
Women’s History Month
They are Honored, Women of Islam Women’s History Month March 2022 “She believed in me when the whole world refuted me and she attested to my trueness when the whole world accused me of falsehood. She offered me compassion and loyalty with her wealth when everyone else had forsaken me.” said the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ peace be upon him about his beloved wife Ummul Mo’mineen Khadija bint Khuwailyd ؓ. The contribution of Muslim women in the establishment of Islam started with our mother Khadija, may Allah be pleased with her and is still happening each and every day. Muslim women throughout the history played their role in the field of Dawah, education, government and were never afraid to shed their blood for the Deen of Allah, SWT. They were the first to shed their blood for Islam. They facilitated the migration of the Prophet ﷺ, peace be upon him, from Makkah to Madinah. They helped protect the city of Madinah from the invaders. They memorized the Quran and Hadith of the Prophet. They donated for the cause of Islam and did not fear poverty. They were scholars who taught the Quran and Hadith. They were not shy to challenge the Khalifa of the time or helped a Qadhi to correct his legal verdict. They were the first to start an Islamic University. They were the ones to send their husbands, brothers and sons to fight for Islam against the Mongols or Crusaders or others. And, they are the ones, as mothers and grandmothers teach Quran to their little ones and instill in them the love for Allah and His Messenger Muhammad ﷺ, peace be upon him. They are the Jewels of Islam! Umme Salma ؓ (Radi Allah Annha) Umme Salma ؓ, her name was Hind bint Abe Umayya, but she is very well known as Umm-e-Salma ؓ. She belonged to a very respectable family and was famous for her knowledge of Islam and her wisdom. She was first married to Abdullah ؓ bin Abdul Assad Makzoomi, who was known as “Abu-Salma Umm-e-Salma ؓ had the honor to be the blessed woman who accepted Islam at its early stage. Her father Abe Umayya bin Abdullah ؓ bin Umro bin Makzoom was very generous person. Her mother was Aatika binte Amer Rabiya bin Malik bin Khazima. She inherited this quality of generosity from her parents. She was very happy and enjoyed the life when she was married to the brave, wealthy and kindhearted Abdullah ؓ bin Abdul Assad. The Holy Prophet ﷺ advised the Muslims to migrate to Abyssinia when the persecution became unbearable. Umm-e-Salma ؓ and Abullah ؓ were ready to undertake this immigration. This was the first batch of Immigrants to Abyssinia which consisted of 20 persons of whom 4 were women. Umm-e-Salma ؓ and her husband were happy there in Abyssinia and they had a beautiful daughter Zainab and a son named Umar also second daughter Durra was born there. The king of Abyssinia extended all comforts and facilities to the immigrants. Umm-e-Salma ؓ narrates that they came back to Makkah when they heard that Umer bin Khattab ؓ embraced Islam and the atmosphere there was peaceful for the believers, but this was not so when they came to Makkah and they had to accept the prevailing situation. Umme Salamah ؓ had vowed to delicate herself to Allah since she embraced Islam. She faced the most difficult and the most horrible situation, but Allah SWT was with her. She once made up her mind again to migrate to Abyssinia, but Prophet ﷺ asked them to migrate to Madinah. She prepared herself for migration to Madinah. Abu Salma ؓ brought a camel for this purpose. The family members of her objected for her departure and detained her at Makkah. Also the members of the family of Abu Salma ؓ came there and snatch my children and said that they would look after the children at Makkah. Only Abu Salma ؓ left for Madinah and Umm-e-Salma ؓ and her children had to stay at Makkah. Umm-e-Salma ؓ was very much upset and worried at this separation. At last, the family members of Umm-e-Salma ؓ took pity on her and the children were also brought by them and given to her. She was allowed to go to Madinah. She undertook the journey to Madinah all alone and reached Madinah. Uthman bin Talah ؓ, who was also going to Madinah and helped her very nicely and accompanied her till she met Abu Salma. Abu Salam ؓ participated in the battle of Uhad and he was among those who remained firm. He suffered a serious injury in that battle from which he was healed but not totally. For, after some time, the wound decayed and deteriorated until claimed his life. She was married to the Holy Prophet ﷺ in the year 4 Hijra. The prayer made by Abu Salma ؓto Allah SWT to give her a better husband was thus accepted by Allah SWT. She was a very great scholar of Islam, sagacious and wise woman. When the Prophet ﷺ commanded the people to slaughter their sacrificial animals and get their heads shaved at the Hudaybiah. The people were suffering distress for nothing. He ﷺ came to his tent and feeling indignant. He told Umm-e-Salma ؓ that he had commanded the people to slaughter their sacrificial animals and get their heads shaved but there is no response from them. Umm-e-Salma ؓ said “O Prophet of Allah: You cannot make these 1500 people do what they don’t want, just do your own duty which Allah SWT has imposed on you. Go ahead and perform your own rites in an open place so that every one of them can see you..” The Holy Prophet ﷺ stepped out of the tent and offered the slaughter of the camel. The people immediately came forward and did the same as the Prophet ﷺ was doing. She was very pious and learned. She knew reading and writing. She had the