The Virtue of Patience

                             Salam people! So for this months SuperMuslims Magazine's issue the theme was patience. I chose to write about four admirable women and the trials that they endured. Enjoy! Oh and at the bottom of the page you will find the link to the second issue of the SuperMuslim's magazine, SuperMuslims FB page, FB group , twitter, and website, be sure to check all those out!     

                                                       The Virtue of Patience                     

                                                        By: Habiba Ghanem

                  Narrated Anas: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The real patience is at the first stroke of a calamity.” [Bukhari Book 23 Hadith 389]

                  In our lives we are going to be faced with many difficult problems. Sometimes we are going to think that our worlds are crashing down. This life is a struggle. What we need to have when facing any adversity is patience.  The greatest people to look up to and to use as examples are the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) and his companions.

                  Anâs Radhi-Allâhu 'anhu reports that Nabî Sallallâhu 'alayhi wasallam has said: "From among the women of the world who have reached perfection and who are worthy of following are: Miryam the daughter of Imrân; Khadija daughter of Khuwailid; Fatima daughter of Muhammad and Asiyah wife of Fir'aun" (Tirmidhi)  

                  Do you think that these women were honored with such a title without going through hardships?

Of course not. 

Let’s take a closer look at just a few of the hardships that these women faced.

Khadija Daughter of Khuwalid:

The night when Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) got his first revelation at mount Hira, he ran back to his house shivering, Khadija was there to console him. She was the first to listen to him and she was the first there to support him as he took his role as the Prophet of our Ummah; she was always there for the Prophet (PBUH). This new responsibility was a heavy load and at night when Khadija couldn’t sleep she would pray to Allah (SWT).  To further show her support Khadija became the first person to accept Islam as her deen. When people turned their back on the Prophet (PBUH) and gave him a hard time, Khadija was the rock of support. She would support the Prophet (PBUH) and the believers with her wisdom and money.  Throughout the course of events that took place, Khadija’s faith and love for Allah (SWT) kept growing. Khadija’s strong and loving character captured the heart of not only the Prophet (PBUH), but her character touched and inspired many people to enter the faith of Islam (Malik).

Asiyah Wife of Farun:

Asiyah was married to a cruel man; Farun.  She was among the people who announced their faith to Allah and His messenger Moses. Upon declaring her faith, Farun tortured her. He pinned her to the ground in the scorching sun. But Asiyah’s faith was too strong to be shaken and whenever Farun would look away angels would use their wings to shield her from the sun. Her patience kept her strong enough to endure the pain. Her faith made her turn and pray to Allah (SWT) as she dreamt of her home in Jannah. Farun then gave her a choice; she could either give up her belief or have a boulder end her life. Asiyah refused to give up her belief, she chose to die and asked Allah for a home in Jannah far away from evil (Siham).

   Maryam Daughter of Imran:

Allah provided Maryam with a tough plight. A situation so tough, that her chastity came in to questioning. Her test later became known as one of history’s greatest miracles; the birth of Eissa.  Maryam the daughter of Imran had always been a devout follower. When the angles sent her this revelation, she went in to seclusion.  Her faith in Allah never decreased, even when people started accusing her of adultery and Allah didn’t leave her side. When she went to her clan carrying her child, they started questioning her. But Maryam didn’t reply, she just pointed at baby Eissa. At that moment baby Eissa spoke to the people and declared; “I am the servant of Allah who has given me the Book and made me a Prophet." (19:30) (Siham)

Fatimah Daughter of Muhammed (PBUH):

After her mother’s death Fatimah took on the role as the beacon of comfort to the Prophet (PBUH).  She was also benevolent with the people just as her mother Khadija was. Fatimah was married to Ali son of Abi Talib. They led a life of extreme poverty but despite her circumstances Fatimah never lost her humility.  To make ends meet she was a grinder of corn and he was a drawer of water. One day after they both came back from work exhausted Ali suggested that Fatima ask her dad to give her some of the servants that were captured in one of the battles. When Fatimah and Ali went to the Prophet (PBUH), he rejected their request because other people were more in need than they were. Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) later came to their house and told them to recite three things after prayer and before they fell asleep; Subhanna Allah (Glory be to Allah), El hamdu Allah (Praise be to Allah), and Allahu Akbar (Allah is great), for the reward and ease provided by those words are much better than having servants (“Fatimah bint Muhammed”).

In the face of great adversity these women were confident that Allah would prevail. Their faith surpassed and eased their grave struggles. When you face adversity you need to know that Allah (SWT) will never leave your side, you need to be sure that He will get you through whatever hardships you face. Be patient. Don’t lose faith. This life is nothing but trials; a test that we should aim to pass.

"If you see Allah, Mighty and Magnificent, holding back this world from you, frequently trying you with adversity and tribulation, know that you
... hold a great status with Him. Know that He is dealing with you ...as
He does with His Awliya’ and chosen elite, and is watching over you"
--Al Ghazali

 

                                                  Works Cited

Malik, Fida H. "Khadija." Wives of the Holy Prophet. 2009 ed. New Delhi: Adam and Distributors, 1952. 77-92. Print.

Siham. "The Great Women of Islam." The Great Women of Islam. 28 July 2008. Web. 24 May 2012. <http://jannah.org/madina/index.php?topic=1024.0>.

