Wednesday, 17 August 2016
O You Who Love To Promise . Remember To Fulfill Your Promises
“WALLAHIIIIIII! WALLAH! BY ALLAH! WALLAH.”
Easy to say, hard to do. Right?
I do remember the first time I heard this from a person I know, I do remember also how it was explained to me that it was “just” a local expression and I really remember how I was strongly advised by my shaykha not to use/do so when I started using such “expression”.
Have we not encountered some people who love to use “wallah, wallahi, by Allah” nowadays?
I know, maybe you or the person who will read this next had encountered such and might even tried advising that they should limit the use of it and be backed off by being told “Why do you Muslims take this to the heart?” Yes, I know, been there.
It is hard to understand how easy it is for such people to utter such delicate words not realizing such utterance bear such heavy responsibility.
I know, most of us have done this in the past, once or twice maybe, only Allah knows and we ask Him to forgive us our shortcomings, but today I would want to remind you of a story of how Allah rewards those people who swear by His name and fulfills that. in sha Allah we all take benefit from this wonderful story from one of the companions of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam.
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There was a Sahabi named ‘Amr Ibn Jamuh Radiyallahu Anhu who suffered from a disability he had in one of his legs, so he used to limp.
‘Amr RA had four young sons and his entire family had the honor of converting to Islam. When the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam set out for the Battle of Badr, ‘Amr RA also got ready to go. But his sons stopped him, saying that he was exempted because of his disability. With their persistence, their father didn’t take part in the Battle of Badr. He was then very disappointed at missing this opportunity.
Then a year later, when the Battle of Uhud arose, he said to his sons “O my sons! You prevented me from going to the battlefield of Badr; don’t try to stop me from going to Uhud.” The sons again talked and tried to convince and explain to their father about his exemption on participating in the battle.
But the old man, ‘Amr RA, desired martyrdom, so he limped to the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam and complained until his heart’s desire came to his lips and he said: “By Allah! I have a strong wish to be martyred in the way of Allah and thus limp my way to Paradise.”
The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam repeated what his sons had already told him (that he is exempted from participating during the battle). Even though ‘Amr wasn’t religiously obligated, but with his passion and determination, the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam advised his sons that there is no harm if they let their father go. That it is just possible that Allah may grant him the honor of martyrdom.
Thus, ‘Amr RA took his sword and left for the battlefield of Uhud. The old man with the disability reached the battlefield and fought fiercely. In the end he was bestowed with the robe of martyrdom; his dearest wish was granted.
When his wife Hind Bint ‘Amr RA reached the battlefiled, she discovered that her brother, Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr Ibn Haram RA, who had a deep friendship with ‘Amr Ibn Jamuh RA, had also been martyred. The friends were buried in the same grave.
The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam said: “By Allah, There are some persons of Allah such that if they swear by Allah, He fulfills their oath. One such person is ‘Amr Ibn Jamuh. I have seen him enter Paradise limping.”
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Subhan’Allah. Such is an honor and reward from Allah from those who fulfill their oaths in His Name.
The story might be such a heavy example as to which one may ask, so what is the connection of this to our saying “Wallah” or swearing in the name of Allah as an expression.
It is to remind you that you should have a great desire of fulfilling something before you utter it while accompanying it with swearing it in the name of Allah, for such promises should be fulfilled accordingly as it was uttered to be done for His Sake.
This is a heavy responsibility for each and everyone of us, so be cautious about it. So if you have had a habit of saying such worlds, then do your best to stop from it. Do not swear and use such words lightly for you may not realize that you are actually doing something harmful to your own soul.
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And we pray that Allah forgives our shortcomings and that He helps us remove such habit of saying such words when we do not mean any of it and that we may be amongst those people who fulfill their promises not only to people we promised to but most especially for Allah.
Ameen .
You Recognise Allah S.W.T But You Dont Give HIM HIS Due
So sad.
Astagfirullah.
Yet we have the mouth and heart to complain why our prayers are not being answered?
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Today I was restudying the life of ‘Utbah Ibn Ghazwan Radiyallahu Anhu, and if you would remember my article about him where I mentioned him founding the city of Basra in Iraq.
So, I wanted to share today a very strong reminder of a learned man, the story didn’t mention his name but we ask Allah to reward him and bless him Amin. (Indeed there are people who are not mentioned here but are well known in the Hereafter.)
If you are a person who has been asking Allah for something for so long yet you are somehow thinking you are not getting an answer yet, then the first thing you should do would be think of your deeds and how you are doing with your worship, or maybe this story would help you get your priorities straight and right as well.
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This learned scholar came to Basra in Iraq, people gathered around him and asked why their prayers were not being answered, especially when Allah says in the Qur’an: “Call upon me, I will respond to you.”[40:60]
So this learned man answered them by saying; “O people of Basra! Your hearts have become dead.” So, the people asked how this had come about.
The learned man outlined several reasons for this:
“You recognise Allah but you don’t give Him His due.
You recite the Qur’an but you don’t act upon it.
You claim to love Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalam but you don’t act upon his sunnah.
You claim to be the enemy of Satan but you obey him.
You claim to have earned entry into Paradise but you don’t make any effort it.
You claim to have achieved deliverance from the Hellfire but your misdeeds should see you sent to Hell.
You say that death is inevitable but you don’t make preparations for it.
You find fault with other people, but you don’t see your own fault.
you bury your dead but you don’t learn lessons from it.
You avail of the blessings of Allah but you don’t thank Him.”
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Sometimes, we just really need to sit down and relax and think for a moment how we are doing with our deeds. Maybe, it is actually us that puts a barrier from what we are asking for. As much as you make du’a for something you want, make as much istighfar as well. in sha Allah.
May this strong reminder be enough for us to recheck our deeds and our worship. Ameen .
O Firm Believer Of Islam . Seek Only What Is Good For Your Mother
Okay Mom. Na’am Ummi. Shh.
