The Ten Days of Dhul Hijjah

There are tons of reasons why you wouldn’t want to pass up this opportunity. Do you know which one? The first ten days ofDhu’l-Ḥijjah.

It’s that time of the year again, the last month of the lunar calendar for the year 1431 after the Hijrah of the Prophet Muḥammad, ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam. This is the time when more than two million people from all around the globe will be meeting together for at least five days in the plains of Makkah, Mina, ‘Arafah and Muzdalifah to perform their sacred journey to Makkah, known to us as al-Hajj, the pilgrimage. What bonds them together? One thing: al-Islam.

If you are already reading this, most likely you are not going to Hajj. And if you’re there already, then what on earth are you doing wasting your time online? Go to the Haram and enjoy your ṭawāf.

There are two chances in life: the one which you have already missed and the one which you don’t want to miss. What you already have is no longer a chance, its reality.

Therefore, for those of us who were unable to be there in Makkah, why should we value these special days of the year? Here are my top five reasons.

Allah subahanahu wa ta’ala valued these days so much that he swore by them in the Qur’an. And If Allah swore by something, then it is definitely profound and of the greatest value. Allah says:

والفجر وليال عشر
“by the dawn, and by ten nights” AlFajr 89:1-2

Ibn Kathīr rahimahullah, in his tafsir, referred to these ten days as the ten days of Dhu’l-Ḥijjah. He also attributed this opinion to Ibn ʿAbbās, Ibn Az-Zubayr and others of the righteous predecessors.

The good deeds performed during these ten days are most rewarded, more than any other time of the year.
Ibn Abbas narrated the Messenger salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said:

(مَا مِنْ أيَّامٍ العَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ فِيهِنَّ أحَبُّ إلى الله مِنْ هَذهِ الأيَّامِ العَشْرِ) ، فقالُوا يا رسولُ الله: ولا الجِهَادُ في سَبِيلِ الله؟ فقالَ رسولُ الله : ( ولا الجِهَادُ في سَبِيلِ الله، إلاّ رَجُلٌ خَرجَ بِنَفْسِهِ ومَالِهِ، فَلَمْ يَرْجِعْ من ذَلِكَ بِشَيْءٍ).

“There are no days during which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days. The companions asked: not even jihad in the cause of Allah? The Messenger of Allah replied: Not even jihad in the cause of Allah except for the one who went to fight taking himself and his wealth but did not return with either of them.” (Bukhari and Tirmidhi.)

The Blessings of the Days of  ‘Arafah

These ten days host one special day in which there are so many blessings. It is the day of ‘Arafah, the ninth day of Dhu’l-Ḥijjah and the day preceding the ‘Id day. Some of the blessings of ‘Arafah are:

• Fasting that day expiates the sins of two years, the previous one and the coming year. (Muslim)
• It is a day in which Allah completed the revelation of the religion, perfected this bounty bestowed upon us and was satisfied with Islam as our religion. This was mentioned in Sūrat’l-Mā’idah 5:3. (Bukhari and Muslim)
• It is the day when Allah AlMighty descends, in a manner that suits His Majesty, to the closest heaven and shows his pride to the angels about the presence of the pilgrims. (Muslim)
• In this day Allah promises the pilgrims to bestow his mercy on them and forgive their sins so that when they return home they return free of sins just like the day when their mothers gave birth to them. (Bukhari and Muslim)
• It is a day when many people will be emancipated from the fire of Hell.

The season of the ten days of Dhu’l-Ḥijjah is a festivity of worship. No other days of the year hold so many diverse acts of worship as done in such a short time, not even in Ramadan. And here is a list of some of what good deeds are done during these days in Makkah and elsewhere around the globe:

• Hajj and multiple Umrahs by millions of people.
• The sacrifice of the dunya and this world for the sake of attending the Hajj.
• The display of humility, humbleness and devotion in the actual rituals of Hajj.
• Tawaaf around the Ka’bah and Sai’ between the two hills of Safa and Marwa.
• Abundance of Dhikr, the praise of Allah especially takbeer and tahleel and what other pilgrims say the most, Talbiyah.
• Fasting for the non-pilgrims.
• Being extra charitable.
• Offering the hadi’y and udhiyah or qur’ban the sacrifice of livestock and feeding the poor.
• The inclination towards repentance.
• The engagement in long du’a or supplications as a sign of humility and humbleness.
• Maintaining the prayers in the sacred sites al-Haram in Makkah and the Masjid of the Prophet in Madinah.
• The recitation of the Qur’an.

