1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:15,609 --> 00:00:17,609 Mawaddah Association is pleased 3 00:00:17,609 --> 00:00:19,899 to present to you: 4 00:00:19,899 --> 00:00:23,019 "Portraits from the Lives of the Female Companions" 5 00:00:23,019 --> 00:00:27,019 by Dr. Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 6 00:00:27,019 --> 00:00:31,780 may Allah have mercy upon him. 7 00:00:31,780 --> 00:00:36,810 Al-Ghumaysa' bint Milhan, may Allah be pleased with her. 8 00:00:49,539 --> 00:00:56,119 Al-Ghumaysa' bint Milhan was, 9 00:00:56,119 --> 00:00:59,119 when Islam illuminated the earth with its light, 10 00:00:59,119 --> 00:01:03,119 a mature woman approaching forty years of age. 11 00:01:03,119 --> 00:01:05,120 Her husband, Malik ibn al-Nadr, 12 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:09,120 used to shower her with his abundant love and tender affection, 13 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:12,120 filling her life with radiance, ease, and comfort. 14 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:16,120 The people of Yathrib envied that happy husband 15 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:20,120 for his wife's exceptional intellect, 16 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:23,120 foresight, and exemplary devotion as a spouse. 17 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:26,180 Then, on one of Allah's immortal days, 18 00:01:26,180 --> 00:01:31,180 there arrived in Yathrib with the Meccan caller Mus'ab ibn 'Umayr 19 00:01:32,180 --> 00:01:36,180 the first ray of Muhammadan guidance. 20 00:01:36,180 --> 00:01:39,180 Al-Ghumaysa's heart opened to it, 21 00:01:39,180 --> 00:01:43,180 just as garden blossoms open to the first light of dawn, 22 00:01:43,180 --> 00:01:46,180 and she soon declared her Islam 23 00:01:46,180 --> 00:01:50,180 back when the Muslims in Medina could be counted on one's fingers. 24 00:01:50,180 --> 00:01:54,180 The loyal wife then invited her beloved husband 25 00:01:54,180 --> 00:01:59,180 to drink alongside her from this pure, sweet, divine spring, 26 00:01:59,180 --> 00:02:03,180 and to attain the happiness of faith that she had found. 27 00:02:03,180 --> 00:02:05,180 Malik ibn al-Nadr, however, 28 00:02:05,180 --> 00:02:08,180 felt no inclination toward the new religion, 29 00:02:08,180 --> 00:02:11,180 nor was he pleased with it; 30 00:02:11,180 --> 00:02:15,180 instead, he urged his wife to renounce Islam 31 00:02:15,180 --> 00:02:19,180 and return to the religion of their forefathers. 32 00:02:19,180 --> 00:02:22,180 Each spouse firmly held their ground: 33 00:02:22,180 --> 00:02:27,180 Al-Ghumaysa' detested returning to disbelief after having believed, 34 00:02:27,180 --> 00:02:30,180 just as one would detest being cast into the Fire, 35 00:02:30,180 --> 00:02:35,180 while Malik stubbornly clung to the faith of his ancestors. 36 00:02:35,180 --> 00:02:37,180 Al-Ghumaysa' 37 00:02:37,180 --> 00:02:41,180 possessed such strength of argument that she would silence her husband, 38 00:02:41,180 --> 00:02:44,180 and her call carried such light of truth 39 00:02:44,180 --> 00:02:48,180 as to expose his flimsy, crumbling falsehood. 40 00:02:48,180 --> 00:02:51,180 Malik had an idol made of wood 41 00:02:51,180 --> 00:02:53,180 which he worshiped besides Allah, 42 00:02:53,180 --> 00:02:56,180 and she would debate him regarding it, saying: 43 00:02:56,180 --> 00:03:01,180 "Do you worship a tree trunk that sprouted from the earth you trample beneath your feet 44 00:03:01,180 --> 00:03:04,180 and onto which you cast your waste? 45 00:03:04,180 --> 00:03:10,250 Do you invoke besides Allah a piece of wood carved for you by an Abyssinian carpenter among the craftsmen of Medina?" 46 00:03:10,250 --> 00:03:14,250 When the husband could no longer endure his wife's irrefutable arguments, 47 00:03:14,250 --> 00:03:16,250 he left Medina, 48 00:03:16,250 --> 00:03:21,250 wandering aimlessly toward the lands of the Levant. 49 00:03:21,250 --> 00:03:26,250 He did not remain there long before he died upon his polytheism. 50 00:03:26,250 --> 00:03:30,280 As soon as the news of al-Ghumaysa's widowhood spread throughout Medina, 51 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:34,280 many men eagerly sought to marry her, 52 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:38,280 were it not that they feared she would turn them away disappointed 53 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:42,280 on account of the difference in religion between her and them. 54 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:46,280 However, Zayd ibn Sahl, known by the kunya Abu Talhah, 55 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:51,280 was emboldened to seek her consent by the kinship between them, 56 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:54,280 as both belonged to the Banu al-Najjar. 