About Layla bint Tarif
Layla bint Tarif was a poet and writer.
Laylā bint Ṭarīf (Arabic: لَيلْى بنت طريف, d. 815 CE) was a female warrior and poet and one of the Khawarij, a group known for its members' violent opposition to the established Caliphate, believing that leadership of the Muslim community was not limited to male Arabs of the Quraysh tribe. On the basis of women fighting alongside Muhammad, the Khawarij have viewed combat as a requirement for women, and Laylā bint Ṭarīf is a prominent example of this custom. Laylā was the sister of the Kharijite leader al-Walid ibn Tarif al-Shaybani (d. 795). After al-Walīd's death, Laylā took on the leadership of his army and fought two battles before her clan forced her to step down.
Sample As translated by Abdullah al-Udhari, Laylā's elegy for her fallen brother runs:
Her work shows some influence from the earlier woman poet al-Khansa.
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Important facts
Frequently asked questions
Who was Layla bint Tarif?
Arabic poet and warrior; one of the Khawarij
When did Layla bint Tarif die?
Layla bint Tarif died in 815.
What was Layla bint Tarif's occupation?
Layla bint Tarif was a poet and writer.
What nationality was Layla bint Tarif?
Layla bint Tarif's recorded nationality: Upper Mesopotamia.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Layla bint Tarif. https://biography.guide/layla-bint-tarif/
MLA: "Layla bint Tarif." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/layla-bint-tarif/.
Chicago: "Layla bint Tarif." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/layla-bint-tarif/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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