Characteristic of the Best of Women
FROM A TAPE by Shaikh Saleem al
Hilaalee
Verily Allah created us to worship Him, and He
created everything in pairs (male and female) in order that life may
continue and that His worship may be established. Allah says, "And
Allah did create you (Aadam) from dust, then from Nutfah (male and
female discharge semen drops i.e. Aadam's offspring), then He made
you pairs (male and female)." (2) Both the man
and the woman have obligations and duties to fulfill, each one's
duties in harmony with the other's; the woman's duties complete and
perfect those of the man, and the man's duties complete and perfect
those of the woman. From those qualities which Allah and His
Messenger (s) have praised, and which are required in a believing
woman in order for her to perform her duties correctly, the greatest
of these is the quality of her possessing the Deen.
The
Prophet (s) said, "A woman is married for
four things: her wealth, her family status, her beauty and her Deen.
So you should marry the religious woman (otherwise) you will be a
loser." (3)
As for the husband, he should also be
a righteous man, as the Prophet (s) said, "When
someone with whose Deen and character you are satisfied asks your
daughter in marriage, accede to his request. If you do not do so,
there will be temptation on Earth and extensive corruption."4
Indeed the Prophet (s) was sent to perfect the people's character,
and he (s) praised the woman who possesses these noble qualities of
Deen and perfect character, saying that she is to a man the best
possession in this world - "The whole
world is a provision, and the best object of benefit of the world is
the pious woman." (5)
Allah has created the woman
as a companion for the man, in order that they may live in this world
performing their duties and observing Allah's commands correctly. The
Prophet (s) said, "I was sent to perfect
good character,"6 and, "Among
the Muslims the most perfect, as regards his faith, is the one whose
character is excellent, and the best among you are those who treat
their wives well." (7)
In order to achieve success
in this world and the Hereafter the woman must adopt this methodology
of perfecting her character, beginning with those affairs concerning
her home. The woman is an essential component in the building of the
home in order that it may be established upon Taqwaa (fear of Allah &
piety).
Allah says that those who believe say,
"Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring who
will be the comfort of our eyes..." (8)
Thus,
the correction of the household is the first step towards the
correction of the society. THE RIGHTEOUS WOMAN is the one who
knows her responsibilities, her rights and obligations, and performs
those acts which are obligatory upon her.
The Prophet (s)
said, "If a woman prayed her five daily
prayers, fasted in the month (of Ramadhaan), protected her private
parts from illegal sexual intercourse, and obeyed her husband, it
will be said to her: 'Enter Paradise from whichever gate you like',"
(9) And he (s) said, "Islam is based on
(the following) five (principles): to testify that none has the right
to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, to
offer the prayers dutifully and perfectly, to pay Zakaat, to perform
Hajj, and to observe fast during the month of Ramadhaan."
(10)
This is the first thing which the woman must take
care of in all circumstances; whether difficulty, ease, pleasure or
dislike - i.e. to perform the five obligatory pillars of Islam. Allah
says, recorded in a hadeeth qudsi, "And the most beloved things
with which My slave comes nearer to Me is what I have enjoined upon
him." (11)
THE RIGHTEOUS WOMAN should know the rights of her husband upon her
and should obey him in all that is obedience to Allah. When Mu'aadh
(r) came to the Prophet (s) and wanted to make sajdah (prostration)
to him [as an act of respect], he (s) stopped him and said, "If
I were to order anyone to prostrate himself before another, I should
order a woman to prostrate herself before her husband."
(12)
This is because of the great position of the husband with
regards to his wife. He (s) also said, "Whenever
a man calls his wife to their bed but she refuses to come, letting
him spend the night angry with her, she is cursed by the angels until
she relents." (13) And he (s) also said, "By
the One in whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad! No woman has fulfilled
her obligations to her Lord until she has fulfilled her obligations
to her husband. Even if he were to ask her for herself when she is
mounted in the saddle, she would not refuse his request."
