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The Great Mothers - Ma'il Khairabadi Please visit FREE e-libraries: Mother of Hadrat Sulaiman (Upon him be peace and blessing) GOOD ADVICE TO SON The beloved Apostle of Allah (S.A.W.) said that the mother of prophet Sulaiman (upon him be peace) had tendered the following good advice to her son: "My dear son! Spend not your whole night in sleep, because, passing the major part of night sleep deprives a man of many good and virtuous deeds on the day of resurrection. (Tradition). Hadrat Sulaiman (upon him be peace and blessings) firmly bore in mind this piece of advice from his mother, and never thereafter he slept for full night. He used to spend a part of night in prayers and adoration unto Allah. When he came of age Allah conferred Apostleship on Hadrat Sulaiman (P.B.U.H.), and He bestowed on him great kingdom too. Allah made the Jinn's subservient to him and made the violent winds to blow tamely for him. Allah also taught him the language of birds and ants. All this was grace manifest from Allah. In whatever measure and on whomsoever He pleases, Allah showers His Bounties. MOTHER OF HADRAT ZUBAIR (R.A) THE HARSHNESS OF THE MOTHER. Hadrat Zubair (R.A.) was a beloved companion of the beloved Apostle of Allah (S.A.W.). He was one amongst the ten blessed Companions to whom the Apostle of Allah gave good tidings, in their lifetime that they will be admitted to Paradise. Let us see how mother of this blessed and great Companion did bring him up. This account is immensely pleasing and palatable to read and draw lesson from, that if our mother or some elderly person in the house treats us harshly with the motive of reforming and mending our character, we should not take it amiss. Hadrat Zubair (R.A) was yet a small lad when his father died. The orphan child was then under the care and training of his mother, Hadrat Safia (R.A). She extracted from him very difficult and arduous tasks. When people observed this child doing too difficult tasks, they used to tell Hadrat Safia (R.A): "What are you up to, are you going to kill the child?" She used to reply: "I am making him wise, fearless and brave." And it indeed did so happen. When Hadrat Zubair (R.A) came of age he really turned out to be extremely brave. When he was hardly sixteen or seventeen years old he plunged himself into the arena for a wrestling bout. People tried much to dissuade him from encountering the big and mighty wrestler of repute, but he remained first in his resolve. As soon as the bout started, Hadrat Zubair struck such a blow to his opponent that he fell down with a heavy bang and broke his hand people brought the wrestler on their backs Hadrat Safia (R.A) narrated the whole story Thereupon she said: "tell me the truth. How did you find my son, brave or coward?" On other occasion, during the course of a battle between Muslims and the infields, in which the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) also had participated a famous as warrior climbed up the hillock and shouted: "Which Muslim can dare fight with me?" Infuriated at this challenge, Hadrat Zubair (R.A) leaped forward and grappled with him, Fight ensued between them. Somehow both fell down the hillock. Hadrat Safia (R.A) was also present and was standing by the side of the Holy Prophet. Seeing the two rolling down she was frightened and exclaimed: "O Apostle of Allah! My Child?" Quiet Composed, the Prophet replied: "Fear not, Zubair will kill this wrestler." And right enough it so happened. Hadrat Zubair (R.A) overpowered and killed him. This brave feat pleased the Muslims much. Hadrat Saifa (R.A), herself, despite being a woman, was very brave and courageous. In the battle of Trench she killed a warrior and threw away his severed head into the enemy camp. Hadrat Saifa (R.A) was the real aunt of the beloved Prophet. HADRAT ASMA (R.A.) THE MOTHER OF HADRAT ABDULLAH BIN ZUBAIR (R.A.) Hadrat Abdullah bin Zubair (R.A) was among the bravest persons of his times. He had pledged allegiance to our beloved Prophet (S.A.W.) when he was only seven years old. The name of his revered mother was Hadrat Asma (R.A) who was the daughter of Hadrat Abu Bakr (R.A.) and wife of Hadrat Zubair (R.A.). She was exceeding prudent and brave. She was so intelligent that the Prophet (S.A.W.) used to consult her. When the Prophet migrated from Makka to Madina, it was she who prepared the provisions for his journey. And when the beloved Prophet (S.A.W.) took shelter in the cave of Thaur for three days, it was again she who supplied him food for all the three days, without the Makkans ever coming to know of it. How did this great lady train and bring up her child? Please visit FREE e-libraries: To have an idea about it we narrate below, in brief, some incidents from her life. After the beloved Prophet (S.A.W.) had made Hijra to Madina, Hadrat Asma (R.A.) also went there after some time. When the Muslims migrated to Madina, the