Aishah Siddiqah Yearning for Worship

Divine fear, love of Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, understanding of Quran and Hadees, [understanding of] Tafseer and Tashreeh [commentary], [expertise in] Fiqh and Fatawa, eloquence, abundant worship, obedience to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and His Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, generosity, courage and bravery, asceticism and contentment, gratefulness, humbleness and humility, weeping out of Divine fear, self-respect, affectionate behaviour towards the subordinates, helping the poor, unmatched attention to purdah, purity, modesty, etc., are indeed great qualities. If one wishes to know about a single woman who possessed all these qualities, such great personality is the mother of all Mu’mineen [Umm-ul-Mu`mineen], beloved wife of Rasoolullah, Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah Tayyibah Taahirah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا.

It was her distinctive glorious quality to carry out Nafl acts of worship steadfastly, along with Fard and Wajib acts of worship. She رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا had immense love for worship; she would perform Hajj every year. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 1, pp. 614, Hadees 1861) She would give special attention to Taraweeh [Salah] in Ramadan-ul-Mubarak. (Muwatta Imam Maalik, vol. 1, pp. 121)

Those Islamic sisters should learn a lesson from this narration who do not offer Taraweeh Salah because of laziness or miss it while roaming in the markets.

Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا would abundantly observe Nafl Siyam and offer Tahajjud, Ishraq, Chasht and other Nafl Salahs. Read the following three narrations:

1     Sayyiduna ‘Abdur Rahman Bin Abu Bakr رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ came to Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا on the day of ‘Arafah. She was observing Sawm [fast] at that time and water was being sprinkled over her (because of extreme hot weather). Sayyiduna ‘Abdur Rahman رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ humbly said, ‘[Please] break the Sawm.’ Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا replied, ‘Why will I break the Sawm when I have heard this saying of Rasoolullah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم that the Sawm of the day of ‘Arafah is Kaffarah [expiation] for the previous year’s sins.’ (Musnad Ahmad, vol. 9, pp. 448, Hadees 25024)

2     Sayyiduna Imam Qaasim Bin Muhammad رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ has stated: Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا would offer Tahajjud Salah very regularly and would often observe Sawm. (Seerat-e-Mustafa, pp. 660)

Just ponder! Umm-ul-Mu`mineen had such great yearning for worship and she رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا would show such great patience while worshipping in severe conditions that she would observe Nafl Siyam even in extreme hot weather. On the other hand, we show laziness in observing even the Fard Sawm.

3     Umm-ul-Mu`mineen Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا would offer 8 Rak’aat of Chasht [Salah] and then say: Even if my mother and father are raised, I will not miss these Rak’aat. (Muwatta Imam Maalik, vol. 1, pp. 153, Hadees 366)

It means: If I receive the news at the time of Ishraq that my parents have come [here] after coming back to life, I will not miss these Nafl for meeting them; instead, I will first offer these Nafl and then kiss their feet. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 2, pp. 299)

This saying and practice contains advice for those Islamic sisters who miss even the Fard Salahs, and remain sleeping till late morning after missing Fajr Salah. On the one hand there is Umm-ul-Mu`mineen’s enviable quality of steadfastness in Nawafil whereas on the other hand there is our regrettable condition that we do not offer even Fard Salahs, let alone the Nafl ones.

For the sake of Umm-ul-Mu`mineen Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا, may Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ make us the worshippers as well!

اٰمِيۡن   بِجَاهِ   النَّبِيِّ  الۡاَمِيۡن   صَلَّى  اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى  عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated, ‘A woman is something [i.e. such a being] which should remain in Pardah [veil]. When she comes out, Satan looks at her by raising his gaze again and again.’ (Sunan-ut-Tirmizi, vol. 2, pp. 392, Hadees 1176)

Khatoon-e-Jannat, Sayyidah Fatimah Zahra رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا is the beloved daughter of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. She was a Pardah-observing woman and an embodiment of modesty.

Goodness for women

Sayyiduna ‘Ali رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ said: Once the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked me, ‘In what thing does the goodness lie for a woman?’ I inquired Sayyidah Fatimah [رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا] about its answer. She replied, ‘Goodness for women lie in the fact that they do not look at (non-Mahram) men and nor do the (non-Mahram) men look at them.’ (Mawsu’ah Ibn Abid Dunya, vol. 8, pp. 97, Hadees 412)

Concern of a stranger’s sight not to be cast even on the Janazah

Sayyidah Fatimah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا had kept herself safe from the gaze of [male] strangers all her life; she [was so careful in this regard that she] had the concern lest the gaze of (non-Mahram) people fall on her [after demise] wrapped in the shroud. On one occasion, Sayyidatuna Asma Bint ‘Umays رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْها said, ‘I saw in Habshah (i.e., Ethiopia) that people tie the branches of tree on the Janazah [bier], giving it a look of a Dauli (palanquin), and then place a Pardah (piece of cloth) over it.’ Then, Sayyidatuna Asma رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا got [some] branches of date-palm tree and joined them together. Thereafter, having covered it by a piece of cloth, she showed it to Sayyidatuna Fatimah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا. Upon this, Sayyidah Fatimah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا became very happy. (Jazb-ul-Quloob, pp. 159; summarized)

Will of burying at night

Sayyiduna ‘Ali رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ said that Sayyidah Fatimah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا made a will: When I depart this life, bury me in the night so that no non-Mahram man’s gaze is casted upon my Janazah [bier]. (Madarij-un-Nubuwwah, vol. 2, pp. 461)

Hakeem-ul-Ummat, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Na’eemi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه said: Remember! On the day of Judgement, the blessed wives [of the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم] and Sayyidah Fatimah Zahra (رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا) will rise with [the observance of] Pardah [veil], as they are among the chosen special Awliya of Allah. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 7, pp. 369)

First woman

‘Allamah Ibn ‘Abdul Ber رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه said: Sayyidah Fatimah Zahra رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا is the first woman in Islam whose blessed body was concealed in this way. (Siyar A’laam-un-Nubala, vol. 3, pp. 431)

Observance of Pardah [veil] even on the bridge of Siraat

The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: On the Day of Judgement, an announcer will announce, ‘O people! Lower your gaze, as Sayyidatuna Fatimah (رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا) Bint-e-Muhammad (صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم) is crossing the bridge of Siraat.’ (Al-Jami’-us-Sagheer, pp. 57, Hadees 822)

What a beautiful couplet a poet has recited:

چُو زَہرَا بَاش اَز مخلوق رُوپَوش          کِہ دَر آغَوش شَبِّیرَے بَہ بِینِی

i.e., Be Allah-loving and Pardah-observing like Sayyidah Fatimah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا, so that you have a child like Sayyiduna Imam Husayn رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ.