Menstruation & other impurities

Menstruation & other impurities

 

 

 

A girl/woman’s menstrual flow is known as haiz.
The blood from giving birth to a child is known as nifas.
Other discharge of blood is known as istihaza.

Haiz– also known as menstruation or period

When a girl becomes a teenager, blood will release itself from her private area on a fixed monthly basis. This is known as menstruation, which is important as it allows a woman to become pregnant.

Menstruation usually happens from the age of 9 to 16. It continues until a woman reaches the age of approx. 54 years old.

 

It usually lasts between 3-6 days, although the pattern will sometimes change. However, it should not last for more than 10 days; after 10 days, if blood is still being released, it is known as istihaza.

 

It is advised that you keep note of the dates on which you menstruate, so that you have a rough idea of when to expect it next.

 

Before a girl’s monthly cycle, she may feel tired, unfocussed, weepy, depressed, angry and/or emotional. She may also feel dizzy. This is known as PMS, which means pre-menstrual syndrome.

Periods are not an illness, they are completely normal and it is also normal to experience PMS.

 

Many girls also experience stomach cramps, feeling bloated, headaches etc., but these are not reasons for concern. The best thing to do is relax, as this will make you feel much better.
Some well-known simple remedies include curling up with a hot water bottle, taking a painkiller or even eating a banana as this helps your stomach to feel more comfortable.

 

 

Wear pads as these will help absorb the blood, and to avoid staining your clothes it is advisable to wear dark colours during this time of the month. You can also wear tampons.

 

Change pads/tampons whenever you feel it is full or you feel uncomfortable. Dispose of pads immediately.

 

Please note that the white discharge is not menstruation, although it is completely normal.

 

 

Blood before the age of 9 years, or blood, which has only been discharging for less than 72 hours, is istihaza.

 

Also, the first 10 days of blood discharge is known as menstruation, but if the blood continues after that, it is istihaza.

A girl’s period can get missed due to severe weight loss, stress, travelling and exercise.

Nifas – blood discharged due to childbirth

 

The maximum duration for Nifas is 40 days & nights; more than 40 days is counted as istihaza.

Even if the blood stops and starts after a few days, it is still known as nifas.

 

Istihaza– blood discharged due to other causes

 

Istihaza may be discharged due illness, but it is not the same as Haiz or Nifas.

 

One experiencing Istihaza must pray Qaza for any Salah or fasts missed.

 

 

RULES for Haiz & Nifas

 

It is haram to read Salah, or to read/touch the Qur’an Sharif during Haiz or Nifas. It is also Makrooh to read Dua Qunoot.

Any other dua or Durood Sharif is allowed.

 

Qaza for Salah is not needed, however one must make up for any fasts missed during this time.

 

To keep in the habit of doing Salah, it is advisable to do Wudhu at the time of Salah and read Durood Sharif.

 

If a woman teaches children to read the Qur’an Sharif, she must hesitate between each word when reading out of the Holy book.

 

If menstruation (or Haiz) begins before Maghrib, her fast becomes nullified and she must make Qaza for it when she is able to do so.

 

A woman is allowed to take pills to stop menstruation during Ramadan, if it is safe for her to do so.

 

Women are also allowed to cook, clean, and do all other day-to-day duties while on Haiz or Nifas. To object to this is mere superstition & nonsense, which must be ignored.

As for stains from impurities, if it is washed off with one rinse, it is Mustahab to wash it 3 times. If need be, it should be washed more than thrice to remove the stain completely.

 

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The Rules of Beautification in Islam

Jewellery
Jewellery of all metals and stones are permissible for women. Also note that jewellery should be of the quiet or silent type, as the jingle attracts unwanted attention.

NB. Gold is permissible for sisters only. Males are not allowed to wear gold in Islam, as it is Haram for them.

Hazrat Ali narrates, "I saw the Messenger of Allah holding a piece of gold in his left hand and a silk cloth in his right hand. Then he said, 'These two are forbidden for the males of my Ummah.'" [Abu Dawud]

Haircuts
Haircuts are permissible for women as it is important to keep clean and look presentable. However, haircuts & hairdos should not imitate that of a man, and hair must hang below the shoulders.

Plucking eyebrows
It is completely Haram to pluck or shape the eyebrows, or to shave them and paint/pencil in new ones.

The Prophet said, “Allah has cursed those women who modify their eyebrows or ask others to do it for them.” [Bukhari, Muslim]

Some Muhadditheen consider eyebrow plucking as changing the creation of Allah. However, they have permitted the removal of facial hair for women (if a beard or a moustache develops), to avoid resembling men.

It would also be permissible for a woman to remove hair from above the nose (if the eyebrows have become linked) as this is considered abnormal. Note, when removing these hairs, one should be extremely careful as the Hadith on eyebrow plucking is very strict – so make sure you do not remove more than necessary.

Hairpieces/wigs
It is Haraam to use hair extensions or fake hair.

An Ansari woman gave her daughter in marriage and the hair of the latter started falling out. The Ansari woman came to the Prophet and mentioned that to him and said, "My daughter's husband suggested that I should let her wear false hair." The Prophet said, "No, (don't do that) for Allah sends His curses upon such ladies who lengthen their hair artificially." [Bukhari]

Allah’s Messenger said, “Allah has cursed the woman who adds some false hair and the woman who asks for it.” [Sahih Muslim]

Spacing Teeth & Having Tattoos
These are not permissible in Islam, as they disfigure and distort the original creation of Allah. Those who have tattoos should get them surgically removed.

The great companion, Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Masud said, "Allah has cursed those women who practise tattooing and those women who have themselves tattooed, and those women who get their hair removed from their eyebrows and faces (except the beard and the mustache), and those who make artificial spaces between their teeth for beauty, whereby they change Allah's creation."
A woman started to argue with him, saying: "What is all this?'' He replied: "Why should I not curse those whom the Messenger of Allah cursed and who are cursed in Allah's Book? Allah, the Exalted, has said in His Book: "And whatsoever the Messenger gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it).'' (59:7) [Bukhari, Muslim]

Hazrat Ibn Umar said, "The Messenger of Allah cursed the maker and wearer of a wig and the tattooer and the one who is tattooed." [Bukhari, Muslim]

Make-Up & Cosmetics
These are permissible for women, so long as it is not worn with the intention to show off, impress or attract others or other wrongful intentions.

A woman should keep herself tidy, presentable and be graceful at all times. She should also take care of her natural beauty too, so make sure you avoid things which can harm your health e.g. direct sunlight and rays, harmful substances etc.

Perfume
In Islam, women are protected in various ways – in the case of fragrant perfume, she can wear it at home but not in public. Otherwise, a woman’s perfume should be colourful with a hidden smell. This is to prevent lustful and unwanted attention from strange men.

