Download PDF: A Female Slave and Her Patience

It is mentioned that there was once a female slave who used to always listen to the lecture of a certain Sheikh. She was also very pretty and make sure that she was in Pardah.

 

One day, this Sheikh noticed that there was someone in the market place who was trying to sell this female slave. This Sheikh then approached this female slave to see what was happening. He asked the person who was in charge of this female slave. The person replied that the actual owner of this female slave was a fire-worshipper.

 

At that moment, this fire-worshipper also arrived there. He then said to the Sheikh, “At the beginning, when I saw how pretty and intelligent she was, I purchased her. At that time also, she continued to worship what we were worshipping. However, one evening, one of the people from your religion came by and he read a few verses in front of this female slave. When she heard these verses, she screamed and fell on the floor. After that incident, she refused to worship what we were worshipping and also refused to eat the same food that we were eating. Now, she continues to face the Qiblah of the Muslims and perform her worship. Therefore, I am extremely disappointed in this female. She is of no value to me any longer.”

 

When this Sheikh questioned this female slave, she also mentioned the same words. The Sheikh then asked her which verses of the Qur’an she had heard. She said the verses of Surah Zaariyat. They were verses 50 to 56:

 

فَفِرُّوۡۤا اِلَی اللہِ ؕ اِنِّیۡ لَکُمۡ مِّنْہُ نَذِیۡرٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿ۚ۵۰﴾

Therefore flee towards Allah. Undoubtedly I am a clear warner to you from Him.
وَلَا تَجْعَلُوۡا مَعَ اللہِ اِلٰـہًا اٰخَرَ ؕ اِنِّیۡ لَکُمۡ مِّنْہُ نَذِیۡرٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿۵۱﴾ۚ

And do not set other gods along with Allah. Surely, I am a clear warner to you from Him.

کَذٰلِکَ مَاۤ اَتَی الَّذِیۡنَ مِنۡ قَبْلِہِمۡ مِّنۡ رَّسُوۡلٍ اِلَّا قَالُوۡا سَاحِرٌ اَوْ مَجْنُوۡنٌ ﴿۵۲﴾ۚ

In the same way, whenever any Messenger came to those before them, they said only ‘a magician or a madman’.
اَتَوَاصَوْا بِہٖ ۚ بَلْ ہُمْ قَوْمٌ طَاغُوۡنَ ﴿ۚ۵۳﴾

Have they bequeathed it to one another? Nay’ rather they are a people contumacious.
فَتَوَلَّ عَنْہُمْ فَمَاۤ اَنۡتَ بِمَلُوۡمٍ ﴿۵۴﴾٭۫

Therefore O beloved! (Prophet) turn your face from them and there is no blame on you.
وَّ ذَکِّرْ فَاِنَّ الذِّکْرٰی تَنۡفَعُ الْمُؤْمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۵۵﴾

And admonish, for admonition benefits the muslims.
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَ الْاِنۡسَ اِلَّا لِیَعْبُدُوۡنِ ﴿۵۶﴾

And I have created the Jinn and the men only for this that they may worship Me.

(Al-Dhaariyaat 51, Verse 50-56)

 

She told him, “When I heard these verses, my heart had instantly transformed and what I am now, is not hidden from you.”

 

When the Sheikh heard these words, he was highly impressed and asked the owner to sell this slave to him. However, while speaking the cousin of this owner also arrived. He said to the owner, “Why are you selling this slave to a Muslim? Give her to me and I will make sure that I will bring her back to the religion of fire-worshipping.”

 

When the owner heard this, he handed this female slave to this cousin. When the Sheikh saw this, he was extremely disappointed and worried.

 

However, when the female slave saw the condition of this Sheikh, she said, “Do not be concerned at all. The Allah Almighty will create a solution.”

 

The Sheikh then returned to his house with a heavy heart.

 

After a few days when this same Sheikh entered the Masjid, he was shocked by what he saw.  He saw the same young man who had taken this female slave away was actually standing in the same line as the Muslims and was reading his Salaah.

 

After the Salaah, he asked the young man what had happened. He replied, “When I took her to my house, she made it a habit of teaching the people about the Divine Greatness and Divine Unity of the Allah Almighty. She also continued to discourage them from worshipping the fire. She also encouraged them to worship the One Creator and explained to them about the reward which awaited them in Jannah. When I saw this, I also became afraid that perhaps very soon, she would manage to convert my entire family. I also thought that I had brought her to convert her to a fire- worshipper but it seems like she was converting them to Islam.

 

“In this state of concern, I then approached one of my friends and informed him about what was happening. He then informed me that there was only one way of showing this female slave a lesson. He told me that I should leave some money with this female slave as a trust and wherever she leaves this money, I should remember that place. While she was not looking I should steal the money. When I ask her for this money and she is unable to give it, thhen I was also at liberty to punish her as I wished.

 

“I did as I was told and handed this female slave five hundred Dinaars. While she was reading her Salaah, I stole this purse. When she had finished reading her Salaah, I asked her for this purse. She went to this same place where she hid this purse and brought exactly the same type of purse with five hundred Dinaars inside it.

 

“I then realised that all of this was because of the Divine Creator she was worshipping. After this, all of us accepted Islam. We realised that the Divine Creator Who had saved the honour and respect of this helpless female slave was the true Deity we should be worshipping. We also freed this female slave.” (Roudur Riyaheen, 250)

 

Lesson

 

There is no doubt that every word and message in the Qur’an is something which can transform people and nations if it is presented in a proper manner. At the same time, when someone reads the Qur’an in front of this female slave, it also created a revolution in this person.

 

It also proves that when a person, male and female, obeys Allah Almighty and protects themselves against sin and have complete trust in the Allah Almighty, He will certainly help them in their times of need. We should also not look at ourselves and our state. We should continue to convey the message of Islam so that others are blessed with this message. It is our duty to do this. To create an effect and a transformation in a person is all due to the Divine Mercy of the Allah Almighty. If this female slave had looked at her state and continued to behave in a manner which gave others no choice, then none of the people mentioned in this incident would have been blessed with gift of Islam.

 

Even in the present age, if people are waiting for the Divine Help of Allah Almighty and are also waiting to see the affect of their message and words, they should also make it a habit of practising upon what they are preaching.

 

There are also two important messages that we should bear in mind when we look at this incident.

 

  1. A person should have firm belief that whatever she is going through and whatever needs they have, all of this only comes from Allah Almighty. In other words, our complete being and existence is within the Divine Control of Allah Almighty.

 

  1. It should not mean that since we solely trust in Allah Almighty, therefore, we should divorce ourself from undertaking any duty or action. We should continue to strive in His Path and leave the actual result to His Divine Being. As much as we rely on Him and bear this in mind, so much so, the end result of this effort of ours will bear fruit.

 

There is an interesting story of a blessed companion who one day appeared in the Masjid on a camel and asked the Holy Prophet May Allah send peace and blessings upon him, “Should I leave the camel open (without tying it to something) and trust in Allah Almighty or should I tie it?” The Holy Prophet May Allah send peace and blessings upon him replied, “Tie your camel and trust in Allah Almighty”. (Mishkaat Shareef)

 

We also make Du’a that Allah Almighty also grace us with the Divine Gift of placing our complete trust in Him. Aameen.