Do you feel happy when she calls you? I know, more likely irritated as it seems, right?
Do you look for her when you come home? I know, probably you’ll go straight upstairs to your room and check how many retweets, reblogs and likes you have from your last status update, right?
Do you appreciate how she reminds you for your own good? I know, you must be thinking “why am I the always one “seen” in this house”.
Don’t deny it, well you can, but you cannot deny it infront of Allah, always remember that.
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You know, sometimes, it really hits me that a lot of us take our mothers for granted knowing that she would always be there when we need her.
But today I want everyone to realize how blessed they are if they were born Muslim with Muslim parents, why? because I know a lot of reverts that struggle a lot within themselves because their parents aren’t Muslims yet you find such reverts amongst people who treat their parents with the utmost kindest and respect. Subhan’Allah.
Whenever I hear someone reverts to Islam, I remember the Sahabah RA, why? because almost all of them were reverts and it is quite a shame how we treat reverts, how there comes a discrimination within that line. Astagfirullah.
Let me narrate to you a story of one of the greatest Sahabah RA that ever walked in this world, Abu Hurairah Radiyallahu Anhu. Did you know how much he tried and convinced his mother to revert to Islam? How much he endured patiently even when at times his mother would be so angry with him, yet he sought for what is good for his mother and never despaired?
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Abu Hurairah RA narrated that his mother was a polytheist who often got angry when I invited her to Islam every now and then.
“One day, I again called upon her to embrace Islam, but she flew into a rage and uttered some offensive remarks against the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam. Deeply upset, I went to the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam with tears in my eyes and said “I always invite my mother to Islam, and she always refuses. I asked her again to accept Islam today, but she said some things against you that have made me really sad. May I request you to pray that Allah guide my mother?”
The Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam prayed very generously and cheerfully, “O Allah! Guide Abu Hurairah’s mother to the right path.”
My joy knew no bounds to have the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam pray for my mother. I returned home and found the door closed from the inside. My mother had heard the sound of my footsteps and said: Abu Hurairah, wait until I open the door. In the meanwhile, I heard splashing of water. Then my mother hurriedly took bath, got dressed, covered her head with a sheet of cloth and opened the door. As she opened the door, she said, Abu Hurairah! I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and that the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam is His Servant and Messenger.”
I again went to the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam crying with joy and said: “O Allah’s Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam! I have good news, Allah has answered your prayer and guided my mother to Islam.”
The Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam praise and glorified Allah and prayed for goodness. I further said: “pray that Allah may instil love for me and for my mother in the believers and let our hearts be filled with their love.” So the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam prayed for it.
Accordingly, this supplication was answered by Allah so that every believer who hears of me or sees me has love for me.”
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Alhamdulillah. Subhan’Allah.
My brothers and sisters in Islam, revert or born Muslim, I know we all go through such struggles. Born Muslims who are in situations where their parents are still trapped with the cultural bang of traditions and revert Muslims who are still struggling to invite their parents to Islam, this is a beautiful struggle for all of us.
Never give up on inviting your family to accept and practice Islam accordingly. Yes, our situations may all be different but we all are striving to invite them to the same way, to the same path.
Take advantage of these remaining days of your life, invite them everyday to Islam just like how Abu Hurairah RA did with his mother, even when she got angry with him often, still this did not stop him from seeking what is good for her mother.
Always accompany your invitation and calling to Islam with a sincere du’a for only Allah can turn hearts. So rely upon Him at all times. Every word said and act done for His Sake will surely be rewarded. So never despair.
Just like how reverts are doing their best to invite more people from their family to come to the fold of Islam, born Muslims should also do same efforts to clear out the cultural traditions they have mixed with Islam so that our religion would be practiced appropriately.
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May everyone of you, who is struggling with such situation, be inspired through this story of Abu Hurairah RA to not give up from what you are doing for His Sake. May Allah accept all your efforts and grant us beautiful blessings here and in the hereafter.
May He unite us all with our loved ones in His Paradise. Ameen .
Do Not Love Money As Much As You Love To Please Allah S.W.T
Yup, this is a marriage related post.
Are you one who seeks marriage? Finding it hard in the worldly part of it? You know the luxury, lavish and money stuff.
Read on if you please (and if you want something to use to convince your parents to go on the Islamic view of marriage)
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Sharing this story because as much as I get marriage related questions on my inbox, I get it also in real life. May Allah make it easy for each and everyone of us. Amin
Since most of those are financial/money related queries, regarding the mahr or anything related to the expensive wedding stuff. Here’s a story that would make you realize how a believer should be in regards to money to his family.
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Muslim Ibn Sabih Kufi says that he heard his father saying, “Mughira Ibn Sho’ba RA and an arab youth both sent proposal for marriage to a woman at the same time. That Arab youth was quite handsome and beautiful as compared to Mughira Ibn Sho’ba RA. The woman replied to the proposals to both of them saying, “You both have sought to marry me. I cannot give a final verdict to any of you till I meet and talk to you both. Therefore, if any of you wants to marry me, he must come to me at such and such time so that I can reach a conclusion and select my life partner.”
Upon receiving the message, both the men went to meet the woman. She made them sit at a place where she could not see them but hear both of them.
Mughira RA got impressed when he witnessed the Arab’s youngster’s beautiful body, excellent youthfulness, good shape and soft-speech, losing hope of any success in the presence of such a competitor. He told himself not to pin any hope as every woman wanted a handsome, beautiful and attractive husband, and his competitor possessed all such qualities which he did not. He thought to himself, “When the woman will see me, she will definitely select the Arab youth, and I will only face defeat.”
Mughira RA was thinking all this as he suddenly asked the Arab youngster, “Brother, you have been gifted with beauty and soft-speech. Do you have any other qualities?” The youngster boasted, “Why not, I have such and such qualities.” Thus he mentioned several qualities, counting them on his fingers. Then he fell silent.
