Three Virtuous Women

Pious women of Islam

Three virtuous women

Maulana Bilal Sa’eed Attari Madani

Sayyidah Khadijah-tul-Kubra, Sayyidah ‘Aaishah Siddiqah, and Sayyidah Fatimah-tuz-Zahra رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْھُن are among those figures who passed away in Ramadan; blessed in life and blessed in death.

Sayyidah Khadijah-tul-Kubra رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا was the first wife of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. She رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا chose to become the wife of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم upon witnessing his lofty character and was a pillar of support for him during the initial phases of Islam. Recognising her sacrifices, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said to Sayyidah ‘Aaishah رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا, ‘By Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, I have not had a better wife than Khadijah; she رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا believed in me when others did not, and she رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا accepted me [as a prophet] when others rejected me. When nobody was prepared to give me anything, Khadijah gave me her wealth, and Allah Almighty granted me children through her.’ (Al-Istee’ab, vol. 4, p. 384)

Upon receiving the first revelation, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was overwhelmed by the power of divine word descending unto his heart. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم related the astonishing event to Sayyidah Khadijah, saying, ‘I fear for my life,’ to which she immediately replied with utter conviction, ‘Never! I swear by Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, He Almighty will never dishonour you. You display the best conduct to your relatives, you carry the burden of others yourself, you distribute your wealth among the needy, you honour guests, and you help others.’ (Bukhari, vol. 1, p. 8, Hadith 3)

Our mother, Sayyidah Khadijah رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا, exerted herself for the glory of Islam and the happiness of our Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم honoured this and reciprocated with immense love, always remembering her after she passed away. Once Sayyidah Haalah Bint-e-Khuwaylid رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا, the sister of Sayyidah Khadijah رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا, requested to see the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم by reminding him of Sayyidah Khadijah رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was moved by the mention of his late, beloved wife. (Bukhari, vol. 2, p. 565, Hadith 3821)

Sayyidah ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا was the daughter of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ and Umm-e-Rumaan. In the tenth year after the announcement of Prophethood, she married the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and eventually came to live with Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in Shawwal, 2 AH. Allah Almighty blessed her with unique qualities, vast knowledge, and deep wisdom. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم loved her immensely as he informed Sayyidah Fatimah-tuz-Zahra saying, ‘Will you love the one whom I love?’ When Sayyidah Fatimah رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا replied, ‘Definitely! O Messenger of Allah! I will love them,’ the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم answered, ‘Then love ‘Aaishah رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا.’ (Muslim, p. 1017, Hadith 2442)

Piety and righteousness

She رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا was a hallmark of asceticism, piety, and godliness. Perhaps this was the realisation of the advice she received from the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم who said to her, ‘If you wish for the status [of being my wife in Paradise], then do not store food for tomorrow, and until a cloth can be patched, do not consider it useless.’ (Madarij-un-Nubuwwah, vol. 2, p. 472)

A seasoned scholar

Her expertise in qur’anic sciences, Hadith, and Fiqh, was unmatched by any other woman. This afforded her the sobriquet of ‘First Female Juris consult of Islam.’ The honourable Companions recognised her erudition and learn from her. Sayyiduna Abu Musa رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ states, ‘If we faced a difficulty regarding any Hadith, we would ask Sayyidah ‘Aaishah رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا about it, and she رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا would [always] have knowledge concerning it.’ (Tirmizi, vol. 5, p. 471, Hadith 3909) She narrates 2210, of which 174 are found in both Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. (Ijmal Tarjamah Ikmal, vol. 8, p. 70)

Sayyidah Fatimah-tuz-Zahra رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا was the beloved and youngest daughter of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. (Al-Isabah, vol. 8, p. 263) An exemplary mother, a dedicated wife, and a worthy daughter, she excelled in every aspect of life, emerging as perfect a role model and a timeless moral compass for all women. After marrying Sayyiduna Ali رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, she took lead of household affairs and supported him as a caring wife and a sincere advisor. As a mother, she raised her children in the spirit of Islam, instilling altruism and sacrifice in them. The lives of her sons, Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُما, are vivid realisations of her efforts. As a daughter, her life was an epitome of patience, gratefulness, trust in Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, and sincerity. Her father, the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, was the cynosure of her affection and he reciprocated this love. When the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would visit her, she رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا would stand for him, kiss his blessed hands, and seat him in her place. When she would visit him, he would stand for her, kiss her blessed hands, and seat her in his place. (Tirmizi, vol. 5, p. 466, Hadith 3898) Even the slightest of pains and difficulties faced by the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would make her restless and it was due to this strong attachment that after the demise of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, she was never seen smiling again. (Mu’jam Kabeer, vol. 22, p. 399, Hadith 995)

May Allah Almighty make us worthy heirs of these exalted women and allow our daughters to walk in their footsteps.

اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ النَّبِیِّ الْاَمِیْن صَلَّی اللہ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلہٖ وَسَلَّم