Women Posting in Internet Discussions

[Q]: Some of the sisters write knowledge-based speech in some of the websites, and they refute some of the writers with regards to their statements. So what is you opinion concerning this?
[A]: I advise every Muslim woman, the Salafee women especially to not delve into this affair. Firstly: Due to what is in it from the wasting of time. Secondly: It exposes her to being the object of ridicule and amusement for the reckless ones and those with diseased hearts. And if she absolutely must do this, then she must suffice with listening to the knowledge-based lessons from those who are known for knowledge, practice of the Religion and excellence. Likewise, there is nothing to prevent her from spreading the statements and fataawaa of the noble Scholars so that her brothers and sisters may benefit from them.
[Q]: What are the general rules for sisters speaking with brothers, or vice-versa on the internet?
[A]: Where were you from our answer?! We advise with the abandonment of this affair! This affair of discussions, mutual exchanges, perceptions and sensations as I have mentioned previously. Secondly, and this is what I add as an answer to your question, I say that many of those who have diseased hearts enter into the programmes of women with the names of women: Umm so and so!! Umm so and so!! Indeed, he names himself with the name of a woman! And their intended purpose is to enjoyment through harming the Muslim women.
Shaykh `Ubayd al-Jaabiree

Translated by Maaz Qureshi

http://www.sahab.net/sahab/showthread.php?s=aa3efd6d1138a0b70c85e27aa55dfd81&threadid=303525

the importance of sisterhood in islam

When is the last time you told someone 'I love you for the sake of Allaah'?
Insha'Allaah these aayaat and ahadeeth will remind you about the special bond
between us sisters.


Allaah says in the Qur'aan:
( The Believers are but a single brotherhood . . .) [Qur'an 49:10]

'There are three things that whoever attains them will find
the sweetness of faith: if Allah (subhaanahu wa Ta'alaa) and His Messenger are
dearer to him than anyone or anything else; if he loves a person
solely for the sake of Allah (subhaanahu wa Ta'alaa); and if he would hate to
return to kufr after Allah (subhaanahu wa Ta'alaa) has rescued him from it,
as much as he would hate to be thrown into the Fire.'
[Bukhari and Muslim. See Sharh al-Sunnah, 1/49, Kitab al-iman,
bab halawat al-iman]

'A man went to visit a brother of his in another village. Allah
(subhaanahu wa Ta'alaa) sent an angel to wait for him on the road.
When the man came along, the angel asked him, `Where are you headed?'
He said, `I am going to visit a brother of mine who lives in this village.'
The angel asked, `Have you done him any favour (for which you are now
seeking repayment)?' He said, `No, I just love him for the sake of Allah
(SWT).' The angel told him, `I am a messenger to you from Allah (SWT),
sent to tell you that He loves you as you love your brother for His
sake.'' [Sahih Muslim, 16/124, Kitab al-birr wa'l-silah wa'l-adab,
bab fadl al-hubb fi-Allah]

'Believers are like a structure, parts of which support other parts.'
[Bukhari and Muslim. See Sharh al-Sunnah, 13/47, Kitab al-birr
wa'l-silah, bab ta'awun al-mu'minin wa tarahumuhum]

'The believers, in their mutual friendship, mercy and affection,
are like one body: if any part of it complains, the rest of the body
will also stay awake in pain.' [Ibid]

'No two people who love one another for the sake of Allah (subhaanahu
wa Ta'alaa), or for the sake of Islam, will let the first minor offence
of either of them come between them.' [Reported by Bukhari in
al-Adab al-Mufrad, 1/493, Bab hijrah al-Muslim]

'Do not break off ties with one another, do not turn away from one
another, do not hate one another, do not envy one another.
Be brothers, as Allah (SWT) has commanded you.' [Sahih Muslim,
16/120, Kitab al-birr wa'l-silah wa'l-adab, bab tahrim al-zann
wa'l-tajassus wa'l-tanafus]

'Do not envy one another, do not outbid one another (in order to inflate
prices), do not hate one another, do not turn away from one another,
and do not enter into a transaction when others have already entered
into it. O servants of Allah (SWT), be brothers. A Muslim is the brother
of a Muslim. He does not oppress him, humiliate him or look down upon him.
Taqwa is here' - and so saying, he pointed to his chest three times.
'It is evil enough for a man to look down upon his Muslim brother.
The whole of a Muslim's being is sacred to another Muslim - his blood,
his wealth and his honour are inviolable.' [Sahih Muslim, 16/120,
Kitab al-birr wa'l-silah wa'l-adab, bab tahrim zulm al-Muslim
wa khadhaluhu wa ihtiqarahu]

'Your smiling at your brother is an act of charity (sadaqah).'
[Reported by Tirmidhi, 3/228, Abwab al-birr, 36. He said it
is hasan gharib]

'The believer is the mirror of his brother. If he sees any fault in him,
he corrects it.' [Reported by Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad, 1/333,
Bab al-Muslim mir'ah akhihi]

Anas (RAA) said that a man was with the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa
sallam), when another man passed by. The first man said,
'O Messenger of Allah, indeed I truly love this man.' The Prophet
(sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam)) asked him, 'Have you let him know that?'
He said, 'No.' The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, 'Tell him.'
He caught up with him and told him, 'Truly I love you for the sake of Allah
(subnaahahu wa Ta'alaa),' and the man said, 'May Allah (subhaanahu wa Ta'alaa)
love you who loves me for His sake.' [Reported with a sahih isnad by Abu
Dawud, 4/452, Kitab al-adab, bab akhbar al-rajul bi mahabbatihi ilayh]

Benefit
"Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem
Assalaamualaikum

She is Umm Abdir Rahmaan bint al Jawhar.

She graduated in Sharee'ah in Malik al Faisal university bil Ahsaa in Saudi
Arabia.

Three days after completeing her studies - Shaykh Fawzee al atharee
proposed to her - then together they travelled to Qaseem in Saudi Arabia where they studied
under ash-Shaykh al-Allaamah al-Faqeeh Mohammad bin Saalih al Uthayimeen -
for 5 years.

She said that the shaykh was very strict about who he allowed to teach - but
he gave Umm Abdir Rahmaan permission to teach sisters in her house.

In bahrain they have 21 centres for hifdh of the Quraan and other studies
like aqeedah and hadeeth and fiqh etc- always starting with tawheed and
utilising books mainly by Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen but also by Shaykh Saalih al Fawzaan,
al Haafidh al Hakamee etc.

She travels to the emirates every year - during the summer to give da'wah -
but this year she chose to come to the UK of her own accord in order to
benefit the sisters.

Umm Abdir Rahmaan's duroos are different in the sense - that one gets the
impression that she prepares them specifically for a female audience - she
will interact with the listeners and stand up and demonstrate to make issues
clear for everybody - also she will include a lot of her own experiences and
situations she encountered whilst giving daw'ah.

These are some of the main points that i was able to gather from her duroos:

The first few duroos were in relation to ilm and the seeking of it and
matters relating to the student of knowledge.

She mentioned that gaining ilm increases fear in Allaah- and the ones with
the most fear are Allaah's chosen elite - and she mentioned the ayah in
Surah Faatir mentioning that the ones that fear Allaah most from His slaves
are the ulema.

Why gain ilm?

1 She will gain the Pleasure of Allaah
2 She will have a good life in the dunya and aakhirah
3 'Ilm rectifies (with good cultivation) manners
4 It is a protection from all evils

It is waajib upon the taalib (student) to have ikhlaas (sincerity) in all actions and to
constantly renew her intention throught her ibaadaat (worship). She must stay away
from love of fame and leadership and nobody is safe from this except whom
Allaah saves. Imaam ash Shaatibee mentioned, 'the last things to enter the
soul of the righteous is rulership and love of fame'.

The student should be diligent in attending duroos, should have good time
management, a high desire to procede and strong intention, making du'aa,
memorising and sticking close to the shaykhah, she should make revision and
taking notes is better than just listening. She should seek ilm in her
youth as this is the time of strength and its likely that when she gets
married and has children - she will have more responsibilities and less
time. She should organise her time - giving preference where due e.g
tawheed first. she should leave off exessive friends and the market places.

She should leave off exessive sleep except what is needed -maybe 8 hours a
day. She should also leave off excessive mubaah (permissible/allowable) things as
Ibnul Qayyim mentions in "al-Fawaa-id" that the reason for falling into sin
are four:

1 Excessive eating and drinking
2 Excessive talking and mixing with the people
3 Excessive relationships with ones spouse
4 Excessive looking

The student yafham - ya'mal thumma yah'fadh
[meaning] understands, acts then memorises (taken from the athar of Ibn Mas'ood where
he mentioned that the Sahaabah never used to procede further than 10 ayaaat
until.....)

Quickly procede 'ilm with 'amal (action) - otherwise the 'ilm will leave you.

If a student feels as if she has a bad understanding or is a slow reader and
has bad hifdh then she must have ikhlaas, she must strive with herself and
utilise her time correctly, she must have faith in Allaah and also in
herself and Allaah will increase her.

Imaam bukhaari was asked what is the cure to bad hifdh? so he replied 'by
constantly looking into the books and with a purified niyyah'.

How does the taalibah (female student of knowledge) benefit by coming early to the circles of 'ilm?
1 She will have a great reward in the aakhirah (Hereafter)
2 The angels gather in the circles of 'ilm
3 Sakinah (tranqulity) descends there
4 You will be nearer to the speaker
5 You will comprehend more than those who came late.

