al-Mursyid al-Amin lil-Banat wa al-Banin” by Sheikh Rifaah Rafi ‘al-Tahthawi

Rifaah (1801-1873 AD) was born in Egypt, six years studying religion in Al-Azhar al-Sharif Egypt. After finished his study, Rifaah was appointed a teacher at her alma mater for two years. By his teacher, Sheikh Hasan al-‘Atthar, was sent as a prayer imam and religious advisor to Egyptian military units.
Soon later, Muhammad Ali Basya, the Egyptian government, sent a number of Egyptian youth to Persia. Shaykh Hasan al-‘Aththar proposed that Rifaah be with them to Paris as a prayer imam and religious advisor. Finally Rifaah with entourage sent to Paris for five years. And back to Egypt.
The book “al-Mursyid al-Amin lil-Banat wa al-Banin” by Sheikh Rifaah Rafi ‘al-Tahthawi explains the importance of education for women, good housekeeping, women’s leadership, and independence (hurriyah). This book is a guide for scholars, teachers, staff, and government pro-policy stakeholders to the first female school pioneered by Rifaah.