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 In the Name of Allah, the most Compassionate, the most Merciful

 As-Salaamu Alaikum Rahmatullah wa Barakatuh,

The women represented on this page are amongst the best women of all times who have earned the love and favor of Allah (swt). They represent the past, present and future of Muslim women. To properly follow Islam as a Muslimah we must look to our examples which Allah(swt) has made the best amongst nations to follow. Inshallah we can earn the love and favor of Allah by learning from the best of his ummah(nation). Inshallah May Allah have mercy on us. Ameen.

 

She was born in the year 68 BH to Khuwaylid b. Asad and Faatimah bint. Za'idah. She was raised on praiseworthy characteristics and was well-known and praised for her intelligence, chastity, and prudence until people began to call her "Taahirah" or "the pure one." She was a successful businesswoman, who achieved her wealth through hiring men to take on merchant trips to sell. She was first married to Abu Halah b. Zurarah of the Banu Tameem and was the mother of two sons, one of whom died at the Battle of al-Jamal, fighting on the side of 'Ali.

It reached her that the Messenger of Allah(saw) was known for his truthfulness and generosity. One day Abu Taalib said to his nephew: "I am a man without wealth, and times have become tough on us, and these disagreeable years are difficult on us, and we have neither material possessions nor merchandise, and this [woman] Khadija sends men from among your people to do business with her wealth and they gain profit. So if she comes to you, convey to her your honesty.

So Khadija sent for him and proposed that he go with her wealth to ash-Sham as a merchant. In return, she would give him more than she used to give to the other traders. She would also send with him a young servant of her's called Maysarah. So the Messenger of Allah(saw) accepted that and went with her wealth and her servant Maysarah until he reached the foot of ash-Shaam. So he sold his commodities which he had left with and bought what he desired [to buy on Khadija 's behalf.] Then he, along with Maysarah, embarked to Makkah with a caravan. So his trading gained twice as much profit as what was usually gained. So the Messenger(saw)'s wages were double what was usually given.

And when the servant Maysarah told her about what he saw of the character of Muhammad(saw), she sent for him(saw). Then she complimented Muhammad (saw) on his undoubted noble descent, his trustworthiness and sincerity, as well as the integrity of his character and the truthfulness of his speech." Then she suggested marriage to him. So the Messenger of Allah(saw) mentioned that to his uncles. So Hamzah(ra) went with him until they called upon Khuwaylid, who said: "He is the stallion whose nose cannot be touched (i.e. He is strong)." So the Messenger of Allah(saw) married her and gave her 20 camels as a dowry. She was 40 years old when she married the Messenger of Allah(saw), and he was 25 years old. She was the first lady that the Messenger of Allah(saw) married, and he never married anyone else as long as he was married to her until she died. She gave him 6 children: Al-Qaasim, 'Abdullah, Zaynab(ra), Ruqayyah(ra), Um Kulthoom(ra), and Faatimah(ra).

When the Prophet(saw) received prophethood, she was the first to believe in Allah and His Messenger Muhammad(saw); she was the first to believe in what His Lord sent him and strengthened him in his affairs. So the Prophet(saw) used not to hear anything from the polytheists that he hated to hear and of disbelief in him except that Allah comforted him through Khadija(ra), who stood by him and the da'wah and she used to lessen his grief over what he used see from his people. And the Messenger of Allah(saw) used to honor her and cherish her. And he used not to disagree with her before he received revelation. Then he used to remember her a lot after her death, and he didn't get tired of praising her.

  

            Aisha (Radeyallh Anha) was the favorite daughter of one of closest friends, Companion and associates of the Prophet (may Allah Bess him and grant him peace), Abu Bakr Siddique (Radeyallh Anh). Several Ayat of the Noble Quran which were revealed were associated with her, and she was justifiably proud of this honor. She was in an enviable position among the Mothers of the believers in that she was considered the foremost among them. Allah had chosen her Himself in the heavens as a bride for Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him in peace), a portrait of here, wrapped in silk, was brought to him in his dream by the Angel Jibril. He told him that he was to marry her, and she would be his consort in the life hereafter as well.