What is upon the taalibah if she misses a dars (lesson)?
She makes up for the missed lesson - by collecting notes from other students
- as the 'ilm is like a chain, if one of the links is missing then it will
affect the gathered 'ilm. She should always have a clever Saahibah (female companion),
who you know will collect notes that you may miss.

What if the taalibah cannot comprehend or understand an issue?
She should revise and go back to the shaykhah or go back to other people who
were present in the dars.

She advised that if you buy a new book, then you shouldn't put it into your
maktaba until you have read two things from it:

1 The muqaddimah -the introduction
2 The fahras - the index

This way you will know what teh book is about and what issue it covers.
also one should memorise the title and the author.

What is the manner of putting a question to the shaikh?
She should choose a befitting time, and respect the shaikhah during asking and
she should not cut him/her off until after its explanation, also one should not
ask questions which will cause hardship or just to test the shaikh etc.

There were other questions on this subject - but i have selected the main
important points.

Characteristics of the Female Hypocrites
Shaikh Muhammad Musa Nasr
His book Al-Munafiqoon (pg. 79-80) [The book is available in English


1. Exposing Their Beauty

Tabarruj or exposing the feminine, physical beauty that is to be concealed from all the non-mahram [1] male population, and seeking to be a source of enticement and fitnah is a sign of Hypocrisy.


Tragic it is to see many women displaying themselves out in public as if they are pieces of meat selling themselves to the onlookers who want nothing more than to defile them.


The norm today is to find that the female physique has become the cheapest commodity that is displayed in the market place. In fact the female physique is seen as a tool to sell other products and services.


The woman who does not guard her modesty and does not draw the veil over her beauty, is a woman who is seeking to displease Allaah and His Messenger while showing love and obedience to the Devil and his Legions. Her deeds are the deeds of the unbelieving woman and her clothes are the clothes of the deviants even if she was to claim to have Eemaan (faith) and chastity.


Allaah says: “O Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover yourselves (screen your private parts) and as an adornment. And the raiment of righteousness, that is better. Such are among the Ayaat (signs) of Allaah, that they may remember (i.e. leave falsehood and follow truth).” [Surah Al-A‘raaf: 26]


The Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) warned the women by saying: “Those who make Tabarruj are the Munafiqaat (female Hypocrites).”


Refer to Imam al-Albanee's blessed book “The Hijaab of the Muslim Woman” for a full commentary on this issue.
2. Al-Mukhtali‘aat: Women Who Ask Their Husbands For Divorce For No Reason


In the Hadeeth narrated by Ahmad, an-Nasaa'ee, and at-Tirmidhee on the authorities of Abu Hurairah and Thawbaan, Allaah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Al-Mukhtali‘aat are the female Hypocrites.” [2]

Khul‘ is defined by the scholars as being the same as removal of one's garment. This means when the woman seeks to remove (i.e. divorce) her husband from her. This understanding is taken from the words of Allaah:

“It is made lawful for you to have sexual relations with your wives on the nights of fasting. They are a Lîbaas [i.e. body cover or Garment] for you and you are a Libaas for them....” [Surah Al-Baqarah: 187]


The legal understanding of the term (khul') implies that a woman pay a man (her husband) a certain amount of money to end their marital union. If the money (property) is not exchanged then the khul‘ is incomplete and void.


On a whole, the process of khul‘ is sanctioned by Islamic law if done properly and asked for due to the right reasons. Valid reasons for khul‘ vary by circumstance, but in general a few valid reasons for seeking khul‘ are:


1. The husband is of a harsh temperament

2. He harms (abuses) his wife

3. The woman fears that by remaining with him, she will not establish the dictates of Allaah in what He has obligated on her, such as mutual love and companionship.


The khul‘ that is prohibited and earns a woman what we have described from the words of Allaah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) is that which is done without a valid religious, moral or proper reason. This type of khul‘ leads a woman to nifaaq (hypocrisy), because she scorns the laws of Allaah regarding mutual love and companionship.


For further clarification on the laws pertaining to this issue, refer to the verified books of Fiqh and ask the scholars when you do not know.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BEST WOMEN OF CREATION


Shaykh Saleem al Hilaalee




Verily Allah created us to worship Him, and He created everything in pairs (male and female) in order that life may continue and that His worship may be established. Allah says,


“And Allah did create you (Aadam) from dust, then from Nutfah (male and female discharge semen drops i.e. Aadam's offspring), then He made you pairs (male and female).”2


Both the man and the woman have obligations and duties to fulfil, each o­ne's duties in harmony with the other's; the woman's duties complete and perfect those of the man, and the man's duties complete and perfect those of the woman. From those qualities which Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) have praised, and which are required in a believing woman in order for her to perform her duties correctly, the greatest of these is the quality of her possessing the Deen. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said,


“A woman is married for four things: her wealth, her family status, her beauty and her deen. So you should marry the religious woman (otherwise) you will be a loser.”3


As for the husband, he should also be a righteous man, as the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said,


“When someone with whose deen and character you are satisfied asks your daughter in marriage, accede to his request. If you do not do so, there will be temptation o­n Earth and extensive corruption.”4


Indeed the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) was sent to perfect the people's character, and he (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) praised the woman who possesses these noble qualities and perfect character, saying that she is to a man the best possession in this world -


“The whole world is a provision, and the best object of benefit of the world is the pious woman.”5


Allah has created the woman as a companion for the man, in order that they may live in this world performing their duties and observing Allah's commands correctly. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said,


“I was sent to perfect good character,”6 and, “Among the Muslims the most perfect, as regards his faith, is the o­ne whose character is excellent, and the best among you are those who treat their wives well.”7


In order to achieve success in this world and the Hereafter the woman must adopt this methodology of perfecting her character, beginning with those affairs concerning her home. The woman is an essential component in the building of the home in order that it may be established upon Taqwa (fear of Allah & piety). Allah says that those who believe say,


“Our Lord! Bestow o­n us from our wives and our offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes...”8


Thus, the correction of the household is the first step towards the correction of the society.

THE RIGHTEOUS WOMAN is the o­ne who knows her responsibilities, her rights and obligations, and performs those acts which are obligatory upon her. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said,


“If a woman prayed her five daily prayers, fasted in the month (of Ramadan), protected her private parts from illegal sexual intercourse, and obeyed her husband, it will be said to her: ‘Enter Paradise from whichever gate you like',”9


And he (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said,


“Islam is based o­n (the following) five (principles): to testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad (sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam) is His Messenger, to offer the prayers dutifully and perfectly, to pay Zakaat, to perform Hajj, and to observe fast during the month of Ramadhaan.”10


This is the first thing which the woman must take care of in all circumstances; whether difficulty, ease, pleasure or dislike - i.e. to perform the five obligatory pillars of Islam. Allah says, recorded in a hadeeth qudsi, “And the most beloved things with which My slave comes nearer to Me is what I have enjoined upon him.”11

THE RIGHTEOUS WOMAN should know the rights of her husband upon her and should obey him in all that is obedience to Allah. When Mu'aadh (radiy Allahu 'anhu) came to the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) and wanted to make sajdah (prostration) to him [as an act of respect], he (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) stopped him and said, “If I were to order anyone to prostrate himself before another, I should order a woman to prostrate herself before her husband.”12 This is because of the great position of the husband with regards to his wife. He (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) also said,


“Whenever a man calls his wife to their bed but she refuses to come, letting him spend the night angry with her, she is cursed by the angels until she relents.”13


And he (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) also said,


“By the o­ne in whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad! No woman has fulfilled her obligations to her Lord until she has fulfilled her obligations to her husband. Even if he were to ask her for herself when she is mounted in the saddle, she would not refuse his request.”14


These ahaadeeth emphasize the great responsibility of the woman to obey her husband in all that is in obedience to Allah, for surely obedience to the husband is part of obedience to Allah. Allah has ordered the woman to be obedient to her husband and the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) praised the woman who brings happiness and pleasure to her husband. He (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said,


“Marry the loving and fertile, for I will compete with the other prophets with the number of my followers.”15



This type of woman is the o­ne through which a man would receive happiness in his home and o­ne who will raise a righteous family. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said,





“Everyone of you is a guardian, and is responsible for what is in his custody. A lady is a guardian of her husband's house and is responsible for it.”16




And Allah (subhannahu wa ta'ala) said,





“And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance.”17




By doing this, a woman can become of those truly obedient to Allah.




It must be noted that obedience to the husband is mentioned as being o­nly in those affairs which are good, i.e. o­nly in that which complies with the shari'ah (Laws) of Allah. So, if he orders her to pray, fast, and take care of the home, then this is all good and she should obey him in doing so. However, if he orders her with disobedience to Allah, then “There is no obedience to the creation when it involves disobedience to the Creator.”18 So if he orders her to be neglectful of her prayers or in her fasting, or he wants her to beautify herself in a way which is not permissible, or to leave the house wearing perfume etc., then she should not obey him in this as this is disobedience to Allah. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said,





“No obedience for evil deeds, obedience is required o­nly in what is good.”19




THE RIGHTEOUS WOMAN should take care of and guard her herself and her honour. Allah praised Maryam the mother of ‘Isa (alayhis salam) for possessing this great quality of chastity. From this guarding of chastity comes many other affairs.