Umm Yusuf. "Great Women In Islam-Fatimah, Daughter of the Prophet Muhammad - Fatimah Bint Muhammad." A Glimpse Into The Life of A Muslimah. 27 Aug. 2007. Web. 25 May 2012. <http://southernmuslimah.wordpress.com/2007/08/27/great-women-in-islam-fatimah-daughter-of-the-prophet-muhammad/>.

SuperMuslims: 

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Understanding the Hijab

                                                          By: Hannah Potter

I used to think that the word hijab was undeniably connected to other words such as oppression, radicals, fundamentalism, and persecution. Why would women want to be covered completely, turning into no more than a piece of cloth, losing any sense of individual identity? I pitied the women who in my simple mind were being controlled by fathers, brothers, and husbands. Living in the “free” world, I was astounded at the fact that the women were so marginalized in the current globalized world we lived in. In short time, I was realized my immense ignorance and began to realize my misunderstanding. Was I to blame for my ignorance? Yes and no. Growing up in rural North Carolina, I had never met and known a woman wearing a hijab, even though we travelled quite often.  My parents took me to a Middle Eastern restaurant in a neighboring city since I was young, but the subject of the hijab was one that never arose. My lack of interactions coupled with being surrounded by overly biased news media in post 9/11 America, I lacked exposure to the other side of the story. However, it took no more than a few books to realize that I was previously mistaken, and that women wearing the hijab were simply women, women who could not be labeled with overarching generalizations, and whose individual lives were simply that, individual and specific to each person.

My reading left me with further questions to understand the women, and their reasoning. I understood at that point that the decision to wearing the hijab was one that people make as a sacrifice to God as a symbol of their devotion. Even with this understanding, I was still not entirely convinced that I truly understood why the women would want to cover themselves, hiding themselves from the rest of the world. There were many questions that needed to be answered until I felt I could be truly accepting of these women. At that point, I respected that the women were making their own decision, but I would never dream of doing the same.

In August, 2009, I traveled to Egypt for six months in my senior year of high school. I lived with three extremely kind, generous, and loving host families in Harem and Mohandiseen, took Arabic lessons, and went to school at Misr Language School. This was a life-changing experience. I not only fell in love with the country, but more importantly the people that lived there. The people were some of the kindest people I’ve ever met. Everyone I met was willing to help, welcoming, and overly hospitable. Those people are who inspired me to continue studying Arabic, the region, and the culture, so that I could return again someday. Aside from the newfound 7b or love, I also gained a new perspective on many issues, particularly the hijab.

I met many women and young ladies that wore the hijab.  Two of my host mothers wore it, and several of my new friends did as well. During Arabic class, our teacher would answer our constant questions about it, and her life with it, giving me more and more knowledge and understanding of it. I became to realize that when the comments in the West talking of the hijab as an oppressing tool of men, those same comments are just as oppressive if not more oppressing to the wearers of the hijab. Most women decide to wear the hijab on their own, and by saying it is oppressive is infringing that individual’s rights. Furthermore, I began to see the beauty of the hijab, and those who wear it. One day, I had the beautiful experience of a friend showing me her hair, which had been covered everyday from the rest of the world under her hijab. The beauty of her hair blew me away, and I gained a greater amount of respect of her than the high level I already had in her. All of a sudden, I understood. I can still distinctly remember the pure beauty of her and her hair. Let’s say, I had seen her hair every single day, would I have such a strong memory of her hair now? No, I would have noticed it the first time, and then taken it for granted every day after that. Aside from the beauty, wearers of the hijab appear to have much more respect for their bodies than most other women that I know. They know that they have something special, and that it is worth protecting. Being modest with their physical traits, the women are able to put forth their intellectual, emotional, and mental gifts without being judged otherwise. My experiences in Egypt created a huge amount of respect for the women that make the choice to wear the hijab, and a sense of envy for their tireless commitment and dedication to not only their faith, but to respecting themselves.

Since being back in America, I have furthered my study of the Middle East, particularly the women living there. Reading different sources, my view of the hijab has evolved even further. I recognize there are women who never had a choice, and do feel marginalized within society, feeling they have no individual voice. The voices of these women should be heard, but I also still hear the voice of those women who did and do choose. I have learned how the hijab can be a liberating force for women, creating a greater free space for them, without the looks or calls of men. It allows the women to be out of the house, making their own in work and school, and other arenas of life. It is a symbol to others of who they are, and whom they represent. Another role I have found in America, is constantly trying to defend the women who wear hijabs to others who may still be in the ignorance I once was in. There is still great misunderstanding about this issue, and I feel it is my responsibility to spread the experiences and knowledge that I have gained.

Reading this beautiful blog has furthered my understanding of those women who chose to put on the hijab. I feel as if I am opening a journal, and reading these women’s innermost thoughts. It deepens my knowledge of the process of transitioning to wearing a hijab, and the emotional journal that it entails. Several friends did express their stories about this deeply personal matter while I was in Egypt, but I feel so privileged to be able to read such a wide range of experiences and journeys through this blog. It has also been a great source to share with friends, so they can have a greater understanding as well. In conclusion, I am grateful for the opportunities and people I have met to have insight into the hijab, and it is a topic that is beautiful, mysterious, and enlightening. 

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