57 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:57,500 Abu Talhah went to al-Ghumaysa's house 58 00:03:57,500 --> 00:04:00,500 and addressed her by her kunya, saying: 59 00:04:00,500 --> 00:04:04,500 "O Umm Sulaym, I have come to you as a suitor, 60 00:04:04,500 --> 00:04:07,500 and I hope I will not be turned away disappointed." 61 00:04:07,500 --> 00:04:11,500 She said: "By Allah, a man like you is not turned away, O Abu Talhah! 62 00:04:12,500 --> 00:04:16,500 But you are a disbelieving man and I am a Muslim woman, 63 00:04:16,500 --> 00:04:19,500 and it is not lawful for me to marry you. 64 00:04:19,500 --> 00:04:22,500 If you embrace Islam, that shall be my dowry, 65 00:04:22,500 --> 00:04:25,500 and I will demand no bridal gift from you other than Islam." 66 00:04:25,500 --> 00:04:30,540 He said, "Let me consider my matter," and he departed. 67 00:04:30,540 --> 00:04:34,540 The next day, he returned to her and declared: 68 00:04:34,540 --> 00:04:39,540 "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, without partner, 69 00:04:39,540 --> 00:04:43,540 and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger." 70 00:04:43,540 --> 00:04:47,600 She said: "Now that you have embraced Islam, 71 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:49,600 I accept you as my husband." 72 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:52,600 The people began to say: 73 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:54,600 "We have never heard of a woman 74 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:57,600 who had a more noble dowry than Umm Sulaym, 75 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,699 for her dowry was Islam!" 76 00:05:00,699 --> 00:05:04,699 Abu Talhah rejoiced in all that Umm Sulaym possessed 77 00:05:04,699 --> 00:05:07,699 of noble character and virtuous traits, 78 00:05:07,699 --> 00:05:11,699 and his joy was further heightened when she bore him 79 00:05:11,699 --> 00:05:15,699 a baby boy who became the apple of his eye and the delight of his heart. 80 00:05:15,699 --> 00:05:19,699 But while he was preparing for one of his journeys, 81 00:05:19,699 --> 00:05:23,699 the little boy fell ill with an ailment that struck him, 82 00:05:23,699 --> 00:05:26,699 and Abu Talhah grieved over him so intensely 83 00:05:26,699 --> 00:05:28,699 that it almost kept him from traveling. 84 00:05:28,699 --> 00:05:32,699 During his brief absence, that tender branch withered, 85 00:05:32,699 --> 00:05:34,699 and the child was laid to rest in the earth. 86 00:05:34,699 --> 00:05:37,699 Umm Sulaym said to her household: 87 00:05:37,699 --> 00:05:40,699 "Do not inform Abu Talhah of his son's death 88 00:05:40,699 --> 00:05:42,699 until I break the news to him myself." 89 00:05:42,699 --> 00:05:45,819 Abu Talhah returned from his journey, 90 00:05:45,819 --> 00:05:48,819 and Umm Sulaym received him cheerful and smiling, 91 00:05:48,819 --> 00:05:50,819 full of warmth and good cheer. 92 00:05:50,819 --> 00:05:53,860 He immediately asked her about the boy, 93 00:05:53,860 --> 00:05:55,860 and she replied: "Leave him be, 94 00:05:55,860 --> 00:05:58,860 for he is now in the quietest and most tranquil state you have ever known him." 95 00:05:58,860 --> 00:06:01,980 She then set dinner before him 96 00:06:01,980 --> 00:06:05,980 and kept him company, bringing joy to his heart. 97 00:06:05,980 --> 00:06:08,980 When she saw that he had eaten his fill and was well rested, 98 00:06:08,980 --> 00:06:09,980 she said to him: 99 00:06:09,980 --> 00:06:11,980 "O Abu Talhah, 100 00:06:11,980 --> 00:06:16,980 tell me: if people lend something to others and then ask for it back, 101 00:06:16,980 --> 00:06:20,980 do the borrowers have any right to become angry or withhold it from them?" 102 00:06:20,980 --> 00:06:22,980 He said: "No." 103 00:06:22,980 --> 00:06:26,980 She said: "Indeed, Allah has reclaimed what He bestowed upon you, 104 00:06:26,980 --> 00:06:28,980 so seek your reward with Him for your son." 105 00:06:28,980 --> 00:06:33,980 Abu Talhah received the decree of Allah with contentment and submission. 106 00:06:33,980 --> 00:06:36,019 When morning came, 107 00:06:36,019 --> 00:06:39,019 he went to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 108 00:06:39,019 --> 00:06:42,019 and informed him of what Umm Sulaym had done. 109 00:06:42,019 --> 00:06:47,019 The Prophet prayed for him and her that Allah grant them a better compensation for what they had lost, 110 00:06:47,019 --> 00:06:50,019 and that He bless them in that replacement. 111 00:06:50,019 --> 00:06:55,110 Allah, Mighty and Majestic, answered the prayer of His Prophet, peace be upon him, 112 00:06:55,110 --> 00:06:57,110 and Umm Sulaym became pregnant. 113 00:06:57,110 --> 00:06:59,110 When her term was complete, 114 00:06:59,110 --> 00:07:02,110 she was returning to Medina from a journey, 115 00:07:02,110 --> 00:07:06,110 together with her husband and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 116 00:07:06,110 --> 00:07:08,110 As they drew near Yathrib, 117 00:07:08,110 --> 00:07:10,110 her labor pains came upon her. 118 00:07:10,110 --> 00:07:13,110 Abu Talhah stayed behind with her, 119 00:07:13,110 --> 00:07:17,110 while the noble Prophet, peace be upon him, continued on, 120 00:07:17,110 --> 00:07:21,110 wishing to enter Medina before nightfall. 121 00:07:21,110 --> 00:07:25,110 Abu Talhah raised his eyes toward the heaven and said: 122 00:07:26,110 --> 00:07:28,110 "Indeed, You know, O Lord, 123 00:07:28,110 --> 00:07:33,110 that I love to depart whenever Your Messenger departs, 124 00:07:33,110 --> 00:07:36,110 and to enter whenever he enters, 125 00:07:36,110 --> 00:07:39,110 but I have been detained by what You see." 126 00:07:39,110 --> 00:07:41,110 Umm Sulaym said to him: 127 00:07:41,110 --> 00:07:43,110 "O Abu Talhah, 128 00:07:43,110 --> 00:07:47,110 by Allah, I no longer feel the labor pains of this child 129 00:07:47,110 --> 00:07:49,110 that I was feeling before! 130 00:07:49,110 --> 00:07:51,110 So let us proceed, 131 00:07:51,110 --> 00:07:56,110 and do not fall behind the company of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him." 132 00:07:56,110 --> 00:08:01,110 They set out, and as soon as they reached Medina, she gave birth, 133 00:08:01,110 --> 00:08:03,110 and it was a boy. 134 00:08:03,110 --> 00:08:05,110 She said to those around her: 135 00:08:05,110 --> 00:08:11,110 "Let no one nurse him until you take him to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him." 136 00:08:11,110 --> 00:08:13,110 When morning came, 137 00:08:13,110 --> 00:08:16,110 his brother Anas ibn Malik carried him to the Prophet. 138 00:08:16,110 --> 00:08:20,110 When the Prophet, peace be upon him, saw him approaching, 139 00:08:20,110 --> 00:08:23,110 he said: "Perhaps Umm Sulaym has given birth?" 140 00:08:23,110 --> 00:08:26,110 Anas replied: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah." 141 00:08:26,110 --> 00:08:28,110 He placed the baby in his lap, 142 00:08:28,110 --> 00:08:31,110 called for a date of the 'Ajwah variety of Medina, 143 00:08:31,110 --> 00:08:34,110 chewed it in his noble mouth until it softened, 144 00:08:34,110 --> 00:08:37,110 and placed it into the infant's mouth, 145 00:08:37,110 --> 00:08:39,110 and the baby began to smack his lips on it. 146 00:08:39,110 --> 00:08:42,110 He then stroked his face with his noble hand 147 00:08:42,110 --> 00:08:44,110 and named him 'Abdullah. 148 00:08:44,110 --> 00:08:49,460 From his lineage came ten distinguished scholars of Islam. 149 00:08:49,460 --> 00:08:52,460 Such was the devoted love of Umm Sulaym 150 00:08:52,460 --> 00:08:56,460 that she loved the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 151 00:08:56,460 --> 00:08:59,460 with a love that permeated her flesh and bones 152 00:08:59,460 --> 00:09:02,460 and dwelled in the depths of her heart. 153 00:09:02,460 --> 00:09:04,460 Such was the depth of her love for him 154 00:09:04,460 --> 00:09:08,460 that her son Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, recounted: 155 00:09:08,460 --> 00:09:11,460 "The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 156 00:09:11,460 --> 00:09:14,460 was sleeping in our house one afternoon, 157 00:09:14,460 --> 00:09:16,460 and the heat was intense. 158 00:09:16,460 --> 00:09:19,460 Sweat began to pour from his forehead, 159 00:09:19,460 --> 00:09:21,460 so my mother brought a small glass bottle 160 00:09:21,460 --> 00:09:24,460 and began to collect the sweat into it. 161 00:09:24,460 --> 00:09:27,460 The Prophet, peace be upon him, awoke 162 00:09:27,460 --> 00:09:31,460 and asked: 'What are you doing, O Umm Sulaym?' 