A Woman of Paradise

'Shouldn't I point out to you a woman of Paradise?'
Dr. Munâ al-Qâsim

Ibn `Abbâs said to `Atâ b. Rabâh: "Shouldn't I point out to you a woman of Paradise?"
He replied: "Indeed. Do so."
Ibn `Abbâs said: "Do you see that black lady? She approached the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: 'I suffer from epilepsy and during a fit, my body becomes exposed. So please supplicate Allah on my behalf.'
"Then the Prophet said to her: 'If you choose, you might rather bear it patiently and you will attain Paradise on account of it. Or if you like, I will beseech Allah to cure you.' "She said: 'I will bear it patiently. But my body gets exposed, so please beseech Allah that my body will no longer be exposed.' "The Prophet (peace be upon him) beseeched Allah for this." [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (5652) and Sahîh Muslim (2576)]

The woman's name was Su`ayrah – though some say her name was Shuqayrah – al-Habashiyyah al-Asadiyyah. She was known as Umm Zufar. She was a tall, black lady, and one of the Companions remembered for her patience. She had been Khadijah's lady in waiting. After Khadîjah's demise, the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to show her extra deference and respect.

When she grew older, she became afflicted with epilepsy, and her body would become exposed due to the severity of her seizures. The Prophet (peace be upon him) beseeched Allah on her behalf to preserve her modesty. He also gave her glad tidings of Paradise.

There are many things we can learn from her example:

1. Her story teaches us that we need to turn to Allah with our needs. We need to fear Him and worship Him alone and seek refuge with Him. It is Allah alone who can cure our ills and alleviate our suffering. Our sincerity and faith when we turn to Allah can benefit us in amazing ways. Medical doctors admit that faith has a great affect on healing, often more pronounced than medications, though medications certainly can benefit us.

2. We also learn how virtuous the quality of patience is. This hadith shows us that when we bear illness in patience and fortitude, it is a means by which our sins are forgiven and by which we attain Allah's blessings and entrance into Paradise.

Al-`Aynî says in his commentary on this hadîth: "The exercise of patience in affliction bequeaths to us Paradise. Bearing one's tribulation with fortitude is better for the one who knows he is capable of handling it without becoming weak in his resolve." [`Umdah al-Qârî (21/215)]

We can also see how the Prophet's glad tidings were a help and a comfort to her. It gave her hope. The role of a positive attitude in coping with illness and in aiding the recovery process is well-known.

3. We can see the respect that the Prophet (peace be upon him) showed this woman by his giving her the choice. He respected her right to make the decision for herself in a matter that affected her life. He let her know her options, while showing that he was well aware of the extent of her suffering. He knew it was best for her to be patient if she had the fortitude to bear her illness. However, he trusted her to make the decision for herself.

4. We can learn from this woman the value of modesty. We can see her concern for keeping her body from being exposed when she had a seizure, in her asking the Prophet (peace be upon him) to beseech Allah to protect her modesty when she was not able to control her movements and was free from all blame. We can also see how the Prophet (peace be upon him) readily complied with her request. We must know that the Prophet's supplication has a special value, and his supplication was certainly answered.

We should compare her concern with the willfully immodest dress of many people today.

And Allah knows best.

Taken from http://www.islamtoday.com

Reading the Qur'aan with Contemplation

Blind Children Reading the Quran

Al Imaam Ibn Qayyim al Jawzeeyah
Reference: Miftaah Dar As Sa'aadah P.204

In general, there is nothing more beneficial to the heart than reading the Qur'aan with contemplation. Indeed it gathers the levels of all people, the affairs of all creation and the status of the knowledgeable. It is what leads a person to attain love, to yearn, fear, hope, repent, to depend, to be content, patient and grateful along with the rest of the issues that bring life and completion to the heart. It also condemns all immoral behavior and mannerisms that ruin the heart and cause its destruction.

If people knew the benefits of reading the Qur'aan with contemplation, they would occupy their time with it and nothing else. If a person reads it with contemplation and comes across a verse he is in need of to treat his heart [1], he repeats it even if it were a hundred times, even if it were for the whole night. For reading one Aayah with contemplation and understanding is better that completing the whole Qur'aan without contemplation and understanding, it is more beneficial to the heart and closer to increasing Eemaan and experiencing the sweetness of the Qur'aan.

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[1] Notice the use of the Qur'aan as a treatment for spiritual as well as physical illnesses in the speech of the scholars.

The writing and picture above were taken from Multaqa Ahl al-Hadeeth http://www.ahlalhdeeth.com/vbe/showthread.php?t=5275

My Soul by Mirfat

My soul, listen to me
Without you my body is mere clay
That crumbles and can be washed away
As I waste the seconds day by day
And celebrate the new year and my birthday
I pinch parts of you and throw them away
Who will be the winner at the end of the day?

My soul, why do I treat you this way?
In front of my God what do I say?
That He gave me a gift and I threw it away?

Once upon a day
Could be tomorrow could be today
When I run out of pinches to throw away
And I turn back into a lump of clay!!!
And I am rushed into the ground not far away
Isn't this the soil I treaded on yesterday?
You see, oh Nafs, am not here to stay!
What? Now am in it, to be chewed away?
That’s why I can’t always follow all that you desire or say

Do business with Allah that’s the successful way
Get rid of that attitude and mind what you say
Renounce idle talk and foul play
Mention His name at the start and end of day
Hold on to His rope, you won’t regret it on the last day!
Your life, oh Nafs, is the very seconds ticking away!
Who will be the winner at the end of the day??

Taken from http://www.islamtoday.com/

Source of Strength

Narrated by Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri and Abu Huraira:

The Prophet said, "No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that." [Bukhari]

After a long day at work and you’re feeling so tired you can barely remember where you park your car, remember this hadith and it will give you the strength to stay conscious at least until you are safely home.

When you have that monthly stabbing period pain and it becomes so unbearable you can hardly sit straight, remember this hadith and you will no longer need a painkiller to drive off the pain.

When your husband is acting cold and you feel that he doesn’t love you anymore (whereas he is too occupied thinking about the by-elections) and you’re overcome with sadness, remember this hadith and cheerfulness will soon reappear.

When you bump your head against the car door and it hurts so bad you feel like punching someone, remember this hadith and the soreness will quickly disappear.

When you lose your most precious belonging and you’re in distress, remember this hadith and soon you will realize that you still have a lot more to be happy about.

What is more elating than knowing that some of our sins have been expiated (which equates to better chance of getting a whiff of the sweet smell of Paradise in the Hereafter)?


Umm Hajar
Melaka