1. Lowering the gaze. Allah has ordered both the men and the women to lower their gaze and to protect their private parts.20

2. Not leaving the house wearing perfume or displaying ornaments. Allah has ordered the woman to cover herself up in order to protect her honour and chastity. It is the practise of jaahiliyyah (ignorance) for the women to go out uncovered, and they consider this to be progress and liberation! Rather, it is from the ways of shaytaan. Allah mentions in the Qur'aan that when shaytaan whispered to Aadam and Hawwa, and they ate from the tree, their private parts became apparent to them.21 So the way of shaytaan is to make apparent and to display the ‘aurah. Every society in which open displaying of the people's private parts is prolific is an evil society and is upon the path of destruction. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said, “When a woman applies perfume and then goes about in an assembly, she is like such and such i.e. an adulteress.”22




THE RIGHTEOUS WOMAN should not be o­ne who is given to complaining and nagging, rather she should be o­ne who brings happiness into the home. We can take an example from the story of Ibraaheem (alayhi sallam), when he left his wife, Hajar, in Makkah. Hajar said to him, “Who has ordered you to do this?” Ibraaheem answered her, saying, “Verily, my Lord has ordered me to do this”. So she said, “If this is Allah's order, then Allah will never leave us and destroy us.” A further example can be found in the story of Ismaa'eel (alayhi sallam) and his wife. Ibraaheem continued to visit Hajar and his son Ismaa'eel, until when his son had grown up and married he visited him at his home in Makkah. He knocked o­n the door and found that Ismaa'eel was not home. His wife was present but she did not recognise her husband's father. Ibraaheem began to question her as to her situation and whether or not she was contented etc. She replied that they were in a period of great poverty and trials, and she began complaining about her situation. So Ibraaheem said to her, “When Ismaa'eel returns, tell him to change the outer screen (lit. veil) of his house. So when Ismaa'eel returned, his wife informed him that an old man had visited him whilst he was out and that he had asked her about her situation, to which she replied as she had replied. Then she told him of the message Ibraaheem had left. Ismaa'eel then said to his wife, “Verily, it was my father and he ordered me to divorce you.” So he divorced her and married another woman. Some time later Ibraaheem came again to visit his son and again found that he was not home. So he asked Ismaa'eel's new wife about her situation and whether or not she was content. She replied, “Alhamdulillah. Allah has given us great blessings and given us all that we need,” even though at the time she had absolutely nothing in her house. So, before Ibraaheem left he said, “Tell Ismaa'eel to keep the outer screen of his house.” When Ismaa'eel returned, his wife told him of his visitor and what he had said. Ismaa'eel said, “That was my father and he told me to keep you as my wife.”23




Note how Ibraaheem, this great Prophet of Allah, described the woman as the outer screen of the house. This is because she is the keeper and protector of the house and those affairs concerning it. Whoever enters the house does so by her permission and knowledge. The shayateen wish for the women to leave their homes in their beautification, leaving behind their clothing, so that when the people have taken their pleasure from them, then they turn away from them as if they were nothing. Rather, the woman is as Ibraaheem described her, as she is the o­ne who takes care of the affairs of the home. A poet o­nce said, “The mother is (like) a school. If you take care of the mother, you take care of the whole society.” The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said,





“O women, you should give charity and ask for much forgiveness. For I saw you in bulk amongst the dwellers of Hell.” A wise lady among them said, “Why is it, Messenger of Allah, that our folk are in bulk in Hell?” He (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) replied, “You curse too much and are ungrateful to your husbands. If o­ne of you has a husband who is good to you for all of his life and then you see o­ne thing from him which displeases you, you say ‘Verily, he was never good to me at all'.”24




So, as the intimate companion of her husband, the woman must ensure to take care of these affairs, for if she is good and righteous then the whole society becomes good. But if there are conflicts and disputes in the home, then this leads to the destruction of the society.




In the Qur'aan, Allah (subhannahu wa ta'ala) mentions some examples of the righteousness of women. He (subhannahu wa ta'ala) gave the stories of four women, two of which were righteous and two who were evil. As for the pious women, they were the wife of Fir'awn and Maryam the daughter of ‘Imraan.



When the wife of Fir'awn saw Musa (alayhi sallam) in the cradle, her eyes were full of love for him. She said to Fir'awn, “A comfort of the eye for me and for you. Kill him not, perhaps he may be of benefit to us, or we may adopt him as a son.”25 So he (Fir'awn) granted her wish and Musa grew up in her household. When he became a Prophet and began calling the people to Islam, she answered this call and became a Muslim, despite the fact that she was the wife of Fir'awn - the man who claimed to be Allah Himself, (subhannahu wa ta'ala) - and despite all that she possessed through being the wife of a king; she refused that and chose to be amongst Allah's company. This is a great example of how a woman chose the Hereafter over and above all of the wealth of this world.




The example of Maryam bint ‘Imraan was that she took care of herself and her private parts in such a way as shows us the great importance of the woman's being chaste and not going out of the house unclothed ,etc.




The first example of the two evil women is that of the wife of Nuh (alayhi sallam). She used to go and tell the people of Nuh about what he was doing and planning; working and plotting against her husband.



And the example of the wife of Lut (alayhi sallam) is similar. When the two angels came to Lut, she told his people that two young men had come to her house, so the people came in an attempt to do evil to them.27




Islam has forbidden that the secrets of the household be divulged outside, and these two examples show the evil of this action. Therefore, the example of a good woman is o­ne who is quick in doing good deeds, she takes care of her private parts and does not spread the secrets of the home. She is o­ne who will be a caller to good, o­ne who closes the doors which lead to evil.




From the Sunnah we have the example of Umm Salamah - the wife of the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam), the mother of the Believers. She was a woman who possessed great intellect and was of good opinion. When the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) went to make ‘Umrah in the year 6AH, the Quraish prevented him from doing so and turned him back. He (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) told his companions, who were dressed in ihraam ready for ‘Umrah, to cut their hair and slaughter their animals. They were astonished, and were hesitant to do this. He ordered them again and still they did not do as he had commanded. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) entered into the tent of Umm Salamah, unhappy and disturbed by what had happened, and he told her that he had ordered his companions to shave their heads and slaughter their animals but they did not do anything. Umm Salamah said, ‘Go yourself in the midst of your companions and cut your hair and slaughter your animal. They will follow your example'. So he did this and they all followed his example.

Look at the great intellect and good opinion of this noble lady, how she advised the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam), thereby removing his grief and concern. Similarly, the righteous woman should advise her husband in all that is good and will remove anguish and cause of concern from him.




Another example from the Sunnah of the righteousness of women is that of Umm Saleem - the wife of Abu Talhah (radiy Allahu 'anhu). Abu Talhah was a disbeliever when he came to Umm Saleem asking for her hand in marriage. She refused, saying, ‘I will o­nly marry you if you become a Muslim'. So he became a Muslim and she made her mahr (dowry) his Islam. They were blessed with a son whose name was Abu Umayr. He was very beloved to Abu Talhah, but however after a few years he passed away. So when Abu Talhah entered upon his wife and asked ‘How is Abu Umayr?', she answered him saying ‘He is in the best of all situations'. Then she beautified herself for her husband and after he had taken pleasure from her she said ‘What do you think if a people had given another people some property to look after and they came o­ne day to ask for their property back, do you think they have the right to do so?' Abu Talhah said ‘Yes, of course'. So Umm Saleem said ‘Verily, Allah has taken back His property'. At this Abu Talhah became very angry and said ‘You did all of this and then told me the news about my son?' So he went to the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) and told him about what had happened. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said ‘May Allah give blessings upon that night and what you did together'. They were granted a son from that very night and his name was Abdullah. Abdullah had nine other sons , all of whom had memorised the Qur'aan. This was in answer to the du'aa of the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam).




Once a guest came to the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam), so he said to his companions ‘Who will take care of my guest tonight?' o­ne of the Ansaar said ‘I will, O Messenger of Allah'. So he went home and said to his wife ‘What do we have for food?' She said ‘We o­nly have enough food for our children'. He said ‘Put the children to sleep whilst they are hungry. When the Prophet's guest arrives, serve him the food and put out the lamp and pretend to eat so that he does not think we are not eating'. So she obeyed her husband in this. The guest went back to the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) and told him what the Ansaari and his wife had done. When the Ansaari went to the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) the next day, he (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said ‘Allah (subhannahu wa ta'ala) is Astonished at what you did last night with regards to your guest. And Allah revealed the Ayah “And those who, before them, had homes (in Al-Madina) and had adopted the Faith, - love those who emigrate to them, and have no jealousy in their breasts for that which they have been given, and give them preference over themselves, even though they were in need of that.”4




So what has preceded are some of the examples of how a woman can become amongst the most honourable and the best of creation, and thereby earn Paradise - and may Allah make us from among its people - Ameen.










FOOTNOTES






2. Suratu-Fatir (35):11.

3. Bukhaaree.

4. Tirmidhee, Nasaa'i & Ibn Maajah.

5. Saheehul-Jaami' 3407.

6. Al-Muwwatta Imaam Maalik.

7. Tirmidhee.

8. Suratul-Furqaan (25):74.

9. Saheehul-Jaami' 674.

10. Bukhaaree.

11. Bukhaaree.

12. Tirmidhee.

13. Bukhaaree & Muslim.

14. Ibn Maajah & Ahmad.

15. Abu Daawood & Nasaa'i.

16. Bukhaaree.

17. Suratul-Ahzab (33):33.

18. Related by Al-Baghawee in Sharhus-Sunnah 10:44.

19. Bukhaaree.

20. Suratu-Nur (24):30-31.

21. Suratu-TaHa (20):121.

22. Tirmidhee, Abu Daawood & Nasaa'i.

23. Bukhaaree.

24. Muslim.

25. Suratul-Qasas (28):9

26. See from Suratu- Maryam (19):16

27. See Suratu-Tahrim (66):10

28. Suratul-Hashr (59):9

The age of distinction (7-10) and rules of privacy


From the book:
Raising Children according to the Qur'aan and Sunnah
By: Faramarz bin Muhammad Rahbar

Raising children is a serious responsibility as that of a shepherd. Just as a shepherd must be careful of the well-being of his flock, parents must be constantly alert, taking care that their children do not stray and fall victim to the wolves.


