 Short Essay Competition 2008 (20+ Category)
Posted byadministrator on Wednesday, December 31 @ 10:54:54 AST
Contributed by administrator
Umm Salamah
UmmSalamah, from amongst the Mother of the Believers, showed in her lifetime many lessons that are applicable to us as muslimah wives and mothers. Certain events and her response to them are important for every Muslim to read and reflect on.
UmmSalamah was born Hind, daughter of Abu Umayyah. She was from a family that were known for their great generosity and nobility, with travellers often stopping by at her parents house because they knew they would be treated as honoured guests. She married a man called Abdullah, (Abu Salamah) and they lived happily as a newly wed couple. Unfortunately, this smooth transition to marital life was short lived when the couple embraced Islaam. The families of these noble companions made life a misery for the pair, and things became so intolerable than the Prophet Sallahu Alayhi Wasallam advised them, alongside other followers, to migrate to Abyssinia. Here, the Christian King Najashi, was more tolerant of the new religion and thus gave the twelve men and four women of which this couple were apart of, asylum in his country. Here in Abyssinia, life improved for the couple and they lived peacefully, expanding their family to two sons and two daughters.
Some time passed and trouble broke out in the land, when plotters from the Quraish tried to take back the believers as political refuges. However they returned home defeated and empty handed. When news came that Umar bin Khattab had embraced Islam in Makkah and the hostilities had ceased, the homesick couple immediately made plans to go home. Sadly, this was just a rumour and things hadn’t changed at all when they reached their destination. The Prophet Sallaahu Alayhi wasallam ordered the Muslims to migrate to Madinah so the young family set about their journey.
I have often seen families opposed to Islaam cause trouble for Muslims and in UmmSalamah’s lifetime this is exactly what happened. Her family used the excuse that her husband hadn’t given her a peaceful, settled life and he was constantly on the move with them. They therefore demanded she return home and kept her with them. Her husband’s family reacted angrily to this and demanded the children should be in their custody and took them away from her. Any parent, who is separated from a child, can identify how heart wrenching this must have been. Being forced apart from your child is heartbreaking enough let alone to those who oppose you and your religion. UmmSalamah, may Allaah be pleased with her, was so heartbroken and distraught she would go to the same place every day where her children were snatched and her husband separated to cry for her loved ones. It was only when a family member passed and saw her grief did he intervene and make both tribes see sense. As a result, her in-laws returned her children and her family agreed to let her travel to Makkah to join her husband. Verily, with hardship comes ease.
AbuSalamah took part in the Battle of Badr and was badly injured. Although his wound healed it became infected and thus as a result he became terminally ill. During this time, the Prohopet sallahu alayhi wasallam came to visit him and prayed for him. AbuSalamah also prayed and asked Allaah to give his family a protector and provider. He also asked Allaah to grant his wife a good husband. Researching this, one can see how deep the love between the spouses was. On his deathbed, Abu Salamah prayed for a good man to take care of his much-loved wife. Praise be to Allaah.
After her iddah period UmmSalamah received a few proposals, which she rejected. Then the Prophet Sallahu alayhi wasallam proposed. UmmSalamah, being a very wise and intelligent woman, thought about the proposal and was concerned for a few reasons. Firstly, she was worried her hot temper would eradicate the good deeds she may earn in her future marriage to him, that she was a single mother and was of an elder age. To this, the Prophet Sallahu Alayhi wasallam replied,
"Regarding the jealousy you mentioned, I pray to Allah the Almighty to let it go away from you. Regarding the question of age you have mentioned. I am afflicted with the same problem as you. Regarding the dependent family you have mentioned, your family is my family." (Bukhari).
Reassured, UmmSalamah married the Prohet Sallahu Alayhi wassallm. Her marriage was very blessed, the Prophet Sallahu Alayhi wasallam would visit his wives each night and would start by UmmSalamah as she was the eldest. Several Ayah were revealed to the Prophet Sallahu Alayhi Wasallam in her apartment such as in Surah Azhab,
“And Allaah only wishes to remove evil deeds from you, (O members of the family of the Prophet) and to purify you with a through purification.” (33.33).
UmmSalamah knew 387 Ahadith by heart. She also knew the rulings of fostering through breastfeeding and divorce. She lived till the age of 84, and was the last of the Mothers of the Believers to pass way. She was buried in Jannatul Baqi.
May Allaah give us the patience, courage and wisdom of our dear mother UmmSalamah, and let her life be an example for us in times of hardship and grief.
Congratulations to sister M.M.!! She has been awarded a gift voucher.
A BIG jazakunna Allahu khairan to Sister MotherDove, who organized the competition, and to Sister Kamillah, Chairperson of The Voting Committee and her team, Sisters Samiraaa, Nadia (MissMe), Lovin Niqaab, Aleesa, devoted.
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Average Score: 4.85
Votes: 7
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