A Gift to the Muslim Female!

A believer is in constant need of reminders, especially

during present times due to widespread trials and
tribulations which are endlessly affecting the Ummah. It
is because of this that our Generous Lord has informed of
that which is of benefit to the Muslim in this life and the
next. Allah – The All-Mighty – stated:


َ ِِ ْ ُ !ْ ِ ٌَ 
ْ ‫َءٌ َو َر‬
ِ َ ‫ن َ ُه‬
ِ ُْ ْ ‫ ا‬
َ ِ ‫َو ُ َ ِّ ُل‬
{We reveal in the Qur'an that which is a cure and a
mercy for the believers.} Surah Israa:82

And He – The Glorified – also said:

 ‫&ُو ِر َو ُه&ًى‬1
ُّ ‫ ا‬/ِ0 َِ ٌ‫َء‬
ِ ‫ ُ)(ْ َو‬.ِّ ‫ٌ ِْ َر‬, َ- ِ ْَ ْ()ُ *ْ ‫َ َء‬+ ْ&'َ ‫س‬
ُ َّ ‫َ ا‬#"ُّ ‫"َ َأ‬

َ ِِ ْ ُ !ْ ِ ٌَ 
ْ ‫َو َر‬
{Oh you who believe, indeed there has come to you an
admonishment from your Lord, and guidance and mercy
for the believers.} Surah Yunis:57

What should be mentioned is that not only is the Qur'an

a cure, but the complete religion of Islam is a cure and
mercy for the believers. Based on this, the Prophet
Muhammad r said:

:ُ <َ َ :ُ !َ ;ْ ِ ‫ب َو‬
َ َ9)ِ ْ ‫ ا‬7
ُ ِ*‫ أُو‬5ِّ ‫ ِإ‬4َ ‫َأ‬
"Indeed I have been given the Qur'an, and that which is
similar to it (Sunnah)" Sunan Abi Dawud: 4606

Therefore it's important for a believer to constantly read

and ponder over what has been revealed by our Lord in
His Glorious Book and likewise what has been revealed
by way of the Sunnah of our beloved Messenger
Muhammad r. In doing so, one will always receive a
beneficial reminder which will – by the permission of
Allah – uplift him in this life and the next.

Likewise from the beneficial reminders which are related

to eemaan (faith) and its increase is reading what has
been mentioned about the lives of the salaf. The scholars
of Islam constantly advise the believers to read the stories
of those who have proceeded in eemaan in order that
we may profit from their lives which were filled with
wonderful examples of their steadfastness upon the
religion of Islam. Shaikh 'Abdul Razzaq bin 'Abdul
Muhsin al 'Abaad alluded to this fact in his book titled:
Asbaab Ziyadatul Eemaan wa Nuksaanihee – Reasons
for Increase and Decrease in Faith. He said:

When a person reflects upon the lives of these

magnificent people, and reads their stories and that
which they displayed of goodness, and ponders upon
their exemplary character and how they followed the
generous Messenger r, and how they constantly were
observant of their eemaan and how they feared evil and
sin, and how they were extremely cautious of showing off
and hypocrisy, and their eagerness to perform worship
and their competitiveness in performing righteous
deed…… this would call the reader to truly follow them
and it would likewise bring about love of wanting to be
similar to them. When one remembers them, he will
remember Allah, and reflecting upon their lives will
increase a person's eemaan. (Summarized from pg.46)
[1]

Certainly from those who are at the forefront of

individuals who should be taken as examples after our
beloved Prophet r are his companions. They are the
individuals whom Allah – The Mighty and Majestic – has
praised in more than one verse in His Glorious Book.
Allah – The Glorified – stated concerning them:
 
َ ِِ ْ ُ ْ ‫ ا‬Cِ ِ@?
َ َ ْ B
َ ْA@ِ 9َّ "َ ‫&َى َو‬#ُ ْ ‫ ا‬:ُ َ 
َ َّ @َ *َ َ &ِ <ْ .َ ْِ ‫= ا َّ?ُ َل‬
ِ 'ِ َ>"ُ ْَ ‫َو‬
‫ًِا‬1َ ْ‫ َّ َ( َو?َ َءت‬#َ + َ :ِ !ِ 1 ْ ُ ‫ َو‬5َّ َ *َ َ :ِ َِّ ُ
{Whoever opposes the Messenger after the guidance has
come to him, and follows a path other than that of the
believers, We will leave him in the path which he has
chosen, and burn him in the fire. What an evil
destination.} Surah al Nisaa: 115

