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Page 6 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 3 Page 7 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 3
The Story of Hadrat Zainab Abu Salama (R.A.A.)
Hadrat Zainab (R.A.A.) was the daughter of Abu Salama (R.A.A.)
and the niece of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.). She was born in Me-
dina in the year 3 A.H. Her mother was Umm Salama (R.A.A.).
After death of Hadrat Abu Salama bin Abdul Asad Makhzoomi
(R.A.A.), Hadrat Umm Salama was married to the Holy Prophet
(S.A.W.) in the year 4 A.H. Hadrat Umm Salama was a very shy
woman.
After marriage with the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.), whenever he
(S.A.W.) came to her she used to take baby Zainab in her arms
and start breast feeding. Seeing her in that state, the Holy Prophet
(S.A.W.) used to go back.
This state of affair continued for quite some time. The Holy
Prophet (S.A.W.) had great affection for little Zainab, since she
was his step daughter as well as niece.
When Hadrat Zainab (R.A.A.) grew up, she was married to Had-
rat Abdullah bin Zam’a who was the nephew of Umm Salama
(R.A.A.). Their marriage was blessed with six sons and three
daughters. Hadrat Zainab (R.A.A.) was brought up and educated
by the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.), therefore, she was a very cultured
and learned woman.
Many prominent Muslim Scholars used to learn from her the
Islamic Jurisprudence. In fact, she was a well known jurist of
her time.
Hadrat Abu Raafe’ (R.A.A.) has remarked, “Whenever I have
made a mention of the women jurists of Medina, I have always
remembered Hadrat Zainab bint Abu Salama (R.A.A.). She was
pious and devoted Muslim lady and one of the most respectable
companions of the Holy Prophet.
Hadrat Zainab (R.A.A.) has also certain Ahadith. Those who
have quoted Ahadith through her, include Hadrat Zainul Abedin
(R.A.A.) and ‘Urwah bin Zubair (R.A.A.).
In the year 63 A.H. Hadrat Zainab (R.A.A.) faced a very shock-
ing incident. Her two sons: Yazeed bin Abdullah (R.A.A.) and
Kaseer bin Abdullah (R.A.A.) were martyred in the incident of
Hirrah, when Banu Umayyad’s forces let loose the terror and
looted the Medina.
When their dead bodies were brought home, she remarked, “A
great calamity has befallen me. One of my sons fought in the
battle and was martyred. But the other one was inactive, was
slain in the house.” After this incident, Hadrat Zainab (R.A.A.)
passed rest of her life resigned to The Almighty’s Will.
This valiant woman of Islam and renowned companion of the
Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) passed away in the year 64 A.H. She was
buried in Jannatul Baqi.
Islamic Manners - Rules of Health
Appreciate Your Health
A good health is a great gift from The Almighty. It should, there-
fore, be cherished and not neglected. Health, when once goes
down, is difficult to regain. The slightest neglect in matters of
health leads to serious consequences.
Carelessness in this regard, amounts to both, negligence of one’s
physical requirements as well as ungratefulness to The Almighty.
Healthy People Constitute a Powerful Nation. The performance
of the great task as a Muslim and the discharge of a mission as
vicegerent of The Almighty, require a sound mind in a healthy
body with noble ambition and strong will. Only healthy persons
with a living heart help constitute a vigorous nation, and only
such nations can offer such sacrifices and achieve a glorious
place in he cluster of nations.
Be always happy, full of vigor and energy and activeness; make
your life attractive and full of zest for living, garnished with the
help of good manners, cordial smiles, and joviality. Keep away
from sorrow, anger, concern, envy, ill-will, short sightedness,
peevishness and mental confusion. These moral ailments and
mental morbidity affect the digestion adversely and cause stom-
ach disorders. They are the worst enemies of health.
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) has enjoined, “Lead a simple life,
adopt moderation and be happy.” (Mishkat)
Healthy Gait
Hadrat Umar (R.A.A.) once saw a man walking as if sick. He
asked him if was unwell. He replied in the negative. Hadrat
Umar (R.A.A.) ordered him to walk well with force.
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) used to walk with firm steps as if he
was descending from a height.
Do Not Overtax Your Body
Do not strain your physical system. Since bodily energy has a
limit, it cannot stand excessive pressure. It has to be preserved,
maintained and used moderately.
Hadrat Ayesha (R.A.) quotes a tradition of the Holy Prophet
(S.A.W.): “Work according to your capacity or power. The
Almighty does not want you to be exhausted. It is you who
(work so hard) that you get tired.”
Hadrat Abu Qais says that once he went to pay his respects to
the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) when he was delivering a sermon.
Therefore, the former had to wait for sometime under the sun.
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) asked him to move a little towards
the shade. He accordingly moved a little towards the shade. (Al
Adab, Al Mufrad). The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) has also directed
that one should not stay partially in the sun and partially under
cover.
Cultivate Habit for Hard Work
Always lead a hard-working life with chivalrous behavior. Be
prepared to face difficult situations in life. Avoid temptation for
comfort and ease, and love for worldly attractions. The Holy
Prophet (S.A.W.) while appointing Hadrat Muaz Ibn-a-Jabal as
Governor of Yemen advised him: “Muaz, keep yourself away
from living an easy life, because servants of The Almighty do
not run after easy living.”
Visiting Persons and Choosing Friends
Hadrat Anas bin Malik (r.a.a.) relates that after the passing away of
the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.), Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.a.) said to Hadrat
Umar (r.a.a.): ‘Let us visit Hadrat Umm Aiman as the Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.) used to do.’
