Ummu Sulaim (RadiAllahu anha)'s concern for RasoolAllah SAW

[Bint e Aisha]

Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha) and her family had the greatest love and concern for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). It was on account of this love and concern for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) that if they ever saw him in any difficulty, they immediately did whatever was in their ability to assist him and bring him comfort.

 

Abu Talhah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) once said to Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha), “I heard the blessed voice of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and I perceived that it was weak from hunger. Do you have any food?” Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha) replied in the affirmative and immediately picked up three loaves of barley bread. She then took her scarf and used part of it to wrap the bread, after which she thrust the bundle of wrapped bread beneath the clothing of Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), and wrapped the remaining section of the scarf around Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) as a shawl. Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was then sent to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) with the bread.

 

When Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), he found him seated in the musjid with the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum). As Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) drew closer and stood before them, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) asked, “Did Abu Talhah send you?” Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “Yes.” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) next enquired, “Did he send you because of food?” Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) again responded, “Yes.” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) thus turned to the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) around him and instructed them to stand and join him. They then set out for the home of Abu Talhah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).

 

Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) went ahead of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) and reached Abu Talhah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) before they arrived at the home. He immediately told Abu Talhah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was on his way with a group of Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum). Hearing this, Abu Talhah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) became anxious and said to Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha), “O Ummu Sulaim! Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) has come with the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) and we do not have sufficient food to feed them!” Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha) calmly replied, “Allah Ta‘ala and His Rasul (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) know best (i.e. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is aware of our circumstances and the amount of food that we have. Hence, he knows why he brought the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) to our home. There is thus no need for us to worry. We need to just trust in him).”

 

Abu Talhah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) thus went out of the home to receive Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). After meeting Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), they proceeded to the home of Abu Talhah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and entered. As soon as Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) entered, he said to Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha), “O Ummu Sulaim! Bring whatever food you have.” Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha) thus presented the bread before Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then instructed her to break the bread into pieces and pour ghee over the bread as gravy. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) thereafter recited whatever Allah Ta‘ala wished him to recite (and made du‘aa for barakah) and blew into the food.

 

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) next instructed that the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) be called into the home to eat in groups of ten (due to the shortage of space). When the first group of ten had eaten to their fill, they left the home, allowing the next group to enter and eat. In this way, all the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) who had come with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), who were approximately seventy or eighty in number, ate to their fill and left. After they had eaten, the food was still as it had initially been (i.e. it was no less in quantity). Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) thereafter ate with the family of Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha). Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha) then shared the remaining food with her neighbours. (Saheeh Muslim #5316 and Takmilatu Fathil Mulhim vol. 4, pg. 39)

 

This was not the only instance of Ummu Sulaim’s (radhiyallahu ‘anha) generosity and concern for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) made nikaah to Zainab (radhiyallahu ‘anha), Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha) prepared a dish of hais (a dish prepared from dates, cheese and ghee) and sent it to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). (Saheeh Bukhaari #5163)

 

Lessons:

 

1. Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha) and every other Sahaabi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had the greatest concern for the comfort and wellbeing of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). If they ever saw him undergoing any form of difficulty, they were prepared to sacrifice their very lives to try and alleviate his discomfort. In our era, it is the condition of the Ummah and their straying from the path of Deen and the sunnah that will cause the greatest discomfort to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). If we have true love for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), we should bring complete Deen into our lives so that we cease bringing pain to his blessed heart.

 

2. A true Muslim is one who has concern for all his fellow Muslims. Hence, if we see any Muslim in need, we should hasten to assist them in whichever manner possible e.g. if there was a death in a certain home, we can assist them by sending food for them, as they may be too occupied to cook, etc.

 

3. The response of Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha), when she said, “Allah and his Rasul (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) know best”, was testament to her imaan and intelligence. She had total trust in Allah Ta‘ala and Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). We similarly need to trust in the teachings of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and firmly believe that our success, in this world and the next, lies solely in adhering to his blessed sunnah.

 

Source: Uswatulmuslimah.co.za

[Bint e Aisha]

YEARNING FOR BARAKAH

 

Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha) was fortunate to have none other than Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) frequently visit her home (as was mentioned and explained previously). She would utilize this unique opportunity to gain and secure as much blessing as she could from Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).

 

Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) mentions, “Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would enter the home of Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha) and would rest on her bed without her being in the bed. One day, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) came to her home and slept on her bed. When she was informed that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had come to her home and was sleeping on her bed, she came and saw that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had perspired. His blessed perspiration had gathered on a piece of leather on the bed (on which Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was sleeping). Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha) thus opened a small case (in which she stored her valuables, extracted a few glass bottles,) and began to dry the leather piece by squeezing the blessed perspiration of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) into her bottles. At that moment, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) awoke and asked her, “What are you doing? O Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha)!” Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha) replied, “O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! We want our children to benefit from its barakah (blessings).” Hearing this, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) responded, “You are correct (in doing this).” (Saheeh Muslim #6056) According to another narration, Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha) replied, “This is your blessed perspiration. We put it into our perfume, as your blessed perspiration is the most fragrant of all perfumes.” (Saheeh Muslim #6055)

 

When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) shaved his blessed head, in order to come out of the state of ihraam, then Abu Talhah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), the husband of Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha), took some of the blessed hair of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and gave it to Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha). She would then place this hair in her perfume. (Musnad Ahmad #12483)

 

On one occasion, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) entered the home of Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha) and found a water skin that was hanging. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then took the water skin and drank directly from the mouth of the water skin. After Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had drunk, Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha) cut off the mouth of the water skin (as the blessed mouth of Rasulullah [sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam] had touched it. Hence, she wished to preserve and safeguard it so that they would be able to derive barakah [blessings] from it). (Shamaa-il Tirmizi #21

 

LESSON:

 

Every Ummati of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) yearns for the opportunity to derive blessing from the blessed hair or any other blessed item that enjoyed a proximity or link with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). However, it is obvious that very few people are afforded this opportunity as Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is not in our midst. Hence, when we do not have these blessed items with us, then we should hold fast to that which we do have with us – the blessed sunnah and teachings of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).

 

Just as our love for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) makes us yearn to visit Madeenah Munawwarah so that we may present our unworthy salaam at the Rawdhah Mubaarak, that very same love should drive us to revive every single sunnah in our lives, as it is this that will please Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and become a source of immense barakah.

 

http://uswatulmuslimah.co.za/articles/pious-women/1634-yearning-for-barakah.html

Edited May 9, 2017 by Bint e Aisha