Juda bint Ashath bin Qays

The era in which Juda lived was marked by significant strife. Following the assassination of the third Caliph, Uthman ibn Affan, a rift formed within the Muslim community, culminating in the first Fitna, or civil war. Competing claims to leadership spiraled into violent confrontations, and the Battle of Siffin, among others, epitomized this chaos. In this turbulent milieu, allegiances often shifted, revealing deep societal fissures.

Juda’s Allegiances and Actions

Juda’s life and actions were decidedly influenced by this volatile political terrain. Initially, she reportedly allied with the faction opposed to Ali ibn Abi Talib, the fourth caliph and a significant figure in Shia Islam. Her husband, Ashath bin Qays, was a prominent supporter of Muawiya, the governor of Syria and a leading adversary of Ali. This union manifested her political stance, which inevitably placed her at odds with emerging Shia sensibilities, particularly as Ali’s leadership and moral authority began to crystallize within the community.