When we think of Muslim women from the past, images of veils and restrictions often overshadow their narratives. Yet, the groundbreaking book Three Centuries of Travel Writing by Muslim Women disrupts this limited perspective by spotlighting remarkable women who defied societal expectations to explore the world.

At a recent event in New Delhi, Professor Siobhan Lambert-Hurley unveiled the journeys of these extraordinary women, revealing how their observations provided unique insights into religious practices, social customs, and political landscapes from the 17th to 20th centuries.

These travelers, often from privileged backgrounds like the royal families of Hyderabad and Bhopal, embarked on diverse adventures. Sultan Jahan Begum, ruler of Bhopal, combined her pilgrimage to Mecca with a European tour in the early 20th century, blending spiritual fulfillment with cultural exploration. Begum Inam Habibullah, on the other hand, traveled to Britain in the 1920s to visit her sons studying there, while Nyonya Aulias Selim from Indonesia journeyed to American medical facilities in the 1950s with her doctor husband.

These stories challenge stereotypes of Muslim women as confined or silenced, offering instead a narrative of agency, curiosity, and resilience. Through their travelogues, these women documented the world as they saw it, creating an enduring legacy that transcends boundaries and centuries.