Accordingly, when we came to her she started weeping. They
asked her, ‘What makes you weep. Do you not know that God
has better recompense for the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) than what he
had in this world?’
She said: ‘I know this well that what God has for the Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.) with Him is the best recompense. I do not weep for this. I
shed tears because Revelation has now stopped.’ This moved the
two distinguished persons so much so that they too started weeping
along with her.
Note: Hadrat Umm Aiman (r.a.a.) was a maid servant and foster
mother of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.). Subsequently he had freed
her and married her with Hadrat Zaid Bin Harisa (r.a.a). The Holy
Prophet (s.a.w.) used to respect her very much and frequently visited
her, and would say that she was his mother.
Hadrat Abu Hurairah (r.a.a.) relates that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.)
said: “If a person visits a sick person or a brother of his simply
for the sake of The Almighty, a caller announces, ‘May you be
happy, may your going be blessed and may you be awarded a
pleasant residence in Paradise!’”
Hadrat Abu Musa Ash’ari (r.a.a.) relates that the Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.) said: “The case of a good companion and that of a bad
companion is like that of one who has musk (perfume) and of
one who blows a furnace (or an iron smith). The owner of musk
might give you some as a gift, or you might buy some from him,
or at least you might smell its fragrance. As regards the other,
he might set your clothes on fire, or at least you will breathe
fumes from the furnace.”
Hadrat Abu Hurairah (r.a.a.) relates that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.)
said: “A man marries a woman for four reasons i.e. either for
the sake of her wealth, her family chain, her charms, or her love
of religion. Try to get one for the sake of her religiousness. May
you be blessed.”
Hadrat Abu Sa’id Khudri relates that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) said:
“Keep company with a believer only, and let your food be eaten
only by the righteous.” (Abu Daud and Tirmizi)
Hadrat Abu Hurairah (r.a.a.) relates that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.)
said: “A person is likely to follow the faith of his friend, so look
whom you be friend.” (Abu Daud and Tirmizi)
Hadrat Anan Bin Malik (r.a.a.) relates that a villager asked the Holy
Prophet (s.a.w.): “When will the Day of Judgment come?” He asked
the questioner: “What preparations have you made for it?” The
man said: “(Only) the love of The Almighty and His Messenger
(s.a.w.).” The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “You will be with those
you love.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Hazrat Abu Musa Ash’ari (r.a.a.) relates that the Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.) said: “A person will be considered to be with one whom
he loves.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Hadrat lbn Mas’ud (r.a.a.) relates that a man came to the Holy
Prophet (s.a.w.) and said: “O Messenger of God! What would
you say about a person who loves people but does not associate
with them?” He said: “A person will be with those he loves.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Miss Ayesha Bridget Honey
The following is the excerpt of the interview with Miss Ayesha
Bridget Honey, an English convert to Islam.
Q: Please tell us how you came to embrace Islam and what was
your age at that time?
A: Three and a half years back The Almighty illuminated me
with the Light of Islam. At that time I was 21 years old. The
family I was born and grew up was from the religious point of
view, no different from the generality of the British homes. My
mother is a Christian but she doesn’t practice religious worship
and rituals.
My father, however, did not believe in any religion. While
studying at the English Church School, I was not satisfied with
some of the basic beliefs of Christianity, especially the concept
of Trinity and the belief in atonement that God or Jesus had
ransomed the people and by accepting the cross had atoned
for all their sins.
I was infatuated with philosophy and my desire to know the Truth
was intense. At the age of 15, I read the book Tao Teh Ching,
which is a collection of the Chinese philosophy of Tao. I was
influenced by its thought. Then when I found some introductory
information about Buddhism. I decided to go into depths of both
these philosophical beliefs. At the age of 17 I went to Canada to
continue my education. My program was to get the secondary
school degree so that I could get admission in a university to learn
the Chinese language.
In Canada, I came to know the Hindu philosophy and read the holy
books of the Hindus. The three beliefs: Tao Teh, Buddhism and
Hinduism, which I knew by now, possessed beauty, profundity and
exaltion, but none of them could satisfy my mind or my feelings.
The founder of the Tao philosophy wandered in remote corners
of the world as a mystic and an ascetic. In search of truth, Buddha
left his wife and family. The books of Hindu are basically ethical
but are all human ideas of collective life in society only based on
hallucination.
These questions bewildered me. I could not believe in any of these
faiths. After all, what could I believe in? What is the purpose of life?
The tension and restlessness grew. After joining the university, I got
the chance to be introduced to the Muslims.
Before that, I had neither read nor heard anything on Islam. In fact
like the other people in the West, I also harbored prejudices and
misunderstandings about Islam.
But, at the university the Muslim students explained their basic
beliefs to me in a calmly and nice manner and gave me some
books to read.
When I started reading these books carefully, their style of presenta-
tion and the freshness of explanation and the commentary surprised
me. I was extremely impressed by the logic and argument with their
concepts of The Creator and the Universe.
I embraced Islam three months after I came to know about it. Islam,
as a European Muslim has put it - is like that of a complete and
perfect geometrical pattern whose every part completes its other
parts and its real beauty lies in the harmony and cohesion of these
parts and it is this characteristic of Islam which has a profound
influence on the human beings.
Islamic Dietary Laws T eachings of the Prophet (SAW) Why I Embraced I slam