Florence of Arabia

Florence of Arabia

By Shaykh Hamza Yusuf

In 1849, a young English lady journeyed with family friends from her native England to Egypt. Twenty-eight-years-old at the time, she had not yet married, and by Victorian standards she was proving to be of an �intractable nature.� In taking such a journey abroad, she hoped it would help her decide what to do with her life. It turned out that the voyage did, in fact, help her commit to her mission, to which she had felt a strong calling but had refrained from embracing wholeheartedly up until then. Her name was Florence Nightingale.

She went on to found modern nursing and to effect permanent changes in health care, hospital design, statistics, military organization, and global politics. She inspired a Swiss humanitarian to establish the Red Cross, which is currently the single most important relief organization in the world and whose highest achievement award is named after her. She received medals and awards from several heads of state, including the Ottoman sultan, Abdal Majid, for her selfless service to Turkish soldiers, and the British regents, Victoria and Albert, for her similar service to British soldiers. At the end of her life, she was acknowledged as one of the most influential women who had ever lived.

Many people recognize the name. Few, however, know how truly distinguished she was. At a time when her inspiring story should be a model for our young, recent attempts have been made to diminish her work by focusing on the flaws and frailties of this seemingly impeccable woman. However, if Florence Nightingale were alive today, she would no doubt not bother flattering such busybodies with a response. Instead, she would simply go on about her work: serving the helpless and needy. Such attacks seem to be the perennial price the great must pay, who overlook the faults of those who attack them even as those who attack them feel the need to point out their faults....

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