Al-hurra or al hurra () was an

Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walter ...

title historically often given to, or used to refer to, women who exercised power or had a position of power or high status. In a

harem Harem ( Persian: حرمسرا ''haramsarā'', ar, حَرِيمٌ ''ḥarīm'', "a sacred inviolable place; harem; female members of the family") refers to domestic spaces that are reserved for the women of the house in a Muslim family. A har ...

, the title al-hurra was often used to refer to a legal wife of aristocratic birth, to distinguish her status from that of the

concubine Concubinage is an interpersonal and sexual relationship between a man and a woman in which the couple does not want, or cannot enter into a full marriage. Concubinage and marriage are often regarded as similar but mutually exclusive. Concubi ...

bought at the slave market, who was referred to as ''

jarya Jarya, also called jariyah and jawaris, was a term for a certain type of slave girl in the medieval Islamic world. They were "slaves for pleasure" (muṭʿa, ladhdha) or “slave-girls for sexual intercourse” (jawārī al-waṭ), who had receive ...

'',Mernissi, Fatima; Mary Jo Lakeland (2003). The forgotten queens of Islam. Oxford University Press. . and used to describe a Muslim aristocratic woman who was "free" in the sense that she was not a slave; it is related to the style ''

Sayyida ''Sayyid'' (, ; ar, سيد ; ; meaning 'sir', 'Lord', 'Master'; Arabic plural: ; feminine: ; ) is a surname of people descending from the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husayn ibn Ali, sons of Muhamma ...

'' (Mistress or lady), the feminine word of ''

sayyid ''Sayyid'' (, ; ar, سيد ; ; meaning 'sir', 'Lord', 'Master'; Arabic plural: ; feminine: ; ) is a surname of people descending from the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husayn ibn Ali, sons of Muhamma ...

'' (Master or Lord). However, while the title Al-hurra was given to women as an alternative to the titles '' malika'' (Queen), '' Sultana'' (female sultan) and ''Sitt'', (Lady), there was no exact male equivalent to the title of al-hurra. The title Al-hurra was often granted to women who wielded political power, but did not necessarily mean they were sovereigns:

Alam al-Malika Alam al-Malika () (died 1130), was the chief adviser and ''de facto'' prime minister of the Najahid dynasty of Zubayd in Yemen in 1111–1123, and its ruler in 1123–1130. She was the slave singer, or ''jarya'', to King Mansur ibn Najah of Zubay ...

and

Sayyida al Hurra Sayyida al Hurra (), real name Lalla Aicha bint Ali ibn Rashid al-Alami () (1485 – 14 July 1561), was Hakimat Titwan (Governor of Tétouan) between 1515–1542 and a Moroccan privateer leader during the early 16th century. She became the wife ...

, for example, bore this title. Both had political offices; not as sovereigns, but as political adviser and governor respectively.

Noted title holders

Asma bint Shihab Asma Bint Shihab al-Sulayhiyya () (died 1087) was the queen and co-ruler of Yemen in co-regency with her cousin and spouse, Ali al-Sulayhi, and later her son Ahmad al-Mukkaram, and daughter-in-law, Arwa al-Sulayhi, from 1047 until 1087. Her full ...

Arwa al-Sulayhi ) , name = Arwā bint Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad ibn Jaʿfar ibn Mūsā Aṣ-Ṣulayḥī , other_names = ''As-Sayyidah Al-Ḥurrah'' () ''Al-Malikah Al-Ḥurrah'' ( ar, ٱلْمَلِكَة ٱلْحُرَّة or ...

Aixa Aisha al-Hurra ( ar, عائشة الحرة), generally known under her Spanish name Aixa (''fl.'' 1493), was the spouse of Muhammed XI and of Abu l-Hasan Ali, and the mother of Muhammad XII. Aixa was also known by the Muslims as Aisha al-Horra; ...

References

* Mernissi, Fatima; Mary Jo Lakeland (2003). The forgotten queens of Islam. Oxford University Press. . {{DEFAULTSORT:hurra Islamic honorifics Queens regnant Arabic words and phrases Heads of state Royal titles Noble titles Positions of authority Titles Titles of national or ethnic leadership