Godly Women
Sayyidatuna Umm-e-Bishr Bint-e-Qays رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا
Maulana Abrar Akhtar Al-Qadiri
(Department Sahabiyyat-o-Salihaat, Al-Madina-tul-‘Ilmiyyah (Islamic Research Centre, Karachi)
Sayyidatuna Umm-e-Bishr Bint-e-Qays Bin Saabit رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا is from those Ansari (female) companions who accepted Islam before the prophetic migration. Some have mentioned her name as ‘Khulaysah’[1] and others have mentioned it as ‘Khulaydah’[2].
She رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا was from the tribe of Bani Duhmaan, and her entire household was an epitome of greatness, for she رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا was the wife of the well-known companion, Sayyiduna Bara` Bin Ma’roor رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ. She رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا also had the honour of taking the Bay’ah of Islam with the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, and narrated hadith from him too.[3]
Her noble son attained martyrdom in the Battle of Badr, and from this perspective, she رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا has the honour of being the mother of a martyred companion.[4]
It is narrated in Sunan Ibn-e-Majah that Sayyidatuna Umm-e-Bishr رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا went to Sayyiduna Ka’b Bin Malik رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ at the time of his passing and said, ‘O Abu Abd al-Rahman! If you meet so-and-so (i.e. my son) after your death, then give him my Salaam.’ Whereupon, Sayyiduna Ka’b said, ‘O Umm-e-Bishr! May Allah Almighty forgive you, how do we have the authority to do this!’ Sayyidatuna Umm-e-Bishr رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا replied, ‘O Abu Abd al-Rahman! Did you not hear the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم saying that the souls of the Muslims are suspended on the trees of Paradise in the hearts of green birds.’ He رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ replied, ‘Yes.’ She رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا said, ‘This is what I am referring to.’[5]
It is mentioned in Tabaqat Ibn-e-Sa’d that Sayyidatuna Umm-e-Bishr رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا said to the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم herself, ‘Do the deceased recognise one another after their passing?’ Thus, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم (explaining through an example) said, ‘Righteous souls reside in Paradise like green birds; so just as birds recognise each other on trees, they (the deceased) also recognise each other in a similar fashion.’[6]
Hakeem-ul-Ummat, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Na’eemi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْـه writes: ‘Whenever someone would pass away in Madina al-Munawwarah, she would (come to them at the time of their passing and) convey her salaam for her son.’[7]
She رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا also holds the honour of visiting the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم during his final illness.[8]
May Allah Almighty have mercy upon her, and forgive us without accountability for her sake.
اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ النَّبِیِّ الْاَمِیْن صَلَّی اللہ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلہٖ وَسَلَّم
[1] Al-Isabah, Vol. 8, p. 107)
[2] Tabaqat Ibn-e-Sa’d, Vol. 8, p. 241
[3] Tabaqat Ibn-e-Sa’d. Vol. 8, p. 241
[4] Tabaqat Ibn-e-Sa’d, Vol. 8, p. 241
[5] Ibn-e-Majah, Vol. 2, p. 196, Hadith 1449
[6] Tabaqat Ibn-e-Sa’d, Vol. 8, p. 241
[7] Mirat-ul-Manajih, Vol. 2, p. 459
[8] Tabqat Ibn-e-Sa’d, Vol. 8, p. 241
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