Women of Paradise

Part 1: 'The Black Woman'
Paradise is for believing men and women.
We often hear speakers in Friday prayer or in admonitions talking
about Paradise and all of us find our hearts, minds and thoughts tuned
on tothat 'frequency'. However, majority of the speakers talk about
Paradise as if it were a house for men only. Reality is not like that.
Paradise is for the believing men and women. The only price for it is
sound belief in Allaah, love of Allaah and His Messenger salla Allaahu
alaihi wa sallam, and obedience to Allaah and His Messenger salla
Allaahu alaihi wa sallam.
In what follows are the glad tidings given by the Messenger of Allaah
salla Allaahu alaihi wa sallam, to some of the women among his
companions.
*. Narrated 'Aisha radhiya Allaahu anha: I did not feel jealous of any
of the wives of the Prophet as much as I did of Khadija (although) she
died before he married me, for I often heard him mentioning her, and
Allaah had told him to give her the good tidings that she would have a
palace of Qasab (i.e. pipes of precious stones and pearls in
Paradise), and whenever he slaughtered a sheep, hewould send her
women-friends a good share of it. [Sahih al-Bukhari]
*. Anas reports that the Messenger of Allaah, salla Allaahu alaihi wa
sallam, said: ' The best women of mankind are four: Mariam daughter of
`Imraan, Assiya wife of Pharaoh, Khadija daughter of Khuwailid, and
Fatima the daughter of the Messenger of Allaah. ' [Bukhari and Muslim]
*. Narrated Abu Huraira: Jibreel (Gabriel) came to the Prophet and
said,'O Allaah's Apostle! This is Khadija coming to you with a dish
having meat soup (or some food or drink). When she reaches you, greet
her on behalf of her Lord (i.e. Allaah) and onmy behalf, and give
herthe glad tidings of having a Qasab (palace in Paradise) wherein
there will be neither any noise nor any fatigue (trouble).'
[al-Bukhari]
*. Narrated 'Ata bin Abi Rabah: Ibn 'Abbas said to me, 'Shall I show
you a woman of the people of Paradise?' I said, 'Yes.' He said, 'This
blackwoman came to the Prophet and said, 'I get attacks of epilepsy
and my body becomes uncovered; please invoke Allaah for me.' The
Prophet said (to her), ' If you wish, be patient and you will have
(enter) Paradise; and if you wish, I will invoke Allaah to cure you. '
She said, 'I will remain patient,' and added, 'but I become uncovered,
so please invoke Allaah for me that I may not become uncovered.' So he
invoked Allaah for her.' [al-Bukhari]
The aforementioned ahadeeth clearly state the stature of some of the
women given the glad tidings of Jannah (Paradise). What can the women
of today do in order to achieve that pinnacle of success, Paradise?
To do so one MUST learn how these women lived, how they behaved, how
they spoke, how they dressed, how they walked, etc. In this issue of
al-Mu'minah we will try to learn from the black woman mentioned in the
last Hadith, insha'Allaah. The black woman is not even known by her
name, or her exact whereabouts, rather she is known by her deeds, her
faith, her modesty, her chastity, and for her being an inmate of
Paradise. And, in the end, that is what matters most. When Abdullah
Ibn Abbas radhiya Allaahu anhu said 'this black woman', he did not
mean to point at her race or to belittle her in any way. Indeed, he
but meant to teach the people around him a great principle of Islam
which is mentioned in the verse, [in the meaning of] : ' O people! We
have created you from a man and a woman and made you into peoples and
tribes so that you may know each other, verily the most honorable
among you in the sight of Allaah are the most pious. '
The same principle is mentioned in the Hadith: ' Allaah does not look
at your pictures (shapes) and bodies but He looks at your hearts (and
your deeds). ' [Muslim] She (the black woman) was physically sick, yet
she sought cure in the du`a of the Messenger of Allaah, salla Allaahu
alaihiwa sallam. She knew thatthe one who cures, ash-Shaafee, is
Allaah, and Allaah would answerthe du`a of His Messengersalla Allaahu
alaihi wa sallam. We conclude fromthat that du`a heals all diseases be
they of the body or of the heart. When commenting on this Hadith,
al-Hafidh Ibn Hajar said: 'It is inferred from this hadith that the
cure of diseases through du`a and supplication to Allaah (wa
al-iltijaa' ilaa Allaah) is the most successful way of healing, but
this cannot be fulfilled unless two conditions are satisfied: pure
intention and sincere trust in the effectiveness of the du`a, and
righteousness and reliance on Allaah.
