She is the youngest of all the sisters but the highest in status and the most beloved to Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. He has referred to her as the piece of his flesh and the leader of all women. He has also stated that if anything causes her sorrow, it causes him sorrow as well. When he fell ill, he whispered into her ear and informed her of the approach of his death. Upon hearing this, she began to cry. He again whispered into her ear and informed her that she should not grieve because she will be the first to join him and she will be the leader of all women in jannah. Upon hearing this, she began smiling. Although all his wives begged her to tell them what he had told her, she did not do so until after his demise. She married ‘Ali radiyallahu ‘anhu. Many other virtues concerning her have been mentioned in the Hadith.
Lesson One: The reason for Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam loving her the most and being specially attached to her is that she was the most pious, the most patient and the most grateful. O women! Adopt Din, patience and gratefulness. You will also become beloved by Allah and His Rasul sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
Lesson Two: When we had first mentioned the life of Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, we also listed all the names of his wives and daughters.
Lesson Three: O women! There is one more point which you have to ponder over. You have read about Rasulullah’s sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam eleven wives and four daughters. You must have realized for yourselves that out of the eleven wives, apart from ‘A’ishah radiyallahu ‘anha, all the others had been married previously. From his daughters, apart from Zaynab and Fa timah radiyallahu ‘anhuma, the other two were married prior to marrying ‘Uthman ra diyallahu ‘anhu. No woman in the world is equal to these twelve women (the ten wives and two daughters who had been married previously) in honour and status. If entering into a second marriage was blameworthy or a blemish, would these women have ever done something that is considered to be a blemish? It is extremely sad that some ignorant people consider a second marriage to be a blemish. If one begins to consider something that occurred in the family of Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam to be a blemish or to be immoral, how can one still have iman? What type of Muslims are they that they find fault with the lifestyle of Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and consider the lifestyle of the kuffar to be honourable? We are saying this because keeping a widow at home without allowing her to get married again is actually the custom of the kafir Hindus of India.
We have something else to add to this. There is a big difference between you and the widows of the past. They may have been ignorant, but they used to take great precautions in safeguarding their honour and chastity. They used to suppress their nafs and did not allow it to fall into sin. As for today, the widows surpass married women in trying to beautify themselves. It is for this reason that many incidents are beginning to occur which are not suitable to be mentioned. In these times, it is most certainly not permissible to refuse widows from getting married. This is because neither the women have any shame and bashfulness of the past, the men do not have any sense of honour, nor do the widows know how to live a life of widowhood and to undertake the necessary means for their food and clothing. Now the time is such that one should not even forgetfully think of refusing a widow from getting married. May Allah give us understanding and success.