Mughira RA asked, “Okay, tell me how do you conduct your financial dealings?” The youngster replied, “It is excellent, I do not miscalculate even a single penny as I minutely maitain my accounts in detail.”
Now, Mughira RA began to say about himself, “But I am different from you. I leave an unattended pouch containing thousands of dirhams in a corner of my house. My family members continue to spend as much as they require from this pouch and I do not know how much money has been spent and how much is left behind. I come to know of the exhaustion of the money only when they demand more from me.”
The woman was attentively listening to the conversation between the two candidates. When she listened to what Mughira RA was saying she said, “I swear by Allah! This man deserves the most to marry me, and is more acceptable to me as he will not torment me while getting confused with his finances, and I do not like this Arab youth who will hold me accountable for every penny.”
Afterwards, the woman married Mughira Ibn Sho’ba Radiyallahu Anhu.
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Subhan’Allah, let this story reach families who are so keen on the financial stuff in marriages, sisters who are so keen on the physical attributes of their suitors and brothers who are so worried with their finances that they live as if they do not want to part from their worldly gains.
Let us take a moment and understand that Mughira RA makes his family spend out for charity and spend what is just needed for them, as let us remember that his family are also practising Muslims who abide to the rules and regulations accordingly to Islam.
Remember that the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam said that “Without a doubt, when a Muslim spends money on his family while considering (the action as worship), it is an act of charity”. [Ahmad, Bukhari and Muslim]
There is a big difference to a person who is generous and are too keen on his finances, being too keen on your finances shows too much attachment to the worldly life. - and this is the point that the woman raised when she said that the arab youth would held her accountable for every penny.
Spending for the sake of Allah should be so sincere that the left hand doesnt know how much the right hand has given and vice versa, for all that they intend is to spend for the sake of Allah, and indeed Allah said in a Hadith Qudsi that Spend on charity, O son of Adam and I will spend on you.
But spending too much in weddings is wasting too much money, when such big amount of money can be given to charity, let us all think twice on how we should spend what we have earned or gained for such actions will be for sure asked by Allah on the Day Promised.
My dear brothers and sisters, take a moment and reflect from this story. Ponder hard.
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And we pray that Allah blesses us with such good understanding when it comes to worldly things and our acts of worship. Ameen
O Muslim Parents Do Not Let Your Worldly Desires Make You Neglect The Rights Your Children Have Over You
Having a problem with your kids?
Finding it hard to discipline them? Can’t control them from going out late at night?
I know, I heard a lot of Muslim parents complaining about this. This story that I am about to share isn’t a story that says parents are to be completely be blamed upon what has transpired between them and their kids, rather this is a reminder as to re-evaluating our deeds with them.
There is no harm in rechecking how we are treating them, there are moments that parents get so caught up with work and business because they say they are working for the future of their kids, but dear parents, do consider also that you should be well managed as to how you spend time with your family as well.
Always have time to check on them, sometimes children just want to be appreciated and no one can appreciate them the way their parents can in this dunya.
I ask you all, to reflect much from this story that happened during the time of ‘Umar Ibn Al Khattab as the Ameer ul Mumi’neen.
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A man appeared before Umar RA and complained that his son was disobedient. Umar RA called his son and reprimanded him for disobeying his father and denying what was his due.
The boy listened to all this and began to say, “O Ameer ul Mumi’neen! Please excuse me! Do the children have any rights over their father?”
Umar RA said, “Of course they do.”
The boy asked, “What are they?”
Umar RA replied, “They are to select the best mother for him, to give him a good name and teach him the Qur’an.”
The boy said, “O Ameer ul Mumi’neen! My father did not fulfill even a single duty which you just mentioned. So far as my mother is concerned, she is the daughter of a fire worshipper. So far as my name is concerned, I was named, ‘Ju’al’ which means a base person. Above all, I was not taught even a single word of the Qur’an.”
Umar RA addressed the father saying, “You have come to me with the complaint that your son usurps your rights whereas it was you who first usurped his rights, and maltreated him.”
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Take heed, O parents who do not give the rights of their children properly, for it will be Allah that they will be complaining with in the Hereafter.
It is hard to understand to find such parents who have prayed day and night that Allah blesses them with children are also same parents who do not give enough time for their children.
Remember, not everyone nor every couple in this dunya are being blessed with offsprings. So know that when you are blessed, then this is both a great blessings, great amanah and great responsibility for all of you.
Always take this in mind, a house where the name of Allah Azza Wa Jall is always mentioned is a house that is frequently indeed visited by the angels of Allah and so barakah will be overflowing such abode. We know how Allah rewards, yet we still seek too much of this dunya.
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And we pray that Allah blesses every Muslim household with such amity amongst all the family members for His Sake.
Ameen
Naseebah Bint Ka'b Radiyallahu Anha - She Is A Timeless Blade Of Bravery & Piety
Sister, are you looking for a role model or a source of inspiration perhaps?
Or brother, are you looking for a story to tell your mother, your sister, your wife or your kids that would boost their imaan?
Or you just simply want to be motivated, inspired and be in a state of wonder for hours?
In sha Allaah today, I am sharing to all of you, one of the most influential companions of our beloved Nabi Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam, with whom he Sallallahu Alaihi wassalaam praised for her bravery and made du'a for.
It’s quite long but it’s worth the read.
Subhan'Allaah.
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Naseebah Bint Ka'b Radiyallahu Anha
She was known as Umm ‘Ammarah, While her real name was Naseebah bint Ka'b al-Maziniyah al-Ansariyah Radiyallahu Anha ____
She is a unique and distinguished personality and a great model. She lives in the hearts of the Muslims like a brilliant torch!
Whenever I tried to write about her and scrutinize the pages of her life journey, I always feel overwhelmed, and a sense of humility and insignificance overcomes me.
O’ Umm Ammarah, it is with due respect to and love for you that I am humbly acquainting our daughters, sisters and mothers with lessons drawn from your faith, your struggle in the way of Allah and your motherliness, at a time that we are all in dire need of these lessons. For, these days, truths have been mixed with falsehood, things have been turned upside down and minds wander aimlessly so much so that we do not know how to move or where to go.