She had a brilliant mind and a remarkable memory; and the distinction of being the source of the most Ahadith because of her ling association with Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him in peace). Her knowledge of the many branches of religion like Fiqh and Shariah, her wisdom in interpretation, her mastery of the teachings of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him in peace), her trustworthiness and integrity – all these qualities made her one of the most remarkable personalities of the time. She was very tender-hearted a no needy person left her house empty-handed. The angel Jibril personally greeted her. During her lifetime the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him in peace) gave her the wonderful news that she earned a place for herself in Paradise. It was while resting in her lap that the Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him in peace) passed away, and it was her apartment that became his final resting-place. Angels surrounded her apartment even during her lifetime and for all time the blessings of Allah will be showered on it, since as it is in the centre of the sanctuary at Al-Madinah.

The mother of all Muslims Hazrat Aishah (Radeyallh Anha) said that there were nine blessings of Allah which distinguished her from all other women in the world except Maryam bint ‘Imran, the mother of ‘Esa (Alaeh ‘ssalam):

1. The Angel Jibril had presented her portrait wrapped in green silk to Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him in peace) and told him that this was the picture of the lady chosen by allah to be his consort both in this world and the next.

2. She was the only virgin to have become the wife of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him in peace).

3. When the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him in peace) passed away, he was resting in her lap and was buried in her apartment.

4. Many times angle encircled her apartment with love and respect.

5. Very often divine revelation would come to Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him in peace) when they were lying together resting in peace and tranquility.

6. She was the daughter of the loyal and true friend of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him in peace) Abu Bakr Siddique. (Radeyallh Anh).

7. Ayat acquitting her of any wrongdoing had descended from the heavens from Allah proving her innocence.

8. She was born a Muslim and had been brought up in pure an environment, and spent her formative years with the purest and best of creatures, the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him in peace).

      9. Allah, the Lord, the Sustainer of the Universe promised her Divine Forgiveness and abundant bounties.

 

Maryam (Mary), the mother of Isa (Jesus), was a pious Muslim woman during the time of Prophet Zakariyya. She was Maryam daughter Imran from the family lineage of Dawud (David), the offspring of the Children of Israel. In the Quran there is a chapter named Maryam which talks about Maryam, her birth, her story, the birth of her son Prophet Isa (Jesus), and other things. Since Maryam's father had died, she lived under the care of Zakariyya, who was the husband of Maryam's sister and the father of John “the Baptist”. He was a great man amongthe Children of Israel at the time, to whom they would refer their religious matters. She grew up as a righteous, pure, and pious Muslim woman worshipping Allah and endeavoring greatly in performing obedience to Him. Zakariyya saw astonishing miracles occur from her that amazed him.

So her Lord (Allah) accepted her with goodly acceptance. He made her grow in a good manner and put her under the care of Zakariyya. Every time he entered Al-Mihrâb (a praying place or a private room) to (visit) her, he found her supplied with sustenance. He said: "O Maryam! From where have you got this?" She said, "This is from Allah." Verily, Allah provides sustenance to whom He wills, without limit." (Surah Al-Imran:37) It has been mentioned that he would find her with winter fruit during the summer and summer fruit during the winter.She became the best of the women in the world. It is mentioned in the Quran that the angels said Allah chose Maryam and preferred her to the other women of the world.

And (remember) when the angels said: "O Maryam (Mary)! Verily, Allah has chosen you, purified you, and chosen you above the women of the 'Alamîn (mankind and jinns).O Maryam! Be obedient to your Lord, prostrate and bow down in worship with other worshippers."(Al-Imran 42-43)

And as the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "Many men reached the level of perfection, but no woman reached such a level except Maryam, the daughter of Imran and Asia, the wife of Pharaoh." (Hadith - Sahih Bukhari 4.643, Narrated Abu Musa Al Ashari )

Maryam was unique in that she gave birth to a son by a special miracle, without the intervention of the customary physical means. This of course does not mean that she was more than human, any more than her son was more than human. When Allah wanted to grant her His servant and messenger, Isa (peace be upon him), Maryam withdrew from her family and secluded herself from them. She retired to the eastern side of the Sacred Mosque in Jerusalem where she prayed. It was in this state that the angel appeared to her in the shape of a man. As she thought the angel was a man, she was frightened and asked him not to invade her privacy:

