Khadijah bint Khuwailid Radiyallahu Anhaa - Part three

Jibrail Alayhis Salaam once came to Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam and said, "O Rasulullah, Khadijah is approaching. She has with her a utensil containing gravy, food or drink. When she comes to you, convey to her salaams from her Rabb and from me and give her the glad tidings of a brocaded palace in Jannah in which there will be neither arguments nor burdens".

Scholars state that her reward of a palace in Jannah is an appropriate reward for the role she played in the life of Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam. According to al-Suhaili Rahimahullah her home was the first on the face of the earth to house the message of Islam. She alone enjoys this virtue over all other people.

Further, the description of the palace as one free of "arguments and burdens" appropriately corresponds with her conduct in relation to Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam: when he called to Islam, Khadijah Radiyallahu Anhaa accepted it willingly. She did not constrain him to raise his voice or to engage in debate. On the contrary, she removed from him all burdens, she comforted him from all that was harmful and she made easy for him all that was difficult. So the home that she was given in Jannah by Allah Azza Wa Jalla possessed the same qualities.

Life Has No Second Innings

 In a world enveloped in entertainment, games and social media, people have become paralyzed and transfixed to their television screens and handheld gadgets, closely following the progress of players and teams as if their very existence depended on the result. The present craze “The Cricket World Cup”.

Has it ever occurred to you that the game of cricket can be compared to our lives in this temporary abode?

In Cricket, the batsman does his utmost to protect his stumps from the bowler’s delivery. Whether the ball that he has to face is an in-swinger, an out-swinger, a bouncer, a full toss or a creeper, the batsman has to adjust his strokes and maneuvers accordingly. Armed with his bat he has to strike the ball in such a manner so as to accumulate runs without being caught by any of the fielders.

In a similar manner, in real life, it is imperative for us to do whatever we can to safeguard our Imaan, from the attack of bowler Shaitaan, who has promised that he will muster his forces and concentrate his efforts in bowling down our Imaan. The Quran bears testimony to this, “Then I will approach from before them, from behind them, from their right and from their left.” (Surah 7 Verse 17)

In Cricket the bowler varies his pace, length and delivery in order to outsmart the batsman. Bowler Shaitaan does the same. Let’s take a look at a typical over.

1. Ball number one may come in the form of making you neglect your Salaah
2. Ball number two may be instigation towards becoming vulgar and abusive
3. Ball number three may be a suggestion to cheat and be fraudulent
4. Ball number four may be an impulse to disobey ones parents
5. Ball number five may be a temptation towards immorality
6. Ball number six may be a real googly or doosra - just when you feel you are treading the right path, Shaitaan catches you  inspiring you with pride and contempt for those you perceive as being less pious.  

The true Muslim needs to deflect and strike Shaitaan with the bat of Islam. Like a true professional you need to be alert and quick on your feet. Don’t get caught on the back foot.

Just like the World Cup, man is playing a match of limited overs. You just don’t know how many overs you are going to last. Will you see the innings through or will you be run out, resulting in a departure earlier than expected. In a similar manner some of us are destined to leave this world through ill-health, some through accidents and others through fatal shootings, resulting in a departure earlier than we expect.

The only runs that count are those that you make during the game. When the batsman returns to the pavilion after being given out he reflects and contemplates on how he should have played. After death, when man sees the reality of the Aakhirah his plight is the same. He reflects on how he should have lived his life. He will beg Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) for a second chance, pleading, “O my Lord! Send me back that I may do a (single) good deed.” (Surah 23 Verse 98-99)

During the game the batsmen is safe only when he is positioned within his crease. So too is a Muslim when he is positioned within the Shari’ah, within the boundaries demarcated by Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) and His Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam). Stump microphones picking up the faintest of sounds and digital technology tracking the slightest of touches is a sure reminder that every word we utter and every move we make is captured.

How often have we left the safety of the crease, the protection of the Shari’ah, and indulged in sin. What would our position be if Malakul Maut (Angel of Death) were to remove our soul at a place we would rather not be with company we would rather not be seen with?

Just as a single catch could cost a match and a single strike could mean the difference between victory and defeat, a single act of kindness and a single urge to succumb to the will of Shaitaan may determine eternal success or eternal doom.