The ten days of Dhu’l-Ḥijjah also host the greatest day of the year, Yum-an-Nahr the day of the sacrifice, the 10th which is the actual day of ‘Id. The Messenger of Allah said:

(إنَّ أَعْظَمَ اْلأيَّامِ عِنْدَ الله تبارك وتعالى يَوْمُ النَّحْرِ ثُمَّ يَوْمُ الْقَرِّ)

“The best day with Allah is yum-an-Nahr, the day of sacrifice and then yum-al-qarr (the day that follows, when the pilgrims reside in the camps of Mina for worship).” (Ahmad, Abu Dawood and an-Nasa’iee).

So, now that you know the significance of this season, what do you need to do?

Some suggestions to make the Best of the Ten Days:

• Increase your level of worship during the day and during the night.
• Try to achieve one khatma of the Qur’an (reading it from cover to cover).
• Keep your tongue moist with dhikr and praise of Allah wherever you are.
• Maintain a state of ṭahārah and wuḍū’ at all times.
• Make most of your dhikr Takbīr (like the one you recite on ‘Id day).
• Fast a few days while the days are short and cold, particularly the 9th, the day of ‘Arafah.
• If you haven’t paid for the qurban (sacrificial animal) yet, make sure to do so. Perhaps you should donate one to those who are most in need of it in areas such as Pakistan and Gaza.
• Wake up before Fajr time and pray Qiyam-ul-Layl.
• Pray your Fardh salat on time.
• Make sure you don’t miss any of the Nafl and Sunnah prayers.
• Give charity and help those who are less fortunate prepare for the Eid day.
• Share the spirit of the season and be cheerful with all people.

There is so much you can do for the ten days of Dhu’l-Ḥijjah, but you are the one who knows your schedule better than any one else. Make sure to make this season a priority and may Allah grant you all Jannatul Firdous.

Remember, there are two chances in life: the one you already missed, and the one you don’t want to miss. So don’t miss out on the ten days of Dhu’l-Ḥijjah.

Read more

The Hajj - The Pilgrimage (part 2 of 2)

The Kaaba is a special place. We commemorate Abraham and his son's faith and surrender. We also celebrate Mother Hagar's love. Mother's love is the highest form of selfless human love. Hagar typified this love so well. She combined this love with her unshakable trust in God. Abraham was instructed to bring her and her infant son Ishmael near the mound that was once the Kaaba. In this desolate place with nary a single soul and nary a water source, he left them with a leather bag containing some dates, and a small water-skin containing some water, and set out homeward. Ishmael's mother followed him saying, "O Abraham! Where are you going, leaving us in this valley where there is no person whose company we may enjoy, nor is there anything (to enjoy)?"

She repeated that to him many times, but he did not look back at her. Then she asked him, "Has Allah ordered you to do so?"

He said, "Yes."

She said, "Then He will not neglect us."

What an exemplary Trust in their Beloved God! They knew that the Causer of all Causes will provide. He is Eminently Resourceful. Ishmael's mother went on suckling Ishmael and drinking from the water (she had). When all water ran out, she became thirsty and her child also became thirsty. She started looking at Ishmael tossing in agony; she left him, for she could not endure looking at him, and found that the mountain of Safa was the nearest mountain to her on that land. She stood on it and started looking at the valley keenly so that she might see somebody, but she could not see anybody. Then she descended from Safa and when she reached the valley, she tucked up her robe and ran in the valley like a person in distress and trouble, till she crossed the valley and reached the Marwa mountain where she stood and started looking, expecting to see somebody, but she could not see anybody. She repeated that (running between Safa and Marwa) seven times. God loved this selfless display of motherly love so much that every pilgrim to His Holy House must proceed 7 times between the Twin Peaks of Safa and Marwa.

When she reached Marwa (for the last time) she heard a voice and she asked herself to be quiet and listened attentively. She heard the voice again and said, “O, (whoever you may be)! You have made me hear your voice; have you got something to help me?" And behold! She saw an angel at the place of Zamzam, digging the earth with his heel till water flowed from that place. She started to make something like a basin around it, using her hand in this way, and started filling her water-skin with water with her hands, and the water was flowing out after she had scooped some of it. This wonderful gift of God hasn't stopped yet. Hundreds of Millions come every year and take gallons and gallons of the Holy Water with them and still the small well never goes dry. Mecca is a special place.

In celebration of the two momentous events in Abraham's family, we are reminded that Allah's Will always work for our highest good. In the end, it all worked out for Abraham's family and in the end if we trust Him everything will work out for us too. From Him have we come and to Him shall we return!