Parents must teach their children between the ages of seven and ten the rules of privacy. Allah mentions in the qur'an:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِيَسْتَأْذِنكُمُ الَّذِينَ مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ لَمْ يَبْلُغُوا الْحُلُمَ مِنكُمْ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ مِن قَبْلِ صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ وَحِينَ تَضَعُونَ ثِيَابَكُم مِّنَ الظَّهِيرَةِ وَمِن بَعْدِ صَلَاةِ الْعِشَاء ثَلَاثُ عَوْرَاتٍ لَّكُمْ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَا عَلَيْهِمْ جُنَاحٌ بَعْدَهُنَّ طَوَّافُونَ عَلَيْكُم بَعْضُكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
وَإِذَا بَلَغَ الْأَطْفَالُ مِنكُمُ الْحُلُمَ فَلْيَسْتَأْذِنُوا كَمَا اسْتَأْذَنَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ


"O you who believe! Let your legal slaves and slave-girls, and those among you who have not come to the age of puberty ask your permission (before they come to your presence) o­n three occasions; before Fajr (morning) prayer, and while you put off your clothes for the noonday (rest), and after the 'Ishâ' (late-night) prayer. (These) three times are of privacy for you, other than these times there is no sin o­n you or o­n them to move about, attending (helping) you each other. Thus Allâh makes clear the Ayât (the Verses of this Qur'ân, showing proofs for the legal aspects of permission for visits, etc.) to you. And Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Wise.And when the children among you come to puberty, then let them (also) ask for permission, as those senior to them (in age). Thus Allâh makes clear His Ayât (Commandments and legal obligations) for you. And Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Wise." [Surah an-Nur 24:58-59]

As mentioned in the aforementioned verse, there are three times at which even young children must ask permission before they enter their parent's bedroom: before the morning prayer, when the parents undress to rest at noon, and after the evening prayer. Children must be instructed to lnock and then gain permission before entering at these times. It must be stressed that mere knocking, followed by immediate entrance, is not acceptable. Parents must explain to the children that such an action is no different from barging in, for it does not give the parents time to ready themselves, if needed.

It is essential for parents to mention to their children at this age to stop looking at and mixing with members of the opposite sex. Muslim boys who reach the age of puberty are considered men and are not allowed to intermingle with or intentionally stare or look at any women, except those who are forbidden to them in marriage, as enumerated in the qur'an. (See sura Nisa 4:23).

The exceptions stated in the qur'an are specified as the following: their mothers, grandmothers, step-mothers, daughters, granddaughters, sisters, paternal aunts, maternal aunts, brother's and sister's daughters, mothers and sisters nursing, mothers-in-law, step-daughters and daughters-in-law. In arabic, these people are referred to as "mahram". Although in general it is forbidden for muslim men to look at any woman other than those for whom he is a mahram, if there is a valid reason o­ne is permitted to do so. Such cases include seeing a woman's face in the company of her relatives to choose her in marriage, examining a woman for medical reasons, helping a woman in danger, looking at or searching a woman for security purposes (in muslim countries this is done by women) or questioning a woman in court. Although there is no blame o­n children who have not reached puberty (normally under ten) to look at women, the age of distinction is a good time to prepare them for when they do reach the designated age and to teach them the rules of sexual segregation and modesty, getting them accustomed to the concept. Muslims, both men and women, are ordered to be modest. Allah commands

:قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا
يَصْنَعُونَوَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَاء بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَائِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَاء بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي أَخَوَاتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَائِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُنَّ أَوِ التَّابِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُوْلِي الْإِرْبَةِ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ أَوِ الطِّفْلِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا عَلَى عَوْرَاتِ النِّسَاء وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّ وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allâh is All-Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.) and not to show off their adornment except o­nly that which is apparent (like palms of hands or o­ne eye or both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron, etc.), and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms, etc.) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husband's sons, their brothers or their brother's sons, or their sister's sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islâm), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allâh to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful." [Surah an-Nur 24:30-31]



The commandment for lowering the gaze or restraining the eyes does not mean that people should always walk with their eyes to the ground. What is prohibited, however, is casting a second look or staring at an attractive face, even at first site. Jareer narrated:"I asked the prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) what should I do if I happen to see something by chance, he replied, 'Turn the eyes away.'" [Muslim, Ahmad, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi and an-Nasai - Saheeh]

And the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) told Ali not to cast a second look, for the first look is pardonable but the second is prohibited. As mentioned earlier, when there is intention of marriage, a man is allowed to look at a woman (and vise - versa). The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) instructed a man to look at the prospective bride before marrying her because "that will enhance love and mutual regard between you." (See at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasai and Ibn Majah - hasan)

Islaam specifies those parts of the body which the male and female must cover in the presence of members of the opposite sex. For men, it is the area between the navel and the knees, and it has been enjoined that o­ne should neither uncover this part of himself before another nor look at this part of someone else. (According to the saheeh hadiths, it is also forbidden for men to wear a garment which extends below the ankles, although this is permissable for women. See Sunan Abu Dawud, vol.3 pg. 1139)In the presence of men, women must cover their bodoes completely, and Islamic scholars hold two different opinions regarding the subject of hijab (covering). The maliki and Hanafi position allows women to expose their face and hands to male strangers, while the hanbali and ash-Shafi'i scholars state that the whole of the woman's body, including the face and hands must be covered. (See Islaamic ruling regarding women's dress, pg. 16)It must be noted that both opinions are supported by hadeeths. Most scholars are in agreement, however that in case o­ne fears evil intentions by men, a woman should cover her face. It is related that Aisha said:"We, the women, were with the prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) in ihram [for hajj], and some riders passed by us. So, when they appeared before us, we drew our outer garments from the head in front of the face, and when they passed us, we uncovered our faces." [Abu Dawud, ibn Majjah and Ahmad - Saheeh]Also women are not allowed to wear transparent or tight fitting clothes. Indeed the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) said:"There will be among the last of my community women dressed yet undressed... Cure them for verily, they are cursed." [At-Tabarani - Saheeh]

And in another hadeeth, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) told Usamah bin Zaid:"Order your wife to wear a [heavy] slip under the clothes, for verily I fear that it might reveal the size and shape of her body." [Ahmad, al-Bayhaqi and al-Hakim - Saheeh]

Just as Islam has clearly defined the rules concerning proper behavior between members of the opposite sex, it has also set regulations regarding interaction between members of the same sex. In locker rooms in the west, boys usually undress completely in front of other boys or men - an act forbidden in Islam. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) forbade men to look at the awrah of other men and forbade women to look at the awrah of other women. The awrah includes the private area, which is forbidden to be seen or uncovered except in front of the husband or wife.It is important for girls to know that no man other o­ne's husband or mahram relative is allowed to be alone with a woman, nor is he allowed to touch any part of her body.Uqbah bin Amir stated:

"Once Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) said, 'Do not visit women who are outside the lawful limits for you to visit, 'a man from the Ansar asked, 'O Allah's Messenger, what about [visiting] in-laws?' To that, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) replied, 'In-laws are death.'" [Bukhari, Muslim and at-Tirmidhi]

And Aisha reported that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) accepted the oath of allegiance from women verbally, without taking their hands into his own hand."He never touched the hand of a woman who was not married to him." [Bukhari]

Elderly women past the prospect of marriage may lay aside their outter garments provided they do not make a display of themselves, although, as mentioned in the qur'an (see surah an-Nur 24:60) it is preferable even for them to observe modesty in dress. Regrettably, modest islamic dress, which serves as protection for families, is viewed today as a mark of oppression and extermism, while discarding it is viewed as a sign of progress. In fact, muslims who observe the islamic dress code are often labeled "fundamentalist", while those who do not are deemed "enlightened". Unfortunately, many muslim women have fallen for this philosophy and are so embarrassed to observe the Islamic dress code. Therefore, parents must correct these common misconceptions by explaining the error of this attitude, while stressing the necessity for hijab. And they must do their best to implement such islamic awareness and correct dress code in their families. Muslim teenagers must be taught to observe haya* when it comes to any issue related to sex.

* This term encompasses a large number of concepts which are to be taken together; among them are self respect, modesty, bashfulness and reservation about the fitness or correctness of an action, etc.