(14)
These ahaadeeth emphasize the great responsibility
of the woman to obey her husband in all that is in obedience to
Allah, for surely obedience to the husband is part of obedience to
Allah. Allah has ordered the woman to be obedient to her husband and
the Prophet (s) praised the woman who brings happiness and pleasure
to her husband. He (s) said, "Marry the
loving and fertile, for I will compete with the other prophets with
the number of my followers." (1)5
This type of
woman is the one through which a man would receive happiness in his
home and one who will raise a righteous family. The Prophet (s) said,
"Everyone of you is a guardian, and is
responsible for what is in his custody. A lady is a guardian of her
husband's house and is responsible for it." (16) And
Allah (S) said, "And stay in your
houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of
ignorance." (17) By doing this, a woman can
become of those truly obedient to Allah. It must be noted that
obedience to the husband is mentioned as being only in those affairs
which are good, i.e. only in that which complies with the shari'ah
(Laws) of Allah. So, if he orders her to pray, fast, and take care of
the home, then this is all good and she should obey him in doing
so.
However, if he orders her with disobedience to Allah, then
"There is no obedience to the
creation when it involves disobedience to the Creator."
(18) So if he orders her to be neglectful of her prayers or in her
fasting, or he wants her to beautify herself in a way which is not
permissible, or to leave the house wearing perfume etc., then she
should not obey him in this as this is disobedience to Allah. The
Prophet (s) said, "No obedience for evil
deeds, obedience is required only in what is good."
(19)
THE RIGHTEOUS WOMAN should take care of and guard her
ownself and her honour. Allah praised Maryam the mother of 'Isa (as)
for possessing this great quality of chastity. From this guarding of
chastity comes many other affairs. 1. Lowering the gaze. Allah
has ordered both the men and the women to lower their gaze and to
protect their private parts. (20) 2. Not leaving the house
wearing perfume or displaying ornaments. Allah has ordered the woman
to cover herself up in order to protect her honour and chastity. It
is the practise of jaahiliyyah (ignorance) for the women to go out
uncovered, and they consider this to be progress and liberation!
Rather, it is from the ways of shaytaan(satan). Allah mentions in the
Qur'aan that when shaytaan whispered to Aadam and Hawwa(eve), and
they ate from the tree, their private parts became apparent to
them.(21) So the way of shaytaan is to make apparent and to display
the 'aurah. Every society in which open displaying of the people's
private parts is prolific is an evil society and is upon the path of
destruction. The Prophet (s) said, "When a
woman applies perfume and then goes about in an assembly, she is like
such and such i.e. an adulteress." (22)
THE
RIGHTEOUS WOMAN should not be one who is given to complaining and
nagging, rather she should be one who brings happiness into the home.
We can take an example from the story of Ibraaheem(Abraham) (as),
when he left his wife, Hajar, in Makkah. Hajar said to him, "Who
has ordered you to do this?" Ibraaheem answered her, saying,
"Verily, my Lord has ordered me to do this". So she said,
"If this is Allah's order, then Allah will never leave us and
destroy us." A further example can be found in the story of
Ismaa'eel (as) and his wife. Ibraaheem continued to visit Hajar and
his son Ismaa'eel, until when his son had grown up and married he
visited him at his home in Makkah. He knocked on the door and found
that Ismaa'eel was not home. His wife was present but she did not
recognise her husband's father. Ibraaheem began to question her as to
her situation and whether or not she was contented etc. She replied
that they were in a period of great poverty and trials, and she began
complaining about her situation. So Ibraaheem said to her, "When
Ismaa'eel returns, tell him to change the outer screen (lit. veil) of
his house. So when Ismaa'eel returned, his wife informed him that an
old man had visited him whilst he was out and that he had asked her
about her situation, to which she replied as she had replied. Then
she told him of the message Ibraaheem had left. Ismaa'eel then said
to his wife, "Verily, it was my father and he ordered me to
divorce you." So he divorced her and married another woman. Some
time later Ibraaheem came again to visit his son and again found that
he was not home. So he asked Ismaa'eel's new wife about her situation
and whether or not she was content. She replied, "Alhamdulillah.
