Great Women in Islam

Alhamdullillah (All praise is for Allah) I once again have the privilege of writing about an amazing Muslim woman, and honestly, when I read about the lives of these great women, I truly do feel honoured, just to be receiving the knowledge of these perfect role models. This post will briefly focus on the life of an amazing woman, known as both "Mother of the faithful" and "Mother of the poor".

•   Zaynab (May Allah be pleased with her) embraced Islam early on.
• She was known as “Mother of the poor” because she always helped the poor and the needy.
• She married Abdullah ibn Jahsh and migrated with him to Abyssinia.
• Her life with 'Abdullah was a clear example of love, obedience and self-sacrifice in marital obligations.
• The personality of her husband, 'Abdullah, had really increased her in status; but this made her more humble and more sincere in her love for Allah and His Messenger (PBUH) .
• She was never seized by ostentation and arrogance when she married 'Abdullah who was a cousin of Allah's Messenger (PBUH).
• Her husband Abdullah ibn Jahsh was martyred in the battle of Uhud.
• The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) knew the pain of separation that Zaynab was suffering from. So he made efforts to console her and he proposed marriage to her. She welcomed the proposal and accepted it. And she entered the household of the Prophet (PBUH) as a mother of the faithful.
• Eight months after this marriage, Zaynab, the mother of the faithful and the mother of the poor seriously took ill and died.
• She was the only wife of the Prophet (PBUH) who died in his life after Khadeejah. The Prophet (PBUH) was very sad for her departure. He invoked Allah to forgive her and he always remembered her days in patience.

     

On her character:

• Zaynab (May Allah be pleased with her) was very pious. The fragrance of her piety spread with her name.
• She was also very humble and did not show pride or ostentation.
• She spent most of her time listening to the tales of hardship among the poor and fulfilling their needs.
• She was a polite and generous lady.

May Allah Almighty help us to become as generous as Zaynab (May Allah be pleased with her). May we learn to be selfless and giving, like she was. May we become humble and pious and follow in the example of this amazing woman, Inshaa-Allah!

Information sourced from:

1. Muhammad ‘Ali Qutb, (2007). Women Around the Messenger. Riyadh: International Islamic Publishing House.

2. Mothers of the Faithful: The Pure And Spotless. Johannesburg: A Saaberie Chisty Publication:

For more detailed reading- books can be downloaded from:

http://www.kalamullah.com/sisters.html