Great Women
Great Women
By: Shaykh 'Abdul-Muhsin Al-Qaasim
Source: Khutbah; 26, Rabee'uth-Thaanee 1426 (3, June 2005)
Transcription: Islaamic Propagation & Education Committee
Al-Madeenah Al-Munawwarah (Sermons of the two Holy Mosques)
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All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayihi wa sallam), his household and companions.
Fellow Muslims!
Fear Allah as He should be feared.
Fear of Allah is a reminder for His devoted servants and it is safety from
His punishment.
Dear brethren!
Muslim woman attains prosperity by following the path of the best
women who lived in the best generation and got nurtured in the house of Prophethood. They are women of high status and outstanding estimation. Allah praises them in the Qur'an where He says,
"O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty (to Allaah), then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy, or evil desire for adultery) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honourable manner."
(Al-Ahzaab 33:32)
They are blessed and great women.
Foremost among them is that intelligent and wise woman, Khadeejah bint Khuwaylid, the religious and noble woman.
She grew up upon virtuous characters and manners. She was chaste and gracious. She was known among Makkah women as 'the pure woman'. The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alayihi wa sallam) married her and she became an excellent wife for him. She supported him with her life, wealth and wisdom. During his sorrowful days, he would seek shelter with her and confide in her.
When the first revelation came to him he went to his wife shaking, and he said,
"O Khadeejah, I fear for myself." But Khadeejah responded to his fear with a firm heart".
And she told him,
"By Allah, Allah will not disgrace you."
Islam started in her house and she was the first person to embrace it.
Ibn al-Atheer said, "Khadeejah was the first person to embrace Islam, according to the consensus of the Muslims. No man or woman ever embraced Islam before her."
At the beginning of the Prophet's mission, he was faced with many tribulations. But she stood by him compassionately and supported him with her outstanding intelligence. Whenever he heard any undesirable words from the people and came to her, she would strengthen and console him.
The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayihi wa sallam) said about her,
"She believed in me when the people denied me, she trusted me when people belied me; she supported me with her wealth when people refused to support me and I was blessed with children by her when I was denied children by other women."
(Ahmad)
Khadeejah was a great and dutiful wife to her husband and an affectionate mother to her children. She gave birth to all the Prophet's children except Ibraaheem. She was extremely good-mannered. She never argued with her husband and she never bothered him.
The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alayihi wa sallam) said,
"Angel Jibreel came to me and said: 'Give Khadeejah the good tidings that she will have a palace made of hollowed pearls in Paradise and there will be neither noise nor any trouble in it.'"
(Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)
As-Suhaylee said,
"She was given the glad tiding of a house in Paradise because she never raised her voice over that of the Prophet and she never bothered him."
She was pleased with her Lord and Allah is pleased with her.
The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayihi wa sallam) said,
"Paradise and there will be neither noise nor any trouble in it.'"
(Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)
Ibn al-Qayyim said,
"Khadeejah was the only woman known to have this honour."
Allah loved Khadeejah, so did His angels. The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alayihi wa sallam) also loved her so much. He said,
"I am blessed with her love."
(Muslim)
Whenever the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayihi wa sallam) remembered her, he would mention her in glowing attributes and would show gratitude for her companionship.
'Aaishah said,
"Whenever the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alayihi wa sallam) remembered Khadeejah, he would never tired of praising her and invoking Allah's forgiveness for her. He appreciated her love and sincerity and he would honour her friends after her death."
'Aaishah said,
"He would often slaughter a goat, cut it into parts and distribute it to Khadeejah's friends. And whenever I asked him, 'Are there no other women in the world except Khadeejah?' He would say, 'She was this and that and she bore me children.'"
(Al-Bukhaaree)
After her death, Allah's Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayihi wa sallam) heard her sister's voice. He them became sad and said,
"She reminded me of Khadeejah."
Khadeejah was perfect in her religion, wisdom and conduct.
The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayihi wa sallam) said,
"Many men attained perfection, but only three women attained it: Maryam, daughter of 'Imraan [Jesus' mother], Aasiyah, Pharaoh's wife and Khadeejah bint Khuwaylid."
(Ibn Mardooyah)
She preceded the women of this Ummah in righteousness, nobility and splendour.
Allah's Messenger said,
"Maryam [Mary, Jesus' mother] was the best woman of her time, and the best woman of this Ummah is Khadeejah."
(Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)
Khadeejah was righteous and made her home righteous. She reaped the fruit of her labour and she and her daughter became the best of the women of the worlds in Paradise.
The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayihi wa sallam) said,
"The best from the women of Paradise are: Khadeejah, Faatimah, Maryam [Mary] and 'Aasiyah."
(Ahmad and An-Nasaa'ee)
She occupied a great place in the Prophet's heart. He did not marry any woman before her neither did he marry any woman or have any concubine while she was still with him until she died. He was extremely distressed with her death.
Adh-Dhahabee said,
"Khadeejah was intelligent, gracious, religious, chaste and noble. She is one of the dwellers of Paradise."
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Bint Haji Yusof:
To be continued by ALLAH's will.
Salam Ma'al Hijrah 1427H.
Asifi 'ala kulli hal.
Inni al faqiir ila ROBBI.
Assalamu'alaikum warahmatulLAHI wabarakatuh.
A humble servant of ALLAH S.W.T.,
Bint Haji Yusof,
30 DhulHijjah 1426H,
Auckland, NEW ZEALAND.