Allah has given us great blessings and given us all that we need,"
even though at the time she had absolutely nothing in her house. So,
before Ibraaheem left he said, "Tell Ismaa'eel to keep the outer
screen of his house." When Ismaa'eel returned, his wife told him
of his visitor and what he had said. Ismaa'eel said, "That was
my father and he told me to keep you as my wife." (23)
Note
how Ibraaheem, this great Prophet of Allah, described the woman as
the outer screen of the house. This is because she is the keeper and
protector of the house and those affairs concerning it. Whoever
enters the house does so by her permission and knowledge. The
shayateen wish for the women to leave their homes in their
beautification, leaving behind their clothing, so that when the
people have taken their pleasure from them, then they turn away from
them as if they were nothing. Rather, the woman is as Ibraaheem
described her, as she is the one who takes care of the affairs of the
home. A poet once said, "The mother is (like) a school. If you
take care of the mother, you take care of the whole society."
The Prophet (s) said, "O women, you should
give charity and ask for much forgiveness. For I saw you in bulk
amongst the dwellers of Hell." A wise lady among them said, "Why
is it, Messenger of Allah, that our folk are in bulk in Hell?"
He (s) replied, "You curse too much and are ungrateful to your
husbands. If one of you has a husband who is good to you for all of
his life and then you see one thing from him which displeases you,
you say 'Verily, he was never good to me at all'." (24)
So, as the intimate companion of her husband, the woman must ensure
to take care of these affairs, for if she is good and righteous then
the whole society becomes good. But if there are conflicts and
disputes in the home, then this leads to the destruction of the
society.
1. Taken from the tape 'Characteristics of the Best
Women of Creation' by Sheikh Saleem al-Hilaalee.
2. Suratu-Fatir
(35):11.
3. Bukhaaree.
4. Tirmidhee, Nasaa'i & Ibn
Maajah.
5. Saheehul-Jaami' 3407.
6. Al-Muwwatta Imaam
Maalik.
7. Tirmidhee.
8. Suratul-Furqaan (25):74.
9.
Saheehul-Jaami' 674.
10. Bukhaaree.
11. Bukhaaree.
12.
Tirmidhee.
13. Bukhaaree & Muslim.
14. Ibn Maajah &
Ahmad.
15. Abu Daawood & Nasaa'i.
16. Bukhaaree.
17.
Suratul-Ahzab (33):33.
18. Related by Al-Baghawee in
Sharhus-Sunnah 10:44.
19. Bukhaaree.
20. Suratu-Nur
(24):30-31.
21. Suratu-TaHa (20):121.
22. Tirmidhee, Abu
Daawood & Nasaa'i.
23. Bukhaaree.
24. Muslim.
PART
TWO TAPE by Shaikh Saleem al Hilaalee
In the Qur'aan,
Allah (S) mentions some examples of the righteousness of women. He
(S) gave the stories of four women, two of which were righteous and
two who were evil. As for the pious women, they were the wife of
Fir'awn(Pharaoh) and Maryam(Marry) the daughter of 'Imraan.
When the wife of Fir'awn saw Musa(Moses) (as) in the cradle, her eyes
were full of love for him. She said to Fir'awn, "A comfort of
the eye for me and for you. Kill him not, perhaps he may be of
benefit to us, or we may adopt him as a son." (1) So he
(Fir'awn) granted her wish and Musa grew up in her household. When he
became a Prophet and began calling the people to Islam, she answered
this call and became a Muslim, despite the fact that she was the wife
of Fir'awn - the man who claimed to be Allah Himself, (S) - and
despite all that she possessed through being the wife of a king; she
refused that and chose to be amongst Allah's company. This is a great
example of how a woman chose the Hereafter over and above all of the
wealth of this world. The example of Maryam bint 'Imraan was
that she took care of herself and her private parts in such a way as
shows us the great importance of the woman's being chaste and not
going out of the house unclothed etc.2
The first example of
the two evil women is that of the wife of Nuh(Noah) (as). She used to
go and tell the people of Nuh about what he was doing and planning;
working and plotting against her husband. And the example of
the wife of Lut (Lot)(as) is similar. When the two angels came to
Lut, she told his people that two young men had come to her house, so
the people came in an attempt to do evil to them. (3)
Islam
has forbidden that the secrets of the household be divulged outside,
and these two examples show the evil of this action. Therefore, the
example of a good woman is one who is quick in doing good deeds, she
takes care of her private parts and does not spread the secrets of
the home. She is one who will be a caller to good, one who closes the
doors which lead to evil.