Kaaba is a special place. It is overwhelming to be in company of 3 million brothers and sisters in faith, all enshrouded in humble whites. The highest kings to the humblest of laborers are dressed alike. They stand shoulder to shoulder, they run side by side and they greet each other the greeting of peace. People of all races intermingle as co-equals. Black, white, yellow and brown all come together in harmony before their Beloved. In this searing passion for the Loved One, there is no distraction. He Alone Matters! It is wonderful to lift one's face and see one's Qiblah face-to-face. All their lives 5 times a day they turned their faces to their Qiblah, the Holy Kaaba, and now they see it right in front of them in all its majesty and glory. They savor the sweetness of coming Home all the while exclaimingLabbaik Allahuma labbaik, la sharika laka labbaik, Labbaik Allahuma labbaik: I have come, my Lord, I have come. No one participates in Your Divinity (so I have nowhere to come but You). I have come." I have come, my Beloved. I have come.

We circulate around the Holy Kaaba proclaiming all the while our Arrival. Circling around the earthly shadow of the Pole, we are reminded to keep our Beloved at the Center of our lives. We are reminded to keep Him in front of our lives and in center of our existence.

Accept the Hajj of all our blessed Muslim brothers and sisters who are given the grace of your Presence in Your Exalted House. Give us the Grace to one day be able to come visit You. O Allah, there is no one worthy of Love, Worship and Surrender but You. Allow us to love you, worship You and submit to Your Presence and to Your Wish and Will. Amen!

Read more

The Hajj - The Pilgrimage (part 1 of 2)

It’s that time of the year, Muslims all over the world are getting restless. Their Home in the heart of the planet beckons them. It’s time to pay homage to the Beloved God in the House. It’s time to come Home. It’s time to come Home to the Holy Sanctuary of Kaaba. It’s time to leave all and follow Him. It’s time to abandon this illusory world and come to the House of God. It’s time for Hajj--the Pilgrimage. Those who can go will head to Mecca, those who can’t will join in the festivities of Homecoming wherever they may be by celebrating the Eid of Sacrifice.


Hajj is a commemoration of love and celebration of faith. We commemorate Abraham’s Supreme Sacrifice in love of his Beloved in Mina. We celebrate his wife Hagar’s display of unprecedented love for the infant Ishmael and her unflinching trust in the Providence in the lonely desert around Safa and Marwa. We venerate God’s Greatest Gift, the Quran by spending a day in Arafat where the final revelation was sent. We celebrate faith by coming face-to-face to the Qiblah of our prayers.


Hajj is also an act of renunciation. Muslims from every corner of the globe don their coffins--two cotton sheets--to represent their deaths to this life and head to their Primordial Home. They pay their debts, ask forgiveness of everyone, bid farewell to one and all and prepare to die to this world to live in Him. We are now ready for Hajj to the Kaaba very special place.


The Kaaba is a special place. It was the first house of worship built by the first man. God commanded Adam to make a journey. He walked umpteen months until he arrived guided by God to Mecca. Here, he was instructed to build Him a House. This was mankind’s first House of Worship. This is where we first learned to mourn our separation from our Beloved. This is where Adam shed countless tears to lament loss of paradisiacal glory. This is where we sought to seek His nearness. This is where we sought to experience His intimacy. This House is the Archetype which basks under another House situated far beyond the realm of the Visible Universe and the prison of space and serial time. This is the first act of reconciliation with our Paradisiacal Destiny in the Home of our Beloved in spite of our terrestrial sojourn.


The Kaaba is a special place. It was once lost to us but our Beloved led His Friend Abraham (may God shower him with praise) to this Sanctuary and gave him the task of restoring this House. Our father recruited his son Ishmael for the Holy Task. For months at end, father and son toiled under the searing desert sun sustained only by their burning love for the Eternal God. This choice was no random choice. Abraham was the man for the job. Every year, when men and women were to come to this blessed House, they were to come on 10th of the month of Dhul-Hijjah. This auspicious day God asked Abraham to make the Supreme Sacrifice and Abraham delivered. Allah asked His Friend to sacrifice his son Ishmael and he obliged.


Kaaba is a special place. Its foundations have been fortified by love and faith of Abraham’s family. We go there to commemorate love. We go there to celebrate faith. Abraham lived the true meaning of Surrender. He loved God, his Friend, above all. God gave him a dream where he saw himself sacrificing his son. Persistence of the dream convinced him that it wasn’t just a dream but an allusion from the Infinite. He intimated the dream to his son who readily concurred. Once it was known to be God’s Will, the son didn’t offer any excuses. It was a foregone conclusion that His Will be done. Father and son set off to the designated place. When they reached their destination, son suggested that the father cover his eyes so his love does not overwhelm him into disobeying His master. At the very moment that Abraham let loose his knife, the son was substituted with a lamb. This time and this day was made sacred. Every year, millions come this very day. Millions retrace the steps of these two in the valley of Mina, they stop where they stopped, walk where they walked and finally arrive where the Supreme Sacrifice was offered. Here, everyone offers a sacrifice in His Love and then gives it to the impoverished people of the land all the while marveling at Abraham’s burning love and faith in God that he was willing to sacrifice his most precious love. Those who can’t be here, celebrate this wonderful sacrifice wherever they may be in any part of the world. For indeed, the love of God must be celebrated.