He – The Most High – also mentioned:

ْ(#ِ .ِ ُ!'ُ /ِ0 َ (َ !ِ <َ 0َ ‫ َ ِة‬J

َ>َّ ‫ ا‬7
َ H ْ *َ G َ َ ُ<"ِ َ@"ُ ْ‫ ِإذ‬َ ِِ ْ ُ ْ ‫ ا‬ِ- َ :ُ !َّ‫ ا‬/
َE
ِ ‫َ َ&ْ َر‬
ً@"ِ'َ ًH9ْ 0َ ْ(#ُ .َ َM‫(ْ َوَأ‬#ِ ْ !َ -
َ َ َ ِ)L
َّ ‫ ْ َ َل ا‬Kَ 0َ
{Verily Allah is pleased with the believers when they
pledged to you under the tree. He (Allah) knew what
was in their hearts, and He sent down calmness upon
them, and He rewarded them with a near victory.}
Surah al Fath: 18

And many other verses which inform that Allah – The

Mighty and Majestic – is pleased with the companions of
the Messenger r.

Based on the aforementioned information, it is clear that

Allah is pleased with the companions of the Prophet r,
and with that being the case, why would one hesitate to
follow them in all forms of good?! No doubt a true
believer is one who takes heed to what elevates him and
his eemaan. Allah – The Most Kind and Generous –
stated:

ْ()ُ ِH
ْ "ُ َِ ْ(‫َ ُآ‬-‫ َوِ! َّ?ُ ِل ِإذَا َد‬:ِ !َِّ ‫ِ@ُا‬J9َ ?
ْ ‫  َُا ا‬
َ "ِNَّ‫َ ا‬#"ُّ ‫"َ َأ‬
{Oh you who believe, answer the call of Allah and His
Messenger when They call you to that which will give you
life.} Surah al Anfaal: 24

If a believer were to read some of the situations of the

companions, including men and women, he would be
immediately be reminded of how one should implement
his religion and remain steadfast upon piety and
righteousness. There are numerous examples which
display this and it only requires that one spends some
time and reads.

From the various examples present in the Sunnah of

strong eemaan, and firmness upon the religion is a brief
encounter between one of the female companions and
the Prophet r. Her name is Asma bint Yazeed bin al
Sakn al Ansariyah, and she was nicknamed:
Khateebatun Nisaa – The Female Lecturer, due to her
eloquent manner of speech. Asma was the niece of the
famous companion and scholar Mua'th bin Jabal and she
was well known for her uprightness and strong intellect.
She nursed the wounded Muslim fighters during the
Battle of al Yarmook and when the fighting became
intense, she grabbed an iron spike from her tent and
began fighting alongside the Muslim army, killing nine
Roman fighters.
Al Hafith Ibn 'Abdul Bar[2] mentioned concerning
her[3]:

It is mentioned that Asma bint al Yazeed approached

the Messenger of Allah r and said:

I am a messenger for a group of females. All of them say

a similar statement to mine, and they all are in
agreement with my opinion. Indeed Allah has sent you
to men and women, and we have believed in you and
we follow you. We (females) are responsible for tending
to the homes and we are the place where men fulfill
their desires, in addition to carrying their children (during
pregnancy). But the men are preferred over us due to
the merits gained for attending the Friday
congregational prayer, attending burial procedures and
also fighting in the way of Allah. If they leave their
homes, we protect their wealth and we also raise their
children. (With this being the case) do we take part in
their tremendous reward, oh Messenger of Allah r?

Upon hearing this, the Prophet r turned toward his male

companions and said:

Have you ever heard a female inquiring about her

religion in a better manner than this female?
The companions replied: Indeed we have not, oh
Messenger of Allah r!

