Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Asma's interview with Rasulullah regarding the Reward for Women

Asma (Radhiallaho anha) bint Yazid Ansari came to the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) and said:

"O, Prophet of Allah! You are dearer to me than my parents. The Muslim women have deputed me as their representative to talk to you on their behalf. Verily you are the Prophet of Allah for both men and women. We stay for most part of our time within the four walls of our houses. We remain pinned to our duties of fulfilling the sexual desires of men, bearing children for them and looking after their homes. Notwithstanding all this, men excel us in getting rewards for things which we are unable to do. They go and say their daily Salaat and weekly Jum'ah in the Masjid, visit the sick, attend the funerals, perform Hajj after Hajj and, above all, fight in the way of Allah. When they go for Hajj or Jehad, we look after their property, bring up their children and weave cloth for them. Do not we share their rewards with them?"

Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam), addressing the Sahabah sitting around him said: "Did you ever hear a woman asking a better questions?"

Sahabah replied: "O, Prophet of Allah! We never thought that a woman could ever put such a question."

Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) addressing Asma said:

"Listen attentively, and then go and tell the ladies who have sent you that when a woman seeks the pleasure of her husband and carries out her domestic functions to his satisfaction, she gets the same reward as the men get for all their services to Allah."

Asma' (Radhiallaho anha) returned very happily after getting this reply to her question.

Obedience to and good behaviour towards husbands is a very great asset for the women, provided they know its value.

Sahabah once said to Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam):
"In foreign countries, people prostrate before their kings and chiefs. You deserve such
reverence much more."

He said, "No. If it were permissible to prostrate before anybody besides Allah, I would have asked the women to prostrate before their husbands."

He then said,

"By Him Who has my life in His hand, a woman cannot do what she owes to Allah until she has done what she owes to her husband."

It is reported in a Hadith that once a camel bowed in prostration before Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam). The Sahabah on seeing this, said:

"When this animal prostrates before you, why should we not have this honour too?"

He replied:

"Never. If i could make somebody prostrate before anybody besides Allah, I would ask the wives to prostrate before their husbands."

The following is reported to have been said by the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) in this connection:
  1. "A woman whose husband is pleased with her at the time of her death goes straight into Paradise."
  2. "A woman is cursed by the angels if her husband is displeased with her, and she stays away from him in anger for the night."
  3. "The Salaat of two persons hardly rises beyond their heads in its flight to heaven. These two persons are, 'A run-away slave' and 'a disobedient wife' ."

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