The Status of Woman in the Muslim Community (Ummah)

The Status of Woman in the Muslim Community (Ummah)

By Shaykh Abdul-Azeez ibn Baaz



The status of the Muslim woman in Islaam is a very noble and lofty o­ne, and her effect is very great in the life of every Muslim. Indeed, the Muslim woman is the initial teacher in the building of a righteous society, providing she follows the guidance from the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah[1] of His Prophet , since adherence to the Qur'aan and the Sunnah distances every Muslim - male or female - from being misguided in any matter. The misguidance that the various nations suffer from, and their being deviant, does not come about except by being far away from the path of Allaah - the Most High, the Most Perfect - and from what His Prophets and Messengers, may Allaah's peace be upon them all, came with. The Prophet said: "I am leaving behind me two matters, you will not go astray as long as you cling to them both, the Book of Allaah and my Sunnah."[2]

The great importance of Muslim woman's role - whether as wife, sister or daughter, and the rights that are due to her and the obligations due from her - have been explained in the purified Sunnah.The secret of her importance lies in the tremendous burden and responsibility that is placed o­n her, and the difficulties that she has to shoulder - responsibilities and difficulties some, which not even a man bears. This is why from the most important obligation upon a person is to show gratitude to the mother, and kindness and good companionship with her. And in this matter, she is to be given precedence over and above the father. Allaah - the most High - says: "And We have enjoined upon man to be dutiful and good to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness upon weakness and hardship upon hardship, and his weaning is in two years. Show gratitude and thanks to Me and to your parents. Unto Me is the final destination." [Soorah Luqmaan 31/14]

Allaah - the Most High - said: "And We have enjoined upon man to be dutiful and kind to his parents. His mother bears him with hardship, and she brings him forth with hardship. And the bearing and the weaning of him is thirty months." [Soorah al-Ahqaaf 41/15]



A man came to Allaah's Messenger and said: O Messenger of Allaah! Who from amongst mankind warrants the best companionship from me? He replied: "Your mother." The man asked: Then who? So he replied: "Your mother". The man then asked: Then who? So the Prophet replied again: "Your mother." The man then asked: then who? So he replied: "Then your father." So this necessitates that the mother is given three times the likes of kindness and good treatment than the father.[3]



As regards to the wife, then her status and her effect in making the soul tranquil and serene, has been clearly shown in the noble ayah (verse), in His - the Most High's saying: "And from amongst His Signs is this: That He created from you wives from amongst yourselves, so that you may find serenity and tranquility in them. And He has put between you love and compassion. Indeed, in this are signs for those who reflect." [Soorah Ar-Rum 30/21] Al-Haafith Ibn Katheer (d.774H) - rahimahullaah (Allaah have mercy upon him)- said, whilst explaining the term mawaddah means love and affection, and ar-rahmah means compassion and piety - "since a man takes the hand of a woman either due to love for her, or because of compassion and piety for her, by giving to her a child from himself…"[4]




And the unique stance that the Prophet's wife Khadeejah took, had a huge effect in calming and reassuring Allaah's Messenger (upon whom be peace) when the angel Jibreel (Gabriel - peace be upon him)- first came to him in the cave of Hiraa. So the Prophet returned to his wife Khadeejah with the first Revelation and with this his heart trembling and beating severely, and so he said to her: "Cover me! Cover me!" So they covered him until his fear was over, after which he told Khadeejah - everything that had happened, and said: 'I fear that something may happen to me." So she said to him: "Never! By Allah! Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good ties with relations, you help the poor and the destitute, you serve your guests generously and assist those who have been afflicted with calamities."[5]




And do not forget about Aaishah and her great effect. Since even the great Sahaabah (Companions) used to take knowledge of Hadeeths (prophetic narrations) from her, and many of the Sahaabiyaat (female companions) learnt the various rulings pertaining to women's issues from her…And I have no doubt that my mother - may Allaah shower His mercy upon her - had a tremendous effect upon me, and has a great excellence over me, in encouraging me to study; and she assists me in it. May Allaah greatly increase her reward and reward her with the best of rewards for what she did for me.And there is no doubt also, the house in which there is kindness, gentleness, love and care, along with the correct Islamic tarbiyah (education and cultivation) will greatly affect the man. So he will become - if Allaah wills - successful in his affairs and in any matter - whether it be seeking knowledge, trading, earning a living, or other than this. So it is Allaah Alone that I ask to grant success and to guide us all to that which he loves and is pleased with. And may the prayers of peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his Family, his companions and his followers.




Footnotes:


[1] The word 'Sunnah' means the 'legal way or ways, orders, acts of worship and statements of the Prophet , that have become models to be followed by the Muslims'.
[2] This hadeeth is hasan (good): Related by Maalik in al-Muwattaa (2/899) and al-Haakim (1/93), from Ibn 'Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him. It was authenticated by al-Albaanee in as-Saheehah (no.1871).
[3] Authentic: Related by al-Bukhari (no.59710) and Muslim (7/2), from Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him.
[4] Tafseer Qur'aanul-Adheem (3/4439) of Ibn Katheer
[5] Related by al-Bukhaari (1/22) and Muslim (1/139), from the lengthy narration of Aaishah (may Allaah be pleased with her).