Allah's Messenger said, "The perfume for men is when the fragrance is apparent but the colour is hidden, and the perfume for women is when the colour is apparent but the fragrance is hidden." [Mishkat, Hadith No. 4443]

Allah's Messenger said, "Every eye is lustful and when a woman applies perfume and then goes about in an assembly, she is like such-and-such", i.e. an adulteress. [Mishkat, Hadith No. 1065]

The Prophet said, "If a woman uses perfume and passes the people so that they may get its fragrance, she is so-and-so," meaning severe remarks. [Abu Dawud, Hadith No. 4161]

Henna/Mehndi
Henna is permissible to use on the hands, and on the hair as a natural dye. It is actually a Sunnah to use on the hair and was also used for medicinal purposes during the Prophet’s time.
However, please beware of Henna solutions which are mixed with haram substances – it is better to use the pure kind.

The wife of Hazrat Bashir Bin Khasasia narrates, “I saw the Prophet coming out of the house. He was arriving after taking a bath, therefore he was shaking his hair. The colour of Henna was visible on his head.” [Tirmidhi]

“Four things are among the ways of the Messengers: the tooth-stick, perfume, Henna, and marriage.” [Tirmidhi]

Hazrat Uthman b. Abdullah b. Mawhab narrates, “We went to Umme Salma, and she brought out for us some of the hair of the Messenger of Allah, and lo, it was dyed with henna and indigo.” [Bukhari]
Hazrat Umme Salma narrates, “In the life of Prophet, no injury or thorn-piercing was treated on which Henna was not applied.” [Tirmidhi, Ahmed]

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The Hijab: Protection of Purity

The Hijab: Protection of Purity

 

The Beloved Messenger of Allah said, "Imaan (faith) consists of more than sixty branches. And haya (modesty) is a part of faith."[Bukhari]

 

Woman, as taught by Islam since the light of Prophethood, is a precious and most valuable treasure of this world. She is to be protected, honoured and valued. Like a precious stone, her beauty should be respected, hidden in security and safety so as not to be abused by unworthy eyes.

 

We live in times where a woman’s beauty is paraded and flaunted without limits throughout the media, as a worthless object of lust and mindless desire. Her body, which was created as a pure symbol of grace, is displayed in shameless ways to corrupt minds and distort the meaning of ‘beauty’. Is it really any wonder that society has become so unashamed in its ways?

 

Ultimately, Hijab is empowerment for the Muslim woman. It is her right to preserve her modesty, to guard herself from the corruption of society. The veil or Hijab is that distinctive symbol which identifies her as a woman of God; humble, modest. It places her on the pedestal she is worthy of: that no male other than her close relatives and her husband, has the right to behold her beauty.

 

It is reported that Sayyida Fatima, the honourable daughter of the Beloved Messenger, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, said, “A woman’s best adornment is her modesty.”

 

The Verse of the Veil – al-Qur’an

 

To emphasise the importance of the Hijab, it should be known that Almighty Allah revealed an entire elaborative verse in the Qur’an regarding this concept:

 

“And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; and that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their head veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, or their fathers or their husbands' fathers, or their sons or their husbands' sons, or their brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical desire, or small children who have no sense of sex; and that they should not stamp their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O believers! Turn all together towards Allah, that you may attain bliss.” [Qur’an 24:31]

 

• Sayyida Aisha stated, “May Allah have mercy on the early emigrant women (Muhajirun). When the verse ‘That they should draw their head veils over their bosoms’ [24:31] was revealed, they tore their thick outer garments and made veils from them. And when the verse ‘That they should cast their outer garments over themselves’ [33:59] was revealed, the women of the Muhajirun came out as if they had crows over their heads by wearing outer garments.” [Abu Dawud]

 

The above report is an indication of the truly pious and God-fearing nature of the women Companions of the Prophet, who immediately obeyed Almighty Allah’s orders to observe the Hijab and fulfil their duties of modesty.

 

• Sayyidina Umar bin al-Khattab says, Allah agreed with him on three matters (i.e. sent Divine Revelation or Wahi on three matters, as he had hoped). One of these matters was in regards to the veil. He reports, “I said, ‘O Allah's Messenger! I wish you ordered your wives to cover themselves from the men because good and bad ones talk to them.’ So the Verse of the Veil (of women) was revealed.” [Bukhari: Vol 1, Book 8, Hadith no. 395]

 

Hijab and its Virtues

 

The Beloved Messenger of Allah said, “A woman should be concealed, for when she goes out, the devil looks at her.” [Tirmidhi, Hadith no. 3109]

 

• PROTECTS HER HONOUR

Islam teaches the Hijab as a means of protection so that the Muhajiba (one who observes the Hijab) is known as a woman of honour, and is therefore protected from being harassed by men of evil and unrestrained desires:

“O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the believing women to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known [as free respectable women] and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.” [Qur’an 33:59]

 

• PRESERVES PURITY OF BOTH PARTIES

Almighty Allah, glory be to Him, teaches us that the hearts are protected if the Hijab is observed in the following verse: “And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts.” [Qur’an 33:53]

 

• MODEST FORM OF ADORNMENT

Allah has blessed mankind with clothing as a way to cover ourselves, and also to beautify our appearances in an elegant manner; indeed the Beloved Messenger of Allah said, “Allah is beautiful and loves beauty.” [Muslim]

Allah says in the Qur’an, “O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness (libas al-taqwa) - that is best. That is from the signs of Allah that perhaps they will remember.” [Qur’an 7:26]

Here, the term libas al-taqwa refers to piety and virtue, which Hijab is an integral part of.

 

Requirements of the Hijab

 

• Sayyida Aisha reported that Lady Asma, the daughter of Sayyidina Abu Bakr Siddique, went to the Messenger of Allah wearing thin clothing. He said to her, “O Asma! When a girl reaches the menstrual age, it is not proper that anything should remain exposed except this and this. (He pointed to the face and hands.)” [Abu Dawud]

 

• In another Hadith, the Beloved Messenger states, “When a woman reaches puberty, no part of her body should remain uncovered, except her face and the hand up to the wrist joint." [Abu Dawud]

 

From the above Hadiths, it is clear that the entire body of a Muslimahshould be covered, except for the face and hands. The wearing of a Niqab, or face veil, is optional and a personal preference.

 

• Outlining the requirements of the Hijab, and clarifying its necessity upon every believing woman, Almighty Allah mentions in the Qur’an: “[The believing women] should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their head veils over their bosoms…” [Qur’an 24:31]

 

Regarding the term, “except what must ordinarily appear thereof”, Tafsir Jalalayn (written by Imam Jalaluddin Suyuti and Imam Jalaluddin Mahalli) interprets this as the face and hands, as stated in the above Hadiths. Other scholars interpret this as only the two eyes, or are of the opinion that only that which is impossible to cover may be exposed. And Allah knows best.