She withdrew in seclusion from her family to place facing east. Then, Allah sent His Ruh, the angel Jibril (Gabriel), to her. And he appeared before he in the form of a man in all respects. Verily I seek refuge with the Most Gracious from you, if you do fear Allah. (Surah Maryam:16-18) 

The angel said to her in response, and in order to remove the fear that she felt within herself, "I am not what you think, but I am a the messenger of your Lord." ''I am only a messenger from your Lord, to provide to you the gift of a righteous son.'She said: "How can I have a son.when no man has touched me, nor am I Baghiyya (unchaste)? He said: "Thus said your Lord: 'That is easy from Me (Allah)..." (Surah Maryam:19-21)

The angel responded to her "Verily, Allah has said that a boy will be born from you even though you do not have a husband and you have not committed any lewdness. Verily, he is the Most Able to do whatever He wills." Due to this, he (Jibril) conveyed Allah's Words:

And (We wish) to appoint him as a sign to mankind (Surah Maryam:21)

This means a proof and a sign for mankind of the power of their Maker and Creator, Who diversified them in their creation. He created their father, Adam, without a male or female. Then he created Hawwa (Eve, Adam's spouse) from a male (from the rib of Adam) without a female (mother). Then, He created the rest of their progeny from male and female, except Isa. He created Isa to be born from a female without a male. Thus, Allah completed the four types of creation of the human being, which proves the perfection of his power and the magnificence of His authority. There is no god worthy of worship except Him and there is no true Lord other than Him.

Concerning Allah's statement:

and a mercy from Us.. (Surah Maryam:21)

This means, "we will make this boy a mercy from Allah and a Prophet from the Prophets. He will call to the worship of Allah and monotheistic belief in Him. This is as Allah, the Exalted, said in another Ayah,(Remember) when the angels said: "O Maryam! Verily, Allah gives you the good news of a Word from Him, his name will be Al-Masih (The Christ), Isa (Jesus), the son of Maryam, held in honor in this world and in the Hereafter, and will be one of those who are near to Allah. And he will speak to the people, in the cradle and in manhood, and he will be one of the righteous. (Surah Al-Imran:45-46)

Finally Jibril completes his dialogue with Maryam, informing her that this matter was preordained by Allah's power and will.

and it is a matter (already decreed (by Allah). So she conceived him and she retired with him to a remote place. (Surah Maryam:21-22)

Later, Maryam, being human, suffered the effects of childbirth as any expectant mother would during these times. And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: she cried (in her anguish): "Ah! would that I had died before this! Would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!" But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-free): "Grieve not! for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee; "And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree: it will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee. "So eat and drink and cool (thine) eye. And if thou dost see any man say `I have vowed a fast to (Allah) Most Gracious and this day will I enter into no talk with any human being.' " (Surah Maryam:23-26)

When Mary showed the baby to her people, they said that this was truly an amazing thing that had happened. The newly born baby (Jesus) replied to the people:

He said: "I am indeed a servant of Allah: He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet; "And He hath made me Blessed wheresoever I be and hath enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live; "(He) hath made me kind to my mother and not overbearing or miserable; "So Peace is on me the day I was born the day that I die and the Day that I shall be raised up to life (again)"! (Surah Maryam:30-33)

And that is what is reported of the story of Maryam. Even though Maryam is the mother of Isa (Jesus) and occupies a highest position among women, neither Maryam nor Isa have any divine attributes in them. The Holy Quran makes this clear in the following verses:

They do blaspheme who say: "Allah is Christ the son of Maryam." But said Christ: "O children of Israel! worship Allah my Lord and your Lord." Whoever joins other gods with Allah, Allah will forbid him the garden and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrong-doers be no one to help.They do blaspheme who say: Allah is one of three in a Trinity: for there is no god except One Allah. If they desist not from their word (of blasphemy) verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them.Why turn they not to Allah and seek His forgiveness? For Allah is Oft-forgiving Most Merciful. (Surah Al-Ma'idah:72-74)