The fact that the Prophet salla Allaahu alaihi wa sallam said: ' If
you wish, be patient and you will have (enter) Paradise ' is a proof
for the virtue andreward of patience during sickness. In another
Hadith, he, salla Allaahu alaihi wa sallam, says: ' Whenever a
hardship affects the Muslim, he will be forgiven for it even whenhe is
picked by a spike. ' [Muslim]
And in another Hadith, also narrated by Muslim, Ummu as-Sa'ib cursed
fever, to which the Prophet salla Allaahu alaihi wa sallam told her: '
Do not curse fever, for it takes away the sins like the blaze [fire]
takes away the impurities of iron. ' The black women preferred the
suffering of this world to getting the eternal reward of Paradise! She
suffered from sickness, yet her pain and discomfort did not force her
to forego pleasing Allaah! And no matter who one is, if one is in the
path of Allaah, one will encounter difficulties, because Paradise is
rounded by hardships. If things are easy and life is rosy, then one
must check oneself; are we following the trueIslam? Especially in this
western environment it may be difficult for a young woman to wear the
dress of modesty, the hijab (even though it is mandatory), not to talk
to men and keep away from them (which is also mandatory), except if
necessary.
All these may be difficult to achieve for some in the beginning, but
when one overcomes herself for the sake of Allaah, then all the other
obstacles become baseless. So, how to overcome oneself? By knowing
Allaah by His names and attributes; by loving and obeying Allaah and
His Messenger,salla Allaahu alaihi wa sallam; and then the help of
Allaah will come, insha'Allaah. She (the black woman) preferred being
patient, but could not tolerate that her honor, her modesty and her
chastity be damaged or even touched, nor thatany part of her body be
uncovered, though she had no control over it. Indeed she was a real
slave and servant of Allaah; she was a faithful,a believer, a
Muslimah, a righteous and pious woman, a truthful woman, and she was
loyal to Allaah and His Messenger, salla Allaahu alaihi wa sallam. Not
onlyhaving these awe-inspiring qualities, she was also a wise and
agreat woman, as her memorable words rang...: '... but I become
uncovered, so please invoke Allaah for me that I may not become
uncovered.'
If words are to be written in Gold, these words should be written in
gold ... Remember this simple equation:
Iman + Suffering + Patience = Paradise
It can also be inferred that the righteous Muslimwoman inherently
loves to be covered, loves modesty and chastity andhates revealing her
body and her beauty. The black woman, radhiya Allaahu `anha could
sustain being so sick but could not bear to be uncovered in front of
people.
The issue, one must understand, is not of black or white or Arab or
non-Arab, rich or poor, noble[with lineage] or not, it is rather of a
creedso deeply rooted in the hearts of Muslims like blood flows in the
arteries and veins of people. They are those who are totally committed
to Islam. Fourteen Hundred years of history showed that Muslim women
could sustain hunger, poverty, sickness but could never sustain
disobeying Allaah. The wife would tell her husband when leaving for
work: 'Fear Allaah in us, for we can sustain hunger and thirst but we
cannot sustain Hell fire [i.e. do not acquire unlawful earning].'
Dear sisters, ask yourself what made Khadija radhiya Allaahu `anha be
greeted by Allaah Subhanahu wa Ta`ala and by Jibreel alaihi as-Salaam.
Ask yourself what made Khadija be rewarded a Palace in Jannah as no
one can imagine. Reading the biography of Khadija andothers like her
in greatness, one would wish to be at their service; to carry their
shoes, wash their clothes,to serve them in any possible way and get
du`a from them. It is sad that we just don't know the great
personalities ofthis Ummah. If only we strive to study the lives ofthe
righteous that preceded us, we would find in them immense guidance for
our existence, and if we know them and follow them we could be in the
forefront of mankind ...
It is said, 'Iman (faith) is not by hope, it is rather what occurs in
the heart and is proved by the deeds [maa waqa`a fil qalbi wa
saddaqahul-`amal].' We leave you to think about this and prayto Allaah
to make us all among the dwellers of Paradise and to bestow upon us
the faith and thepatience that lead us to Paradise. And to bless
thepresent Muslim Ummah with many women like the black woman, radhiya
Allaahu `anha (may Allaah be pleased with her), who help us focus on
the straight path ...

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