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names of eighty-four professional gnostic women. 45
In Nafahat Al-Uns, Abu Abd Ar-Rahmaan Jami' stated names of forty principled gnostic women.46
Another book had been authored in the past years containing accounts and biographies of devout and ascetic women, in which a reference was made to a large number of women. 47
Some of the extant statements that history maintained in regard of these Gnostic women worth mentioning:
Rabi'ah Ash-Shamiyyah, wife of Ahmad Ibn Abi Al-Hawari, when preparing the table spread, said to her husband: "Eat it, as it could never be cooked but only through tasbih "praising God in hymns"." This may either mean that she was reciting Tasbih during cooking the food, or this food being product of Tasbih. 48
Rabi'ah Al-Adawiyyah says:
"Our seeking forgiveness needs another seeking of forgiveness." 49
She also said:
"Conceal your good deeds as you hide your evils and indecencies." 50
Further, once she addressed people saying: "O my soul "self" how much do you sleep, and till when you sleep. You are about to go into a sleep of which you would never get up but only with the scream of the Day of Resurrection." 51

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45 . ibid., p. 57 .

46 . Dhikr An-Niswah Al-Muta'abbidaat As-Sufiyyat, by Abu Abd Ar-Rahmaan As-Salami.

47 . Nafahat al-Uns, p. 615- 635 .

48 . 'Alaam Al-A'abidaat Az-Zahidaat, Mohammed Ahmed Darniqah.

49 . Zan Dar Ainah jalaal Wa Jamaal, pp. 236- 238 .

50 . ibid., p. 239 .

51 . ibid., p. 240 .