Perhaps, we will all have a resurgence that can bring us out of the abyss of loss to the peak: of the straight path, the path of those on whom Allah favoured with His Mercy.
Umm Ammarah had no son whose name is Ammarah from whom her nickname is derived. It was only a nickname for which she was known.
She was in the prime of her youthfulness and newly-wed when she had the honour of meeting the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam in the middle of the night at the 'Aqabah in Mina along with a delegation of the Ansar.
They all embraced Islam and she did; and they swore their allegiance and she did. A sister of her, known as Umm Manee’ was also with her, and she also swore allegiance.
Al-Waqidi narrated from Ibn Abi Sa'Sa’ from Umm 'Ammarah that she said, “The men were placing their hands in the hand of the Messenger of Allah on the night of’ Aqabah giving their allegiance while 'Abbas, the Prophet’s uncle was holding his hand. When it was my turn and that of my sister, Umm Manee’. my husband, 'Arabah ibn 'Amr said: 'Messenger of Allah, here are two women who came with us to swear allegiance to you.’ The Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam said, 'I accept their allegiance upon things regarding which I accept yours. I do not shake women’s hands.’ ”
Articles of the pledge of’ Aqabah are the first foundation upon which the great change, that took place in the course of da wah was based. These changes include moving from passive Jihad to active one; and from enduring persecution and remaining steadfast to waging a relentless and an uncompromising fight against polytheism and kufr (disbelief).
It is a jihad that is not restricted to the swords, the spears and the battle fields. It is rather a jihad that includes war against all kinds of corruptions and deviations and in order to build the individual and the society.
Umm 'Ammarah has been filled with the spirit of Eeman and Islam since the day the first propagator, Mus'ab ibn 'Umayr started propagating Islam in Yathrib assiduously with a careful and objective work, cogent argument, agreeable logic and with wisdom and excellent admonition.
By Allah’s grace and plan, Mus'ab was able to turn Yathrib, with its Aws and Khazraj tribes, into helpers of Islam and its Messenger Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam.
The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam asked Mus'ab, “How was Madeenah when you left it?”
He said, “I left it while there was no house in which the name of Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam was not being mentioned. It is either members of that house have all embraced Islam or they were busy talking about this pure and new religion. Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam was the topic of their meetings, gatherings and conversations.”
Umm 'Ammarah physically and emotionally filled with faith and she travelled along with the Yathrib delegation to Makkah to make the pledge of 'Aqabah.
Meeting with the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam was the greatest goal and the highest love so Allah filled her heart and her mind with happiness and self-denial in the way of responding to the call of Islam. Those were the first influencing factors.
There should be no wonder then when we see Umm 'Ammarah in her stances, her roles and her being around the Messenger of Allah rising high to become a shinning star whose light never dies and whose illumination never withers and which consistently move in its orbit.
There are vivid qualities in her character, but the most vivid one is her fight in the way of Allah, more so with sword.
Ibn Hajar said: “She (Umm 'Ammarah) witnessed the pledge of 'Aqabah and she also pledged allegiance. She participated in the battles of Uhud, Hudaybiyah and Khaybar and participated in 'Umrat al-Qada. She also witnessed the conquest of Makkah and participated in the campaigns of Hunayn and Yamamah. [1]
This means Umm 'Ammarah witnessed and participated in the greatest and the most important battles. Her presence was distinctly recognized more than that of other women who took part in these battles. This distinct presence has its factors and consequences.
Let us start with the battle of Uhud that took place in the month of Shawwal, the third year of Hijrah.
This battle was named so because it took place between the Muslims and the polytheists at the precinct of Mount Uhud that lies on the north-east outskirt of Madeenah. It is the greatest mountain on the eastern part of the city.
Umm Sa'eed bint Sa’d ibn Rabee’ narrated that she visited Umm 'Ammarah and asked her participation in the battle of Uhud and she replied, "I went out in the forenoon with a water vessel in my hand. I came to the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam while he was with his Companions and the Muslims were winning the war. But when the Muslims were later defeated I moved to the side of the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam. I engaged in fighting and started protecting the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam with the sword while at the same time, shooting arrows until 1 was wounded.”
Umm Sa'eed said, “And I saw a deep and hollow injury in her shoulder. ”
Umm 'Ammarah’s stand on the day of Uhud was well-known to earlier and latter generations. The people narrate to one another this stand with pride, pity and love.
Umm 'Ammarah went to the battle of Uhud not to fight. She rather went there in order to give water to the thirsty. Perhaps, she also went there to take care of the injured. She did not carry any sword, bow or arrow.
Then, the unexpected happened! The archers disobeyed the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam by abandoning the position he commanded them to man wanting to collect booties. The tide then turned against the Muslims in favour of the Quraysh and many elder Companions martyred.
The Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam escaped on to the top of the Mountain of Uhud and no one remains with him but a few Companions defending him with their bodies and souls; his molar teeth was broken and he was injured in the face and his pure blood was shed.
It was then that Umm 'Ammarah dropped her vessel of water and the zeal of her faith was swirled up, boiling like a cooking kettle in her feminine nature. She snatched a sword from one of the escaping fighters and a bow and an arrow from another. She stood firm defending the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam and he saw her around him in this great stance of hers and her glorious defence for him. He also saw the enemy of Allah, Ibn Qami'ah moving closer to her. So he called upon her son to protect her.
Umm 'Ammarah felt this call, not only with her ears, but with her entire being and feelings. She also felt it with all her senses and from within love of Eeman that flourished in her heart. She then said, “O’ Messenger of Allah, invoke Allah to make us your Companions in Paradise!”
That was the goal she was aspiring for in this world and the Hereafter!
She was not concerned with the safety of her body and life, neither was she concerned about wealth or fame or any of the things of this world. She only wanted to be among the dwellers of Paradise and to be in the company of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam!
