Rabiha (1919–2020)
Rabiha. Place unknown, late 1950s–early 1960s. Source: Rabiha Aref Daoud Dajani family photo collection.
The family’s enfant terrible, Rabiha. A rebel and a feminist from a young age, Rabiha refuses to adhere to societal traditions prevalent at the time and strictly observed by her grandmother Um Zihni who lives with them. Rabiha studies at Schmidt School in Jerusalem and champions women’s right to education. For example, at the age of 15, Rabiha writes a letter to Majallat Rawdat al-Maʿarif (a journal published by the teachers and students of the all-boys Rawdat al-Maʿarif School) titled ‘the girl’s goal’, in which she emphasises the importance of education and literacy for a woman to reach her goals in life: to have a family, to truly be part of society and to serve her country.
In 1937 Rabiha marries the eccentric Lebanese musician Yahya Lababidi. Despite the age difference between the two, Yahya and Rabiha are a match made in heaven: both are bon vivants, lovers of music and poetry and extremely sociable and non-traditional in their thinking and way of living. The happily married couple have two children: Samir and Sawsan. But it is destined for Rabiha to become an untimely widow when Yahya passes away in the summer of 1943, around the same time our photo of 1943 is taken, hence Rabiha’s absence from that occasion.
Rabiha moves back in with her parents in Jerusalem. Determined to regain her independence, Rabiha completes her education and starts a job as a social worker and then as a broadcaster at Jerusalem Calling followed by the Near East Broadcasting Station until the end of the British Mandate in Palestine.
Through work Rabiha meets educator, reformer and historian Darwish Miqdadi (he himself a widower with four children, one of whom is the philanthropist Leila Darwish Miqdadi Qattan). They marry in 1947 and have two children together, Salwa and Salem.
Rabiha's children and stepchildren.
- Sawsan Yahya Lababidi and her daughter Ghada Nabil Tawfiq Dajani
After 1948 the family lives briefly in Amman and Damascus before finally settling in Kuwait in 1949. They both hold high positions in the field of education in Kuwait and contribute to reforming the cultural and educational sectors there.
My aunt Rabiha: her education, her marriage to Darwish Miqdadi and their achievements and contributions to education in the Middle East.
- Nabil Mohammed Murad
Miqdadi passes away in 1961, prompting Rabiha’s mother and sister Fatmeh to move to Kuwait and live with Rabiha and her children. Rabiha continues to live and work in Kuwait until the Gulf War in 1990, when she permanently moves to Amman and continues to lead an exceptional life until she passes away at the age of 101.
Rabiha led a fulfilling life and was her own woman despite her misfortunes. She recounted her extraordinary experiences and encounters in her autobiographical book (رحلتي مع الزمن) ‘My Life Story’, a collection of personal stories, anecdotes, historical facts, biographies of the many politicians, poets and educators she knew.
Rabiha's birthday: my maternal grandmother claimed to have been born on 29 February and joked about getting older every four years, a joke remembered by many family members.
- Ghada Nabil Tawfiq Dajani and Moataz Husam Yusuf Wafa Dajani
And a final word about Rabiha the legend:
Rabiha was a legend and a phenomenon.
- Moataz Husam Yusuf Wafa Dajani
Majallat Rawdat al-Maʿarif, 7(1), 19 December 1934, p.40. Source: National Library of Israel.
Rabiha with her daughter Salwa on the rooftop of their home wearing traditional Kuwaiti attire. Kuwait City, 8 December 1950. Source: Palestinian Museum Digital Archive.
Rabiha with her sister Fadileh and daughter Salwa on the rooftop of Rabiha’s home wearing traditional Kuwaiti attire which Rabiha refers to as ‘saree’. Rabiha sent this photograph to her uncle Ahmad and his wife Balqis in Cairo. Kuwait City, 12 December 1950. Source: Adel Ahmad Daoud Dajani family photo collection.
During one of Rabiha’s visits to Jerusalem (by then, Rabiha had settled in Kuwait),
an intimate get-together of three good friends, from left to right: Elisabeth ‘Lizzie’ Naser, Rabiha and Mariam Zaarur. Rabiha made a copy of this photo which she sent to Lizzie, with a sweet message commenting on how beautiful and glorious Lizzie looked in this photo. Jerusalem, 1965. Source: Palestinian Museum Digital Archive.
An official portrait of Rabiha wearing a sash of the Kuwaiti flag. Kuwait was Rabiha’s home for decades. She was awarded the Kuwaiti nationality in recognition of her significant contributions to the educational sector in Kuwait. Place and date unknown. Source: Palestinian Museum Digital Archive.
Rabiha with flowers adorning her head, her signature style. Place and date unknown. Source: Nabil Mohammed Murad.
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