Read more

A History of the Hajj

Hajj literally means ‘to set out for a place’.  Islamicly, however, it refers to the annual pilgrimage that Muslims make to Makkah with the intention of performing certain religious rites in accordance with the method prescribed by the Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him.

Hajj and its rites were first ordained by God in the time of the Prophet Abraham and he was the one who was entrusted by God to build the Kaaba - the House of God - along with his son Ishmael at Makkah.  God described the Kaaba and its building as follows:

“And remember when We showed Abraham the site of the [Sacred] House [saying]: Associate not anything [in worship with Me and purify My House for those who circumambulate it [i.e. perform Tawaaf] and those who stand up for prayer and those who bow down and make prostration [in prayer etc.].”  (Quran 22:26)

After building the Kaaba, Abraham would come to Makkah to perform Hajj every year, and after his death, this practice was continued by his son.  However, gradually with the passage of time, both the form and the goal of the Hajj rites were changed.  As idolatry spread throughout Arabia, the Kaaba lost its purity and idols were placed inside it.  Its walls became covered with poems and paintings, including one of Jesus and his mother Maryand.  Eventually over 360 idols came to be placed around the Kaaba.

During the Hajj period itself, the atmosphere around the sacred precincts of the Kaaba was like a circus.  Men and women would go round the Kaaba naked, arguing that they should present themselves before God in the same condition they were born.  Their prayer became devoid of all sincere remembrance of God and was instead reduced to a series of hand clapping, whistling and the blowing of horns.  Even the Hajj call was distorted by them with the following additions: “No one is Your partner except one who is permitted by you.  You are his Master and the Master of what he possesses.”

Sacrifices were also made in the name of God.  However, the blood of the sacrificed animals was poured onto the walls of the Kaaba and the flesh was hung from pillars around the Kaaba, in the belief that God demanded the flesh and blood of these animals.

Singing, drinking, adultery and other acts of immorality was rife amongst the pilgrims and the poetry competitions, which were held, were a major part of the whole Hajj event.  In these competitions, poets would praise the bravery and splendor of their own tribesmen and tell exaggerated tales of the cowardice and miserliness of other tribes.  Competitions in generosity were also staged where the chief of each tribe would set up huge cauldrons and feed the pilgrims, only so that they could become well-known for their extreme generosity.

Thus the people had totally abandoned the teachings of their forefather and leader Abraham.  The House that he had made pure for the worship of God alone, had been totally desecrated by the pagans and the rites which he had established were completely distorted by them.  This sad state of affairs continued for nearly two and a half thousand years.  But then after this long period, the time came for the supplication of Abraham to be answered:

“Our Lord!  Send amongst them a Messenger of their own, who shall recite unto them your verses and instruct them in the book and the Wisdom and sanctify them.  Verily you are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” (Quran 2:129)

Sure enough, a man by the name of Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullaah was born in the very city that Abraham had made this supplication centuries earlier.  For twenty-three years, the Prophet Muhammad spread the message of monotheism - the same message that Abraham and all the other Prophets came with - and established the law of God upon the land.  He expended every effort into making the word of God supreme and his victory over falsehood culminated in the smashing of the idols inside the Kaaba which once again became the universal centre for the worshippers of the one True God.

Not only did the Prophet rid the Kaaba of all its impurities, but he also reinstated all the rites of Hajj which were established by God’s Permission, in the time of Abraham.  Specific injunctions in the Quran were revealed in order to eliminate all the false rites which had become rampant in the pre-Islamic period.  All indecent and shameful acts were strictly banned in God’s statement:

“There is to be no lewdness nor wrangles during Hajj.” (Quran 2:197)

Competitions among poets in the exaltations of their forefathers and their tribesmen’s’ achievements were all stopped.  Instead, God told them:

“And when you have completed your rites [of Hajj] then remember God as you remember your forefathers; nay with a more vigorous remembrance.” (Quran 2:200)

Competitions in generosity were also prohibited.  Of course, the feeding of the poor pilgrims was still encouraged as this was done in the time of Abraham, but God commanded that the slaughtering of the animals which was done for this purpose should be done seeking the pleasure of God rather than fame and the praise of the people.  He said:

“So mention the name of God over these animals when they are drawn up in lines.  Then, when they are drawn on their sides [after the slaughter], eat thereof and feed the beggar who does not ask, and the beggar who asks.” (Quran 22:36)

As for the deplorable practice of spattering blood of the sacrificed animals on the walls of the Kaaba and hanging their flesh on altars, then God clearly informed them that:

“It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches God, but it is Taqwaa (piety) from you that reaches Him.” (Quran 22:37)

The Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, also put a stop to the practice of circling the Kaaba in a state of nudity and the argument that the pagans put forward to justify this ritual was sharply rebutted in God’s question:

“Say: Who has forbidden the adornment [i.e. clothes] given by God which He has produced for His Slaves?” (Quran 7:32)

Another custom which was prohibited through the Quran was that of setting off for Hajj without taking any provisions for the journey.  In the pre-Islamic period, some people who claimed righteousness, having total dependency on God, would travel to perform Hajj begging food the whole journey.  They considered this form of behavior a sign of piety and an indication of how much faith they had in God.  However God told mankind that to have sufficient provisions for the journey was one of the preconditions for making Hajj.  He said:

“And take a provision [with you] for the journey, but the best provision is piety.” (Quran 2:197)

In this way, all the pre-Islamic practices, which were based in ignorance, were abolished and Hajj was once more made a model of piety, fear of God, purity, simplicity and austerity.  Now, when the pilgrims reached the Kaaba, they no longer found the carnivals and the frolic and frivolity that had once occupied the minds of the pilgrims there before.  Now, there was the remembrance of God at every step and every action and every sacrifice was devoted to Him alone.  It was this kind of Hajj that was worthy of the reward of paradise, as the Prophet said:

“The reward for an accepted Hajj is nothing less than paradise.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)

Read more

Sister ... Where is your place in history?

Praise be to Allah the Almighty, and peace be upon the His Messenger, his household, companions, and allies.

A closer look into history shows the extent of the vast difference between the determination of the ancestor women, and the state of the women of this age except for those who Allah has mercy on!

Muslim women in past centuries had given the finest examples of high determination and pride, and had recorded for the following generations wonderful acts of heroism, if women of the present time read about them, they would think that they are forms of fiction, but for the evidences and proofs that verify this fact in history.

By their lives they had set an example for generations, in matters of worship and jihad, in fasting and spending the nights awake worshipping Allah, in their pursuit of knowledge, of education, their advocacy and sacrifice for the religion of Allah.

In this book we will review valuable examples from the conditions of ancestor women, hoping that Allah may revive faith in the hearts of our women, so that they wake up and preserve the spirit of nostalgia to the past, where there is glory and empowerment.

The first to embrace Islam is a woman!

When Allah the Almighty revealed Islam to His Prophet, peace be upon him, he reviewed the matter with his immaculate wife Umm Al-Qasim Khadija Bint Khuwailid, may Allah be pleased with her, her heart throbbed for the religion and her feelings responded with a sense of sincerity and certainty to the master of the Prophets and Messengers, peace be upon him.

Imam 'Izz al-Din ibn Al-Athir, may Allah have mercy on him, said: "Khadija was the first to embrace Islam, by consensus of the Muslims". [Jungle Lion (7 / 78)]

She, may Allah be pleased with her, did not care about what might befall her by the idolaters, she had been the best helper and supporter to the Prophet, peace be upon him, she backed him up and supported him with her money, herself and her possessions, therefore, she had had a place in the heart of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, that was not matched by the status of all the other Mothers of the Believers. Mother of the Believers, 'Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: "if the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, mentioned Khadija he praised her aptly. She said: one day I became jealous and said to him: how often you remember an old woman of red gums (with a toothless mouth), and in whose place Allah has given you somebody better than her?" He said: "Allah has given me somebody better than her? She believed in me when people denied me, she believed me, when people did not, she supported me with her money, when people deprived me, Allah has blessed me with her children and deprived me of the children of people". [Declared Hassan by Al-Haythami]

›› كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا ذكر خديجة أثنى فأحسن الثناء قالت فغرت يوما فقلت ما أكثر ما تذكر حمراء الشدقين قد أبدلك الله خيرا منها قال أبدلني الله خيرا منها قد آمنت بي إذ كفر بي الناس وصدقتني إذ كذبني الناس وواستني بمالها إذ حرمني الناس ورزقني الله أولادها وحرمني أولاد الناس‹‹

حسنه الهيثمى

This hadith indicates her high ranked position in the heart of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and on the great sacrifice she made because she believed in Allah and His Messenger. The Prophet, peace be upon him, gave her the glad tidings of having a Qassab palace in Paradise wherein there will be neither any noise nor any fatigue (trouble) [The Biography of A'lam An-Nubala' (chiefs of the nobles) 2 / 10, and the Qassab is hollow pearls large as palaces] may Allah be pleased and complacent with her.