Such is the reality of faith, purity of certainty and wholesomeness of Islam. We are saying this, as an admonition, to ourselves, to our families and to all those who work in the field ofIslamic propagation and resurgence.
The Messenger or Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam then supplicated for her saying, “O’ Allah, make them my Companions in Paradise.”
Umm 'Ammirah said, “After this, I do not care about whatever happens.”
The supplication of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam actualized on the entire household of Umm 'Ammarah. Her sons, 'Abdullah and Habeeb were martyred in the way of Allah.
Allah’s enemy, Ibn Qami'ah was able to overcome Umm 'Ammarah. He hit her neck with sword and made her suffer a deep wound that she continued to nurse for the rest of her life until she died and met the pleasure of Allah.
Umm 'Ammarah won a medal in the battle of Uhud that was a source of pride for her, in spite of the severe pain she suffered. No sooner had this wound relieved her a little through treatment that it started to deteriorate anew.
She also had an invocation from the mouth of the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam and from his noble heart, that served as a provision for her in the remaining years of her life and as a light throughout the darkness of nights and days and with which she dispelled the darkness of events, making her a radiating model.
'Umar ibn al-Khattab Radiyallahu Anhu narrates to us from the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam his noble saying, “Whenever I turned left or right on the day of the battle of Uhud, I always saw her (Umm 'Ammarah) fighting in my defense.”
Besides the medal that Umm 'Ammarah carried since the battle of Uhud and the invocation the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalam made for her that Allah should make her his Companion in Paradise, she also won a noble and high commendation by which she attained the ranks of the heroic fighters in the way of Allah. This was before the hijab was made obligatory and the women were commanded to stay in their houses and before they were told that their Hajj was their jihad.
The ship of life proceeded with her in a wave that was like mountains!
Umm 'Ammarah experienced great occurrences in her family that if these occurrences were to be brought upon huge mountains they would have turned them to a levelled plain or to fluffed up wool. But this woman, in the depth of her heart, as a result of the blessing of her Companionship with the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam and his supplication for her, was extremely strong and very much persevering.
The Prophet’s choice fell upon her son Habeeb, as one of his two envoys to Musaylamah the liar of the clan of Banu Haneefah who claimed prophethood. Habeeb was the younger of her two sons from her first husband, Zayd ibn 'Asim. He was handsome, gentlehearted, strong in Eeman, steadfast and truly dear to the heart of Umm 'Ammarah.
When he delivered the message and fulfilled the trust assigned to him, Musaylamah asked him, “Do you believe that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah?” He answered in the affirmative.
Musaylamah then said, “Do you believe that I am a Messenger of Allah?” He said, “I can’t hear.”
Musaylamah ran into a fury and commanded that Habeeb be tortured until he testified that he was a messenger of Allah. So his limbs were then cut piece by piece while he was tied up. He did not utter anything but a testimony to the Oneness of Allah and the Messengership of Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam. He continued in this state until he breathed his last and his soul ascended to its Creator. And the sad new was brought to Umm 'Ammarah.
The Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam in the company of Abu Bakr and'Umar Radiyallahu Anhum came to her to console her on this great calamity concerning her son, the beloved Habeeb. It was at a time that the deep wound in her neck had deteriorated and her pains had become severe. She was, in fact, overwhelmed by calamities. But she bore all that with extraordinary perseverance.
She vowed that she would witness and take part in the killing of Musaylamah the liar as she vowed that she would not touch her body with water until she fulfilled this vow, as a way of fulfilling the obligation she owed to Allah and His Messenger Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam and as a way of avenging the death of her son Habeeb.
After the death of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam; Abu Bakr and 'Umar would visit her to assure, console and honour her until the Wars of Apostasy and the battle of Yamamah took place. Inevitably, the caliph Abu Bakr could not but agree to Umm 'Ammarah’s request to fulfll her vow. He allowed her to set out for the war with the Muslim army.
Then, Umm 'Ammarah was already ageing and she had became feeble. Though her head was already covered with grey hair, her heart was still exuberating with faith. The good word is like a pleasant tree whose root is firm and whose branch is in the sky. It gives out its fruits all the time with the permission of its Lord. How then, can this tree be affected with weakness and dryness? How could Umm 'Ammarah be affected with stagnation?!
It is one of the strange acts of destiny that Wahshi ibn Harb who killed Hamzah in the battle of Uhud was also the one who killed Musaylamah, and with the same javelin.
While the battle was raging, Umm 'Ammarah with her son 'Abdullah on her side were pushing their way into the rows of fighters looking for Musaylamah in order to reach him and take revenge from him.
In that battle, Umm 'Ammarah sustained more than twelve wounds in different parts of her body; and she bled profusely. Her arm was cut off, starting from her already injured neck. In spite of that, she proceeded in pursuance of her goal without feeling any pain.
She was directed to Musaylamah who was lying in the ground wounded. Wahshi’s javelin had penetrated deep into his body. Umm 'Ammarah moved closer to him and started hitting him with a spear until he died. She then felt some sense of satisfaction and was a bit relieved.
When she returned to Madeenah, she came to meet her appointed time. It was only a little after her return that she surrendered her soul peacefully, smilingly and willingly.
And tomorrow she will meet her loved ones: Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam and his Companions, and she will be fortunate to be in his company.
Dear reader, this is another aspect of the personality of Umm 'Ammarah. It is an aspect that is not less important:
She was a narrator of hadith who had an excellent memory. She narrated to us some ahadith of the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam. Therefore, the scholarly aspect of her life also has its place and importance.
You will notice that some of her narrations contain fiqh and islamic legal rules.
For example, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah reported in their Sunan on the authority of Urum 'Ammarah that the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam visited her and she presented him with food. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam told her, “Eat.” She said, “I am fasting.” The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam then said, “If food is eaten in the house of a fasting person, the angels will invoke blessing on him.”
