Download PDF: [S] High Status of Females (Islamic story)

Pertaining to those females who keep themselves pure and chaste, the Qur’an declares in Surah Nisaa, verse 34:

 

اَلرِّجَالُ قَوّٰمُوۡنَ عَلَی النِّسَآءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ اللہُ بَعْضَہُمْ عَلٰی بَعْضٍ وَّبِمَاۤ اَنۡفَقُوۡا مِنْ اَمْوٰلِہِمْ ؕ فَالصّٰلِحٰتُ قٰنِتٰتٌ حٰفِظٰتٌ لِّلْغَیۡبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ اللہُ ؕ وَالّٰتِیۡ تَخَافُوۡنَ نُشُوۡزَہُنَّ فَعِظُوۡہُنَّ وَاہۡجُرُوۡہُنَّ فِی الْمَضَاجِعِ وَاضْرِبُوۡہُنَّ ۚ فَاِنْ اَطَعْنَکُمْ فَلَا تَبْغُوۡا عَلَیۡہِنَّ سَبِیۡلًا ؕ اِنَّ اللہَ کَانَ عَلِیًّا کَبِیۡرًا ﴿۳۴﴾

Men are incharge over women, because Allah has made one of them excel over another, and because men have expended their wealth over them, so the virtuous women are submissive, they keep watch in the absence of husband as Allah commanded to watch. And as to those women whose disobedience you fear, then admonish them and sleep apart from them, and beat them (lightly), then if they come under your command, then seek not any way of excess against them. Undoubtedly, Allah is Exalted, Great.

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas Radi Allahu ‘Anhuma explains that in this verse, pious and chaste females would imply those females who are obedient and refrain from unbecoming behaviour. Another important lesson in this verse is that these are those females who protect their privacy when their husbands are not present. Another explanation is that they are able to protect the private and secret affairs of their husbands as Allah azza wajal has commanded them to do. (Tafseer Baghwi, 1/335)

 

It mentioned that a female of this quality certainly achieves a mighty status in the Divine Court of Allah azza wajal. This is further explained in Surah Al Ma’aarij, from verses 29 to 35.

 

A crippled girl in the wild

 

It is reported that a pious person was once walking in the wild when he saw a young girl who was lame. He asked her where she was travelling to and she replied that she was travelling towards her beloved. When he asked her where she was coming from, she replied that she was coming from her beloved. This pious person then asked how come she was alone in this wild place and how come she felt no fear. In reply, she recited the 4th verse of Surah Hadeed which is:

 

ہُوَ الَّذِیۡ خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضَ فِیۡ سِتَّۃِ اَیَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوٰی عَلَی الْعَرْشِ ؕ یَعْلَمُ مَا یَلِجُ فِی الْاَرْضِ وَ مَا یَخْرُجُ مِنْہَا وَ مَا یَنۡزِلُ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ وَ مَا یَعْرُجُ فِیۡہَا ؕ وَ ہُوَ مَعَکُمْ اَیۡنَ مَا کُنۡتُمْ ؕ وَ اللہُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوۡنَ بَصِیۡرٌ ﴿۴﴾

It is He Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then seated Himself upon the Throne befitting to His Dignity. He knows what penetrates in the earth and what comes forth from it, and what comes down from heaven and what ascends into it. And He is with you wherever you may be. And Allah is seeing your works.

 

She then addressed this person, “O brave young man, when a person attains true love for Allah azza wajal, there is no fear and when a person is happy with His Divine Decree, then he has patience in whatever happens.”

 

Yes, this is halaal sustenance!

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Uthman Jurjani Radi Allahu ‘Anhu narrates:

 

One day, I left Kufa to travel to Basra when my eyes fell on a female. She was wearing woollen clothing and her head was covered. She was also saying, “O my Master! How far is the journey of that person who has no guide and how dangerous is the path of that person who has no friends and protectors.”

 

I approached this female and introduced himself and mentioned my name to her. She then asked me where I was travelling to. I mentioned that I was travelling to Basrah. She asked me the purpose of my travel and I mentioned my intention. She then said to me, “If you have any need, why do you not sincerely ask Him so that He can fulfil your needs and at the same time you do not have to undertake such a long and arduous journey.”