 

Hijab: A Summary of Do’s and Don’ts

 

Do:

1. Ensure your chest area is covered.

(“Draw their head veils over their bosoms…” [Qur'an 24:31])

2. Ensure all your hair is covered.

(“Should not display their beauty and ornaments...” [Qur'an 24:31])

3. Dress smartly, within the bounds of Sharia or Islamic Law.

(“Let the mark of Allah's favour and honour upon you be seen.” [Hadith: Abu Dawud])

4. Avoid extravagance and seek moderation.

(“Eat, drink, wear clothes and give alms without extravagance and without conceit.” [Hadith: Bukhari]”)

 

Don’t:

1. Wear clothes which show the shape of your body either through tight fit or transparency.

(“…Women who, although clothed, are yet naked seducing and being seduced, their hair style like the tilted humps of camels. These will not enter the paradise nor will its fragrance reach them although its fragrance reaches a very great distance.” [Hadith: Muslim] )

2. Dress with the intention to impress others, and in a manner which leads you to become conceited.

(“Eat, drink, wear clothes and give alms without extravagance and without conceit.” [Hadith: Bukhari])

3. Dress in such a manner which resembles a man.

(“Allah has cursed the women who imitate the men and the men who imitate the women.” [Hadith: Tirmidhi])

4. Dress in such a manner which resembles the unbelievers.

(“Indeed, these are the clothes of Kuffar (unbelievers), so do not wear them.” [Hadith: Muslim])

 

Lowering the Gaze

 

“…Not display their beauty except to their husbands, or their fathers or their husbands' fathers, or their sons or their husbands' sons, or their brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical desire, or small children who have no sense of sex; and that they should not stamp their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O believers! Turn all together towards Allah, that you may attain bliss.” [Qur’an 24:31]

 

The Muslimah should not display her beauty i.e. be seen without Hijab, by those other than whom the Qur’an mentions in the above verse. In short, she cannot display her beauty to those she is able to marry also known as ghair mahram males.

 

The Holy Qur’an also teaches both genders to lower their gaze, meaning to protect their eyes from staring at each other. It is known that a great percentage of human communication is visual; therefore from a simple glance, Shaytan creates an opportunity to put lustful thoughts into the minds of men and women.

 

“And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty…” [Qur’an 24:31]

 

And, “Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: And Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.” [Qur’an 24:30]

 

Hijab and the Male

 

When discussing Hijab, the question often arises; why is emphasis for covering up placed upon the women instead of the men?

 

Firstly, it should be noted that men definitely have a degree of Hijab to observe. In addition to modest clothing and following the ways of the noble Sunnah, men must also lower their gaze and protect themselves from their desires in regards to women.

This is commanded upon them in the Qur’anic verse: “Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them. And Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.” [Qur’an 24:30]

 

This is further explained in several Hadith, which tells us that the first glance is allowed however the second glance is not. This means that a man may look once but he should then turn away:

 

• The Beloved Messenger of Allah said to his cousin Sayyidina Ali,“O Ali, do not follow a glance with another, for you will be forgiven for the first, but not for the second.” [Tirmidhi, Hadith no. 2701]

 

• Sayyidina Jareer ibn Abdullah said, “I asked the Messenger of Allah about an accidental glance at a woman. He commanded me to turn my gaze away.” [Tirmidhi]

 

Imam Nawawi states in his commentary of Sahih Muslim, that:

“What is meant by an accidental glance is if one's gaze falls upon a non-mahram woman accidentally; there is no sin in that initially, but he must look away immediately. If he looks away immediately, there is no sin on him, but if he persists in looking, then he has sinned, because of this Hadith, for the Prophet commanded him to look away. And Allah says (interpreting the verse): “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts)…” [Qur’an 24:30]

Men must lower their gaze and avoid looking at women at all times, except for sound and legitimate purposes, namely testimony, medical treatment, proposing marriage, buying a slave girl, buying and selling, etc. In these cases it is permitted to look only as much as is necessary and no more. And Allah knows best.” [Sharh Sahih Muslim, 14/139]

 

One of the main reasons for why the Hijab is so focused on women is because woman is a man’s weakness. This is an innate trait which has been embedded into his nature. Therefore, the woman is asked to observe the Hijab not just for her own protection and modesty, but also to protect the man from his own weakness and lower self (nafs). Indeed, the Qur’an states, “For man was created weak.” [Qur’an 4:28]

Regarding this verse, Tafsir ibn Kathir reports Imam Waki’s comment: “Concerning women; man's mind leaves when women are involved.” And Tafsir Jalalayn interprets this verse thus: “For man was created weak, unable to abstain from women and passions.”

 

Therefore, the Hijab is a protection for the purity of both genders and is ruled according to the nature of each. Since woman is made naturally soft-hearted, modest and humble, she is asked to cover up and protect herself; and since man is created weak, he is taught to exercise self-restraint. If both genders fulfil their individual duties, their faith is protected and their purity is preserved.

 

And Allah says in the Qur’an:

“If any one does a righteous deed, it is for the benefit of his own soul; if he does evil, it works against his own soul. In the end will you all be brought back to your Lord.” [Qur’an 45:15]

 

Qur’an & Hadith regarding Haya (or Modesty)

 

• “And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty...” [Qur’an 24:31]

 

• Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: And Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.” [Qur’an 24:30]

 

• The Beloved Messenger of Allah said, "Imaan (faith) consists of more than sixty branches. And haya (modesty) is a part of faith."[Bukhari]

 

• The Beloved Messenger of Allah said, “Indeed haya and imaan are Companions. When one of them is lifted, the other leaves as well.” [Baihaqi]

 

• The Beloved Messenger of Allah said, “When lewdness is a part of anything, it becomes defective; and when haya is a part of anything it becomes beautiful.” [Tirmidhi]

 

• The Beloved Messenger of Allah said, “Haya does not bring anything except good.” [Bukhari]

 

• The Beloved Messenger of Allah said, “Every Deen (religion) has an innate character. The character of Islam is modesty (haya)." [Abu Dawud]

 

• The Beloved Messenger of Allah said, “Surely Allah (is One who) has haya and is the Protector. He loves haya and people who cover each others faults.” [Bukhari]

 

• The Beloved Messenger of Allah said, “Haya comes from faith; faith leads to Paradise.” [Bukhari]

 

• The Beloved Messenger of Allah said, “Haya and trustworthiness will be the first to go from this world; therefore keep asking Allah for them.” [Baihaqi]

 

 

May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon our Beloved Prophet Mustafa, upon his Honorable Family and his Noble Companions.

 

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Hazrat Rabia Basri RadhiAllah Anha

                    Hazrat Rabia Basri

"Someone asked where God was before
earth, skies, and Divine Throne existed.
We said that the question was invalid from
 the outset because God is, by definition,
that which has no place."

Hazrat Rumi

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY:
Birth Name:Hazrat Rabia al-Adawiyya al-Qaysiyya
Born in: between 95 and 99 Hijri. In Basra, Iraq.

In depth:

She was born between 95 and 99 Hijri in Basra, Iraq. Much of her early life is narrated by Farid al-Din Attar. Many spiritual stories are associated with her and it is sometimes difficult to separate reality from legend. These traditions come from Farid al-Din Attar, a later Sufi saint and poet, who used earlier sources. Hazrat Rabia herself did not leave any written works.

She was the fourth daughter of her family and was therefore named Rabia, meaning "fourth". She was born free in a poor but respected family.

According to Farid al-Din Attar, Hazrat Rabia's parents were so poor that there was no oil in their house to light a lamp, nor a cloth even to wrap her with.
Her mother asked her husband to borrow some oil from a neighbour, but he had resolved in his life never to ask for anything from anyone except the Creator. However, to satisfy his wife, he went to the neighbour's house, knocked on the door and came away before anyone opened it. On his return, he told his wife that the door was not opened. Grief-stricken, he fell asleep. In a dream, he saw Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, telling him, "Do not grieve, this girl born to you is exceptionally fortunate and holy. By her intercession 70,000 people of my Ummah will be forgiven. Go to the governor of Basra and convey to him this message written on a page:

"Every night you recite 100 Durood on me and on Friday night 400 times. Last Friday night you forgot to recite the Durood. As a compensation for this omission, give this person 400 dinars."

Hazrat Rabia's father woke up crying in joy. He wrote out the message and went to meet the governor. He handed the letter to a guard. When the governor read the letter, he was moved by the fact that Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had remembered him. He ordered 10,000 dirhams to be given to the poor as a token of gratitude. He went out to meet Hazrat Rabia's father. After presenting him with the 400 dinars, he said: "In future whatever your needs are, come to me without any hesitation."

After the death of her father, a famine overtook Basra and Hazrat Rabia parted from her sisters. Legend has it that she was accompanying a caravan, which fell into the hands of robbers. The chief of the robbers took Hazrat Rabia captive, and sold her in the market as a slave. The new master of Hazrat Rabia used to make her work hard with household chores.

She would pass the whole night in prayer, after she had finished her household jobs. She spent many of her days observing fast.

Once the master of the house got up in the middle of the night, and was attracted by the sorrowful voice in which Hazrat Rabia was praying to her Lord. When he looked, he saw a great light surrounding her as she entreated her Lord in these terms:

"Lord! You know well that my keen desire is to carry out Your commandments and to serve Thee with all my heart, O light of my eyes. If I were free I would pass the whole day and night in prayers. But what should I do when you have made me a slave of a human being?"

At once the master felt that it was sacrilegious to keep such a saint in his service. He decided to serve her instead. In the morning, he called her and told her his decision; he would serve her and she should dwell there as the mistress of the house. If she insisted on leaving the house, he was willing to free her from bondage.

She told him that she was willing to leave the house to carry on her worship in solitude. This the master granted and she left the house.

Throughout her life, her Love of God, poverty and self-denial did not waver. They were her constant companions. She did not possess much other than a broken jug, a rush mat and a brick, which she used as a pillow. She spent all night in prayer and contemplation, chiding herself if she slept because it took her away from her active Love of God.

As her fame grew, she had many disciples. She also had discussions with many of the renowned religious people of her time. Though she had many offers of marriage, and (tradition has it) one even from the Amir of Basra, she refused them as she had no time in her life for anything other than God.

More interesting than her absolute asceticism, however, is the actual concept of Divine Love that Hazrat Rabia introduced. She was the first to introduce the idea that God should be loved for God's own sake, not out of fear -- as earlier Sufis had done.

She taught that repentance was a gift from God because no one could repent unless God had already accepted him and given him this gift of repentance. She taught that sinners must fear the punishment they deserved for their sins, but she also offered such sinners far more hope of Paradise than most other ascetics did. For herself, she held to a higher ideal, worshipping God neither from fear of Hell nor from hope of Paradise, for she saw such self-interest as unworthy of God's servants; emotions like fear and hope were like veils - i.e. hindrances to the vision of God Himself.

She prayed, "O Allah! If I worship You for fear of Hell, burn me in Hell, and if I worship You in hope of Paradise, exclude me from Paradise. But if I worship You for Your Own sake, grudge me not Your everlasting Beauty.”

Hazrat Rabia was in her early to mid eighties when she passed away, having followed the mystic Way to the end. She always believed she was continually united with her Beloved. As she told her Sufi friends, "My Beloved is always with me."
She died in Jerusalem in 185 A.H ( Zirkali, al-A`lam, vol. 3, p 10, col 1, who quotes ibn Khalikan as his source.)

Philosophy

She was the one who first set forth the doctrine of Divine Love and who is widely considered to be the most important of the early Sufi poets.

Much of the poetry that is attributed to her is of unknown origin. After a life of hardship, she spontaneously achieved a state of self-realization. When asked by Sheikh Hassan Basri how she discovered the secret, she responded by stating, "You know of the how, but I know of the how-less."

She was the first in a long line of female Sufi mystics.

Anecdotes:

The prayer of Hazrat Rabia
Once while she was in the service of her Sheikh, she was sent on an errand. Along the way a man pursued her. In fright she fled, slipped and broke her hand. Praying to Allah Ta'ala she cried, "O Allah! I am forlorn, without mother and father. Now my hand too is broken. But I do not mind these things if Thou be pleased with me. But make it manifest to me that you are pleased with me. "

A voice called to her, "On the Day of Qiyamah, even the Muqarrab (very close) Angels will envy your rank."

Rely on Allah alone

When she went for Hajj she took along an emaciated donkey on which was loaded her few belongings. The donkey died along the journey. The people accompanying her offered to carry her belongings, but she refused, saying, "Proceed! I did not come relying on you." The caravan continued, leaving her behind. With her perfect trust in Allah Ta'ala she supplicated for His aid. Even before completing her dua, the donkey came to life. Hazrat Rabia continued her journey and reached Makkah Mukarramah.

The Vision

Hazrat Rabia in her yearning for Allah, prayed to be shown His Vision. A Voice said to her, "If you desire Me, I shall reveal a manifestation (Tajalli) of Myself and in a moment you will be reduced to ash."

Hazrat Rabia said: "O Allah! I lack the power for Your Tajalli. I wish for the rank of Faqr (i.e. an extremely lofty spiritual status of divine proximity)."

The Voice said: "O Rabia! Faqr is the famine of My Wrath. We have reserved it exclusively for those Men (Awliyah) who have completely reached Us. There remains not even the distance of a hair between them and Us. At that juncture, We rebuff them and distance them from Our Proximity. Inspite of this, they do not lose hope in Us. They again commence their journey towards Us. While this is their condition, you are still wrapped in the veils of time. As long as you are with the folds of these veils and have not entered into Our Path with a true heart, it is improper for you to even mention Faqr."

The Voice then commanded Hazrat Rabia to lift her gaze towards the heaven. As she complied, she observed a vast rolling ocean of blood suspended in space. The Voice said, "This is the ocean of tears of blood of My Lovers who are lost in My Absorption. This is their first stage (in their journey to reach Allah)."

The thief & the shawl
Once, Hazrat Rabia, overcome with tiredness, fell asleep. A thief entered and took her shawl, but he was unable to find his way out. When he replaced the shawl, he saw the exit. Again, he took the shawl and lost the way. He replaced the shawl and again saw the way out. He repeated this process several times. Then he heard someone saying:

"Why bring a calamity on yourself? She whose shawl this is, has handed herself over to another Being. Even Shaitaan cannot approach her. A thief is not able to steal her shawl. Leave it and depart."

Beasts of the jungle
Once when Hazrat Rabia was on a mountain, the wild beasts of the jungle gathered around her and stared at her in wonder. Coincidentally, Hazrat Hassan Basri appeared on the scene. All the animals scattered and disappeared into the jungle. In surprise, he said: "The animals fled when they saw me. Why did they stay with you?" Hazrat Rabia asked, "What did you eat today?" Hazrat Hassan Basri replied, "Meat and bread." Hazrat Rabia then said, "When you have eaten meat, why should they not flee?"

Allah’s remembrance
It was said to Hazrat Rabia, "Hazrat Hassan says that if on the Day of Qiyamah he is deprived of Allah's Vision for even a moment, he will lament so much that the inmates of Jannat will take pity on him."

Hazrat Rabia said, "True, but this claim is appropriate for only a person who does not forget Allah Ta'ala here on earth for a single moment."

Regarding marriage
People asked: "Why do you not take a husband?"

Hazrat Rabia responded, "I am saddled with three concerns. If you remove these worries from me, I shall take a husband. One: Tell me, will I die with Imaan? Two: On the Day of Qiyamah, will my Record of Deeds be given in my right or left hand? Three: On the Day of Qiyamah, will I be among the people of the right side or the left side?" The people said that they were unable to give her assurances regarding these issues. She said, "A woman who has these fears has no desire for a husband."

The world & hereafter
She was asked, "From whence have you come and whither are you going?" Hazrat Rabia said: "I came from that world and I am returning to that world." The people asked: "What are you doing in this world?" Hazrat Rabia let out a cry of lament. They asked, "Why are you lamenting?" Hazrat Rabia said: "I obtain my rizq (provisions) from that world while I am doing the work of this world."

The pain of separation from Allah
When asked for the cause of her constant crying, Hazrat Rabia said: "I fear separation from Allah Ta'ala. I fear that at the time of death, I may be rejected and it be announced, "You do not deserve to be in Our Presence."

The prayer of Hazrat Rabia
She was asked: "When is Allah pleased with a person?" Hazrat Rabia replied: "When he expresses gratitude for the effort (on His Path) just as he expresses gratitude for bounties."

Fana or Annihilation
”As long as man's heart is not alert, his other limbs cannot find the path of Allah. An alert heart is a heart lost in divine absorption. Such a heart is not in need of the aid of other limbs. This stage is called Fana (annihilation)."

Love of God
One day, she was seen running through the streets of Basra carrying a torch in one hand and a bucket of water in the other. When asked what she was doing, she said:
"I want to put out the fires of Hell, and burn down the rewards of Paradise. They block the way to God. I do not want to worship from fear of punishment or for the promise of reward, but simply for the love of God."

The Vision
At one occasion she was asked if she hated Satan. Hazrat Rabia replied, "My love to God has so possessed me that no place remains for loving or hating any save Him."

Her special status
When Hazrat Rabia Basri would not come to attend the sermons of Hazrat Hassan Basri, he would deliver no discourse that day. People in the audience asked him why he did that. He replied, "The syrup that is held by the vessels meant for the elephants cannot be contained in the vessels meant for the ants."

The Kabah meets Hazrat Rabia Basri
Once Hazrat Rabia was on her way to Makkah, and when halfway there she saw the Kabah coming to meet her. She said, "It is the Lord of the house whom I need, what have I to do with the house? I need to meet with Him Who said, 'who approaches Me by a span's length, I will approach him by the length of a cubit.' The Kabah which I see has no power over me; what joy does the beauty of the Kabah bring to me?"

At the same time the great Sufi Saint Hazrat Ibrahim bin Adam arrived at the Kabah, but he did not see it. He had spent fourteen years making his way to the Kabah, because in every place of prayer he performed two rakats.

Hazrat Ibrahim bin Adam said, "Alas! What has happened? It maybe that some injury has overtaken my eyes." An unseen voice said to him, "No harm has befallen your eyes, but the Kabah has gone to meet a woman, who is approaching this place." Hazrat Ibrahim Adam responded, "O indeed, who is this?" He ran and saw Hazrat Rabia arriving, and that the Kabah was back in its own place. When Hazrat Ibrahim Adam saw that, he said, "O Hazrat Rabia, what is this disturbance and trouble and burden which you have brought into the world?"

She replied, "I have not brought disturbance into the world. It is you who have disturbed the world, because you delayed fourteen years in arriving at the Kabah." He said, "Yes I have spent fourteen years in crossing the desert (because I was engaged) in prayer." Hazrat Rabia said, "You traversed it in ritual prayer (Salat) but with personal supplication."
Then, having performed the pilgrimage, she returned to Basra and occupied herself with works of devotion.

The Vision
One day Hazrat Hassan Basri saw Hazrat Rabia near a lake. He threw his prayer rug on top of the water and said, "Rabia, come! Let us pray two rakats here." She replied, "Hassan, when you are showing off your spiritual goods in the worldly market, it should be things which your fellow men cannot display." Then, she threw her prayer rug into the air and flew up onto it saying, "Come up here, Hassan, where people can see us." Then she said, "Hassan, what you did fishes can do, and what I did flies can do. But the real business is outside these tricks. One must apply oneself to the real business."

The act of repentance (Tawba)
"Only verbal istighfar is the act of liars. When a vain person makes tawba, he should again make tawba (for the sin of vanity)."

Divine love & worldly bounties
Once Hazrat Rabia kept seven fasts and spent the entire night in Ibaadat. On the seventh day, someone presented her a bowl of milk. When she went to fetch the lamp, a cat came and drank the milk. She decided to break fast with water. When she brought a cup of water, the lamp was extinguished. As she lifted the cup, it slipped and broke. She drew a sigh and said, "O Allah! What are You doing to me?" A Voice said, "O Rabia! If you desire the bounties of the world, We shall bestow it to you, but then We shall remove Our love from your heart. Our love and worldly bounties cannot coexist in one heart."
Henceforth, Hazrat Rabia severed all her worldly hopes and her attitude was like that of a person in his death throes. Each morning she supplicated, "O Allah! Keep me engrossed in You and do not allow the people of the world to divert me."

Recognition of the Lord
Once when Hazrat Hassan Basri went to visit Hazrat Rabia, he found one of the wealthy and prominent citizens of Basra standing with a bag of money, weeping at her door. On enquiring, he said, "I have brought this gift for Hazrat Rabia. I know she will refuse it, hence, I am crying. Do intercede for me. Perhaps she will accept it." Hassan Basri went inside and delivered the message. Hazrat Rabia said, "Since I have recognized Allah, I have renounced the world. I am not aware of its source–whether halal or haram."

Allah remembers His creation
Malik Bin Dinaar went to visit Hazrat Rabia. He found in her home only a partly broken jug which she used for wudhu and drinking water, a very old straw-mat on which she slept and a brick which she used as a pillow. Malik Bin Dinaar said, "I have many affluent friends. Shall I ask them to bring some items for you?"

Hazrat Rabia said, "O Malik! Is my Provider, your Provider and the Provider of the wealthy not the same Being?" Malik said, "Yes." Hazrat Rabia then said, "What, has He forgotten about the needs of the poor on account of their poverty, while he remembers the needs of the wealthy?" Malik Bin Dinaar said, "It is not so." Hazrat Rabia then said, "When He never forgets anyone, why should we remind Him? He has wished this condition for me and I am pleased with it because it is His pleasure."

Hazrat Rabia’s wish
 Hazrat Rabia supplicated, "O Allah! My duty and my desire on earth are Your remembrance and in the Aakhirah, Your Vision. You are the Master. O Allah! Maintain the presence (i.e. concentration) of my heart or accept my ibaadat, devoid of concentration."

The end of Hazrat Rabia’s worldly life
When her time to depart from earth was near, the illustrious Mashaikh gathered by her. She said, "Go away and leave place for the Angels." They all went out and closed the door. While they were waiting outside, they heard from within a voice reciting:

"O soul at rest! Return to your Rabb."

For a long while thereafter there was silence. When they went inside, they discovered that Hazrat Rabia's soul had taken flight from this world and had reached Allah.

Who is your Rabb?
In a dream someone asked her, "What happened when Munkar and Nakeer came to You?" Hazrat Rabia said, "When they asked me, "Who is your Rabb?" I said, "Go back! Say to Allah: When You had never forgotten this weak woman despite Your remembrance of entire creation, how can she forget You when on earth You were her only remembrance? Why do you send Angels to question her?"

From beyond the grave
Muhammad Aslam Toosi and Nu'maa Tartoosi (, may Allah be pleased with him) stood at her graveside. One of them said:
"O Hazrat Rabia! During your lifetime you made bold and audacious claims of having renounced the world. Tell us, what has transpired now with you?"
From inside the grave, Hazrat Rabia (, may Allah be pleased with him) spoke, "May Allah grant me barkat (blessings) in what I have seen and am seeing (i.e. of the wonders of the spiritual realm)."

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Hazrat Haleema Sadia RadhiAllah Anha

Hazrat Haleema Sadia
Blessed foster-mother of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 

 

It was the general custom of the Arabs that their children were sent to be raised by Bedouins in the desert. The tough desert atmosphere gave the child a good start in life, and the language of the Bedouins was a much purer form of Arabic. For a few years, they would grww up in this harsh but healthy environment before returning to their parents.

The time had eventually come from Hazrat Aminah to send her child, Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,, to stay with the Bedouins. At that time, Bedouin nurses had arrived in Makkah. They visited each household to find a child to take care of, and would be paid in return for the childcare they would provide.

Many Bedouin wet nurses visited the house of Hazrat Aminah, but were reluctant to take her blessed child into their care. This was because he was an orphan child, with no father. In Arab custom, when a child was returned to his or her home after spending years in the desert environment, the family would reward the wet nurse generously. As Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was an orphan child, they couldn’t expect to gain many riches from taking care of him.

Towards the end, every Bedouin lady had a child to bring up except Hazrat Haleema, who had arrived last and did not find a child to foster. She was ready to return home empty-handed, when she decided to turn back and collect Hazrat Aminah's child, even though he was an orphan.

Thus, Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was entrusted to Hazrat Haleema. She was a poor lady, and she and her husband, Harith, had only a donkey and an old she-camel. She did not have enough milk to feed the other child in her care, who became Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,'s foster brother. At this time, it was also the year of famine and drought so they would constantly pray for rain.

However, as soon as she lifted the blessed child, Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,, her luck improved greatly and her life was filled with immense good fortune. Both Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and the other foster child were fully fed, even though the previous night there was not enough milk for both children. The old she-camel, which had not given any milk for sometime, was soon producing milk in abundance. This was indeed a great blessing for this poor Bedouin family. Hazrat Haleema’s herd of goats started to return home full of milk, while the rest of the Bedouins' goats used to return to them empty. They would complain to the shepherd and plead him to take the sheep and goats to the same place that Hazrat Halima took her flock. Such were the blessings for this kind-hearted Bedouin family!

Many miracles occurred on a daily basis, and the household which had once been poor & misfortunate was blessed with great fortune. Before long, Hazrat Haleema knew that she had a blessed child in her care, having witnessed all the miracles & blessings which had occurred in his presence.

After two years, Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was returned to his mother Hazrat Aminah, but Hazrat Haleema persuaded Hazrat Aminah to return the blessed baby to them for another two years. At that time, Hazrat Haleema told Hazrat Aminah about the great blessings that she had received when Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was in her care. She also mentioned that if she could take the child back with her, he would be protected from an illness which had been circulating in Makkah. Hazrat Aminah agreed and Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, spent another two years in the household of Hazrat Haleema Sadia.

A miraculous incident took place in Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,’s childhood. Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,, his foster brother and some other children were playing in the yard with the goats, when the angel, Hazrat Jibrail, appeared in front them. He then split open Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,’s chest, took out his blessed heart, removed a blood clot and washed the heart in Zamzam. The angel then returned the heart to Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,'s body and then left.

His foster brother ran to Hazrat Haleema in shock, and said that Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had been murdered. She rushed out and found Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, unharmed, but he was standing with a pale white face. She checked over his body and found that he was fine, and there was a small mark on his chest from the incident.

A Hadith Sharif from Sahih Muslim (Book 001, Number 0311) explains this incident further:

"Hazrat Anas bin Malik reported that, Hazrat Jibrail came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, while he was playing with his playmates. He took hold of him and lay him prostrate on the ground and tore open his breast and took out the heart from it and then extracted a blood-clot out of it and said: 'That was the part of Satan in thee.' And then he washed it with the water of Zamzam in a golden basin and then it was joined together and restored to its place. The boys came running to his mother, i.e. his nurse, and said: Verily Muhammad has been murdered. They all rushed towards him (and found him all right). His color was changed. Anas said, 'I myself saw the marks of needle on his breast.'"

