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The Sealed Nectar

 The Sealed Nectar by Shaykh Safi ur-Rahman

ii - Mercy for Women

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was also very kind and affectionate towards women. Women were very badly treated in those times. The Noble Prophet gave them honour and dignity at par with men in the community. Omar reported, "We did not have much regard for women, while we were at Makkah, but they were better treated in Madinah. Allah's Messenger established women’s rights through his sayings and commandments, which improved their position and status.”

Men enjoyed the priviledge of the company of Allah’s Messenger most of the time while women did not get any time while women did not get any time to listen to him or enquire about their problems. Therefore, women requested him to allocate one day for them for this purpose. The prophet accepted their request and fixed a day for them. As women are usually of a tender and weak nature, he took special care of them and always treated them with kindness. As a result, women felt free to enquire about their problems without any fear and hesitation.

Once on a journey with the Noble Prophet, Anjasha, an Abyssinian slave was walking ahead of the camels and was singing. Some of the wives of the Noble Prophet happened to be with him on that journey. While Anjasha was singing, the carriers began moving fast. At that, Prophet Muhammad said, "Anjasha, take care lest the crystals (women) may break."

Asma Bint Amees was one of those who had emigrated to Abyssinia in the early period of Islam. When during the expedition of Khaybar, while the Muslims were on their way back to Madinah, she also came with them. One day she came to see Hafsah when Omar was also there. On that occasion, Omar casually remarked that as they had emigrated before them they had greater claim to Allah's Messenger than others. Asma became angry and said, "Never, you people lived with Allah's Messenger who fed the hungry, while we were away from home, living among strangers in Abyssinia who often mal¬treated us and we were in constant fear of our lives."

While this talk was going on, Allah's Messenger entered to whom Asma said, "O Allah's Messenger, Omar has said this." Prophet Muhammad asked, "What did you reply?" She told the whole story, whereupon the Noble Prophet said, "Omar has no more right over me than you have. Omar and his companions emigrated only once, whereas you people emigrated twice."

When the report of this incident spread in Madinah, Abyssinian emigrants came running to Asma and listened to Allah's Messenger's words again and again. According to Asma's account, there was nothing more pleasing in the world to the ears of the Abyssinian emigrants than the wordss of the Prophet.

Once many women relatives of Prophet Muhammad were sitting around him and talking loudly to him. When Omar came they all left, at which the Prophet laughed. Omar said, "O Allah's Messenger, may Allah keep you smiling. Why did you laugh?", The Prophet remarked that he was amazed at the behaviour of those women, who, on hearing Omar's voice, had all hidden themselves from him. Omar, addressing them, said, "You fear me but do not fear Allah's Messenger." They all said, "You are a hot-tempered person in comparison to Allah's Messenger."

Once the Noble Prophet was sleeping with his face covered in the apartment of Ayeshah. It was the day of Eid and young girls were singing. Abu Bakr entered the house and asked the girls to stop. The Prophet said, "Let them sing, it is the day of Eid for them."

As a result of Prophet Muhammad's exemplary temperament and kind treatment, women used to ask him questions and the companions were often surprised at their boldness, but he never showed any kind of aversion or displeasure towards them. It is reported by many companions, including Abu Saeed, Ayeshah, Anas, Ibn Abbas and Jabir, that Allah's Messenger said, "Whoever has two or three daughters or sisters and treats them well will go to Paradise."

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