O sister O believer, Khadija, may Allah bless her, was the best supporter of Islam; with her and with women like her Allah granted victory to the religion, and defeated the masses of the non-believer idolaters. She has earned a great honor in this world and the Hereafter by her precedence in embracing Islam and true faith, and we hope that the medal of this honor be hanged around the necks of women believers, it is the honor of the precedence of returning to religion, Khadija, may Allah bless her, has earned the honor of being the first to start, and we want you to win the honor of being the first to return to religion!

The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "Islam began as something strange and will return to be strange, so blessed be the strangers" [Narrator: Abdullah ibn Masud, from Sahih Al-Bukhari]

›› إن الإسلام بدأ غريبا وسيعود غريبا كما بدأ فطوبى للغرباء‹‹

رواه البخاري بإسناد حسن

Yes; you must pay the tax of the return, as you have paid the tax of the start, which is the same in both cases: it is alienation.

So, may Allah preserve you, be a supporter to this religion by your commitment and response to Allah and His Messenger, take Mother of the Believers an example, endure the desolation and alienation of the path to be taken, the path to paradise is surrounded by hard non loved things and the path to hellfire is surrounded by lustrous desires!

The first martyr in Islam was a woman

What an amazing destiny of Allah that the first martyr in Islam was a woman, so that all Muslim women throughout history should know that women's role in supporting religion was great; the first to throb for Islam was a woman, and the first to water the soil by her blood in order to support Islam and Allah was a woman.

It is Sumayya Bint Khubbat, the mother of Ammar ibn Yasir. She was the seventh of seven in Islam. When the heat of noon intensified, and the heat became unbearable, Banu Makhzum (a clan of Quraish), took her and her son and husband out to the desert where they put them into iron armors and poured down burning sand upon them, and stoned them, whenever the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, passes by them he says: "patience the family of Yasir you are promised Paradise!" To avoid that bitter torture the two men - her son and husband – said by their tongue words of disbelief, while their hearts were at rest with Faith, Allah the Almighty has excused people in their condition by saying: “except for one who is forced [to renounce his religion] while his heart is secure in faith” [An-Nahl 6:106]

{إِلَّا مَنْ أُكْرِهَ وَقَلْبُهُ مُطْمَئِنٌّ بِالْإِيمَانِ} النحل: 106

Transliteration: illa man okriha waqalbuhu mutmainnun bialeemani

However the woman held patience, and settled to torment, and refused to give the people what they asked for, of disbelief, after faith. They took her life and killed her in a horrible way. She died, may Allah be pleased with her, and was the first martyr in Islam!

Where are sisters like Sumayya in our time! And where is the woman who becomes patient with Islamic hijab (veil) without drifting behind the idle talk of fashion and its spot lights!

Where is the woman who perseveres in obeying Allah the Almighty and her husband and parents!

Where is the woman who sacrifices her time for learning, education and advocacy for Allah's religion!

It was an honor for women that martyrdom in Islam was inaugurated by their hands. Sumaya Bint Khubbat, may Allah have mercy on her, had certified her commitment to Islam by her blood , flesh and soul, in order to leave for the following Muslim women generations a legacy of history to be proud of and to follow its path for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure.

O sister

You have been willingly guided to Islam *** satisfied with only the teachings of the best prophet 

You were a precious preserved pearl *** today they want you for fun and play 

A free woman they would turn into a slave *** having a strange brain, but her name is Arabic

Are those equal whose leader is the Messenger of Allah *** to those of the abyss of Abu Lahab 

Then, whose role model is Al-Zahra *** equal to that of the wood carrier 

Sister, you are not rootless *** you are not a bastard

You are the Arab daughter of Islam *** in the bosom of the purest mother and from the dearest father 

Do not care about their throwing *** you have the mind responding if you call 

Ask it: Who am I? My family? My origin? *** am I from the West or from Islam and Arabs?!

[My Muslim Sister who Ordered You the Hijab (veil), p. 24.]

Women make heroes

Al-Khansa' was one of the finest Arab women in the days of ignorance. The day her brother was killed, she cried him bitterly, and became an example of wailing, because of the severity of the pain of losing him!

But when she converted to Islam and became a worthy Muslim, she made heroes, and gave lessons for future generations. When her sons, the apples of her eyes, prepared for combat, she preached them like the admonishing Commander who sharpens the courage of his soldiers, and awakens their sleep, she said to them: "Sons, you embraced Islam willingly, and migrated by choice. By Allah Who there is no god but Him, you are the sons of one man, and you are the sons of one woman, you are of authentic breed and origin, know that the Hereafter is better than this vanishing world.