Very shortly she returned him to his mother, Hazrat Aminah. Hazrat Aminah found out from Hazrat Haleema about the events that had taken place. Then, Hazrat Aminah assured her that her child was not under the influence of any jinn or evil, but that even when she was expecting him she had seen & experienced great miracles. Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was then returned to the care of his mother Hazrat Aminah and continued to live with her.

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Hazrat Aminah RadhiAllah Anha

Hazrat Aminah
Blessed Mother of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,

There is not much information about Hazrat Aminah’s life, but there are some established facts about her that are recorded here.

Her full name is Aminah bint Wahb, daughter of Wahb ibn Abd Manaf. She belonged to the Zuhra clan of the Quraish tribe.

She was the mother of Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and was married to Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abdul Muttalib, who was the father of Rasulallah , peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

Hazrat Abdullah passed away from an illness while on a caravan trip between Madinah Sharif and Makkah Sharif, at the age of twenty-five. At this time, Hazrat Aminah was pregnant with the blessed child and so Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was an orphan before his blessed birth.

Hazrat Aminah passed away when Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was six years old, the year 576 or 577 AD.

Records claim that she passed away during a trip to Madinah Sharif, on which she had taken Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, to meet his uncles and to see the grave of his father.

She was buried in Abwa, a village between Makkah and Madinah Sharif. The actual grave was rediscovered in 1998, and quickly destroyed by Wahhabis.

Some histories record light shining from her face during the blessed pregnancy, indicating the coming birth of the Holy Prophet , peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,.

Some histories also record the face of Hazrat Abdullah shining prior to consummating the marriage, indicating that he would be father to the Holy Prophet , peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,.

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Seerat of Hazrat Aisha RadhiAllah Anha

Hazrat Aisha RadhiAllah Anha
The learned Mother of Believers

Introduction

She was the beloved wife of Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and the daughter of Sayyidina Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (, may Allah be pleased with him).

Her mother’s name was Umm e Rooman, whose line of descendants joined with that of Rasulallah , peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

 

She was the only spinster wife of Rasulallah , peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

 

The Sacred Marriage

 

Three years after the tragic and painful death of Hazrat Khadija (, may Allah be pleased with him), Hazrat Khawla, the wife of Hazrat Usman Mazoun, suggested that Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, should remarry.

In reply, Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, asked, “Who should I marry?” upon which she presented two names; one was that of Hazrat Aisha, and the other was that of Hazrat Sawda, a mother & 30 year old widow.

Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, then sent Hazrat Khawla with marriage proposals to both families, and they both gave their consent.

 

When news reached Hazrat Abu Bakr, in his immense joy, he wished to clarify a point so he said to Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,, “I am your brother.”

Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, then replied, “You are my brother as far as the religion and book of Allah is concerned, and she is legitimate for me.” (Bukhari)

Hearing this reply, the happiness of Sayyidina Abu Bakr Siddique was clearly visible and he gave his consent.

 

Hazrat Aisha, at this time, was pre-pubescent but she did not join the auspicious household of Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, till maturity.

 

The relationship between Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and Hazrat Aisha was friendly, kind & loving. Of all the blessed wives, she was the closest & most favoured.

 

She also took pride as the daughter of the first Caliph of Islam, and the only virgin wife of Rasulallah , peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

 

Impact of marriage

 

This holy marriage holds a significant place in the history of Islam. For one, it reinforced the friendship between Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique, who had always stood by his friend in hours of distress.

 

In addition to this, a lady of rare qualities was blessed with Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,’s presence, and the opportunity to spend her youth with in the auspicious household of the Holy Prophet , peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

An intellectual scholar

 

In interpreting religious issues, and as a jurist of Sunnah, Hazrat Aisha was & still is at the forefront.

·          Imam Zuhri said, “Hazrat Aisha was the most learned person amongst the people. Senior & learned companions used to consult her.”

 

·          Hazrat Musa ibne Talha said, “I did never see anyone more eloquent than Aisha.” (Tirmidhi, Vol 2, page 228)

·          Hazrat Abu Musa Ashari said, “We faced no difficulty whose solution was not with Aisha.” (Tirmidhi, Vol 2, page 228)

·          Imam Zuhri said, “If the knowledge of all men and wives of Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was put together, the knowledge of Aisha would exceed the knowledge of them all.”

 

Thousands of Ahadith have been reported by her, and she even conveyed her decision on religious matters during the reign of the first 3 Caliphs of Islam.

 

In Islamic jurisprudence, the distinguished theologians & jurists like Imam Abu Hanifa and Imam Bukhari followed her principles.

 

Her Elevated Status

 

Many Ahadith demonstrate her exalted position amongst other women in Islam. Here are a few:

 

·          Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, “You had been shown to me for three successive nights in a dream. An angel brought you wrapped in a piece of white silk and said, ‘it is your wife’. I exposed your face and there you were. Then I said, ‘if this dream is from Allah, He will fulfil it.’” (Bukhari, Muslim)

·          Hazrat Aisha herself reports that Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, “O Aisha! This is Jibreel who greets you. Aisha replied, ‘be salutations & Mercy of Allah upon him.’” (Bukhari, Muslim)

·          Another Hadith in the same context:
”Aisha has such superiority over women as ‘sareed’ (a kind of food) has over other foods.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

·          Another Hadith also confirms her prestigious status.
Hazrat Amr bin Aas said: I submitted, “O Allah’s Messenger! Who amongst all the people is the dearest to you?” He said, “Aisha”. I asked, “Out of the men?” He said, “Her father.” (Tirmidhi)

·          Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, “By Allah, revelation has not been revealed to me in the quilt of any of my wives except hers (Aisha).”

·          This Hadith emphasises the connection between Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and Hazrat Aisha:
Jibreel said, “This (Hazrat Aisha) is your wife in this world and the hereafter.” (Tirmidhi)

 

Migration & title of Muhajir

 

Almighty Allah has further elevated the status of those Blessed Companions who migrated from Makkah to Madinah Sharif. The Holy Qur’an says:

”And those who left their homes and hearths in the way of Allah being oppressed. We shall surely give them good place in the world. And undoubtedly, the reward of the Hereafter is much greater; anyhow, people would have known.”

(Holy Qur’an 16:41 Kanzul Iman)

When Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, migrated from Makkah to Madinah Sharif, Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (, may Allah be pleased with him) left his family in Makkah to accompany Rasulallah , peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. When peace reigned over the lands of Madinah Sharif, he then sent Hazrat Abdullah to bring Hazrat Umm e Rooman, Hazrat Asma and Hazrat Aisha to Madinah Sharif.
Hence, these people are also included on the list of the Muhajir (or emigrants).

