An Afterthought for My Sisters

One day, the birds were gathering, celebrating the day of the role of women. The Dove was asked to say a few words. And after saying the salaam and the opening kalimah, she recalled,

"Welcome, O devout, Allah-fearing woman who prays and fasts.

Welcome, O wise, dignified woman who observes hijab.

Welcome, O aware, well-read and educated woman.

Welcome, O charitable, sincere, trustworthy and loyal woman.

Welcome, O patient woman who seeks reward from Allah, repenting and turning to Him.

Welcome, O woman who remembers Allah and gives thanks to Him, and calls upon Him.

Welcome, O woman who follows the footsteps of Asiyah, Maryam and Khadijah.

Welcome, O mother of heroes and producer of men.

Welcome, O cherisher and guardian of values.

Welcome, O woman who heeds the sacred limits of Allah and keeps away from forbidden things.

To every Muslim woman who is content with Allah as her Rabb, Islam as her religion and our beloved, Muhammad (ﷺ) as her Prophet.

To every girl who follows the path of truth, who carnes the message of sincerity.

To every teacher who strives by means of her words to convey knowledge and values, and has purified her soul.

To every mother who brings her children up to fear Allah and to follow the Sunnah, and makes virtue dear to them.

To every woman who is burdened with worries and sadness.

Say "No!" to,

Wasting time in trivial pursuits, and love of revenge and futile arguments.

Giving priority to money and accumulation of wealth over one's health, happiness, sleep and peace of mind.

Seeking out other people's faults and backbiting about them, whilst forgetting one's own faults.

Indulging in physical pleasure and giving in to every whim

and desire.

Wasting time with shallow people and spending hours in idle pursuits.

Neglecting physical hygiene and cleanliness in the house, and being disorganized at home.

Haraam drinks, cigarettes, narghile, and all foul things.

Thinking of past calamities and dwelling on past mistakes.

Forgetting the Hereafter and neglecting to strive for it, and to being careless of what will happen in the Hereafter.

Wasting money on Haraam things, being extravagant with regard to permissible things, and falling short in acts of worship.

Say "Yes!" to,

Your beautiful smile that sends a message of warmth and friendliness to others.

Your kind words that establish friendship as permitted in Islam and dispel rancour.

Acceptable charity that brings happiness to the poor and feeds the hungry.

Sitting with the Qur'an, reciting it, pondering its meanings and acting upon them, and repenting and seeking forgiveness.

Remembering Allah a great deal and praying for forgiveness, persisting in du 'a' and offering sincere repentance.

Raising your children in Islam, teaching them the Sunnah and guiding them to that which will benefit them.

Modesty and hijab as enjoined by Allah, which is the means of self-protection.

The friendship of good women who fear Allah, love Islam and respect high values.

Honouring one's parents, upholding the ties of kinship, honouring one's neighbours and caring for orphans.

Reading useful, interesting and beneficial books.

O my sisters! Be optimistic, even if you are in the eye of the storm. Take a look at this qisa,

When news of the attackers army that had prepared on the horizons to wipe out Islam reached him, Abu Qudaamah Ash-Shaamee, moved quickly to the Mimbar of the Masjid. In a powerful and emotional speech, Abu Qudaamah ignited the desire of the community to defend their land, Jihad for the sake of Allah. As he left the Masjid, walking down a dark and secluded alley, a women stopped him and said, "Assalamu 'alaykum wa Rahmatullaah!" Abu Qudaamah stopped and did not answer. She repeated her salam again, adding "... this is not how pious people should act." She stepped forward from the shadows. "I heard you in the Masjid encouraging the believers to go for Jihad and all I have is this…" She handed him two long braids. "It can be used for a horse rein. Perhaps Allah may write me as one of those who went for Jihaad."

The next day as that Muslim village set out to confront the crusader army, a young boy ran through the gathering and stood at the hooves of Abu Qudaamah's horse. "I ask you by Allah to allow me to join the army." Some of the elder fighters laughed at the boy. "The horses will trample you," they said. But Abu Qudaamah looked down into his eyes as he asked again, "I ask you by Allah, let me join." Abu Qudaamah then said, "On one condition, if you are killed you will take me with you to Jannah amongst those you will be allowed to intercede for." That young boy smiled. "It's a promise!"

When the two armies met and the fighting intensified, the young boy on the back of Abu Qudaamah's horse asked, "I ask you by Allah to give me three arrows." "You'll lose them!" The boy repeated, "I ask you by Allah to give me them." Abu Qudaamah gave him the arrows and the boy took aim. "Bismillaah!" The arrow flew and killed an attacker. "Bismillaah!" The second arrow flew, killing a second attacker. "Bismillaah!" The third arrow flew, killing a third attacker. An arrow then struck the boy in the chest—knocking him off the horse. Abu Qudaamah jumped down to his side, reminding the boy in his final breaths, "Don't forget the promise!" The boy reached into his pocket, extracted a pouch and said, "Please return this to my mother." "Who's your mother?" asked Abu Qudaamah. "The women that gave you the braids yesterday...!"