163 00:09:31,460 --> 00:09:34,460 She said: 'This is your sweat; 164 00:09:34,460 --> 00:09:37,460 I collect it and mix it with our perfume, 165 00:09:37,460 --> 00:09:39,460 and it becomes the sweetest of scents.'" 166 00:09:39,460 --> 00:09:44,460 Among the many testimonies to her love for the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him 167 00:09:44,460 --> 00:09:46,460 —and they are abundant indeed— 168 00:09:46,460 --> 00:09:51,460 was that her son Anas had a lock of hair dangling over his forehead. 169 00:09:51,460 --> 00:09:55,460 Her husband asked her to trim it for him after it had grown long, 170 00:09:55,460 --> 00:09:57,460 but she refused, 171 00:09:57,460 --> 00:10:01,460 because the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 172 00:10:01,460 --> 00:10:03,460 whenever Anas came to him, 173 00:10:03,460 --> 00:10:05,460 would stroke his head with his hand 174 00:10:05,460 --> 00:10:09,460 and touch that lock of hair hanging over his forehead. 175 00:10:09,460 --> 00:10:12,500 Nor were Umm Sulaym's virtues limited 176 00:10:12,500 --> 00:10:16,500 to being a believer of steadfast faith, 177 00:10:16,500 --> 00:10:18,500 a woman of profound wisdom, 178 00:10:18,500 --> 00:10:21,500 and a first-rate wife and mother; 179 00:10:21,500 --> 00:10:24,500 rather, she was above all that 180 00:10:24,500 --> 00:10:27,500 a warrior in the path of Allah. 181 00:10:27,500 --> 00:10:33,559 How often were her lungs filled with the dust of battle fragrant with the scents of Paradise! 182 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:37,559 How often were her fingertips dyed with the blood of the mujahideen 183 00:10:37,559 --> 00:10:41,559 as she tended to their wounds and bound them firmly! 184 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:44,559 How often did she pour water into the throats of the thirsty 185 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:48,559 as they offered their lives in the path of Allah, 186 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:52,559 carried provisions for them, and repaired their arrows! 187 00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:59,559 She took part in Uhud alongside her husband Abu Talhah with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him; 188 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:03,559 she and 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with them both, would continuously 189 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:06,559 carry waterskins on their backs 190 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:09,559 and pour water into the mouths of the wounded men. 191 00:11:09,559 --> 00:11:12,590 She was also present at the Battle of Hunayn, 192 00:11:12,590 --> 00:11:16,590 having taken a dagger that day and strapped it around her waist. 193 00:11:16,590 --> 00:11:19,590 When her husband Abu Talhah saw it, 194 00:11:19,590 --> 00:11:24,590 he said: "O Messenger of Allah, this is Umm Sulaym, carrying a dagger!" 195 00:11:24,590 --> 00:11:27,590 The Prophet, peace be upon him, asked her: 196 00:11:27,590 --> 00:11:30,590 "What is this, O Umm Sulaym?" 197 00:11:30,590 --> 00:11:33,590 She replied: "It is a dagger I took 198 00:11:33,590 --> 00:11:36,590 so that if any of the polytheists comes near me, 199 00:11:36,590 --> 00:11:38,590 "I will rip open his belly with it!" 200 00:11:38,590 --> 00:11:41,590 The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) began 201 00:11:41,590 --> 00:11:44,590 laughing with delight at what she said. 202 00:11:44,590 --> 00:11:47,590 Furthermore, do you think that upon the face of the earth 203 00:11:47,590 --> 00:11:51,590 there was any woman more blissful in happiness and more radiant in her final end 204 00:11:51,590 --> 00:11:53,590 than Umm Sulaym, 205 00:11:53,590 --> 00:11:57,590 especially after the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said regarding her: 206 00:11:57,590 --> 00:11:59,590 "I entered Paradise 207 00:11:59,590 --> 00:12:02,590 and heard a rustling sound within it, 208 00:12:02,590 --> 00:12:04,590 so I asked, 'Who is this?'" 209 00:12:04,590 --> 00:12:06,590 They said: 210 00:12:14,460 --> 00:12:16,529 "We have never heard of any woman 211 00:12:16,529 --> 00:12:19,529 who had a more noble dowry than Umm Sulaym, 212 00:12:19,529 --> 00:12:23,200 for her dowry was Islam itself." 213 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:25,620 The people of Madinah