Heroes and Heroines of Islam: Part 4 by Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf
We regularly hear of the great heroes and heroines of Islam. However, we know little about what made these men and women so beloved to Allah and their people. In these series of talks, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf speaks about these famous men and women.
In the fourth segment of this series, Habib Kadhim continues to speak about the great women of Islam.
Umm Salama
Umm Salama, the wife of the Prophet, was an extremely wise woman. The Prophet would seek her advice, such as the time when the Companions were heading to Mecca to make Umra. When the Meccans prevented them, the Prophet commanded his Companions to shave their heads and sacrifice their animals, to release themselves from the state pf ihram.
However, they were in a state of shock, because they though that the promise of them entering Mecca was specific to that year. When they did not begin to release themselves from Ihram, the Prophet came to Umm Salama to seek her advice. Rather than jumping to conclusions and blaming anyone, she immediately realized that they were still in shock, and she suggested to the Prophet that he begin the sacrifices himself. Once he did, the Companions immediately jumped to follow him.
This story teaches us an important lesson. When analyzing historical events, we should take care to see them from an illuminated perspective, rather than an egotistical perspective. An egotistical perspective will inherently be biased and flawed, and using it can lead to misjudging the people in question.
We live in a time where everyone wants others to follow their opinions. When calling to Allah, we should avoid trying to convince people to follow our particular sect, perspective, or school of thought. Rather, we should help the person to find their way to Allah, and not harm to speak ill of, or condemn, anyone.