 

I replied that I have not yet attained the Marifah of Allah azza wajal.

 

She asked me the reason for this and I replied that it was because I was a sinful person who committed sin in excess.

 

She said to me, “This is indeed a most evil habit and you should fasten yourself with the Divine Rope of Allah azza wajal.”

Thereafter, she also made Du’a for my guidance. As I turned away from her, I took out a few Dirhams from my pocket and handed it to her as a token of appreciation. I also asked her to keep these Dirhams as it would help her on her travels.

 

She asked me where I had attained these dirhams from. I explained that I had cut some wood for people and sold them and this was the wages from that act. She replied, “Yes, this is Halaal sustenance. Whatever a man earns with his hands that is Halaal for him to consume. However, O ‘Uthman! If you truly believe and serve the Creator, there would be no need to cut wood and sell and become involved in such hard labour.”

 

I asked her that if that was the case, how would I be able to earn a living.

 

She then asked me whether I wanted to see how she relied on Allah azza wajal and I replied that yes I wanted to see this. She then raised her hands and became to mumble something. Suddenly her both palms were filled with gold Ashrafis. She then said to me to take these and that on these Ashrafis, there were no picture of any Muslim leaders engraved on them. She also informed me that if I had complete trust in Allah azza wajal, He would be sufficient for me.” (Ar Rouad)

 

What can we say about the greatness and eminence of the Awliya? What can we say about those people who make the day and the night into one serving their Divine Creator? Allah azza wajal has certainly termed these blessed people as true believers and true Muslims. In Surah Al Ahzaab, verse 35, the Qur’an states:

 

اِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِیۡنَ وَ الْمُسْلِمٰتِ وَالْمُؤْمِنِیۡنَ وَالْمُؤْمِنٰتِ وَالْقٰنِتِیۡنَ وَالْقٰنِتٰتِ وَالصّٰدِقِیۡنَ وَالصّٰدِقٰتِ وَالصّٰبِرِیۡنَ وَالصّٰبِرٰتِ وَالْخٰشِعِیۡنَ وَالْخٰشِعٰتِ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقِیۡنَ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقٰتِ وَالصّٰٓئِمِیۡنَ وَالصّٰٓئِمٰتِ وَالْحٰفِظِیۡنَ فُرُوۡجَہُمْ وَالْحٰفِظٰتِ وَ الذّٰکِرِیۡنَ اللہَ کَثِیۡرًا وَّ الذّٰکِرٰتِ ۙ اَعَدَّ اللہُ لَہُمۡ مَّغْفِرَۃً وَّ اَجْرًا عَظِیۡمًا ﴿۳۵﴾

Undoubtedly, Muslims men and women, and the believing men and women, and obedient men and women, and truthful men and women, and enduring men and women, and humble men and women, and almsgiving men and women, and fasting men and women, and men and women who guard their chastity and men and women who remember Allah much, for all of them Allah has kept prepared forgiveness and great reward.

 

Hadrat Sadrul Afaadil, Hadrat Moulana Na’eemudeen Muradabadi Radi Allahu ‘Anhu explains in the Khazaa’inul Irfaan that this verse was revealed when a question was presented to Sayyiduna Rasoolullah Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam by Sayyidah Asma binte Umais Radi Allahu ‘Anha when she arrived with her husband, Hadrat Sayyiduna Jafer bin Abu Talib Radi Allahu ‘Anhu. It is reported that she once met the other blessed Mothers of the Faithful and asked Sayyiduna Rasoolullah Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam, “O Prophet of Allah! The females are certainly in great trouble.”

 

Sayyiduna Rasoolullah Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam asked her the reason for this and she replied that there were no verses in which the females were described with attributes of goodness. In reference to this, this specific verse was revealed. In other words, the good and noble attributes of the males have also been joined with good and noble attributes of the females. In this verse also, the three stages of their Imaan have also been explained which are, Imaan, proper beliefs and obedience to Allah azza wajal and His beloved Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam.