WEBVTT

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Pause and reflect upon the Companions, the scholars, and the prominent figures.

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A new challenge: Who am I?

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I am one of the female Companions from the Ansar, and among the first to embrace Islam.

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I was the representative of the women to the Prophet, peace be upon him.

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I was known for my courage and my participation in battles.

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I became famous for my eloquence and my defense of women.

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So much so that I was called the "orator of the women."

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I also possessed expertise in the adornment of women.

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For I adorned the Mother of the Believers, 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her.

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On the day of her wedding to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him.

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I was also the first woman to observe the waiting period ('iddah) in Islam.

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As the verse regarding the waiting period was revealed following my divorce from my husband.

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I narrated over eighty hadiths from the Prophet, peace be upon him.

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I came to the Prophet, peace be upon him, while he was sitting among his Companions.

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I said, "May my father and mother be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allah.

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I am the representative of the women to you.

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Allah has sent you to all men and women alike.

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We have believed in you.

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Yet we, the community of women,

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are confined and restricted,

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staying within your homes,

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fulfilling your desires,

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and bearing your children.

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You, the community of men,

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have been favored over us by attending Friday prayers and congregational prayers,

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visiting the sick, attending funerals,

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and performing Hajj after Hajj.

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And better than all that is striving (jihad) in the cause of Allah.

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Yet when a man goes out for Hajj, 'Umrah, or jihad,

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we safeguard your wealth for you,

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we spin your garments,

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and we raise your children.

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Do we not share with you in this reward and goodness?"

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The Prophet, peace be upon him, turned

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to his Companions with his entire face.

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Then he said,

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"Have you ever heard a woman’s speech

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better than her questioning regarding her religion?"

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They replied,

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"O Messenger of Allah,

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we never thought a woman could be guided to something like this."

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The Prophet, peace be upon him, turned

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to me and said,

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"Understand, O woman,

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and inform the women behind you

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that a woman’s excellent conduct toward her husband,

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her seeking his pleasure, and her following his agreement

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equals all of that."

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So I departed, praising Allah.

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My father, my brother, and my uncle were killed at the Battle of Uhud,

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while they were defending the Prophet, peace be upon him,

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and shielding him with their own bodies.

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When the news of their martyrdom reached me,

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I went out to look for the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him,

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as he was returning from Uhud.

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When I saw that he was safe,

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I said,

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"Every calamity after you is trivial,"

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meaning insignificant.

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I also witnessed the Battle of the Trench and Khaybar with the Prophet, peace be upon him.

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I went out with him on the expedition of Hudaybiyyah,

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and I gave the pledge of allegiance at Ridwan.

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In the thirteenth year after the Hijrah,

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I set out for the Levant,

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and I participated in the Battle of Yarmouk.

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On that day, I uprooted the pole of my tent,

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and I began striking the heads of the Romans with it,

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until I killed nine of their soldiers.

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So, who am I?