Khutbah on Women
Friday, June 29th, 2007
A Reminder for our Believing Women- By Aboo Zaynab Tawfeeq Ibn Hosley
Overview :
This is a lecture that should put the heart of every woman at ease. Though the life of a woman in Islaam may seem difficult to some who have no knowledge, or insight, Allaah Has promised Paradise for His righteous servants.
——————The brother starts the sermon with - Khutbatul-Haajah -
Today’s Khutbah is a reminder for myself and everyone else who is sitting here and all those who may hear about this khutbah and i.e. the prohibition of Ikhtilaaq - of freely mixing between male and female. Al Islaam has placed before us the ways to reduce the temptations of the fitnah of Nisaah and that is this ikhtilaaq (is freely mixing between a man and a woman) — a woman mixing with a man who does not have a mahram and this is prohibited in Islaam. This is the ways that destroys the society and this is the reason why we are going to speak about this today because it is the women who build the society. When you look at the society of today, we see that the women, they are amongst the people that are destroying the society. Because the strongest evidence that prohibits this mixing between men and women when Allaah Azzawajal says in Kitaab al-Azeez i.e. the Quraan :
“Allaah tabarak wa ta’ala commands the women to stay in their houses and He prohibits them from making this dazzling display of themselves.”
Why did Allaah tabarak wa ta’ala inform us thus? Why did He encourage them and command them to stay in their houses? It is because they will not be molested and they stay in their houses and remember Allaah subhana wa ta’ala and they will be protected in their houses. So that they can be protected from all of the evils that occur when they leave their house.
Yes, when we look at this ayat, look at today’s society na’am when you go and buy airline tickets, whom do you see? except women.
When you go to the bank, whom do you see? except women.
When you want to buy a car, whom do you see? except women.
When you want to pay your electricity bill / gas bill whom do you see? except women.
Na’am, they are the ones who are destroying the society. They are the ones who are allowing the destruction of the society. It is because we don’t want to listen to the guidance of Allaah subhana wa ta’ala. Because if you listen to the guidance and heed the guidance and implement the guidance and disseminate this guidance amongst the people we will be amongst the people who are successful.
Na’am the above ayah is about what? It is about women staying in their houses. Staying in their houses and not making a dazzling display of themselves.
When Allaah tabarak wa ta’ala says : “Ask them from behind the hijab.” Why??
Why? Because when you ask them from behind the hijab it is better and it will conceal the disease of that person that is asking. Like the words of the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam : It will conceal, it will protect them from their disease because they don’t see them.
And the other ayat that proceeds this is :And when the women speak from behind the hijab they are not going to speak to try and tempt you or allure you or attract you to that temptation. But because we are far away from the guidance of Allaah subhana wa ta’ala and we want to be on something that is not right.
Na’m when we talk on the telephone and we want to ask about a brother : “is he home?” We want to get all personal with his wife : “How are you doing? I heard you were sick. How are the children?”
This is not the place for you to be asking her. You should ask her husband when he returns and you catch him and you are able to talk to him.
That is why the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam told to ask from behind the Hijab so that it can protect her.
The wives of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam were knowledgeable in that community, not like our wives. They do not know even know how to perform their salaah properly.
First of all look at our children. That is why keep them in their house.
When you keep them in the house the children will benefit. Not like today when the children come to the Masjid, when they see the other Muslims (elders) they don’t give the salams. The hadith : the one who is riding should give salams to the one who is walking. The one who is walking gives salams to the one sitting and the one who has small amounts give it to the ones with larger amounts and the youngsters give salams to those who are older in age.”
How come our youngsters don’t initiate the salams with the ones older in age? It is because our women are not in the house, teaching the kids the Book of Allaah and the sunnah of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam. It is because the women, the wives of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam were commanded them to stay in their house and to recite kitaab ul-Hikmah. What is Kitab-ual-Hikmah? It is the Book of Allah subhana wa ta’ala and the sunnah of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam. The wives of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam did this. They didn’t read some Greek Aristotle’s. They didn’t recite anything that would keep them away from the remembrance of Allah. They are going to remember Allaah.
They are going to remember Allaah by reciting that which He sent down and implementing that which He sent down. Likewise we need to teach our children. Now, how can we teach our children if the woman is outside the home always?
They don’t know. Kids don’t know, we have to teach it to them.
When the husband comes home from a hard days work what is the first thing she (the wife) does? How would she know to attend to his needs if the woman is not at home to receive her husband?
We are not here to entertain anyone. This is Yawm-ul-Jummah. If you come to Yawm-ul-Jummah it is obligatory upon you all to know the etiquettes. This is not to entertain anyone or any of the children. It is there to remove some of the diseases that reside in the hearts and to benefit from the reminder so that we can implement it in our life-styles.
So what is it when the women stay outside of their houses? She’s not like that the woman. When her husband comes home after a hard days work, the first thing she would do after she gives you salams is to take off your shoes. She gives him something to drink. She comforts him. She wants to know how his day was at work. She asks him if there is anything that she could get him.
She has his clothes ready for the next day by ironing them etc. So that when the children see this they know that when the daughters get married they are going to treat their husbands exactly like that or better than that. Because they are witnessing the guidance of Allaah in their hearts. Not like our children. We don’t teach them anything and the cause is because our women are outside their house.
When they are outside the house, they don’t know the Shaitan, he beautifies them. “I don’t care if you are wearing all black, he beautifies you. So much that if there is disease in his heart or anyone else that black is going to look good for him. And he will say that he wants someone just like that. The lady he sees is wearing nothing but black and he can’t see anything except the eyes may be uncovered. Now, you want to see the eyes. When you look her in the eyes, now you are finished. Because the disease is just coming out. That is why we have to teach our women that when they come out for something that is a necessity, they must take care of that business and get back into their house.
Not like the women of these days in time. Because the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said that the whole body of a woman is her private part. He didn’t make no exceptions. He didn’t say except her face and hands, he didn’t say except her feet, except her eyes. He said the whole body of a woman is her awrah.
Not like our women, when they come out they don’t know about the guidance of Allaah. The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam prohibited the women from walking in the middle of the streets and when you tell them, they don’t want to adhere to that. They want to adhere to their passing desires. “I ain’t walking in the sides of the street.”
When the sahabiyaats were walking in the middle of the streets the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said: “Draw back now. Draw back and walk in the sides of the roads and don’t walk in the middle of the roads. ” So much so that when the walking their body was scratching against the wall because they were adhering to the guidance of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam.
I command all of you to follow the guidance of Allah, to follow that has been revealed to the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam.
So we have to know that if the woman comes out, even if you are taking her and you are driving and she is sitting in the car with you, it is best for the woman to sit at the back instead in front. And it is best she doesn’t speak unless there is a need for her to speak. Because when she speaks and she is controlling the conversation and you have a friend in the car, what does that do except produce some disease that may reside in your heart, that may stay in the heart. And you may start thinking something bad and it starts rusting may be that her voice may have attracted you. We don’t think about that. When there is no need she shouldn’t talk. Why? Because the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said : “Shyness doesn’t come except with goodness.” Let her not speak unless there is a necessity since her voice may attract a non-mahram man.
When I was growing up years ago, the women used to wear skirts and long dresses. They didn’t wear pants because they felt shy to wear pants. But now they have no shyness. They have gone from skirts and long dresses to wearing pants. And when they used to wear skirts and long dresses and they needed to bow down or bend down to pick up something, they used to do it with modesty. But now the bend down to pick up something wearing pants, with no modesty, exposing it all so much so that the people around them would be affected.
Know that the woman, they need to stay in their house and teach our children. So that they wont lure and tempt us. Because every single place you go you have a woman right in front of your face. The airport, the market place, the cashier, the register clerk in the hospital, when you go to pay your gas bill, your water bill. Every place you name it they have a woman right in front of your face.
And how many of us want to go to a store and buy something now because we saw a beautiful woman walking. Apparently she is beautiful? But in actuality she is not beautiful. So much so that even if a woman is wearing all black they want to have some type of fashion with it. Why black? Because it is the purpose that it serves, it is supposed to turn us away from them. But now like other sisters they wear all black and they want to wear red with it. A red hand bag and red shoes !!!
Before we entered Islaam that was the furthest thing that turned us away. We went far away from this as this didn’t look good.
The woman is a fitnah so protect her. If you protect her you protect the society, you protect your children and without a doubt you are protecting yourself. Because when you come home from a hard days work she will take off your shoes and socks and will give you something to drink. Your children are going to do the same thing. You are teaching them how to be obedient to your husband. How to treat your husband, so much that when she is about nine years of age she knows majority of the things as to how to please her husband, how to stay with her husband, how to call her husband, how to be obedient to the husband, to help one another in good and righteousness and not help one another in sin and transgression.
So we have to learn and we have to teach our women to stay in their houses and don’t come out except when it is necessary for them to come out.
——————Part 2
The importance of this khutbah is what? To protect ourselves and our women because the women make up the society. Majority of men is where? In prison. Majority of men are drug addicts but you have an abundance of women out there. Like in Egypt 16 million people in the main city and 85% or 90% are unmarried and the dowry is sky high. So what does that produce except homosexuality. That is what it is going to produce because the men can’t get married. These days we don’t have the Imaan like the Imaan of Imaam Ahmed Rahimullaah. He didn’t even get married until he was 40 years of age; na’m why?? Because he was busy with seeking knowledge. Seeking knowledge so much so that even when he went to Makkah and he was with Yahya Ibn Muaid Rahimullah he told him that after his Hajj he wanted to go to Yemen so that he could meet up and take knowledge from Imaam San’aali. Na’m today we have a Sheikh Muqbil bin Hadi rahimullah a Muhaddith in Yemen and we don’t even teach our children about him. So that when it is summer we don’t put them in the day care and your wife says: “I have saved up all the money that you have given me and I would like you to take off from your job and take my children up to Yemen so that they can benefit from the Sheikh before he dies.” We aren’t thinking like that.
Every single time you come to the Masjid the woman is right there too as though it is obligatory for her to make salaah in the Masjid. You take her to a place like this. We say the Masjid is packed and the men can’t get in there and there is no place and it is not obligatory for the woman to come to the Masjid. For whom is it obligatory? It is obligatory for the men who are responsible to perform Yawm al Jummah in the Masjid. But our women every single time there is a class or something or Yawm al Jummah, they are at the doorsteps or the doorways of the Masjids so much so that when it is time to make Salaah and you come late she makes Salah outside the door where everyone else is praying. She doesn’t know “Shyness doesn’t come except with goodness.”
If your not eligible to make salaah why do you have to come to the Masjid? Why?
When I was a Kaafir I used to be ashamed to go to the store to buy those personal things for my mother. I used to hide it in everything else. Now you got the best thing you want to let everybody know. You go to the Masjid and don’t pray you want everybody to know because you are facing the direction the brothers come in. You tell me that this ain’t temptation. I don’t care if she is wearing all black, a man can go through that, a man is weak, a woman you have to caress her to get her into the mood to be intimate but a man he gets excited and is mesmerized easily. Go to the airport, the bus stop, the gal who is driving the bus you see the woman right in front of you. They have so much of the finest women in front of us and you tell me that this ain’t gonna change us? All of a sudden we want to buy that ticket because we want to stand in her face.
Likewise our Muslim women want to be outside doing the same thing. So my reminder to all of us is what? If the woman comes outside let her adhere to the guidance of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam. Because during the time of Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam they had two different doors, a door for the woman to go in and a door for the man to go in but it didn’t stop there. The women knew that the front line is the worst row for the woman and the worst row for the men is the last row.
When the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam finished making his salaah he was sitting in the direction he was praying so that he gave the women enough time to leave. Last month when I did that, one of the brothers said : “You are supposed to turn around right now.” So I had to explain that the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam and the sahabas did that to give the women enough time to leave. But now a days even if you do that the woman is still standing in the doorway.
So I ask all of you’ll to protect your wives, to protect your children. Keep them inside their houses except when there is a need for them to come out. And when they are in the house command them to remember Allaah subhana wa ta’ala and to raise the children upon the obedience of Allah subhana wa ta’ala and don’t be amongst the people who don’t raise them on the obedience of Allah subhana wa ta’ala.

A List Of The
Female
Students
of Al-Allamah as-Sheikh Muqbil Ibn Hadi Ibn Wadi’ee

