Qasmuna

Qasmuna was a Jewish poet from the Iberian Peninsula, active during the 11th to 12th centuries. Her poetry was written in Arabic, a notable aspect of her literary career. As a female poet, she holds a unique position in the literary history of al-Andalus, a region in medieval Spain.

Qasmuna's significance extends beyond her regional context, as she is one of the few known female Jewish poets of the Middle Ages. Her work, along with that of other notable female poets such as Sarah of Yemen and the wife of Dunash ben Labrat, contributes to a broader understanding of women's participation in medieval Jewish literature. Despite being the only attested female Arabic-language Jewish poet from al-Andalus, Qasmuna's poetry has left a lasting mark on the literary landscape of her time.