– Sahir Farid
Women are the backbone of families and communities. They are a basic unit of society, and they complete men. The contribution of a woman is everywhere from giving birth to a child to the care for life and other areas. They are the pillars of the family. They are caregivers, mothers, leaders, entrepreneurs, activists, educators and managers of the family. A woman plays various roles throughout life. She performs different roles at different stages of life as a daughter, mother, sister and wife. Every role puts a different kind of responsibility on her which she does in the best possible way.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was also a human and a part of society. He also had a family filled with many females and lived in a society of great companions. All these great companions and the near and dear ones of the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ, his wives, daughters, mother and caretakers had a great impact on His life.
Women in Childhood:
As Muhammad ﷺ opened His eyes the first woman He saw was his mother, Amena. She was a single mother as her husband had died before the birth of the baby and even then, she brought up her child admirably. In Arab culture children were not nursed by mothers, so Muhammad ﷺ was nursed by Saubia, slave of Abu Lahab for the initial few days. Later He was handed to Dayi Halima, a professional nursing lady. She fed him and raised him in her village for 5 years. After returning to native place, He grew up with mother and grandfather. But Amena died when Muhammad ﷺ was only 6 years old. Umme Ayman, official name being Barakah bint Tha’alaba, was a slave who helped raise the Prophet ﷺ after the death of His mother Amena. She was highly regarded by the Prophet ﷺ as His “mother after my own mother”. She was one of the first converts to Islam and a heroine of the battle of Uhud.
Women in Adulthood:
Khadija (R.A.) was Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ first life partner, business partner and the biggest supporter. Khadija (R.A.) was the first person Muhammad ﷺ spoke to about his initial, terrifying experience of revelation. She consoled Him and became the first convert to Islam. She firmly stood by Him in all ups and downs of life and spent most of her wealth for upliftment of Islam. She had 2 sons, but both died in early childhood and 4 daughters, namely Fatema (R.A.), Ruqaiyya (R.A.), Zainab (R.A.) and Umme Kulsum (R.A.), all of whom became great companions of Islam. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ loved her so much that He termed the year that she died ‘A Year of Sorrow (Aamul Huzn)’. Muhammad ﷺ described Khadija (R.A.) as follows: “I have not got a better wife than Khadija. She believed in me when no one else did, she accepted Islam when people rejected me, and she helped and comforted me when there was no one else to lend me a helping hand.” After the death of Khadija (R.A.), Prophet Muhammad ﷺ married Sauda (R.A.). He had a total of 11 wives all of which were great companions, noble, humble and followers of Islam. All wives played a crucial role in the spread and enhancement of Islam.
Women played a pivotal and significant role in the life of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
Daughters of Muhammad ﷺ:
Muhammad’s ﷺ daughters also played an important and influential role, both in his life and in the establishment of Islam. All the four daughters underwent sufferings for their father but remained steadfast. When Zainab (R.A.) was migrating to Madinah, the disbelievers followed her and caught her. She was sitting on a camel; an enemy threw a javelin on her, and she fell down on the ground. She was pregnant at that time and suffered miscarriage with many fatal injuries and succumbed to the same. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was very distressed about her death and said with tears, “Zainab was my best daughter who suffered the torments in my love.”
Two of the daughters, Ruqaiyya (R.A.) and Umme Kulsum (R.A.) got divorced when they accepted Islam. They both were married to the sons of Abu Lahab, the biggest enemy of Islam and paternal uncle of Muhammad ﷺ. After the revelation of Surah Lahab, on the order of their father, the sons divorced both of them.
Once the Prophet ﷺ was praying Salah in the Kaaba, disbelievers threw a tripe of camel on His head while he was prostrating. Someone informed Fatema (R.A.), she came running and cleaned it fast. The disbelievers were laughing and clapping on her. She said, “Allah is watching everything and He will surely punish you for your mischief.” Finally, they all were killed in the battle of Badr.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was the best husband and the best father. He set up a role model for all the world and taught us ‘how to be with the family’. He loved his children and grandchildren very much, and instilled love in them. The Prophet ﷺ treated his family with utmost respect, goodness, and kindness.
Ayesha (R.A.) narrated, “The Abyssinians were playing with spears in the mosque and God’s Messenger was covering me with his cloak in order that I might look over his shoulder at their sport. He would then stand for my sake till I was the one who departed; so, estimate the time a young girl eager for amusement would wait.” (Muslim)
“Indeed, among the believers with the most complete faith is the one who is the best in conduct, and the most kind to his family (his wife).” (Tirmidhi)
He used to laugh with them, he used to joke with his family, he used to sit his family down and talk to them and tell them stories, he spent time with his family even though he had many responsibilities, the environment in the home was loving and kind.
We should make our role models from the companions of the Prophet to enlighten our lives and get a bright life in the hereafter. Idealise from Ummahatul Momineen, Khadija, Ayesha, the first martyr of Islam, Sumayya, the leader of women in paradise, Fatema.