Christ the son of Maryam was no more than an Apostle; many were the Apostles that passed away before him. His mother was a woman of truth. They had both to eat their (daily) food. See how Allah doth makes His Signs clear to them; yet see in what ways they are deluded away from the truth! Say: Will ye worship besides Allah something which hath no power either to harm or benefit you? But Allah He it is that heareth and knoweth all things." Say: "O people of the Book! exceed not in your religion the bounds (of what is proper) trespassing beyond the truth nor follow the vain desires of people who went wrong in times gone by who misled many and strayed (themselves) from the right way. (Surah Al-Ma'idah:75-77)

Say: He is Allah the One and Only; Allah the Eternal Absolute; He begetteth not nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him. (Surah Al-Ikhlas)

 

            Asiya (ra) was the wife of Pharaoh and she is a real life example for the believers of today on how we should deal with the struggles of our faithfulness to Allah(swt). Allah(swt) made her an example for all women. She had maturity and understanding in the Islam desiring only the akhirah(hereafter). She said “I do not want anything in the dunya (world )I want to be near you Oh my Lord by having a house in Jannah”.

When Moses was appointed by the Almighty as his prophet, Asiya acknowledged her faith in the new creed and converted to Moses’ religion. At first she concealed her faith. For years she worshiped the one God and kept her faith under the guidance of Prophet Moses. But finally her secret was disclosed and Pharaoh blazed with anger.

Asiya (ra) said, that I came out from obedience to Pharaoh. She said to Pharaoh; I will not accept to live with you, she said; Oh enemy of Allah I am free from you and anything that you did before and I reject you, you see from me nothing but plotting to kill you and complete animosity towards you. He said to her; stop saying it otherwise you will be deported.     Ibn Abbas (ra) said, that she ran away in order to seek the guidance of Allah (swt). He had her arrested and tortured for 3 days burning her body and yet she continued to say I reject you and do not want anything to do with you.

When Pharaoh could not make his wife surrender to his will, he ordered his men to nail her to the ground and put a heavy boulder on her chest under the hot sun. At the very last seconds of her life, Asiya was talking to her God. The Holy Qur'an cites her invocation as follows. “When she said: My Lord, Build for me a home with thee in the paradise, and deliver me from Pharaoh and his work, and deliver me from evil-doing folk!” (At-Tahreem:11)

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “There are three persons who never, even not for a single moment, disbelieved in the divine revelation and Asiya, Pharaoh’s wife was one of those persons.”

This is a great example of how a woman chose the Hereafter over and above the wealth of this world. She remained firm on her faith in God despite persecution of all sort.

 

The wife of `Imran mentioned here is the mother of Maryam, and her name is Hannah bint Faqudh. Muhammad bin Ishaq mentioned that Hannah could not have children and that one day, she saw a bird feeding its chick. She wished she could have children and supplicated to Allah to grant her offspring. Allah accepted her supplication, and when her husband slept with her, she became pregnant. She vowed to make her child concentrate on worship and serving Bayt Al-Maqdis (the Masjid in Jerusalem), when she became aware that she was pregnant.

She said, “O my Lord! I have vowed to You what is in my womb to be dedicated for Your services, so accept this from me. Verily, You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knowing” meaning, You hear my supplication and You know my intention. She did not know then what she would give birth to, a male or a female. Then when she gave birth to her, she said: "O my Lord! I have given birth to a female child”, and Allah knew better what she bore.

Allah's statement that Maryam's mother said,

"...And I seek refuge with You for her and for her offspring from Shaytan, the outcast.''means, that she sought refuge with Allah from the evil of Shaytan, for Maryam and her offspring,  (i.e., `Isa (Jesus), peace be upon him.) Allah accepted her supplication.

Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

“Every newly born baby is touched by Shaytan when it is born, and the baby starts crying because of this touch, except Maryam and her son.” * Bukhari and Muslim also look @ Tasfir of Ibn Kathir Surah Al- Imran*

So her Lord (Allah) accepted her with goodly acceptance. He made her grow in a good manner and put her under the care of Zakariyya. Every time he entered the Mihrab(private room for prayer) to visit her, he found her supplied with sustenance. He said: "O Maryam! From where have you gotten this'' She said, "This is from Allah. Verily, Allah provides sustenance to whom He wills, without limit”.  (Al- Imran: 37)

 

                Bilqis bint Sharahil, the Queen of Sheba who ruled over the most wealthy and well- known people in the history of Arabia. This powerful and prestigious woman received the true evidence and proof of Allah being the one and only to be worshipped after generation of worshipping the sun. She submitted to Allah free of doubt and arrogance. These characteristics given to her by Allah is what makes her one of the most excellent women of all time.

The Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon) (pbuh) who had been blessed by Allah with wealth, kingdom, grandeur far greater than the chiefs of the disbelievers of Makkah. But since he regarded himself answerable to Allah and recognized that whatever he had was only due to Allah’s bounty, he adopted righteousness and the attitude of obedience.

Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon) (pbuh) had a well coordinated army including men as well as birds. He noticed that his army was uncoordinated by calling role of them as chief of his kingdom. 

[An-Naml 20-26] He took a roll call of the birds and said: “I do not see the hoopoe (type of bird known to the Arabian region), Where is he? How could he be absent? I will certainly punish him severely or even slay him if he does not offer me a strong reason for his absence”. The hoopoe did not take long in coming he said: I have just found out what you do not know about the people of Saba (Sheba). I found a woman ruling over them; she has been given everything and she possesses a magnificent throne. Further, I found that she and her people prostrate themselves in front of the sun instead of Allah. Satan has surely made their deeds seem pleasing in their eyes and has kept them away from the right way, so they receive no guidance to prostrate themselves before Allah… ” Allah! There is no god but Him! Lord of the Throne Supreme!”  

[An- Naml 27:44] Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon) (pbuh) said: “Soon we shall find out whether what you say is true of false. Go and deliver this letter of mine, and then turn aside and wait for their answer”. The Queen said: “O my chiefs! A very important letter has been delivered to me, it is from Sulaiman, and it begins with the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. It reads:  Do not be arrogant against me and come to me in complete submission. Then she asked: “O chiefs! Let me hear your advice, for I make no decision without your counsel.” They replied: “We are valiant and a mighty nation. You are the commander. So consider what you will command.” The queen said: “When the kings invade a town, they ruin it and debase its honorable people; and thus they always do. Therefore, I shall send them a present and see with what my ambassadors will return.” When the embassy came to Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon) (pbuh), he said “Will you give me abundance in wealth? What Allah has given me is far more than what he has given you. Nay it is you who rejoice in your gift. Go back to your people: if your people do not submit, we will march against them with such an army which they shall never be able to face….

Later on when Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon) (pbuh) heard that the Queen of Sheba was coming in submission, he asked: O my chiefs! Which of you can bring to me her throne before they come to me in submission?” A powerful one from the Jinns said:” I will bring it to you adjourn your court; and most surely I have the necessary strength and I am trustworthy.”……..As soon as Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon) (pbuh) saw the throne placed before him, he exclaimed: “This is by the grace of my Rabb (Lord) to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful. Anyone who is grateful, surely his gratitude is a gain for his own soul, and anyone who is ungrateful should know that surely, my Rabb (Lord) is Free of all needs, Supreme in Honor.” Then he said: “Disguise her throne out of all recognition by her. Let us see whether she recognizes it or is she of those who cannot recognize the Truth.” So when the queen arrived, she was asked: Is your throne like this?” She replies: “It is just the same; and knowledge was bestowed on us in advance of this, and we have submitted to Allah (in Islam). And he diverted her from worship of others besides Allah, for she was of people who had no faith. She was asked to enter the lofty palace. When she saw the floor, she thought it was a pool of water, so she tucked up her skirt uncovering her legs. Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon) (pbuh) said: “it is a palace whose floor is smoothly paved with glass.” She exclaimed: “O my Rabb (Lord)! I have indeed wronged my soul, now I submit myself in Islam with Sulaiman to Allah, the Rabb of the Worlds.

 

 

References

Holy Qur'an

Al-Hadith: Sahih Muslim and Sahih Buhkari 

http://www.jannah.org/sisters/khudija.html

http://www.rafed.net/english/women/main/society/immortal/holy-women/09-asiyah.html

http://muttaqun.com/maryam.html

http://southernmuslimah.wordpress.com/2007/09/06/great-women-in-islam-aisha-bint-abu-bakr/ 

http://southernmuslimah.wordpress.com/2007/08/21/great-women-in-islam-maryam-mary-mother-of-jesus/