climate there did not suit them in the beginning. Quite some time passed and no child was born in the migrant Muslim families. The mischiefmongering infidels made it out that there will be no issues born to Muslims, because the deities were annoyed with them, and had laid curse on them. Muslims had no belief in such concoctions, but in their inmost heart they were offering benediction unto Allah: "O Allah! Put an end to the falsehood of these infidels." When Hadrat Asma (R.A.) reached Madina, a child was born to her. It was the first baby to be born to a migrant woman. The new-born was named Abdullah. On the birth of Abdullah bin Zubair (R.A.) there was lot of rejoicing among the Muslims and the baby gave a lie to the canard that had been spread by the enemies of Islam. Hadrat Asma (R.A.) presented herself before the beloved Prophet (S.A.W.) with the new-born baby. He too was much pleased at the sight of the beautiful bonny baby. He took Hadrat Abdullah (R.A.) in his arms, gave the infant some medicine (to clear the meconium), caressed him fondly and prayed for his well being. Hadrat Asma (R.A.) trained Hadrat Abdullah (R.A.) right from his childhood to be bold and intrepid. When he was four or five years old, the battle of the Trench was fought between the Muslims and the infidels. Hadrat Asma (R.A.) used to make her four or five year old child watch the action and how the battle proceeded. Thus even as a child, Hadrat Abdullah bin Zubair (R.A.) had the occasion to watch the proceedings of an actual battle. In his youth Abdullah bin Zubair (R.A.) turned out to be so brave that it was difficult to find his peer amongst his contemporaries. Hadrat Asma (R.A.) also used to continuously inspire him to rise to heights of glory. Hadrat Abdullah bin Zubair (R.A.) had to fight against the powerful Caliph Abdul Malik bin Marwan. In this battle, the army of Hadrat Abdullah (R.A.) was very small in size, yet he clashed boldly against a much larger army. On the occasion of this battle, when he consulted his mother, she advised him in the following morale-boosting words: "My dear son! Understand this fact very well that if you are fighting for the cause of Allah and are siding with truth, then you must put a bold front. Go and fight as befits a brave man. Fear not for your life. Receive the wounds of the sword with dignified valour. It would be thousand times better than life of ease in ignominy. If you are martyred, it shall be my highest pleasure. And if you aspire for mundane wealth and power, and all your striving is to achieve it, then who could be a more wicked man than yourself? How long will you life on this earth? One day death will, of a certainty, come to you, so better it is that you breathe your last while you are on the path of virtue and piety." Hadrat Asma (R.A.) lived for pretty long time. Even in her old age she had retained much of her vigour and vitality. She was not afraid of even Hujjaj, who was the tyrant ruler of her time. People used to be amazed at the retorts she used to give to Hujjaj, the governor. Once when she was angry with him, she told him on his face: Please visit FREE e-libraries: "I have heard from the mouth of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) that two persons would be born in the clan of Thaqeef. Of the twain, the first would be worse than the second. So, already I have come across one liar (Mukhtar Thaqfee), and the other tyrant is yourself whom I am seeing now." HADRAT UMM SALEEM (R.A) THE MOTHER OF HADRAT ANAS BIN MALIK (R.A.) Hadrat Anas (R.A.) was the renowned Companion of the beloved Prophet (S.A.W.). Right from his childhood he was in the service of the beloved Prophet. He was exceeding faithful and obedient. He was ever willing and enthusiastic to do any work assigned to his by the beloved Prophet. He used to listen to the talks by the Prophet very attentively and with keen interest. It was with Hadrat Anas only that the beloved Prophet had cut that palatable joke which is well known as 'Do Kan Wale' (man with two ears). The beloved Prophet had addressed him once as "O! Do Kan Wale", which in Arabic idiom means 'obedient'. The delicacy about this joke is that it is a statement of fact that every man has to ears. He is the same Anas (R.A.) whose mother's name is Umm Saleem (R.A.), the renowned lady Companion of the Holy Prophet. To her credit she performed many good deeds in her lifetime and rendered great services for the cause of Islam. Hadrat Anas (R.A.) used to say that he was deeply indebted to his mother because she gave him over to the service of the beloved Prophet. This act of hers provided him the grand opportunity to build up his character emulating the beloved Prophet. We give below some salient events relating to the bringing up and training of Hadrat Anas by his mother, Hadrat Umm Saleem. Hadrat Umm Saleem was the resident of Madina. The name of her husband was Malik. Hadrat Umm Saleem had accepted Islam, but her husband, Malik, had not. Hadrat Anas was yet a child when Hadrat Umm Saleem started teaching him the 'Kalima e Shahadat' (the Muslim confession of Faith). When her husband, Malik, noticed that their child was being taught the 'Kalime', he was much annoyed and said: "First you have forsaken the religion of your ancestors, and now you wish to make this child also irreligious!" Hadrat Umm Saleem (R.A.) replied: "He is of course an innocent and ignorant child, but what I really want is that you should convert yourself to Islam." Please visit FREE e-libraries: Malik did not convert himself to Islam, and in this state he once went on a journey and was killed on the way. Now Umm Saleem (R.A.) was a widow. But since she was very prudent, brave and enjoyed radiant health, many people sent her proposals for marriage, but every proposal she declined saying that her child was still too young. When the beloved Prophet (S.A.W.) migrated from Makka to Madina, Hadrat Anas was ten years old. Umm Saleem (R.A.) was anxious to make Hadrat Anas a man of supreme moral excellence. She conceived the ideal than that she place her son at the exclusive service of the beloved Prophet. Accordingly she presented herself with Hadrat Anas before the Prophet and entreated him: "O Apostle of Allah! I have brought up this child in great hardship. Now I wish you should take him under your care." The beloved Prophet acceded to her request. Hadrat Anas thus started living in the service of the beloved Prophet. He started acquiring knowledge of 'Deen' (Religion). He keenly observed and remembered every act or saying of the beloved Prophet and meticulously followed in his foot-steps. With the result that Allah was so bountiful unto him that he was being reckoned amongst the great Companions of the Prophet. Many Traditions (sayings of the Prophet) are reported by him, which Muslims read and there from learn knowledge about Islam. Hadrat Anas admits that if his mother, Umm Saleem (R.A.) had not made this arrangement for him, it would have been a great loss for him. THE MOTHER OF IMAM RABIY'A (R.A.) Imam Rabiy'a (R.A.) was great spiritual leader. He was the most erudite person amongst his contemporaries. He used to give religious lessons in the Masjid-e-Nabwi (the Prophet's Mosque in Madina). Many men of high learning used to attend his lectures. The young and old all respected him. How did he become such a great religious leader? The secret lies in that Allah had blessed him with a noble mother who ardently desired and also worked hard to see that her son should become proficient in not only learning but also in disseminating the knowledge of 'Deen' (Religion). She spent thirty thousand Ashrafis (gold coins) on the education and training of her son. The second contributory factor was the remarkable power of comprehension which Allah had bestowed on him. Imam Rabiy'a, on his part too had taken great pains to acquire knowledge. The story of his childhood is very interesting. The name of the father of Imam Rabiy'a was Farrukh. He served in the army during the reign of Bani Umayyah. On one occasion Farrukh was sent on the warfront for a big battle. At that time Imam Rabiy'a was in the womb of his mother. Twenty seven years passed by and Farrukh could get no respite from the series of battles. During this period he could not even return home. Imam Rabiy'a was born during his long absence and grew up to be a highly learned man during this period. Prior to going on the war front, Farrukh had given his wife thirty thousand Ashrafis (gold coins). That prudent and virtuous lady spent all those Ashrafis on her son's education and training till he gained proficiency in knowledge of 'Deen' (Religion). After twenty seven years when Imam Rabiya's father, Farrukh, returned from war front he asked his wife about the Ashrafis, as to what use those had been put to. Thereupon, his wife replied: "They are all kept in safe custody." In the meanwhile, Imam Rabiy'a went to the mosque to deliver lecture on 'Hadith' (Traditions). Farrukh's wife requested him: "Please pay a visit to the mosque". When Farrukh entered the mosque, he found, to his great surprise, his own son giving lecture on Traditions, and many scholars, much older in age, listening attentively along with a number of others. His joy knew no bounds. After returning home, in an outburst of joy and pride, he praised his son before his wife, and incessantly expressed his deep gratitude unto Allah for it. His wife then asked: "Tell me now, whether thirty thousand Ashrafis are better or this bounty!" Farrukh promptly replied: "What is the worth of Ashrafis when compared with this blessing of Allah." Then the lady revealed: "Those Ashrafis which you had left with me I have spent in the acquisition of this bounty." Pleased at her reply, he said: "By Allah! You have not wasted those Ashrafis. On the contrary you have utilized them for the most excellent purpose." will be continued Insha Allah
