#ImancipatedSahabiyat Umm Salamah Asma bint Yazid bin Sakan al-Ansariah (r.a)—a woman of inspirational courage known for her eloquence. On one occasion she appeared before the Prophet ﷺ as a representative to plead for the cause of women. She addressed him very respectfully and said, Today I have come into your presence to plead the case for women. Allah sent you as His Prophet for all mankind—men and women. We women also have had the privilege and honour of swearing allegiance to Allah and you. We also follow your teachings and your sunnah. We live within our houses and fulfill our duties. We are absorbed in looking after our husbands and fulfilling their needs. We see to the upbringing of our children and to the daily function of the household. Men, however, have more opportunities for earning rewards from Allāh because they can do things which we, as women, cannot do. Men attend the congregational prayers in the mosques and special Friday prayers. They participate in the special prayers for the dead and have the privilege of taking part in jihad. When they go for jihad we are left at home to protect their property and look after the family. Are we not also equally deserving of reward from Allāh? The Prophet ﷺ was very moved and impressed by her eloquently presented and rational plea. So he answered her, Please go and tell the ladies whom you represent that by doing your duty by your husbands in a pleasant manner, keeping in mind what will make them happy, and following them faithfully, you will please Allah greatly and He will give you the same reward as have been promised to men. What great honour Islam bestows upon women! It is not obligated upon women to attend congregational prayers or suffer wounds of battle—yet if they keep to their own unique womanly duties, they will earn double the reward as men; for their desire in wishing to participate in what has been ordained upon men and their own womanly duties. Allāh ﷻ has created men and women as allies one to another, to complement each other—not to compete. Subḥān al-Khāliq!
Posted on: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 01:16:06 +0000
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