Righteous Women
Sayyidatuna Sumayyah b. Khubbat رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْھَا
Maulana Bilal Sa’eed Attari Madani
Sayyidatuna Sumayyah b. Khubbat رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْھَا is from the radiant generation of people who embraced Islam in its early days and forsook disbelief forever.
Introduction
She was the maid of Abu Huzayfah b. Mugheera Makhzoomi. He himself married her to his ally, Sayyiduna Yasir Bin Amir رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, and freed her when Sayyiduna Ammar رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was born. Sayyiduna Ammar and his father are also from the early converts to Islam, (Al-Isaabah fi Tamyeez Al-Sahabah, vol. 8, p. 190).
Forbearance for the Sake of Islam
Since Sayyidatuna Sumayyah b. Khubbat رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْہَا and her husband were among the seven people who publicised their new faith before anyone else, the disbelievers crossed all the limits of morality in persecuting her and her family. They would torture them by making them stand in the scorching midday sun, clad in metal armour. Yet, they were unable to break her will or remove even an iota of faith from her heart. Once, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم passed by there and saw them being oppressed in the scorching desert, to which he said: صَبْرًا اٰلَ یَاسِرٍ مَوْعِدُکُمُ الجَنَّة ‘Dear family of Yasir! Keep holding the rope of patience. For you is the promise of Paradise,’ (Usud-ul-Ghaabah, vol. 7, p. 167, summarised).
First female martyr of Islam
She is the first woman whose blood was shed in the way of Allah Almighty. She embraced martyrdom after Abu Jahl struck her with a spear, (Al-Istee’aab, vol. 4, p. 419, summarised).
Glad tidings for the family of Yasir
When she رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْھَا was martyred, her son Sayyiduna Ammar b. Yasir رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُما came to the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in a state of extreme grief and exclaimed: ‘Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! The polytheists have crossed the limits in oppression.’ The Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم advised him to be patient and supplicated: اَللّٰھُمَّ لَا تُعَذِّبْ اَحَدًا مِنْ اٰلِ یَاسِرٍ بِالنَّارِ ‘Dear Allah! Protect the family of Yasir from the punishment of Hell,’ (Al-Istee’aab, vol. 4, p. 419, summarised).
When Abu Jahl was killed in the battle of Badr, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم called Sayyiduna Ammar b. Yasir رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُما, congratulated him, and said: قَدْ قَتَلَ الـلّٰـهُ قَاتِلَ اُمِّکَ ‘Allah Almighty has taken revenge from the killer of your mother,’ (Tabqat Ibn Sa’d, vol. 8, p. 208).
The life of this extraordinary woman invites us to ponder; to think about the courage and unwavering mettle of an elderly woman from an unprivileged background in front of the powerful chiefs of Quraysh. Wholly dedicated to Islam, her faith remained firm in the face of Quraysh’s hegemony, and with utmost trust in Allah Almighty, she bore their tyranny. Ultimately, she readily gave her life for the sake of Allah Almighty. I urge our sisters who have diverged from the path of their Lord, enamoured by the offerings of sin, to think carefully about the luxuries and ease Allah Almighty has given them, yet they choose to part ways with His commands. Reflect, learn about your faith, and submit to Him; it is never too late.
May Allah Almighty have mercy upon our state, grant us the privilege of treading upon the footsteps of the Companions, and to act upon the religion.
اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ النَّبِیِّ الْاَمِیْن صَلَّی اللہ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلہٖ وَسَلَّم
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