Remember the game of life has no second innings!!!!

by Moulana Imran Khamissa

Khadijah bint Khuwailid Radiyallahu Anhaa - Part two

Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam once drew four lines on the ground and then asked the Sahabah, 'Do you know what this is?' They replied, 'Allah and His Rasool know best'. Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam then said, 'The best of the women of Jannah are Khadijah bint Khuwailid, Fatimah bint Muhammad, Maryam bint Imraan and Aasiyah bint Muzahim, the wife of Firawn'. 

Aishah Radiyallahu Anhaa mentioned that she did not envy any wife of Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam more than she envied Khadijah Radiyallahu Anhaa. He used to mention Khadijah Radiyallahu Anhaa often and praise her much. When he used to slaughter a sheep, he would send some of its meat to Khadijah's Radiyallahu Anhaa friends.

Once Aishah Radiyallahu Anhaa was overtaken with envy when Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam praised Khadjia Radiyallahu Anhaa. So Aishah Radiyallahu Anhaa said to him, 'Was she not an old woman, whereas Allah has granted you a better replacement?' He said, 'No. Allah did not grant me a better replacement. She believed in me when people disbelieved. She accepted me as true when people called me a liar. She assisted me with wealth when people deprived me. Allah granted me offspring from her while He deprived me of offspring from others'. Aishah Radiyallahu Anhaa then thought to herself, 'I will never speak evil of her again'.

May Allah (swt) allow us to draw lessons from the Mother of the Believers, Aameen

Khadijah bint Khuwailid Radiyallahu Anhaa

Khadijah Radiyallahu Anhaa was the first wife of Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam and she was also the closest to him in lineage. She lived with Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam for 24 years before she left this worldly abode. While she was married to him, he did not marry any other wife. She was a woman of great honour and chastity. Women of her time used to refer to her as al-Taahirah (the pure one).

She was a pillar of strength for Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam when he was assaulted, boycotted and unjustly criticised for proclaiming his mission of Islam. All those who grew up in her home became excellent Muslims. These included Ali Radiyallahu Anhu, Zaid ibn Haarithah Radiyallahu Anhu and her daughters Zainab Radiyallahu Anhaa, Ruqayyah Radiyallahu Anhaa, Umm Kulthoom Radiyallahu Anhaa and Fatimah Radiyallahu Anhaa.

In fact, Ali Radiyallahu Anhu became the fourth khalif of Islam and Zaid ibn Haarithah Radiyallahu Anhu became a notable army general who was martyred at Mu'ta fighting bravely against a formidable enemy. Undoubtedly, these stalwarts of Islam were positively influenced to the path of righteousness by the noble character of Khadijah Radiyallahu Anhaa. Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam said regarding her, "The best of women are Maryam bint Imraan and Khadijah Radiyallahu Anhaa".

Wife of Nabi Ayyoob [‘alaihis salaam] – Part Two

Faithfulness is Never Forgotten​

Nabi Ayyoob (‘alaihis salaam) remained in the state of sickness for more than eighteen years, yet he and his respected wife remained patient and steadfast.

One day, Shaitaan approached the wife of Nabi Ayyoob (‘alaihis salaam) in the form of a doctor. As he had adopted this form and appeared to be a normal person, she did not realise that it was actually Shaitaan in front of her. Thinking him to be a doctor, she asked him, out of concern for her husband, whether he had any cure for his illness. Shaitaan said, “I do have a cure. However, in return for the cure, he must address me and say, ‘You have cured me’. I do not want any other compensation for my treatment.”

The wife of Nabi Ayyoob (‘alaihis salaam) returned to him and informed him of what had transpired. As soon as he heard this, he realized that the ‘man’ was no doctor, but was none other than Shaitaan. Being the Nabi of Allah Ta‘ala, Nabi Ayyoob (‘alaihis salaam) was angered that his wife would even suggest to him that he speak such words, attributing the cure to Shaitaan. Hence, Nabi Ayyoob (‘alaihis salaam) vowed to lash his wife one hundred times.

This incident greatly grieved Nabi Ayyoob (‘alaihis salaam), as Shaitaan had now even begun to try and mislead his wife. It is in reference to this attempt of Shaitaan that Nabi Ayyoob (‘alaihis salaam) made du‘aa to Allah Ta‘ala, asking Allah Ta‘ala to cure him, saying, “Indeed Shaitaan has afflicted me with distress and suffering.” (Surah Saad, v41) Allah Ta‘ala accepted his du‘aa and instructed him in the following words, “Strike with your foot, here is (water for) a cool bath and to drink”. (Surah Saad, v42)

As he did so, a spring of water gushed forth. Nabi Ayyoob (‘alaihis salaam) then drank the water and bathed in it. Allah Ta‘ala placed the cure for his illness in this water, and through drinking it and bathing in it, he was completely cured of his illness.

Thereafter, Allah Ta‘ala sent him a garment of Jannah. When his wife arrived to care for him, according to her routine and habit, she failed to find him. She saw a man seated nearby and asked him, “Have you seen the ill-man who used to be here?” She was greatly grieved and thought that he had perhaps been killed by wild animals. At that moment, the man informed her that he was actually Nabi Ayyoob (‘alaihis salaam). Initially, she struggled to believe him, but he then told her of how Allah Ta‘ala had cured him of his illness.

Allah Ta‘ala then restored the youth of his wife, allowing her to bear Nabi Ayyoob (‘alaihis salaam) children once again. According to some reports, she gave birth to twenty-six sons, while other reports mention that Allah Ta‘ala even brought his children, who had passed away, back to life. Allah Ta‘ala also sent two clouds to him; the first filled his threshing floor with gold, and the second filled his other threshing floor with silver. In this manner, Allah Ta‘ala replaced everything that he had lost and granted him more than he initially had.

Nabi Ayyoob (‘alaihis salaam) now needed to fulfil his vow. Allah Ta‘ala told Nabi Ayyoob (‘alaihis salaam) that instead of lashing her one hundred times, he should take a bundle containing one hundred pieces of straw, and lash her once with it. In this manner, the vow will be fulfilled. Allah Ta‘ala says, “And take in your hand a bunch of grass and strike with it, and do not break your oath.” (Surah Saad, v44)

Allah Ta‘ala instructed Nabi Ayyoob (‘alaihis salaam) to fulfil his vow in this manner as Allah Ta‘ala valued her loyalty, faithfulness and obedience to her husband, as well as the patience and obedience of Nabi Ayyoob (‘alaihis salaam). Therefore, Allah Ta‘ala mentions immediately thereafter, “Indeed, We found him patient. What an excellent servant! Indeed, he always turned to Allah.” (Surah Saad, v44)

(Al-Bidaayah wan Nihaayah vol. 1, pgs. 262 – 266 and Bazzaar & Abu Yaa’la - Majma‘uz Zawaaid #13821)

Lessons:

1. Many people have good intentions and praiseworthy motives. They sincerely wish to assist people and bring about betterment. However, together with the intention being correct, it is necessary that the means adopted be pleasing to Allah Ta‘ala.

2. The Ambiyaa (‘alaihimus salaam) were such that their happiness and their displeasure were purely for the sake of Allah Ta‘ala. In other words, if they suffered any personal grievance, they would overlook and forgive. However, if the law of Allah Ta‘ala was broken, they would become angry, for the sake of Allah Ta‘ala, and act in accordance with the command of Allah Ta‘ala. Similarly, the Ambiyaa (‘alaihmus salaam) would only express happiness if the occasion was one which Allah Ta‘ala approved of. Hence, the challenge is for us to similarly make our pleasure and displeasure be subject to the pleasure and displeasure of Allah Ta‘ala. Accordingly, if our children do not perform their salaah, it should anger us and prompt us to discipline them. However, if they accidentally break some item of ours, we should overlook and forgive.

3. Allah Ta‘ala never forgets the loyalty of His servants. Hence, whether in this world or the next, He will most certainly acknowledge their efforts and reward them. Thus, due to her patience, perseverance and loyalty, Allah Ta‘ala Himself told Nabi Ayyoob (‘alaihis salaam) of a method through which his wife would be saved from the hundred lashes. Similarly, if we remain loyal to Allah Ta‘ala, He will be there for us in our time of need.

4. As severe as the sickness of Nabi Ayyoob (‘alaihis salaam) was, he bore it patiently and did not become greatly worried or perturbed. However, when Shaitaan attempted to misguide his wife, he became extremely worried and turned to Allah Ta‘ala in du‘aa. Hence, we understand that one of the greatest worries and concerns that we should have is for the guidance and piety of our families. For this, we should constantly make du‘aa and encourage them towards righteousness.