The Prophet r then replied to her: Return oh Asma, and

inform the group of females that being a good wife to
your husband, exerting yourself to please him, and
making him pleased with you is equivalent (in reward)
to all of what you have mentioned concerning the men!

Asma walked away saying: La illaha ilAllah, Allahu

Akbar, do to the extreme joy she felt after hearing the
Prophet's r reply.

Several benefits are derived from this hadeeth, from

them:

1. The great eagerness of the female companions to

learn their religion. They did not allow questions and
doubts to remain unanswered. This is also illustrated
in the statement of 'Aaisha when she said:


ِ "ّ&ِ ‫ ا‬/ِ0 
َ #ْ َّ َ 9َ "َ ْ‫َ ُء َأن‬H
َ ْ ‫ ا‬
َّ #ُ <ْ َ ْ "َ ْ(َ ‫َ ِر‬1ْ Qَ ‫َ ُء ا‬Lِ ‫َ ُء‬Lِّ ‫ِ ْ< َ( ا‬
How great are the Ansar women! They did not allow
shyness to prevent them from learning their religion.
(Sahih al Bukhari: 129)
 2. The permissibility of a female speaking to a person
of knowledge even while in the company of other
men if need be. The female should of course make
sure that she does not speak in an attractive
manner. Allah – The Most High – said:

0ً ‫ َ'ًْ َ ْ<ُو‬

َ !ْ 'ُ ‫ َ َضٌ َو‬:ِ @ِ !ْ 'َ /ِ0 ‫ِي‬Nَّ‫ ا‬Aَ َ T
ْ َ 0َ ‫ِ ْ َْ ِل‬. 
َ <ْ R
َ S
ْ *َ َ!0َ
{And do not be soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a
disease should be moved with desire. But instead, speak
in an honorable manner.} Surah al Ahzaab: 32

3. This hadeeth is an example of how the women

during the time of the Messenger r gathered to
discuss matters of their religion. This undeniably is a
lesson for present day Muslim females. They should
make their meetings with their sisters the type of
gatherings which contain profit and benefit, not
that which contains evil and harm.

4. This encounter displays the tremendous mercy of

our beloved Messenger r. He did not interrupt
Asma, nor did he scorn her for asking such a
question, but rather he acted exactly how Allah
described him in the Qur'an:


َ َِ َ<!ْ ِ ً َ 
ْ ‫ك ِإ َّ َر‬
َ َ!ْ ?
َ ْ‫َوَ َأر‬
{We have only sent you as a mercy to the worlds.} Surah
al Anbiyah: 107
And He – The Most High – said:


َ ِِ ْ ُ ْ ِ. ْ()ُ ْ !َ -
َ ٌX"ِ
َ ْ(9ُّ ِ -
َ َ :ِ ْ !َ -
َ ٌ"ِ-
َ ْ()ُ L
ِ ُ ْ ‫َ َء ُآ(ْ َر?ُلٌ ِْ َأ‬+ ْ&َ َ
ٌ(ِ‫َرءُوفٌ َر‬
{Indeed there has come to you a Messenger from
amongst yourselves. It grieves him that anything should
harm you, and he is anxious over you. He is kind and
merciful to the believers.} Surah al Tawbah: 128

5. This occurrence informs how a believer should react

after hearing pleasing news. Asma immediately
remembered Allah, glorifying and praising Him due
to the tremendous news which she received from
the Messenger of Allah r.

6. It also shows her strong eemaan in the promise of

Allah. She understood that Allah is All Just, and that
He would never allow injustice. She truly believed
the statements of Allah:

‫ن‬
َ ُ!َ <ْ "َ َ ْ(‫ َأ ْآ َ; َ ُه‬
َّ )ِ َ ‫=ٌ َو‬
ّ 
َ :ِ !َّ‫ َ& ا‬-
ْ ‫ن َو‬
َّ ‫َأَ ِإ‬
{Indeed the promise of Allah is true, but most do not
know.} Surah Yunis: 55

And His statement:

 ٌ=
ّ 
َ :ِ !َّ‫ َ& ا‬-
ْ ‫ن َو‬
َّ ‫ ِ@ْ ِإ‬Z
ْ َ0
{Be patient, for indeed the promise of Allah is true.}
Surah al Room: 60