Abu Dawood also reported on the authority of Umm 'Ammarah that, “The Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam wanted to perform ablution and a vessel that contained a one third mudd of water was brought to him.”
Ibn Majah also reported on the authority of Umm 'Ammarah that she said, “I was looking at the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam while he was slaughtering his sacrificial camels with a spear, in a standing
position. ”
Al-Waqidi reported that Umm 'Ammarah said, “Men were shaking the hands of the Messenger of Allah~) in the night of (thepledge of) 'Aqabah while al-'Abbas (his uncle) was holding the Prophet’s hand. When it remained only me and Umm Manee’, my husband, 'Arabah ibn 'Amr said, 'Messenger of Allah, these are two women who came with us to pledge their allegiance to you.’ The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam said, 'I have accepted their pledge upon what I accepted your pledge on, for I do not shake women’s hands.’”
May Allah be pleased with Umm 'Ammarah and please her..
May He make Paradise her abode and make her a model to be emulated by our mothers, sisters, wives and daughters . Ameen
Amr Ibn Al’As Radiyallahu Anhu - The Liberator Of Egypt
Whenever we speak of someone from the Sahabah who had this innate looks and etiquettes that a commander possesses, the names Umar Ibn Al Khattab, Hamza Ibn AbdulMuttalib to Khalid Ibn Al Waleed Radiyallahu Anhum comes to mind, but there was also one who possessed such kind, Amr Ibn Al’As Radiyallahu Anhu.
Here is a detailed story of his life, and I have broke it down into sections and chapters of his life, I hope you find it beneficial and inspirational. In sha Allah.
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Amr Ibn Al’As had such confident way of talking and walking that Umar Ibn Al Khattab Radiyallahu Anhu smiled and said,“It should not be for Abu `Abd Allah to walk on the earth except as a commander.” The truth also is that Abu `Abd Allah did not forget the right.
Even when dangerous events overwhelmed the Muslims, `Amr dealt with these events in a commanding manner, as one who possesses intelligence, wits, and a capability which made him self-confident and proud of his excellence.
In spite of some of `Amr’s positions, his point of view of which we cannot be convinced, he played a role as a glorious Companion; he sacrificed and gave generously; he was a defender and combatant.
`Amr was sharp-witted with strong intuitive understanding and deep vision, so much so that whenever the Commander of the Faithful saw a person incapable of artifice, he clapped his palms in astonishment and said, “Glory be to Allah Indeed, the Creator of this and the Creator of `Amr lbn Al-Aas is one God.”
`Amr was also very daring and unhesitant. He used to combine his daring with his wits in some instances so that he would be thought to be cowardly or hesitant. However, it was the capacity to trick which `Amr perfected with great skill to get himself out of a destructive crisis.
One of the Three Quraish
There were three from the Quraish who used to trouble the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) with the fierceness of their resistance to his call and their torture of his Companions.
The Messenger called them and pleaded to his glorious Lord to inflict them with His punishment, and while he was calling and inviting, he received the revelation of these noble verses:
“The matter is not in your hands, whether GOD turns to them or chastises them, for surely they are evil doers” (3: 128).
The Messenger’s understanding of the verse was that he was to stop calling Allah to punish them and to leave their affair to Allah alone. Either they would continue their wrongdoing and His punishment would be inflicted upon them, or He would accept their repentance.
They repented, so His mercy reached them. `Amr Ibn Al-‘Aas was one of these three. Allah had chosen for them the path of repentance and mercy, so He guided them to Islam. He transformed `Amr Ibn Al-'Aas into a Muslim fighter and into one of the brave leaders of Islam.
Egypt’s Liberation
When Amr Ibn Al As conquered Egypt, Islam did not conquer the country with the modern understanding of conquering, but it liberated it from the hegemony of two imperial powers, two modes of worship of two countries, and the worst punishment, the imperial power of Persia and the imperial power of Rome.
Egypt, in particular, on the day the advanced guard of Islam appeared, had been plundered by the Romans, and its inhabitants were resisting without result. When the shouts of believing armies reverberated over the frontiers of their country, “Allah akbaar! (Allah is the Greatest)” they hastened all together, in a glorious crowd, toward the coming dawn and embraced it, finding in it liberation from Caesar and from Rome.
So, `Amr and his men did not conquer Egypt but opened the way for Egypt to attach its destiny to the truth, tie its fate to justice, and find itself and its reality in the light of the words of Allah and the principles of Islam. He was careful to separate the inhabitants of Egypt and its Copts away from the army and keep the fighting restricted between himself and the Romans who occupied the land and robbed the wealth of its people.
On account of that, we find him talking to the Christian leaders of that day and their high priest. He said to them, “Indeed Allah sent Muhammad with the truth and ordered him to teach it.
The Prophet carried out his mission, and he died after leaving us on that path, the clear straight path. Among the things he ordered us to do was to be responsible to the people, so we call you to Islam. Whoever responds of us. He has what we have and he has the same rights and obligations as we do. And whoever does not respond to Islam, we enforce on him the payment of jizyah and we offer to him defense and protection.
Our Prophet informed us that Egypt would open for us and advised us to be good to its people, saying, Egypt will be opened to you after me, so you are advised to treat its Copts well, for indeed, they have a covenant of protection and kinship relations,’ so if you answer to what we call you to, you will have protection and security.”
No sooner had `Amr finished his words, than some of the priests and rabbis shouted, saying, “Indeed the kinship of which your Prophet advised you is a remote kinship relationship, the like of which cannot be reached except by the prophets.”
This was a good start for the hoped for understanding between `Amr and the Copts of Egypt, in spite of what the Roman leader had tried to do to frustrate it.
His conversion to islam
Amr Ibn Al-'Aas was not among the earliest ones to embrace Islam. He embraced Islam with Khaalid Ibn Al-Waliid, just shortly before the Conquest of Makkah. It is surprising that his Islam began at the hands of An-Najaashiy in Abyssinia, and that is because An Nagaashiy knew `Amr and respected him because of his several visits to Abyssinia and abundant gifts which he used to carry to An Najaashiy. In his final visit to that country, mention was made of the Prophet who was calling to monotheism and to the nobility of morals in the Arabian Peninsula.
