Great Women in Islam

The answer for the quiz question (Which one of the wives of the Prophet (PBUH) was married to the Beloved Prophet (PBUH) for less than three years, then the Prophet (PBUH) passed away?) is:

• Like Juwairiyah (May Allah be pleased with her), Maymoonah (May Allah be pleased with her) was also first named Barrah, and her name was also changed for the same reason that Juwairiyah’s name was changed. The Prophet (PBUH) didn’t like self-praise (as was mentioned in the previous Great Women post).
• The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) died less than three years after marrying Maymoonah (May Allah be pleased with her).
• She was first married to a man named Masud Bin Umar Saqfi.
• After divorce she married Abu Rahm, who died shortly thereafter.
•  She lived as a widow in Makkah, till the age of 51 years. 
•  The people proposed her to marry the Noble Prophet (PBUH).
• The Holy Prophet (PBUH) proceeded on Umrah (minor pilgrimage) in the month of Dhul Qaddah,  in the 7^th year after Hijrah (migration to Madinah) and that is when their maariage took place.  
•  Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) the uncle of the Prophet (PBUH) arranged the marriage.
• This marriage led to the establishment of close links between Arab Tribes.

• Maymoonah (May Allah be pleased with her) was extremely pious and gentle.
• She was much afraid of Allah Almighty and strengthened the ties between kith and kin. 
•  She always followed the commands of the Prophet (PBUH). 
•  The Holy Prophet (PBUH) called her a symbol of goodness.
• She was very fond of reforming women and teaching them to be good and virtuous. 
•  She was also very fond of freeing slaves. 
•  Once she got a maid servant freed and the Beloved Prophet (PBUH) said, “Allah would reward you for this.”
• Maymoonah (May Allah be pleased with her) borrowed money on and off. Once she borrowed a large amount and someone said, ‘how will you pay this debt?’ Thereupon she answered; “The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said; “Allah himself pays off the debt of a person who intends to do so.”
• Although she was married to the Beloved Prophet (PBUH) for a short time only, she narrated 48 ahadeeth (sayings of the Prophet).
• She was also a great authority in Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence).
• After the death of the Prophet (PBUH) she lived her life quietly and peacefully, preoccupying herself with acts of worship and performing Hajj (Pilgrimage) every year. 
•  During her final Hajj, she became very ill on her way back to Madinah from Makkah.
• She died in a place called Sarif, which is some miles from Makkah. It was the same place in which a temporary dwelling was set up for the Prophet (PBUH) and Maymoonah where they consummated their marriage. That she died in the same place where her wedding to the Prophet (PBUH) took place could be according to Muhammad ‘Ali Qutb (in Women Around the Messenger (PBUH); “ a noteworthy indication, from which lessons can be learnt, of the purity of her will and her strong affinity for the Messenger of Allah (PBUH). “

Subhan'Allah indeed this is another great woman, and although we know less of her life than other of The Mothers of The Faithful, she is nonetheless a role model and a true example for us, May we learn from this example and from all our Great Women in Islam, Inshaa Allah!

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