All Praise is due to Allah, we praise Him, seek His help, and ask His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil of our souls, and the adverse consequences of our deeds. Whoever Allah guides, there is none that can misguide him, and whoever He misguides then none can guide him.
I bear witness and testify that there is no deity that is worthy of worship except for Allah; He is alone, having no partners. I bear witness and testify that Muhammad, sal Allahu aleihi wa salam, is His servant, slave and messenger.
O you who believe! Have taqwa of Allah, as He deserves, and die not except as Muslims. (Al-Imraan:Ayat 102)
O mankind! Have taqwa of your Lord, Who created you from a single person, and from him, He created his wife, and from these two, He created multitudes of men, and women. And have taqwa of Allah, through whom you demand your mutual rights , and (do not cut off)the ties of kinship. Verily, Allah is Ever-Watching over you. (An-Nisaa:Ayat 1)
O you who believe! Have taqwa of Allah, and say righteous speech. He will direct you to do righteous deeds and He will forgive your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has indeed achieved the ultimate success. (Al-Ahzab: Ayaat 70-71)
As to what follows, then the best speech is the Speech of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (sal Allahu aleihi wa salam). And the worst of affairs are newly invented matters, and every innovation is a misguidance, and every misguidance is in the Fire.
To proceed:
Abu Umaamah, radi Allahu anhu said, ‘The Messenger of Allah, sal Allahu aleihi wa salam, said:
"The excellence of the scholar over the worshipper is like my excellence over the lowermost of you. Indeed, Allah ‘aza wa jal, His angels, the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth, even the ant in its hole and the fish, supplicate for the one who teaches good to the people.’" (at-Tirmidhi, 5/50, who says it is ‘hasan sahih’. It has also been declared sahih by Sheikh Al-Albani (rahimahu Allah) in Sahih at-Tirmidhi)
Abu Darda, radi Allahu anhu, said, ‘The Messenger of Allah, sal Allahu aleihi wa salam, said,
"He who takes a path in search of knowledge Allah will direct him to tread a path from the paths of Paradise. The angels lower their wings for the student of knowledge in approval of what he does. All in the heavens and the earth and the fish in the depths of the water seek forgiveness for the scholar, and the superiority of the scholar over the worshipper is like the superiority of the full moon at night over the rest of the stars. Verily, the scholars are the inheritors of the prophets. Verily, the prophets did not bequeath dinars or dirhams. All they left behind was the knowledge, so whoever takes it has indeed acquired a great fortune.’"
(Al-Musnad 5/196, Abu Dawud 3/317, at-aTirmidhi 5/49, Ibn Majah 1/81, ad-Darimi 1/98, Ibn Hibban 1/152. Declared sahih by Sheikh Al-Albani (rahimahu Allah) in Sahih al-Jaami)
"And that those who have been given knowledge may know that it (the Qur’an) is the truth from your Lord, and that they may believe therein, and that their hearts may submit to it with humility. And verily, Allah is the Guide of those who believe, to the straight path."
(Surah al-Hajj, Ayat 54)
"It is only those who have knowledge amongst His slaves who fear Allah. Verily, Allah is All Mighty, Oft-Forgiving"
(Surah Faatir Ayat 28)
"But those among them who are well-grounded in knowledge and the believers, believe what has been sent down to you and what was sent down before you, and those who establish prayer and give zakat and believe in Allah and the Last Day, it is to them we shall give a great reward."
(Surah An-Nisaa Ayat162)
So we see that seeking Islamic knowledge is very important in Islam and this is for the men and the women. It is easy for us, as busy wives and mothers, to make excuses for not studying important subjects such as the Arabic language, correct aqeedah, tawhid, and biographies of the righteous. And yet it is we who are our children’s first and perhaps most influential teachers, so what we learn we will pass on to them, insh’Allah, assisting them and ourselves in righteousness and increasing their imaan.
What follows is a list, authored by the Sheikh himself, of Sheikh Abi Abdur Rahman Muqbil Ibn Hadi al-Wadi’ee’s (rahimahu Allah) female students taken from the book "Tarjimatu Abi Abdur Rahman Muqbil Ibn Hadi al-Wadi’ee".
As you read these names and the comments and accomplishments of these students of knowledge, remind yourself that each one is a woman who, like you, has interests and obligations and family, and yet she takes the time to exert herself in seeking Islamic knowledge to benefit herself and others. Insh’Allah may this brief listing encourage Muslim women to do what they can to tread down the path of knowledge, that path which, as the hadith of Abu Darda relates, will lead her to tread down a path from the paths of Paradise.
1. The righteous Sheikha Umm Abdullah Bint Muqbil Ibn Hadi, Al-Wadi’eeya:
She is one who loves the Sunnah and calls to Allah upon knowledge and understanding, and is a strong researcher who hates blind following and strives on understanding the proof and acting upon it. Her students love her and she loves them with a strong love, and Allah benefited her students by her, and made some of them callers to Allah as well.
She teaches them in "As-Sunnah" by Ibn Abi ‘Aasim, and "Qatar An-Nada" and she has previously taught "Al-Qawlu Al-Mafeed" by the esteemed Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhab Al-Wasaabee, and "Fath Al-Majeed Sharh Kitab At-Tawhid" and other books as well.
And from what she has authored are "Naseehatee li An-Nisaa" (My Advice to the Women), which has been published (by Dar Al-Athaar). Also "As-Saheeh Al-Musnad min As-Shama’il Al-Muhamadiyah" published (by Dar Al-Athaar). And a treatise that is waiting to be printed, "Al-’Ilm wa Al’Ulema"
She is currently working on the verification and explanation of "As-Sunnah" by Ibn Abi ‘Aasim including the fiqh of some of the matters and the benefits of others, the religious importance of traveling for knowledge, and the rulings on the ahadith, authentic and weak, without blindly following anyone from the people of this time or other than them. She is also working on "As-Saheeh Al-Musnad min As-Seerati An-Nabwiyah" and she also has a beneficial commentary on "Bulagh Al Maraam" by Al-Hafidh Ibn Hajar.
All of this she does along with answering letters that are sent to her from within Yemen and outside of it, and Allah has made it sufficient for her to continue the journey in the service of the Prophet’s Sunnah, and may Allah protect her and her students from ignorant partisanship Ameen.
2. And she has an older sister, Umm Abdullah Al-Wadi’eeya. She is one who loves the good. She teaches within the limits of her capabilities what she is able with all of her responsibilities. May Allah give us success and guide her to good. Verily He is Bountiful and Generous.
3. Umm Shu’ayb As-Salafiyyah Al-Wadi’eeya (and she is a wife of Sheikh Muqbil): An excellent woman who fears Allah and who has love for the sunnah and the people of the sunnah. She has excellent character. She teaches her sisters in Qur’an memorization with tajwid. In addition, she has studied with some of her sisters "Al-Qawlu Al-Mafeed" from our esteemed brother, the sheikh Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhab Al-Wasaabee. She has also studied "At-Tihfat As-Sunniya" and "Al-Mutamama" and "Siffat As-Salat" by Sheikh Al-Albani. Umm Shu’ayb has authored, "As-Saheeh Al-Musnad min Fadaa’il Ahl Baytu An-Nabawi" with clarification of what it needs from the explanation of some of the words. She is now working on "As-Saheeh Al-Musnad min Al-Adhab An-Nabawi", as well as reviewing books of explanation and recalling some of the benefits and elucidating some of the general expressions in the book. And may Allah grant her good.
She continues upon good and gaining beneficial knowledge. She attends my lessons and other lectures from behind a curtain. May Allah keep her firm and strong on the truth and benefit Islam and the Muslims by her. And in spite of all this, she serves me and helps me with my research as well as one could possibly wish. And may Allah grant her good.
4. Umm Salama As-Salafiyyah (and she is a wife of Sheikh Muqbil): An excellent, ascetic caller to Allah on firm knowledge, and she has excellent character. She teaches her sisters from " At-Tihfat As-Sunniya", "Al-Mutamama", "Al-Baa’ith Al-Hatheeth", "Al-Qawlu Al-Mafeed", "Al-Aqeedatu Al-Wasatiyyah", "Al-Mufrad Al-’Ilm" and "AlMulhah" through memorization and studying the explanations. And one of her books, "Al-Intisa lill-Muminaat", is under publication, as well as a refutation of Az-Zandaani that she authored, which is an extremely beneficial research work. And she is now working on "al-Adab al- Mufrad," discussing what needs to be discussed regarding the narrators in the chains of narration. She also mentions the points of benefit from the fiqh of hadeeth, and the explanation of strange words within it and the verification of sources of the ahadith as needed. She has not ceased to continue upon the good and learning from the beneficial knowledge. She attends my classes and other lectures from behind a curtain.
May Allah make her firm upon the truth and benefit Islam and the Muslims by her. And in spite of all this, she serves me and helps me with my research as well as one could possibly wish. And may Allah grant her good.
5. Umm Ibrahim Al-Wadi’eeya
6. Umm Ibrahim Bint Hassan Ibn Ali Isa Al-Jaybutiyah then Al-Hadhramiyyah: A woman who calls to Allah.
7. Umm Ibrahim Khadijah Al-Haashidiyya: An excellent woman. She has understanding and is diligent regarding the lessons.
8. Umm Usamah Al-Mahwitiya: Memorizer of Allah’s book.
9. Umm Usamah Nurah Ibn Ali Al-Abbaasiyah Al-Amraaniyah: An excellent woman caller; memorizes the Qur’an. She benefits her sisters and is one who benefits.
10. Umm Asma Bint Ali Jibreel: And outstanding woman, diligent -she has understanding and knowledge.
11. Umm Ayyoub Al-Wadi’eeya
12. Umm Hudhaifah Bint Al-Furjaanee Al-Libiyah: For six years she has sought knowledge in Dammaj and she is an excellent woman. She has understanding and knowledge.
13. Umm Saalim Al- Waadi’eeya: She is an excellent woman and an effective lecturer.
14. Umm Salamah Hind Al-Haashidiya
15. Umm Sulaim Huda Bint ‘Ali Al-’Abbaasiya Al-’Amraaniyah: An outstanding, hardworking woman, persevering on participating in the lessons.
16. Umm Sulayman Al-Shawkaaniya: An outstanding woman, possessing understanding and knowledge.
17. Umm Saabir Bint Al-Haamid: An outstanding woman who benefits.
18. Umm Taariq Bint ‘Ali Ibn ‘Eedroos Al-Haashimiyyah Al-Hajiya
19. Umm ‘Abdur Rahman Ibtisaam Bint ‘Imraan Ibn Hussain Ibn Saalih Al-Aswad Al-Zaawee Al-Libiyah: An outstanding, diligent woman, she has understanding and is hardworking on her lessons.
20. Umm ‘Abdur Rahman Bint Naasir Ibn Karoo Al- ‘Adiniya: She has memorized twenty juz of Qur’an.
21. Umm ‘Abdullah Al-Bi’daaniya Bint ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Ali Ibn Hameed Al-Khayaat: She teaches our sisters in grammar, the grading of ahaadith, and tawhid and is a lecturer. She is close to finishing memorization of the Qur’aan.
22. Umm ‘Abdullah Bint Saalim Al-Wasaabi: Memorizer of Allah’s Book
23. Umm ‘Abdullah Bint ‘Abdullah Al-Wasaabi: Memorizer of Allah’s Book
24. Umm ‘Abdullah Bint ‘Abdullah Ibn Ahmad Al-Salawiya: Memorizer of the Qur’an
25. Umm ‘Amaar Al- Maaramiya Al-’Adaniya: An excellent woman caller and memorizer of the Qur’an and she has a work currently being published, "Bulugh Al-Hujja fi Sitr Wahida".
26. Umm ‘Amr Al- Wadi’eeya: An excellent woman, she memorizes Qur’an and she is now working on a verification on Ash-Shawkani’s treatise on the prohibited pictures
27. Umm Al-Fidaa Al-’Adaniya: An outstanding, hardworking woman
28. Umm Al- Fadal Bint Hussain Thaamir
29. Umm Maazan Bint ‘Abdullah Ahmad ‘Abdaan: An outstanding female caller
30. Umm Mas’oub Bint Balqaasim Ibn Muhammad Al-Surmaani Al-Libiya: An excellent, hardworking woman
31. Umm Mas’ab Bint Muhammad Ibn Thaabit Ibn ‘Aqlaan Al- Hakimi Al-’Adaniya: An excellent, beneficial woman
32. Umm Mas’ab Mariam Al-’Adaniya: An outstanding woman who loves the sunnah, loves beneficial knowledge, and calls to Allah upon knowledge and understanding. May Allah strengthen us and unite us upon the truth, Ameen
33. Umm Mu’aadh Al-Warashafaaniya Al-Libiyah: She is memorizing "Al-Aqeedatu Al-Wasatiyyah"
34. Umm Musa Bint ‘Umar Al-Hushabiya:-and she has understanding and is memorizing the Noble Qur’an
35. Shahidah Umm Abdullah Fawrad Al-Britanniya Al-Muhaajira: And she is a woman aspiring to spend her time diligently in obtaining the knowledge, spending a great deal of her time in the masjid, reviewing and benefiting.
Alhamdulillah, I was recently blessed with the opportunity of sitting with Umm Salamah, may Allah preserve her, one of the wives of Sheikh Muqbil, rahimahu’Allah mentioned earlier. Alhamdulillah, there were many blessings in this, and I would like to share a few of them with you now.
The women’s musallah is small at this masjid, but mash’Allah, it was full of sisters who had come to hear Umm Salamah speak, not because it was "Umm Salamah", but because she is a person with a lot of knowledge, a person who is willing to share her knowledge with others, a person who learned through sitting with one of the major scholars of our time, alhamdulillah. There was none of that sort of "celebrity" factor that seems to creep in so often in the States. And indeed, when she came in, she looked just like the rest of us, no fanfare, no entourage, nothing like that. She came in and quietly made her two rak’aat, then sat in the chair next to me and my daughter, Sukhailah.
The next thing that made an impression on me was her choice of subject matter. Often we women get caught up with the idea that we want to hear about "women’s issues", like marriage, family, dealing with menstruation and child bearing, hijab, etc. The fact of the matter is, all of the vast sea of knowledge that Islam encompasses deals with women’s issues. And the first and foremost of these is aqeedah, alhamdulillah. Umm Salamah spoke about khawf, or fear of Allah, and rajah, or hope in Allah’s mercy. She stressed that though most of us may feel that at times we are alone, and could get away with whatever we like, Allah is always aware of what we are doing…and what is in our hearts. She also mentioned how the Jews and Christians are both astray in these matters. Alhamdulillah, it reminded me of my class of the evening before, which is an explanation of Usool Thalathah, and made me grateful again for the interconnectedness and wholeness of this beautiful deen, alhamdulillah.
After her brief talk, sisters wrote questions down and sent them up to her. Here is another thing that was made apparent to me…no matter where we are, in what time we are living, we all are dealing with the same issues, mash’Allah. There were questions about prayer, purification, aqeedah, and more. One thing that she addressed more than once was the issue of resembling the disbelievers. She stressed that this is truly dangerous, as it can weaken our deen and little by little take us away from Islam. She also answered a question by a sister who was attending the university here in Sana’a, which is coeducational, with men and women in the same classroom, though in different parts of it. She said that this was haram, and brought her proofs, and again stressed the danger of that little by little blackening our hearts with the doubtful things, things that lead to the worse matters. The sister who asked the question was almost in tears, but she said that she was going to find another way to study, insh’Allah.
After the talk, Sukhailah and I met Umm Salamah, and she was very gracious and kind. The first thing she asked was where we are studying, and encouraged us to continue to seek knowledge however we could. She had a minute for everyone who wanted to meet her, and answered more questions from sisters as she was preparing to leave.
Alhamdulillah, sisters, I would like to urge you all (and I include myself in this as well) to seek out the knowledge of this wonderful deen of ours…it is such a deep, deep well that one can draw from, and the result is a refreshment of the soul and a greater appreciation of the blessing from Allah that we call Islam.
I would like to end with some words from Sheikh Muqbil, rahimahu’Allah from his introduction to "As-Sahih Al Musnad min Fadaail Ahl Bayt An Nabi" by Umm Shuayb Al Wadi’eeya.
"To Proceed:
Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala says:
Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islam), enjoining Al-Maruf (Islamic monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do) and forbidding Al-Munkar (polytheism and disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden). And it is they who are the successful.
(Surah Al Imran, Ayat 104)
and Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala says:
The believers, men and women, are Auliya’ (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another; they enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma’ruf (Islamic monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do) and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (polytheism and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden); they perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-salat), and give the Zakat, and obey Allah and His Messenger, Allah will have Mercy on them. Surely, Allah is All-Mighty, All Wise.
(Surah At-Tawbah, Ayat 71)
and Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala says:
There is no good in most of their secret talks save (in) him who orders Sadaqah (charity in Allah’s cause), or Ma’ruf (Islamic monotheism and all the good and righteous deeds which Allah has ordained), or conciliation between mankind; and he who does this, seeking the good pleasure of Allah, We shall give him a great reward.
(Surah An-Nisaa, Ayat 114)
These verses include both the men and the women, as when Allah ta’ala says,
And perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-salat), and give Zakat, and obey the Messenger (Muhammad, sal Allahu aleihi wa salam) that you may receive mercy (from Allah).
(Surah An-Nur, Ayat 56)
He includes the men and the women.
And Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala gave success to a good group of women who have striven for the beneficial knowledge, and the practice of it, and who call to Allah. And from them the teachers, and from them the authors, and from them the callers to Allah on clear, correct knowledge.
And Allah benefits us with them, and with them is the best example in Aishah and Umm Salamah and Hafsa, and the rest of the Prophet’s women, and a large group of the female sahabah and from the tabaa’ieen (those who followed them), such as Hafsah Bint Sireen, ‘Amarah Bint Abdur-Rahman and Umm Darda As-Saghra, and they have spread by their examples, radiAllahuanhunna much good. And truly the women they are the twin halves of the men, except in situations which are made clear through evidence."
Subhanaka Allahummah bihamdik wa la il Allaha ila anta, wa astaghriruka wa atubu ilayk
Umm Mujahid Khadijah Bint Lacina [ummmujahid@hotmail.com]
Rabia at-Thani 4, 1424 Sana’a, Yemen