The Abyssinian ruler asked `Amr, `How could you not believe in him and follow him, when he is truly a Messenger from Allah?“ Amr then asked An-Najaashiy, "Is he thus?” An Najaashiy answered, “Yes, so obey me, O `Amr, and follow him, for indeed, by Allah, he is on the path of truth and he will surpass those who stood against him!”
`Amr traveled, taking the sea route, immediately returning to his country and turning his face in the direction of Al-Madiinah to surrender to Allah, Lord of the Worlds.
On the road leading to Al-Madiinah, he met Khaalid Ibn Al Wallid coming from Makkah, going also to the Messenger to swear allegiance to Islam. No sooner did the Messenger see the two of them coming than his face beamed with joy and he said to his Companions, “Makkah has gifted you with its most noble leaders.” Khaliid approached and swore allegiance. Then `Amr approached and said, “Indeed, I swear allegiance to you provided that you ask Allah to forgive me my previous sins.” So the Messenger answered him saying, “O `Amr, swear allegiance, for indeed Islam disregards whatever preceded it.”
Ruler of Oman to Egypt
`Amr swore allegiance and placed his wits and bravery at the service of his new religion. When the Messenger passed on to Allah, Most Exalted, `Amr was appointed ruler over Oman and during the caliphate of `Umar he performed his famous deeds in the Syrian wars and then in the liberation of Egypt from the rule of Rome.
Oh, if only Amr Ibn Al-'Aas could have resisted the love of commanding and rule in his soul, then he would have greatly overcome some of the positions which this love entangled him in. Yet, `Amr’s love for the authority of ruling, to a certain extent, was a direct expression of his nature, which was filled with talent.
Moreover, he possessed such a portion of honesty that it made Umar lbn Al-Khattaab - even though he was strict in choosing his governor - choose Amr as governor over Palestine and Jordan, then over Egypt, throughout the life of `Umar. This even though the Commander of the Faithful knew that `Amr had exceeded a certain limit in the opulence of his life style, while the Commander of the Faithful demanded from his governors to set an example by staying always at the level or at least close to the general level of the people.
Even though the caliph knew about the abundance of `Amr’s wealth, he did not remove him but sent Muhammad Ibn Maslamah to him and ordered `Amr to split with him, all of his wealth and possessions. So, he left him one half of it and carried the other half to the treasury in Al-Madiinah. However, if the Commander of the Faithful had known that `Amr’s love for wealth would lead him to carelessness in his responibility, it is conceivable that his reasonable conscience would not have allowed him to stay in power for even one moment.
Artubun of the Arabs
The Commander of the Faithful Umar knew these talents of his and appreciated their true value. For that reason, when he sent him to Syria, before his going to Egypt, it was said to the Commander of the Faithful, “At the head of the armies of Rome in Syria is Artubun; a shrewd and brave leader and a prince.” `Umar’s response was, “We have hurled at Artubun of Rome Artubun of the Arabs, so let us see how the matter unfolds.”
Matters unfolded in a massive victory for the Artubun of the Arabs, their dangerous, sly old fox, `Amr Ibn Al-'Aas over the Artubun of Rome, who left his army to defeat and fled to Egypt. `Amr would catch him shortly thereafter to raise the standard of Islam above its secure lands.
What are the situations in which the intelligence and wits of `Amr excelled? We do not count among them his position with Abu Muusaa Al-Ash'ariy in the incident of arbitration when the two of them agreed to depose `Aliy and Mu'aawiyah to refer the matter back to consultation between the Muslims. Abu Muusaa implemented the agreement and `Amr relented from carrying out his part of the agreement.
Some of his Wits and Skills
If we want to witness a picture of his wits and the skill of his intuitive insight, we find it in his position with respect to the commander of the Citadel of Babylon (near present day Cairo) during his war with Rome in Egypt, and, in another historical narration, in the battle we shall mention which took place in Yarmuuk with Artubun of Rome.
When Artubun and the commander invited `Amr to talk, they gave an order to some of their men to throw a rock at him immediately upon his departure from the Citadel and to prepare everything so that the killing of `Amr would be an inevitable matter.
`Amr met the commander, not suspecting anything from him, and their meeting ended. While `Amr was on his way out of the Citadel, he glimpsed over the walls something suspicious that aroused in bun a strong sense of danger, and immediately he behaved in an outstanding manner.
He returned back to the commander of the Citadel, in safe, secure, slow steps, with confident, happy feelings, as if nothing had scared him at all or had aroused his suspicion. He met the commander and said to him, “An idea came across my mind I wanted you to know. I have with me, where my companions are camped, a group from among the first Companions of the Messenger to enter into Islam. The Commander of the Faithful would not decide anything without consulting them and would not send an army unless he put them at the head of its fighters and soldiers. I will bring them to you so that they hear from you that which I heard, so they will become as clear in the matter as I am.”
The Roman commander realized that `Amr, by his naiveté, had granted him the opportunity of a lifetime. Therefore, he thought, Let us agree with him, and when he returns with this number of Muslim commanders and the best of their men and their leaders, we will deliver the coup de grace and finish off all of them at once, instead of finishing off Amr alone.
Secretly he gave his order to put off the plan that was devised to assassinate `Amr, and he saw `Amr off cordially and shook his hand with enthusiasm and fervor. `Amr smiled the most intelligent of Arab smiles as he was leaving the Citadel.
In the morning Amr returned to the Citadel at the head of an army, mounted on his horse that whinnied in a loud burst of laughter, behaving proudly and haughtily and making fun. Yes, for it, too, knew a lot of things about the shrewdness of its owner.