Daughter of the first Caliph of Islam

 

One of her excellences is that she is the daughter of the first Caliph of Islam, the intimate friend (Khalil) of Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,, Sayyidina Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (, may Allah be pleased with him).

It was Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (, may Allah be pleased with him) who paid ransom to release Sayyidina Hazrat Bilal, Hazrat Amir bin Tahira and five other Muslims from slavery.
It was Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (, may Allah be pleased with him) who accompanied Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, in the cave of Thawr on the night of migration.
It was Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (, may Allah be pleased with him) who is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an as Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,’s companion.
It was Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (, may Allah be pleased with him) who was appointed as the Imam of prayers before Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,’s passing away.
It was Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (, may Allah be pleased with him) who was the successor & Caliph of our beloved Rasulallah , peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
It was Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (, may Allah be pleased with him) who passed the command to gather the Holy Qur’an into one book form.

Courage

Hazrat Aisha was very audacious and a brave lady who never feared being face-to-face with her problems. She was so courageous that even the horrible scenes of the Battle of Uhud did not dampen her spirits in helping the Muslim soldiers.

Hazrat Anas bin Malik (, may Allah be pleased with him) says that during the battle, he saw her carrying a leather bag full of water and satiating the thirst of the Muslims. (Bukhari)

 

Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal writes that during the Battle of the Trench, Hazrat Aisha, ignoring the dangers and perils, would leave the castle and witness the plight of battle.

 

Generosity and selflessness

 

Hazrat Aisha was equally renowned for her generosity. Hazrat Urwa bin Zubair reports that once she got seventy thousand dirhams. He witnessed her giving the entire amount in charity, and leaving nothing at all for herself.

 

Hazrat Abdullah bin Zubair, her nephew, sent her one Lakh (10,000) dirhams which she gave in the way of Allah within a day. On that day, she was also observing fast. At night, her house maid served her leaf and suggested that it would have been better if she has brought some meat out of that money, with which she could have broken her fast. At this, Sayyida Hazrat Aisha said, “You might have reminded me of it then.” (Mustadrak-e-Hakim, Vol 4)

This shows how Hazrat Aisha hardly thought of her own needs, and always put others before herself.

 

It is written in Moatta Imam Malik that once Hazrat Aisha was fasting and there was nothing at home to eat besides a loaf of bread. Meanwhile, a beggar woman called out for help. Hazrat Aisha told her maid to give the woman the loaf of bread. The maid said, “With which thing will you break your fast?” The mother of believers replied, “First give it to her.”

In the evening, someone sent mutton to her as a gift. Then Sayyida Aisha said to her maid, “Look! Allah has sent something better than a loaf of bread.”

 

Mutual Love & Respect

 

Hazrat Aisha loved Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, to such an extent that she would feel like a fish out of water in his absence. The following incidence throws great light on this:

Sayyida Aisha and Sayyida Hafsa were both accompanying Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, on a journey. On the way, Sayyida Aisha and Sayyida Hafsa exchanged camels.

At night, Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, went to the camel which Hazrat Hafsa was riding. Hazrat Aisha could not bear the separation, and when they reached the terminal, she dismounted the camel, stood on the grass and said, “Oh my Lord! Send any scorpion or serpent to bite me up. And he is thy Prophet, I cannot say anything about him.” (Muslim) 

 

Another incidence testifies to the fact that all the blessed wives of Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, cherished him to a great degree. All fascination and charms of this world could not shake the love they had for Rasulallah , peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

The following verse was revealed to Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,:

 

“Oh Communicator of the Unseen! Say to your wives, if you wish the life of the world and its adornment, then come, I provide you with wealth and leave you in a well manner. And if you wish for Allah & His Messenger, and the home of the Hereafter then undoubtedly Allah has prepared for the well-doers amongst you a great reward.”

(Holy Qur’an 33:28-29 Kanzul Iman)

 

Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, first of all recited these verses to Hazrat Aisha and asked her to consult her parents before giving her opinion.

Hazrat Aisha, without any hesitation, replied:

“There is no room for consulting the parents in this matter. I opted myself for Allah, His Messenger & the home of the Hereafter.” (Muslim, Kitabul Talaaq)

 

In this way, she set precedence for the rest of the blessed wives to follow in the same direction.

 

Importance of the Veil

 

Hazrat Aisha herself narrates:

”I would enter my house where Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was buried, without observing my veil, thinking ‘here are my husband and father’, but when Umar was buried beside them, by Allah, due to my shame from Umar, I would enter covering my head properly.” (Mishkat)

 

Clarification of doubts

 

Nowadays it is more evident that western critics, out of sheer prejudice, hostility and ignorance, criticise the marriage between Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and Hazrat Aisha, declaring it to be a marriage based on lust – Allah forbid!

 

Here, it should be mentioned that Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, did not marry Hazrat Aisha just to appease a desire. As a young man of 25 years, with stunning beauty & captivating charms, any beautiful young girl could have been chosen as his wife.

 

Many beautiful women from honourable families proposed marriage to Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, but he declined. Instead, when he was only 25 years of age he married a widow who had children from her previous marriage. Considering the fact that he was the most handsome person that Allah has created, many women desired him in marriage. Had he followed his desires, there was no obstacle for him to do so. In his youth, he could have had many beautiful women, but he married a widow 15 years his senior.

 

It should also be noted that after his marriage to Hazrat Khadija, he did not marry again until he reached the age of 50.

 

Another point is that if the marriage was the outcome of lustful desires (astaghfirullah), why did he not marry any other spinster after his marriage to Hazrat Aisha. On the contrary, he married widows and divorcees during his 10 year stay in Madinah Sharif, and never preferred any young girl although opportunities were always available.

 

Hence, these fallacies have no basis and are the result of ignorance and spite.

 

The actual reasons are as follows:

 

1.      The wives of Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,, with the exception of Hazrat Aisha, were all of advanced age, and thus could neither share the feelings of the younger generation, nor could they properly appreciate their point of view.
The difference of age always stood as a barrier between them and ladies of younger ages. The only lady with whom a young girl could identify with and confide in, was none else by the young Hazrat Aisha.

Thus, the marriage of Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, with Hazrat Aisha was a great necessity, as it was through her that instructions could successfully be imparted to the young girls who had newly entered into the fold of Islam.

2.      This marriage clarified the belief that it stood against religious ethics to marry the daughter of a man whom one declared as his brother. Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, showed to the people that there is a great difference between a brother in faith, and a brother by blood.
The marriage which is forbidden in Islam is not that with the daughter of one who is a brother by faith, but with one who is one’s niece in blood.

Journey to the Heavens

 

This distinguished lady of great piety and rare character passed away at the age of sixty-five on the 17^th of Ramadan 57 AH.

 

Hazrat Abu Hurairah led her funeral prayers, and the blessed learned Mother of Believers was buried in Jannatul Baqi, where she is enjoying a deep sleep under the skies of peace and tranquillity to this day.

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