The First Freedom Fighter

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

She lived in the greatest palace of her time, with many slaves, male and female at her command. Hers was a life of luxury and ease.

Her name was Asiyah bint Muzahim, wife of Pharaoh - may Allah be pleased with her - one woman, physically weak, but she was a believer who was at peace in her palace. The light of faith had dawned in her heart and she challenged the system of ignorance at the head of which was her husband.

She had deep insight and did not care about palaces and luxurious furnishings or having many slaves and servants. Hence, she deserved to be mentioned by the Lord of the Worlds in His Holy Book, where she is given as an example for those who believe, as Allah, the Exalted, says:

And Allah has set forth an example for those who believe: the wife of Pharaoh, when she said: "My Lord! Build for me a home with You in Paradise, and save me from Pharaoh and his work, and save me from the people who are wrongdoers.

(Quran 66:11)

The scholars said, commenting on this verse:

Asiyah chose the Hereafter over this world. She also deserved to be mentioned by the Prophet Muhammad (saw) among the perfect women, when he said:

Many men attain perfection, but no women attained perfection except Asiyah the wife of Pharaoh and Maryam bint Imran, and the superiority of Aishah over other women is like the superiority of tharid (bread, meat and broth) over other foods.

This is Asiyah the believer, the lamp that shone in the darkness of Pharaoh's palace. Who could light a lamp for us that shines with such patience and steadfastness, calling us to Allah, the Almighty?

(Dr. A'id al-Qarni)

Wasalaam!

You are Dealing with a Lord Who is Most Kind and Most Generous

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Be of good cheer, for Allah, the Exalted, has promised you a great reward, as He says:

And their Lord responded to them, "Never will I allow to be lost the work of [any] worker among you, whether male or female; you are of one another. So those who emigrated or were evicted from their homes or were harmed in My cause or fought or were killed - I will surely remove from them their misdeeds, and I will surely admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow as reward from Allah , and Allah has with Him the best reward."

Surah Aale-Imraan, Verse 195

Allah has given the same promises to men as to women, and He praises women as He praises men:

Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so - for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.

Surah Al-Ahzaab, Verse 35

This indicates that women are the twin halves and companions of men, and that your reward is stored with Allah. You can do good deeds at home and in society, that will help you attain the pleasure of Allah. So, set the best of examples and be a beacon for the children of the Ummah.

Take your cue from the life of Asiyah, the wife of Pharaoh, may Allah be pleased with her, and Maryam (may peace be upon her), Khadijah, Aisha, Asma and Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with them).

These were chosen women, devout believers  who fasted and prayed at night. May Allah be pleased with them and grant them great reward. Follow their footsteps and you will find tranquility and dignity.

Wipe away the tears of the orphan in order to attain the pleasure of the Most Merciful and a house in Paradise.

Wasalaam!

A Woman Who Challenged Tyranny

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

The past is gone and the hoped for future is still unknown. All you have is the present.

Look at the texts of Islam, the Quran and Sunnah. Allah, the Exalted, the Almighty, praises righteous and believing women. He says:

And Allah has set forth an example for those who believe: the wife of Fir'awn (Pharaoh), when she said: "My Lord! Build for me a home with You in Paradise, and save me from Fir'awn (Pharaoh) and his work, and save me from the people who are wrongdoers, polytheists and disbelievers in Allah.

(Surah Tahreem - Verse 11)

Think about how Allah made this woman - Asiyah, may Allah be pleased with her - a living example for believing men and women, a clear symbol for everyone who wants to be guided and follow the ways of Allah in life. How wise this woman was, when she sought a home with the Lord and put that above her worldly interests. She freed herself from the control of the kafir (disbeliever) tyrant Pharaoh and refused to live in his palace with his servants and courtiers, and with all its luxuries.

She sought a better home that was more lasting and more beautiful, with the Lord of the Worlds, amidst gardens and rivers, in a seat of truth (i.e. Paradise), near the Omnipotent King (Allah, the One, the All-Blessed, the Most High, the Owner of Majesty and Honour).

She was a great woman whose ambition and sincerity led her to speak the word of truth and faith against her tyrant husband. She was tortured for the sake of Allah but she ultimately earned a home with the Lord of the Worlds, and Allah, the Exalted, made her an example for every believing man and woman until the Hour comes, and He praised her in His Book, recording her name and commending her deeds, and condemning her husband who deviated from the right path on earth.

There is no power and no strength except with Allah.

Wasalaam!