From the Sunnah we have the example
of Umm Salamah - the wife of the Prophet (s), the mother of the
Believers. She was a woman who possessed great intellect and was of
good opinion. When the Prophet (s) went to make 'Umrah in the year
6AH, the Quraish prevented him from doing so and turned him back. He
(s) told his companions, who were dressed in ihraam ready for 'Umrah,
to cut their hair and slaughter their animals. They were astonished,
and were hesitant to do this. He ordered them again and still they
did not do as he had commanded. The Prophet (s) entered into the tent
of Umm Salamah, unhappy and disturbed by what had happened, and he
told her that he had ordered his companions to shave their heads and
slaughter their animals but they did not do anything. Umm Salamah
said, 'Go yourself in the midst of your companions and cut your hair
and slaughter your animal. They will follow your example'. So he did
this and they all followed his example. Look at the great
intellect and good opinion of this noble lady, how she advised the
Messenger of Allah (s), thereby removing his grief and concern.
Similarly, the righteous woman should advise her husband in all that
is good and will remove anguish and cause of concern from
him.
Another example from the Sunnah of the righteousness of
women is that of Umm Saleem - the wife of Abu Talhah (r). Abu Talhah
was a disbeliever when he came to Umm Saleem asking for her hand in
marriage. She refused, saying, 'I will only marry you if you become a
Muslim'. So he became a Muslim and she made her mahr (dowry) his
Islam. They were blessed with a son whose name was Abu Umayr. He was
very beloved to Abu Talhah, but however after a few years he passed
away. So when Abu Talhah entered upon his wife and asked 'How is Abu
Umayr?', she answered him saying 'He is in the best of all
situations'. Then she beautified herself for her husband and after he
had taken pleasure from her she said 'What do you think if a people
had given another people some property to look after and they came
one day to ask for their property back, do you think they have the
right to do so?' Abu Talhah said 'Yes, of course'. So Umm Saleem said
'Verily, Allah has taken back His property'. At this Abu Talhah
became very angry and said 'You did all of this and then told me the
news about my son?' So he went to the Prophet (s) and told him about
what had happened. The Prophet (s) said 'May Allah give blessings
upon that night and what you did together'. They were granted a son
from that very night and his name was Abdullah. Abdullah had nine
other sons, all of whom had memorised the Qur'aan. This was in answer
to the du'aa of the Prophet (s).
Once a guest came to the
Prophet (s), so he said to his companions 'Who will take care of my
guest tonight?' One of the Ansaar said 'I will, O Messenger of
Allah'. So he went home and said to his wife 'What do we have for
food?' She said 'We only have enough food for our children'. He said
'Put the children to sleep whilst they are hungry. When the Prophet's
guest arrives, serve him the food and put out the lamp and pretend to
eat so that he does not think we are not eating'. So she obeyed her
husband in this. The guest went back to the Prophet (s) and told him
what the Ansaari and his wife had done. When the Ansaari went to the
Prophet (s) the next day, he (s) said 'Allah (S) is Astonished at
what you did last night with regards to your guest. And Allah
revealed the Ayah "And those who,
before them, had homes (in Al-Madina) and had adopted the Faith, -
love those who emigrate to them, and have no jealousy in their
breasts for that which they have been given, and give them preference
over themselves, even though they were in need of that."
(4)
So what has preceded are some of the examples of how a
woman can become amongst the most honourable and the best of
creation, and thereby earn Paradise - and may Allah make us from
among its people - Ameen.
1. Suratul-Qasas (28):9
2. See from
Suratu- Maryam (19):16
3. See Suratu-Tahrim (66):10
4.
Suratul-Hashr (59):9
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