His Death
In A.H. 43, death caught up with `Amr Ibn Al-'Aas in Egypt, where he was ruling. He recaptured his life in the moments of departure, saying, “In the first part of my life I was a disbeliever, and I was one of the fiercest people against the Messenger of Allah, so if I had died on that day, the fire would have been my fate.
Then, I swore allegiance to the Messenger of Allah, and there was no person more dear to me than he and more glorious in my eyes than he. If I wanted to describe him, I could not, because I was not able to fill my eyes with him on account of being in awe of him. If I had died back then, I would have wished to be of the inhabitants of Paradise. Then after that I was tested with command and with material things. I do not know if they were for me or against me.”
Then he raised his sight to the sky in awe, calling upon his Lord, the Merciful, the Magnificent, saying, “O Allah, I am not innocent, so forgive me. I am not mighty, so help me. And if Your mercy does not come to me, I will surely be of those destroyed.”
And he continued in his yearning and his prayers until his spirit ascended to Allah and his last words were, “There is no god but Allah.”
The First and Oldest Masjid in the African Continent
Under the ground of Egypt, which `Amr acquainted with the path of Islam, where his corpse was finally placed, and above its hard earth, his seat is still standing throughout the centuries.
Here he used to teach, judge, and rule, beneath the ceiling of his ancient mosque, the Mosque of `Amr, the first mosque in Egypt, in which the name of Allah, the One and Only is mentioned and declared between its walls and from its pulpit, the words of Allah and the principles of Islam.
Masjid Amr Ibn Al’As was erected in 642 AD (21 AH) by Amr Ibn al'As, the commander of the Muslim army that conquered Egypt, the mosque is also known as Taj al-Jawamie (Crown of Mosques, al-Jamie'al-Ateeq (the Ancient Mosque) and Masjid Ahl ar-Rayah (Mosque of Banner Holders).
It is said to have been built on the site of Amr Ibn el-As’s tent at Fustat. Located north of the Roman Fortress of Babylon, it is actually on the edge of Fustat, the temporary city founded by Amr, and was an Islamic learning center long before El-Azhar Mosque. It could hold up to 5,000 students.
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Subhan’Allah, such was the life of a great warrior and leader of Islam, may Allah be truly pleased with him.
Amin
Question and Answer
Q : Assalam O Allykum. I was discussing career options with my friends and my friend mentioned that she won't be working after getting a bachelors in Islamic Studies. So I just suggested that if she doesn't plan on making a career and she's so interested in Islam, why not do an aalima course and preach our deen. And she casually replied that women should not be educated to such a high extent. So, can you please tell me how I should reply back ?
Answer :
Wa’alaikumussalaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,
That is a bit sad to know, why would she say that?
Habibti, we need more educated women in regards to the deen for the Ummah, [not for the reason that they go out to the street and deliver lectures here and there] but I’m saying for the corners of their homes.
We need more women like these because there are a lot of issues that women go through confusion with, about their hayd [menstruation] and other women issues that they are too shy to ask the imam even though we say one should not be shy to ask about the deen but you cannot deny that fact, so if there were more reachable women scholars then it would be more easy. [I hope you get me]
Muslim women are half of the nation, our education starts at home and the very foundation of our education and values are of our mothers, we are 90% of what our mothers are. Muslim women are advised to learn more so that they can practice their religion appropriately.
Because we know that ‘ilm and amal go together.
There is this book that I have read about the Muhaddithat [women who studied the ahadith] who travelled to cities to cities to also learn what we know now through books and lectures, but these women before some hadith came to us, they traveled to know those, and they were women.
I suggest, if she doesn’t plan to go for Aalimah course, then suggest to her since you do not want to then sponsor a student of ‘ilm for her Aalimah course.
We have to realize that there are so many women who want to learn but sometimes when financial issues are in hand it becomes so hard for them, and people who are able and refuses do not realize how many women would give everything to be on their position right now.
Advise her to do istikhara, if not then sponsor. in sha Allah.
I pray somehow you can convince her to do the Aalimah course, but if her reason was about she was going to get married and will be busy with her husband, it’s quite understandable [though being married can’t be much of a barrier because they can be homeschooled or through online] but to say women shouldn’t be educated to such a high extent is quite…I dunno a bit sad knowing that you both are finishing Islamic studies.
I will make du’a for you and your friend, nevertheless. in sha Allah.
That is a bit sad to know, why would she say that?
Habibti, we need more educated women in regards to the deen for the Ummah, [not for the reason that they go out to the street and deliver lectures here and there] but I’m saying for the corners of their homes.
We need more women like these because there are a lot of issues that women go through confusion with, about their hayd [menstruation] and other women issues that they are too shy to ask the imam even though we say one should not be shy to ask about the deen but you cannot deny that fact, so if there were more reachable women scholars then it would be more easy. [I hope you get me]
Muslim women are half of the nation, our education starts at home and the very foundation of our education and values are of our mothers, we are 90% of what our mothers are. Muslim women are advised to learn more so that they can practice their religion appropriately.
Because we know that ‘ilm and amal go together.
There is this book that I have read about the Muhaddithat [women who studied the ahadith] who travelled to cities to cities to also learn what we know now through books and lectures, but these women before some hadith came to us, they traveled to know those, and they were women.
I suggest, if she doesn’t plan to go for Aalimah course, then suggest to her since you do not want to then sponsor a student of ‘ilm for her Aalimah course.
We have to realize that there are so many women who want to learn but sometimes when financial issues are in hand it becomes so hard for them, and people who are able and refuses do not realize how many women would give everything to be on their position right now.
Advise her to do istikhara, if not then sponsor. in sha Allah.
I pray somehow you can convince her to do the Aalimah course, but if her reason was about she was going to get married and will be busy with her husband, it’s quite understandable [though being married can’t be much of a barrier because they can be homeschooled or through online] but to say women shouldn’t be educated to such a high extent is quite…I dunno a bit sad knowing that you both are finishing Islamic studies.
I will make du’a for you and your friend, nevertheless. in sha Allah.