cup, the Fatima Bint Mubarak Academy Women's race, and the Arab Women Sports Tournament organized by the Sharjah Women's Sports Foundation. Every year, these races and others showcase tens of Emirati female knights. Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), had expressed how proud she felt, saying that "the leading position female knights have reached represents the connection with the past and the heritage, thanks to their determination to succeed and achieve their goals in order to leave an honorable mark and stand high on the winners' podiums of the various races hosted by the UAE. These women truly deserve this opportunity of taking part in women's races to be honored and supported for practicing this noble sport.” The term فارسة "female knight" which was adopted and launched by the UAE to become a prestigious characteristic in the Arab world can be applied in many fields and not just horse riding, as we can find indeed female knights in the fields of space, aviation, police, military, technology, and business. In every field, women have proven to the world and to linguists that they are no less capable than men. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, has praised the role of Emirati women by congratulating them on "what they have achieved and the trust they have gained. Women have been a key partner in our national achievements over the last 50 years and will remain as such through every ambitious step we take in the coming decades." The efforts of the UAE and achievements of Emirati female knights, which is an example of what women are capable of in every field, push us to reformulate the famous verse of Antarah ibn Shaddad: From "Go, ask the warriors, O daughter of Malec", to "Go, ask the warriors what Arab female knights have achieved." The most important question remains, When and how will Arab lexicographers rise to this level of female knighthood?".