O my sisters! Soon, the flowers will bloom, grief will depart and happiness will prevail. Verily with every difficulty, there is ease; after night comes the day. The clouds of worry will be blown away, the darkness of distress will be dispelled, and calamities will come to an end, by Allah's leave. Remember that you will be rewarded, and if you are a mother, your children will be a great support and help for Islam, if you bring them up properly. They will make du 'ii ' for you when they prostrate and at the end of the night, just before dawn. It is a great blessing if you are a compassionate and kind mother. It is sufficient honour and pride for you to remember that the mother of our beloved (ﷺ), gave ​mankind a great leader, the noble Messenger.

O my sisters! Remember,

That your Rabb forgives those who ask Him for forgiveness, and He accepts the repentance of those who repent, and He accepts those who come back to Him.

Show mercy to the weak and you will be happy; give to the needy and you will be well; do not bear grudges and you will be healthy.

Be optimistic, for Allah is with you, and the angels are praying for forgiveness for you, and Paradise awaits you.

Wipe away your tears, think well of your Lord, and chase away your worries by remembering the blessings that Allah has bestowed upon you.

Do not think that this world is ever perfect for anyone. There is no one on the face ofthe earth who gets all that he wants or is free from all kinds of distress.

Be like a tall tree with high aims; if a stone is thrown at it, it simply lets its fruits drop.

Have you ever heard that grief brings back what has been lost, or that worry corrects mistakes? So why grieve and worry then?

Do not expect trials and calamities, rather expect peace, safety and good health, if Allah wills.

Extinguish the flames of hatred from your heart by forgiving everyone who has ever hurt you. Ghusl, wudhu', siwak and being organized are effective medicines for all kinds of distress and worry.

O my sisters! You have the potential to be da'iyah, a woman calling to Islam, calling other women to the path of Allah with kind words, good exhortation and wisdom, arguing in a manner that is better, debating and guiding others by means ofyour good behaviour and setting an example. A woman may achieve, by means of her conduct and righteous deeds, things that cannot be achieved by means of khutbahs, lectures and lessons. How often has a woman gone to live in a neighbourhood, and people started to talk about her religious commitment, modesty, Islamic dress and good attitude, her kindness to her neighbours and her obedience to her husband, so she became a good example to others, that was spoken of by all.

O my sisters! Everything that happens to you for the sake of Allah, is an expiation for you, if Allah, the Exalted, wills. Hear the glad tidings from our beloved (ﷺ),

لْمَرْأَةُ إِذَا صَلَّتْ خَمْسَهَا وَصَامَتْ شَهْرَهَا وَأَحْصَنَتْ فَرْجَهَا وَأَطَاعَتْ بَعْلَهَا فَلْتَدْخُلْ مِنْ أَيِّ أَبْوَابِ الْجَنَّةِ شَاءَتْ

"When a woman observes the five times of prayer, fasts during Ramadan, preserves her chastity and obeys her husband, she may enter by any of the gates of paradise she wishes." [Abu Nu'aim transmitted it in al-Hilya; Sahih by Al-Albani]

These are easy matters for the one for whom Allah makes them easy. So, by doing these great deeds you will meet a merciful Rabb Who will give you happiness in this world and in the Hereafter. Follow His laws no matter where that leads you, and adhere to the the Qur'an and the Sunnah, for you are a Muslim woman, and this is a great honour and source of pride.

Allah chose you to be a Muslim woman, and He made you one of the followers of our beloved (ﷺ), following in the footsteps of A'ishah, Khadijah and Fatimah, radhiyallahu 'anhum.

Congratulations, for you offer the five daily prayers, you fast Ramadan, you go on pilgrimage to the House, you observe Islamic hijab. Congratulations, for you are pleased with Allah as your Rabb, Islam as your religion, and our beloved, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) as your Prophet.

O my systers! Your gold is your religion, your adornment is your moral attitude, and your wealth is your good manners.

Be like the bee, which lands on fragrant flowers and fresh branches.

You do not have time to seek out people's defects and mistakes.

If Allah is with you, then whom do you have to fear? If Allah is against you, then what hope do you have?

The fire of envy consumes the body, and excessive jealousy is like a raging fire.

If you do not prepare today, then you will not be able to do anything tomorrow.

Withdraw peacefully from places where idle arguments are going on.

Let your morals and attitudes be even more beautiful than a garden.

Do acts of kindness and you will be the happiest of people.

Leave people to their Creator, leave the envier to death, and forget about your enemy.

The pleasure of haram actions is followed by regret, loss and punishment.

Take ponder over it!

And Allah knows best."

Reference:
- Dr. 'Aid al-Qarni, You Can Be The Happiest Woman in the World, IIPH

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