Godly Women

Sayyidatuna Sahlah bint Suhail رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْھَا

Mawlana Ibrar Akhtar Al-Qadri

Sayyidatuna Sahlah bint Suhail رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْھَا is amongst such noble female companions who, along with their nobility and honesty, acquired a rank within the Quraysh due to their stature and lineage. She was from the family of Bani Amir bin Luayy. Her mother was a companion by the name of Fatimah bint Abdul Uzza. Sahlah bint Suhail رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْھَا is that fortunate woman who accepted Islam from the beginning.[1]

Her husband, Sayyiduna Abu Huzayfah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ is also from the initial companions who accepted Islam; only after 43 noble companions was he honoured with accepting Islam.[2]

Sayyidatuna Sahlah and her husband Sayyiduna Abu Huzayfah رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهُمَا left their home and migrated to Abyssinia with the caravan of the initial Muhajireen for the sake of Islam. It was in Abyssinia that their son Muhammad bin Abu Huzayfah was born.[3]

Her sister Sayyidatuna Umm Kulthum and brother Sayyiduna Abdullah رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهُمَا were also present in this migration. Then, due to the incorrect propaganda of the disbelievers of Makkah, the Muhajireen of Abyssinia returned. She also returned and after this, she migrated again but this time to Madinah.[4]

From the aforementioned life incidents of Sayyidatuna Sahlah bint Suhail رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْھَا found in the books of Seerah, it is known that the Noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would honour her and be compassionate towards her. This is the reason why our Beloved Master صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم established, despite the general ruling of Shari’ah, a special ruling in her favour in two matters.

Thus, on one occasion, Sayyidatuna Sahlah رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْھَا fell ill, so she entered the court of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and enquired on matters of purification for prayer. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم initially gave the ruling that a separate Ghusl would be required for each prayer, but when she began to confront difficulty in doing so, the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم decided to grant her special leniency in this case.[5]



[1] (Usd Al-Ghaabah, vol. 7, p. 169, summarised)

[2] (Derived from Al-Isaabah, vol. 7, p. 74)

[3] (Derived from Al-Raud al-Unuf, vol. 2, p. 91)

[4] (Subul al-Huda war-Rashaad, vol. 2, p. 363 to 369, summarised)

[5] (Derived from Abu Dawood, vol. 2, p. 278)


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