Pause and reflect on the lives of the Companions, the scholars, and the prominent figures of our history.
A new challenge: Who am I?
I am one of the Mothers of the Believers.
I am the cousin of the trustworthy Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
My name was Barrah, and my kunyah was Umm Hakim.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, changed my name.
I was among the first of the female emigrants (Muhajirat).
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, proposed to me.
He proposed on behalf of his freedman, Zayd Ibn Harithah, may Allah be pleased with him.
I refused.
Then Allah the Exalted revealed His words:
“And it becometh not a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His messenger have decided an affair (for them), that they should (after that) claim any say in their affair; and whoso is rebellious to Allah and His messenger, he verily goeth astray in error manifest.” (33:36)
“And it becometh not a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His messenger have decided an affair (for them), that they should (after that) claim any say in their affair; and whoso is rebellious to Allah and His messenger, he verily goeth astray in error manifest.” (33:36)
“And it becometh not a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His messenger have decided an affair (for them), that they should (after that) claim any say in their affair; and whoso is rebellious to Allah and His messenger, he verily goeth astray in error manifest.” (33:36)
"And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger
has certainly strayed into clear error."
I had no choice but to obey Allah and His Messenger.
So I married Zayd.
Later, Zayd divorced me.
Then the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, married me.
By the command of Allah the Exalted.
This was for a divine wisdom.
It was intended to dismantle the pre-Islamic custom of adoption.
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, entered into marriage with me.
Without a guardian or witnesses.
I used to take pride in this over the other Mothers of the Believers.
I would say to them:
"Your families gave you in marriage,
but Allah married me off from above the seven heavens."
The Prophet, peace be upon him, described me.
As being 'awwah.
Meaning, one who is humble and supplicates often.
I loved giving charity.
And showing kindness to the poor.
I used to work with my own hands.
And I would give charity from my own earnings.
To the point that I became known as the Mother of the Poor.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, once said.
One day to his wives:
"The first of you to join me
is the one with the longest hand."
After he passed away, we used to stretch our hands against the wall.
To see whose hand was the longest.
My hand was actually short.
Yet, I was the first of his wives to join the Prophet, peace be upon him.
Then the people realized that what was meant
was the one with the longest hand in terms of charity, generosity, and good deeds.
My love for charity reached such a point
that I said when death approached me:
"I have already prepared my shroud.
If 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, sends me a shroud,
then give one of them away in charity.
And if you are able, when you lower me into my grave,
to give the ties of my shroud in charity,
then do so."
So, who am I?
The correct answer will be in the comments.
Upon the release of the next episode, insha'Allah.