Sutaytah is the daughter of Judge Abu Abdullah Al-Hussein bin Ismail bin Muhammad Al-Dhabbi Al-Mahamali, was born in Baghdad at the beginning of the 4th century AH. Her father took great care in educating her in religious sciences and mathematics. She became well-versed in Islamic jurisprudence, mastered the science of inheritance, excelled in Arabic sciences, and distinguished herself in mathematics.
Al-Khatib Al-Baghdadi included her biography in “The History of Baghdad”, and Al-Dhahabi mentioned her in “Siyar A’lam al-Nubala”. Ibn Al-Jawzi praised her knowledge and virtues in “Al-Muntazam fi Tarikh al-Muluk wa-al Umam”.
Sutaytah left behind a collection of innovative solutions to complex mathematical problems, and her work was considered a logical extension of Al-Khwarizmi’s “Compendium on Calculation by Completion and Balancing” (Al-Mukhtasar fi Hisab Al-Jabr wal-Muqabala), which addressed first- and second-degree equations and established methods for calculating areas and volumes of geometric shapes, as well as solutions for inheritance and wills.
She was among the experts whom the judiciary in Baghdad relied upon to solve intricate issues related to inheritance, area calculations, and other matters requiring advanced computations—akin to modern-day expert witnesses.
She is believed to have died in 337 AH (987 CE).