Rabi'a al-Adawiyya

Rabi'a al-Adawiyya al-Qaysiyya al-Basriyya (95–185 AH) was one of the most famous early female mystics and ascetics in Islamic history. Born as a slave in Basra, she was eventually freed and became renowned for her intense worship, asceticism, and spiritual poetry. She is famous for her concept of divine love — loving God for His own sake, not for fear of Hell or hope of Paradise. Her sayings and poetry are widely quoted in Islamic spiritual literature. Note: Rabi'a is an important historical figure; her emphasis on sincere worship and love of God is uncontroversially pious. The attribution of specific theological positions on sainthood to her should be read carefully within historical context.