IECRC (USA & Canada)

August 16, 2003 / Jamad-uth-Thani 1424

Volume 1, Issue 2 (Part 2)

At the inception of Islam, our Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) developed a community of men and women who became the legacy of our inheritors of Islam.  The religion could not have gained that kind of momentum and fervor without all of the active participants in the community.  However, we should ask ourselves why did Rasul Allah (peace be upon him) develop this community?  Why were men and women equally responsible and active in the glorious religion that became Islam?  The answer is simple.  Men and women were targets of persecution, how could they not respond to a leader who brought a religion of mercy and compassion?  So it would only be natural to include both genders in the promotion of Islam.  This could not be achieved without the active role of women.  In Islam, almost every woman contributed her time and energies.  However, the most important contributions were made by our dearly beloved Prophet’s (peace be upon him) wives, daughters, associates, and saints.

Today, women have regressed in their community and civic duties in the Muslim world.  The reason is because many are unaware of the important role a woman makes in the community.  In nascent Islam, it was the women who fought valiantly for their religion because they were zealous about Islam.  However, their fervor was not based on emotions alone but on their intellect and common wisdom.  For example Hazrat Khadija, the first wife of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) was not only his closest companion, she was an intelligent and wise woman whose decisions were timely and judicious.  When Islam was revealed to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), she was the first to embrace it.  Furthermore, the domestic life that she provided the Prophet (peace be upon him), was filled with love and devotion.  This allowed him to devote all his energies to his mission: Islam. In a quote from the Hadeeth the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) told Hazrat Aysha (radi allahoo anha) that it was Hazrat Khadija who stood by him in every bleak moment.  He said: “when everyone rejected me, she accepted me. When no one had faith, she embraced Islam and when people turned me into a liar, she proved to the world that I was a man of truth” (Saheeh Bukhari). 

 She is considered to be one of the four women who are gifted by Allah (subhana wa ta’alah) to have a special place in Heaven.  Her place in Islam is further established by the fact that when our Prophet (peace be upon him) would receive divine revelations, the angel Gabriel (salutations upon him) would say to the Prophet “Allah sends his Salam to Hazrat Khadija.”  What other testimony is more relevant than Allah’s (subhana wa ta’alah)?

All of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) wives had some special quality and strength that gave Islam its powerful and sublime qualities.  It is known that Hazrat Aysha (radi allahoo anha) is well known for her knowledge and wisdom.  In fact, great scholars of Islam would consult her on important issues.  She knew more sayings of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) than anyone else.  In addition, she was a humble and selfless woman.  She fasted continuously and when it was time to open her fast, she would first think of the indigent.  Similarly, Hazrat Sauda (radi allahoo anha) became the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) wife soon after she became a widow.  Incidentally, it was a time when the Prophet was mourning for Hazrat Khadija.  When he married Hazrat Sauda (radi allahoo anha) his domestic life was restored. Hazrat Aysha (radi allahoo anha) said of Hazrat Sauda that “her generosity and kind-heartedness made me so much in awe of her that I found myself wanting to be more like her.”  Hazrat Zainab (radi allahoo anha) also became the wife of the Prophet (peace be upon him) after her husband Abdullah bin Jesh (radi allahoo anhu)became a martyr.  She is well known for her humbleness and kindness.  She died within three months of her marriage to the Prophet (peace be upon him); however, she had a great affect over him.  Hazrat Umme Habiba (radi allahoo anha) married the Prophet (peace be upon him) soon after her husband who had become a victim of alcoholism died.  Her respect for the Prophet (peace be upon him) was symbolic of her actions, for she never allowed anyone to sit on his bed.  Once when her father, who was not a Muslim came to visit her, she did not allow him to sit on the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) bed.  Hazrat Umme Salma (radi allahoo anha) was a learned mother and had knowledge on Hadeeth and Fiqh. It is said that she could remember 78 to 80 different Ahadeeth.  She spent all her time on the scholarship of religion.  Hazrat Safia (radi allahoo anha) was born Jewish, but when she married the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), she embraced Islam.  In fact, her entire tribe was saved from bondage because of her marriage.  Hazrat Maimoona (radi allahoo anha) was married to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) for one year, but she died within that year.  However, during her marriage, the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) admired her for her good nature.

(To be continued  insha Allah …)

Khalida Kareemi

Ms. Kareemi is a Bay Area resident and she enjoys writing.