The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said "Umm Waraqah! Dwell in your house, Allah will give you a death as a martyr"

The Ansar of al-Madina were standing on the outskirts of their city, looking with impatient eyes towards the road approaching from Makkah. Men, women, girls, and boys, the young and the old were waiting for the arrival of their beloved Prophet who was migrating from his city to theirs at their invitation and the command of Allah. Suddenly someone shouted, 'Here they come!" and all the young girls and women burst into a song of praise of Allah and a welcome to His Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم. Among these Ansari women was Umm Waraqah bint Abdullah. She was a learned, scholarly, pious and modest lady, who was well known among the women Companions as one who spent her nights and days in prayer and meditation. She used to recite the Quran beautifully; it was second nature for her to spend alot of time meditating on the meaning of its verses.
The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم valued her highly and he told her to lead the family in congergational prayers. The courtyard of the house was converted into a mosque; with the permission of the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم they had a Mu'ththin to give the call to prayers. Abdur-Rahman bin Khallad says that he saw the Mu'ththin, who was a very aged man. Thus Umm Warqah bint Abdullah was appointed to be an Imaam and lead the prayers for the ladies.
Besides her thirst for knowledge of the Quran, shari'ah (islamic legislation) and Ahadith, Umm Waraqah had a burning desire to die a martyr in the cause of Islam. When it was announced that the army should prepare to leave for battle of Badr, Umm Waraqah went to the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم and volunteered her services to tend to the wounded in the battlefield. She told him it was her earnest desire to die in the cause of Islam. The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم could see her enthusiasm and ardour, but he told her to stay at home and she would attain martyrdom there. She went back happily because it was her duty to yield to the command of the Messenger of Allah
Allah سبحانه و تعالى reveled to his beloved Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم that Umm Waraqah would die the death of a martyr in her own home. Nobody could understand how this would take place with her sitting in her house, but they were sure it would definitely happen, as this news had been give to them by their truthful Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم
Umm Waraqah herself was waiting every moment to see how this auspicious event, which would be the fulfillment of her greatest dream, take place. She waited patiently, for it would give her eternal life and a place in Paradise. When would it take place? How exactly would it take place? What shape would it take? How would it be possible to become a martyr sitting in the house? Lost in these thoughts she passed her nights and days. The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم passed. Abu Bakr Siddique succeeded and also passed away; Umar Farooq became Caliph
Umm Waraqah had two slaves working for her, a girl and a man. She told them that after her death they would be free. One day they got together and decided that they were tired of waiting for this old lady to die. They planned that they would kill her while she lay asleep and escape freedom. They were so tempted by the thought of freedom that they forgot to consider their future as well as life in the hereafter. In the dead of the night as Umm Waraqah lay in a deep sleep, they killed her, covered her body with a sheet and crept away from the house silently.
As day broke and the sun came up the neighbors missed the sound of the beautiful recitation of the Quran by Umm Waraqah which use to fill the air early in the dawn. When they entered the house they were shocked to see her lying in the sleep of death. Then they saw that both the slaves -man and girl- were missing. They realized that they must be the criminals, Umar bin Khattab ordered that people should be sent out to search for them. Finally when they were found hiding. When they were brought before the Caliph in the court, they admitted their guilt and were put to death.
Thus the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم was proved right, That Umm Waraqah would die a martyr's death in her own home, and attain Paradise.
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taken from the book Great Women of Islam by Mahmood Ahmed Ghandanfar