The Life of Ummu Sulaim ~ Rumaisah Radhiyallahu ‘Anha

The Life of Ummu Sulaim ~ Rumaisah Radhiyallahu ‘Anha Ummu Rumaisah (Radhiyallahu ‘Anha) and her family had the greatest love and concern for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). It was on account of this love and concern for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) that if they ever saw him in any difficulty, they immediately did whatever was in their ability to assist him and bring him comfort.  Abu Talhah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) once said to Ummu Rumaisah (Radhiyallahu ‘Anha), “I heard the blessed voice of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and I perceived that it was weak from hunger. Do you have any food?” Ummu Rumaisah (Radhiyallahu ‘Anha) replied in the affirmative and immediately picked up three loaves of barley bread. She then took her scarf and used part of it to wrap the bread, after which she thrust the bundle of wrapped bread beneath the clothing of Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), and wrapped the remaining section of the scarf around Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) as a shawl. Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was then sent to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) with the bread. When Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), he found him seated in the musjid with the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum). As Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) drew closer and stood before them, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) asked, “Did Abu Talhah send you?” Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “Yes.” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) next enquired, “Did he send you because of food?” Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) again responded, “Yes.” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) thus turned to the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) around him and instructed them to stand and join him. They then set out for the home of Abu Talhah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) went ahead of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) and reached Abu Talhah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) before they arrived at the home. He immediately told Abu Talhah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was on his way with a group of Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum). Hearing this, Abu Talhah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) became anxious and said to Ummu Rumaisah (Radhiyallahu ‘Anha), “O Ummu Rumaisah! Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) has come with the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) and we do not have sufficient food to feed them!” Ummu Rumaisah (Radhiyallahu ‘Anha) calmly replied, “Allah Ta‘ala and His Rasul (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) know best (i.e. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is aware of our circumstances and the amount of food that we have. Hence, he knows why he brought the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) to our home. There is thus no need for us to worry. We need to just trust in him).” Abu Talhah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) thus went out of the home to receive Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). After meeting Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), they proceeded to the home of Abu Talhah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and entered. As soon as Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) entered, he said to Ummu Rumaisah (Radhiyallahu ‘Anha), “O Ummu Rumaisah! Bring whatever food you have.” Ummu Rumaisah (Radhiyallahu ‘Anha) thus presented the bread before Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then instructed her to break the bread into pieces and pour ghee over the bread as gravy. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) thereafter recited whatever Allah Ta‘ala wished him to recite (and made du‘aa for barakah) and blew into the food. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) next instructed that the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) be called into the home to eat in groups of ten (due to the shortage of space). When the first group of ten had eaten to their fill, they left the home, allowing the next group to enter and eat. In this way, all the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) who had come with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), who were approximately seventy or eighty in number, ate to their fill and left. After they had eaten, the food was still as it had initially been (i.e. it was no less in quantity). Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) thereafter ate with the family of Ummu Rumaisah (Radhiyallahu ‘Anha). Ummu Rumaisah (Radhiyallahu ‘Anha) then shared the remaining food with her neighbours. (Saheeh Muslim #5316 and Takmilatu Fathil Mulhim vol. 4, pg. 39) This was not the only instance of Ummu Rumaisah’s (Radhiyallahu ‘Anha) generosity and concern for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) made nikaah to Zainab (Radhiyallahu ‘Anha ), Ummu Rumaisah (Radhiyallahu ‘Anha) prepared a dish of hais (a dish prepared from dates, cheese and ghee) and sent it to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). (Saheeh Bukhaari #5163) Lessons: 1. Ummu Rumaisah (Radhiyallahu ‘Anha) and every other Sahaabi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had the greatest concern for the comfort and wellbeing of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). If they ever saw him undergoing any form of difficulty, they were prepared to sacrifice their very lives to try and alleviate his discomfort. In our era, it is the condition of the Ummah and their straying from the path of Deen and the sunnah that will cause the greatest discomfort to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). If we have true love for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), we should bring complete Deen into our lives so that we cease bringing pain to his blessed heart. 2. A true Muslim is one who has concern for all his fellow Muslims. Hence, if we see any Muslim in need, we should hasten to assist them in whichever manner possible e.g. if there was a death in a certain home, we can assist them by sending food for them, as they may be too occupied to cook, etc.

3. The response of Ummu Rumaisah (Radhiyallahu ‘Anha), when she said, “Allah and his Rasul (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) know best”, was testament to her imaan and intelligence. She had total trust in Allah Ta‘ala and Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). We similarly need to trust in the teachings of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and firmly believe that our success, in this world and the next, lies solely in adhering to his blessed sunnah.

ZAYNAB BINT JAHSH

ZAYNAB BINT JAHSH

"It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error." (The Qur'an, Surah al-Ahzab, 33:36)

This verse was revealed in connection with the marriage of Zaynab bint Jahsh and Zayd ibn al-Harithah which was arranged by the Prophet to show the egalitarian spirit of Islam. Zaynab at first was highly offended at the thought of marrying Zayd a former slave and refused to do so. The Prophet prevailed upon them both and they were married. The marriage however ended in divorce and Zaynab was eventually married to the Prophet himself. It is said that the Ansari girl read the verse to her parents and said: "I am satisfied and submit myself to whatever the Messenger of Allah deems good for me." The Prophet heard of her reaction and prayed for her: "O Lord, bestow good on her in abundance and make not her life one of toil and trouble." Among the Ansaar, it is said that there was not a more eligible bride than she. She was married by the Prophet to Julaybib and they lived together until he was killed.

And how was Julaybib killed? He went on an expedition with the Prophet, peace be upon him, and an encounter with some mushrikin (polytheists) ensued. When the battle was over, the Prophet asked his companions: "Have you lost anyone?" They replied giving the names of their relatives or close friends who were killed. He put the same questions to other companions and they also named the ones they had lost in the battle. Another group answered that they had lost no close relatives whereupon the Prophet said: "But I have lost Julaybib. Search for him in the battlefield." They searched and found him beside seven mushrikin whom he had struck before meeting his end. The Prophet stood up and went to the spot where Julaybib, his short and deformed companion, lay. He stood over him and said: "He killed seven and then was killed? This (man) is of me and I am of him." He repeated this two or three times. The Prophet then took him in his arms and it is said that he had no better bed besides the forearms of the Messenger of Allah. The Prophet then dug for him a grave and himself placed him in it. He did not wash him for martyrs and not washed before burial.

Julaybib and his wife are not usually among the Companions of the Prophet whose deeds are sung and whose exploits are recounted with reverence and admiration as they should be. But in the meagre facts that are known about them and which have here been recounted we see how humble human beings were given hope and dignity by the Prophet where once they was only despair and self-debasement. The attitude of the unknown and unnamed Ansari girl who readily agreed to be the wife of a physically unattractive man was an attitude which reflected a profound understanding of Islam. It reflected on her path the effacement of personal desires and preferences even when she could have counted on the support of her parents. It reflected on her part a total disregard for social pressures. It reflected above all a ready and implicit confidence in the wisdom and authority of the Prophet in submitting herself to whatever he deemed good. This is the attitude of the true believer.

In Julaybib, there is the example of a person who was almost regarded as a social outcast because of his appearance. Given help, confidence and encouragement by the noble Prophet, he was able to perform acts of courage and make the supreme sacrifice and deserve the commendation of the Prophet: "He is of me and I am of him."

Transcribed from: Da'wah Publications, Issue #7, July 2008