In search of the saintly
The Holy Prophet of Islam never gave less importance to the women in terms of their freedom of expressing themselves, their participation in battles and many other activities.
One cannot but mention the names of Khadeejah (Radia-Allahu Anha), the first person to accept Islam, and Sumayyah, the first person to be martyred in the way of Allah from among the companions of His Messenger. What is most unfortunate is that most probably no one knows this sensational part of history about Sumayyah. Nusaybah fought valiantly with a sword, bow and arrow protecting the Messenger of Allah; she was awarded a medal for her valour in the historically famous battle of Uhud! Umm Sulaym took part in a number of battles but she showed her highest bravery in the battle of Hunayn. It is also an established fact that she used to go out with the Prophet on military expeditions and was always one of the soldiers of the Muslim army. The other side of resoluteness in her character is manifest in her insistence on making her husband-to-be accept the faith of Islam as mahr (bride money), something unheard of for a Muslim woman. Another outstanding woman in terms of her strong faith and integrity of character is Umm Kulthoom, who was one of the earliest Muslims. What is more confounding is the fact that she was not yet married when she decided to become a Muslim of her "personal freedom of choice and she was proud of that."
Another star is Rufaydah al-Aslamiyah, who set up a medical tent where she herself would treat the wounded at her own expenses. We come to know about Safiya bint Abdul-Muttalib, the first Muslim woman to kill an unbeliever in a situation when the man in charge of their security would not do so in fear. There is the poet Al-Khansa, whom the Prophet would greet saying, "Hey, Khanas!" when he would be eager to hear more poetry from her. He loved "refined and truthful poetry" naturally as an Arab and would regard poetry as a potent social weapon that "hurt the disbelievers more than do our showers of arrows upon them". The erudite Umm Mabad describes the Prophet in terms of his physical appearance, way of speaking, his countenance when he kept silent, reactions of the people around him as they observed and heard him.
Bless us, O you the saintly women!
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