Be patient, and endure hardships, station yourselves, and fear Allah so that you may prosper, when you see that the war had broken out fiercely, hurry unto its furnace, fight its strongest, you will win booty and dignity, in the House of Eternity"

When the combat intensified, they rushed unto the enemy, until they all died, may Allah have mercy on them. She did but say: "Thank Allah Who honored me by their death and I hope that He joins me with them in His house of Mercy". [Al-Isabah 7/615-616]

Where are the likes of Al-Khansa' in our time? Where are those who raise the determination of daughters and sons to sacrifice for the sake of religion, if not in combat, then by education and work, advocacy and advice, and make good deeds and refraining from doing harm?

Muslim sister: Remember that a home is a school for children, and you are their teacher, according to your guidance and education your children will approach life and produce, therefore, good guidance and ethical education are prerequisites in making heroes.

A girl is a School, if well-prepared*** you have prepared well-bred people

Whoever takes a closer look at the reality of Muslims today will find out that the reason for the degradation in many aspects of their lives is the absence of the spirit of education and guidance, the absence of the pioneer role of motherhood in the making of men who hoist the banner of religion. So, may Allah guide you, take care of your children, and make them soldiers of Allah!

Women... Defeated the Romans!

In the battle of Yarmouk history testified for women with courage and heroism, sacrifice for the victory of Islam and Muslims. The Romans were astonished and stunned with amazement when they saw the wives of the Mujahideen (Muslim fighters) use stones and wood sticks, and canes as weapons, they jumped over the Roman knights, and were killing as men, even more!

In our present time – things have been reversed – and there has become admiration in the hearts of many women to the Romans - the West - and their conditions, they imitated them in everything, admired their life style and their characteristics, men, women and children.

In the battle of Yarmouk, some Muslims fled when the Roman armies outnumbered the right side of the Muslim army, and here the courage of women and their role in inciting to jihad are manifested, when they called: "O daughters of the Arabs! Intervene between men, bring them back from defeat till they return to fight," Sa'idah bint Asim Al-Khawlani: "I was among the women that day on the hill, and when the right side of the Muslim army got exposed, 'Uqairah bint Gha'far – she was an extemporaneous woman - chanted loudly:" Women of the Arabs! Intervene between men, carry your children by your arms, and receive the men with incitement to fight ". The daughter of Al-'Assi ibn Munbih cried loudly: "may Allah curse the face of a man who flees leaving his wife," the women said to their husbands: "You are not our husbands, unless you defend us against those Al'ilj (infidels)". [The Beginning and the End (7 / 11)]

Ibn Jarir said: "Muslim women fought in this day and killed a lot of the Romans. They hit the defeated Muslims, saying:" Where are you going and leaving us for those infidels? When they rebuffed them, the men wouldn't help but return to the fighting." [The same source]

Hind bint Utba came out with a lute in her hands, behind her were some women of Al-Muhajireen (migrants), she incited the Mujahideen, saying the poetry she said on the day of Uhud (name of a battle).

Then she received the knights of the right side of the Muslim army, they were in a state of defeat, so she cried out: "Where are you going? And what are you running from? From Allah and His paradise are you running? He is seeing and knowing what you are doing." She looked at her husband Abu Sufyan, he was defeated so she hit the face of his horse by her stick, and said to him: "Where to, O Abu Sakhr? Return to the fighting, exert your heart so as to erase your previous incitement against the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him," Al-Zubair ibn Al-'Awam said: " When I heard the words of Hind to Abu Sufyan, I remembered the day of Uhud while we were in the hands of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him." He said: when Abu Sufyan heard the words of Hind he returned back and so did the Muslims after him, and I looked at the women, they were fighting beside the men, racing them to the battle.

I have seen a woman of them who has approached one grand infidel [A Knight of order of the Romans] he was on a horse, she hang out to him until she throw him off his horse, and killed him, saying: "This is a manifestation of Allah's victory to Muslims!" In this battle Asma bint Yazeed ibn As-Sakan killed with the pole of her tent nine of Romans ". [the Biography A'lam An-Nubala' 2 / 297]

My Muslim sister... These beautiful bright scenes in the history of the Muslim woman stir up determination and ambitions in our souls, they throw sublimity and superiority inside the heart, the woman is the foundation of society, and she is the nucleus of the family, her status is great in all legitimate fields! So think, may Allah preserve you, how these Muslim fighters defeated the enemies of Allah, the Romans with the worst recorded defeat in history, none like it was ever recorded up till now!