And His statement:

:ِ !َِّ. ْ()ُ َّ َّ [ُ "َ َ‫َ ُة ا ُّ& َْ َو‬H

َ ْ ‫!َ َ* ُ[ َّ َّ ُ) ُ( ا‬0َ ٌ=
ّ 
َ :ِ !َّ‫ َ& ا‬-
ْ ‫ن َو‬
َّ ‫س ِإ‬
ُ َّ ‫َ ا‬#"ُّ ‫"َ َأ‬
‫ا ْ َ[ُو ُر‬
{Oh mankind, indeed the promise of Allah is true, so do
not be deceived by the life of this world and do not allow
anyone to deceive you.} Surah al Faatir: 5

Asma, like any and every Muslim female was afflicted

with tremendous difficulties and tribulations, but she was
able to overlook that which befell her by keeping the
goal in mind![4]

7. This narration is a response to those who claim that

women were created no different from men, and
therefore they should be allowed to do everything a
man does. Unfortunately many Muslim females hold
this view due to the fact that it has been instilled in
the minds of our women by means of various forms
of propagation and education throughout the
Western society.
 This narration indicates that Allah created the female
distinct from the male, and He has assigned her with
different duties which are for the benefit of herself, the
family and the overall society. It is upon her to act
within the limits which Allah – The All Mighty – has
legislated, and if she does so in a manner pleasing to
Him, she will enter an everlasting paradise. But if, on
the other hand, she seeks to exceed the limits which
Allah has legislated, she will damage herself, her
family and the Muslim society as a whole! Allah – The
Sublime – stated:

ُ ِ@S
َ ْ ‫] ا‬
ُ ِT!َّ‫= َو ُه َ ا‬
َ !َ \
َ ْَ (ُ !َ <ْ "َ َ‫َأ‬
{Does not the One Who created you know. And He is
the Most Kind, the All Aware.} Surah al Mulk: 14

And He stated:

:ُ !َّ‫ َ! ُ( َأ ِم ا‬-
ْ ‫(ْ َأ‬9ُ ْ ‫َأَأ‬
{Are you more knowledgeable than Allah.} Surah al
Baqarah: 140

Without a doubt many more benefits can be derived

from the narration of Asma bint al Yazeed. These were
only a few which we felt the need to mention.
In Conclusion:

This short narration is a great encouragement for our

Muslim sisters. We all are aware of what occurs in the
daily life of a Muslim female within the home, and
outside of it. She is afflicted like no other person, as was
indicated by Asma in the above narration, but what
should be kept in mind is the statement of the Prophet r:

(ُ‫َ_ه‬9.ْ ‫ َ'ْ ً ِا‬a

َّ 
َ ‫` إذا أ‬
َ ‫نا‬
َّ ‫ ِ( ا@َ_ ِء وإ‬,
َ-ِ Aَ َ ‫َاء‬J
َ ‫ َ( ا‬,
َ-ِ ‫إن‬
"Indeed the greatness of reward is according to the
greatness of the trial, and when Allah loves a person, He
tests him." (Tirmidhi: 2396)

We ask Allah to increase us in eemaan and taqwa, and

we ask Him to grant us success to perform actions which
are pleasing to Him.

May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon the

Messenger of Allah, and upon his family members and
companions.
Mustafa George DeBerry

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

4th Thul Hijjah, 1431 / November 10, 2010

[1] Arabic Print (Dar al Minhaaj, Riyadh)

[2] Al Hafith Ibn 'Abdul Bar is a famous scholar of the Malikee school of thought. He
authored many beneficial works including: Al Temheed, Jam'ee Bayan al 'Elm wa
Fadlihe, and many more. He died in Morocco/Spain in the year 463h.

[3] Al Esti'aab vol.4 pg.233

[4] We are not referring to clear, unjust oppression which takes place in some Muslim
families. Indeed Allah has forbidden such oppression (harsh beating, cursing, etc) and
any female who is afflicted with this has every right to seek separation after repeated
advice and consultation has failed.