[outbind://79/cid:[email protected]] B i s m i l l a a h i r R a h m a a n i r R a h e e m [outbind://79/cid:[email protected]] As Salaam o Alaykum Wa Rahmatullaahi WaBarkaatuh A Model of kindness Adil Salahi | Arab News The marriage of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to Zaynab bint Jahsh (Raziallahu Anha) was ordered by Allah Almighty. It was the angel Gabriel who conveyed the order. Hence, Zaynab (Raziallahu Anha) used to be proud of this, stressing it when there was an element of rivalry or competition between the Prophet's wives. Yet Zaynab (Raziallahu Anha) was not a woman who laid much store by personal, family or lineage considerations. She was a devout woman who steered away from controversy and did not engage in idle talk. She was a role model for pious women. This is confirmed by none other than Ayesha (Raziallahu Anha), who always tried to be the Prophet's favorite. Ayesha (Raziallahu Anha) said: "I have never seen a more deeply religious person than Zaynab (Raziallahu Anha). She exceeded all others in being most devout, truthful in what she said, kind to relatives, charitable, and willing to do any work, menial as it might be, if it was dedicated to Allah and in pursuit of His pleasure." The Prophet (peace be upon him) confirmed this, stating to Umar ibn Al-Khattab (Raziallahu Anhu) that Zaynab (Raziallahu Anha) was "very tender hearted," and he added that she was very devout. Another wife of the Prophet, Umm Salamah (Raziallahu Anha), gave a similar testimony: "Zaynab (Raziallahu Anha) was very devout, often offering voluntary night worship, and often fasting voluntarily. She was also skilful, making things with her own hands so as to sell them and give the proceeds to poor people." Her generosity was limitless. The Arabs used to describe any generous person as having a "long hand", meaning that their charity stretched far. One day, the Prophet's wives asked him which of them would be the first to die after him. He said: "The one with the longest hand." They took it literally and measured their hands to determine who had the longest hand. However, it was Zaynab (Raziallahu Anha) who was the first to die. They realized that he meant the most generous and charitable among them. An authentic report mentions that during Umar's reign, her dues from the state amounted to 12,000 Dirhams, which was a large amount of money. She felt that it was too much. Therefore, she prayed to Allah that she would not live to have such an amount again, "because it is a hard test." What hard test for a charitable woman? She distributed it all to her relatives and to poor people. Umar (Raziallahu Anhu) was informed of her deed. So, he (Raziallahu Anhu) knocked at her door and said to her: "I have learned of what you did. I am sending you 1,000 Dirhams to keep for your needs." When she received the new amount, she gave it all to charity. It was in year 20 that she died, nine years after the Prophet (peace be upon him). When she realized that she was soon to die, she said: "I have prepared my burial shrouds, but I realize that Umar (Raziallahu Anhu), the Caliph, will be sending another set of shrouds for me to be wrapped in. So give one set to charity. Please give away whatever you can of my belongings." Her funeral was attended by most people of Madinah. Her blind brother, Abu Ahmad (Raziallahu Anhu), joined those lifting her coffin. Umar (Raziallahu Anhu) advised him to move away, lest he should fall down. He said: "She was the one who brought our family every good thing we have. It lightens my grief a little if I join in carrying her to her resting place." It should be said finally that her original name was Barrah, but the Prophet (peace be upon him) changed it to Zaynab (Raziallahu Anha), as he did with Umm Salamah (Raziallahu Anha)'s daughter whose name was also Barrah and he called her Zaynab (Raziallahu Anha). Barrah means "devout and dutiful." He said: "You do not know who of you is truly devout and dutiful. So, do not make such a claim." Zaynab means "a source of pride for her father." Authored By: Adil Salahi < [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> > Alahumma infa`ni bima `allamtani wa `allamni ma yanfa`uni! OH ALLAH! Make useful for me what You taught me and teach me knowledge that will be useful to me! (Aameen) ~ Please join ~ ~_Precious_Teachings_Of_Islam_~ http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/Precious_Teachings_Of_Islam/ ~ Divine_Lights_Of_Allah ~ http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/Divine_Lights_Of_Allah/ ~ And learn more about Islam ~ --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Nor can Goodness and Evil be equal. Repel (evil) with what is better; then the enmity between him and you will become as if it were your friend and intimate! Visit: sultan.org Subscribe: [email protected] Post to group: [email protected] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
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