So come on, Make heroes as the ancestors had made, and be the motivator of your husband for good and virtue.

Women as worshipers

The Mothers of the Believers were, obedient, repentant, oft-fasting, satisfied with what they had and spending nights in prayers.

Among them is the Mother of Believers Zainab bint Jahsh ibn Ri'ab, she was the cousin of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and she, may Allah be pleased with her, was a woman artisan, and was working by her hands, she gave what she earned to charity for Allah's sake. [The Biography A'lam An-Nubala' 2 / 217]

She was, may Allah bless her, a righteous, charitable, benevolent, she was nicknamed "Mother of the poor," The Mother of believers, Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, eulogized her after her death saying: "a benign praising Allah woman has passed away, the reliever of orphans and widows". [The Al-Isabah of 7 / 670]

Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: " the Prophet, peace be upon him, entered and saw a rope extended between two poles, he said: "What is this rope?" They said:" it is a rope of Zainab, when she feels lazy she hangs unto it". The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "No, untie the robe, you should work actively until you feel tired, then you should rest". [Al-Bukhari]

›› دخل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ، فإذا حبل ممدود بين الساريتين ، فقال: ما هذا الحبل. قالوا : هذا حبل لزينب ، فإذا فترت تعلقت . فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : لا ، حلوه ، ليصل أحدكم نشاطه ، فإذا فتر فليقعد ‹‹

رواه البخاري

Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: "the status of Zainab bint Jahsh was equal to mine with the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, I have never seen a better woman in religion than Zainab, more fearing of Allah, more truthful, more benevolent to her kin, and more charitable, she used to work herself out to giving charity to get closer to Allah the Almighty, except for a surge of anger that she experienced once and a while " [The Al-Isabah of 2 / 214]

My Muslim sister: exert efforts, may Allah guide you, in the obedience of Allah, take the Mothers of the Believers as your role models, and read their history in the biographies and history books, to become acquainted with their acts of worship and asceticism in this world, and their drawing closer to Allah by acts of worship and good deeds. Beware of being deceived by women of this age; being many does not indicate being right, Allah the Almighty said: “And few of My servants are grateful” [Saba 34:13]

{وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنْ عِبَادِيَ الشَّكُورُ} سبأ: 13

Transliteration: waqaleelun min AAibadiya alshshakooru

And He said about Noah: “But none had believed with him, except a few” [Hud 11:40]

{ وَمَا آمَنَ مَعَهُ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ} هود: 40

Transliteration: wama amana maAAahu illa qaleelun

Woman scientist

The women had a prominent role in the conservation of sciences and teaching them; Imam Abu Muslim Al-Faraheedi, (a narrator of Hadith) wrote about seventy women [the Attitude of Scientists, p. 345 (margin)], Al-Hafiz ibn 'Asakir alias the preserver of the nation, has had eighty something teachers and masters of women!! [Arab Women 2/138]

An example of women scientists in that era of ancestors is: Hafsa bint Sirin, the learned Umm Al-Hudhail Al-Ansariyya.

Hisham ibn Hassan said: "Hafsa bint Sirin recited the Qur'an when she was twelve years old, and she died at ninety."

Hisham also said that when ibn Sirin got confused with something from the Qur'ran, he would say: "Go and ask Hafsa how to read," Hisham also said that: "Hafsa bought a Sindi slave, she was asked: "How do you perceive of your mistress? Ibrahim mentioned words in Persian which interpretation is: she is a righteous woman, but she had committed a great sin because she spends all night crying and praying ". [The Biography A'lam An-Nubala' 4 / 507]

O sister: "Think, may Allah preserve you, how this righteous woman combined the beauty of knowledge with that of worship, Allah has enlightened her through the Qur'an in word and in deed. In our present time many sciences had spread, and the Islamic tapes and the Islamic books filled corners of the libraries in our houses, but comprehending is almost non-existent; it is spread on the shelves but is alleviated from the hearts. Associations for reciting Qur'an by heart are abundant, but few are those who are guided by Allah and fill these associations with recitations and memorization of Qur'an.

Where are our women stand compared to the ancestor women?! And what is soil to a chandelier! But we do not hit a blind eye to hope, every now and then there are still all signs of good in the corners, spreading righteousness and showing it, there is still a glimmer of bright light here and there lightening the way for women of the nation, preventing them from slippage and renewing the ambition and hope inside them, may Allah aid them.

Peace be upon Muhammad, his household, relatives and companions.

 

Author: Scientific Section Dar Ibn Khuzaymah

Publisher: Dar Ibn Khuzaymah

Site of Islamic booklets

(Slightly modified)

Read more