Even before Islam was
introduced to Yathrib, Rumaysa was known
for her excellent character, the power
of her intellect and her independent
attitude of mind. She was known by
various names including Rumaysa and
Ghumaysa, but these were possibly
nicknames. One historian says that her
real name was Sahlah but later she was
popularly known as Umm Sulaym.
Umm Sulaym was first
married to Malik ibn an-Nadr and her son
by this marriage was the famous Anas ibn
Malik, one of the great companions of
the Prophet.
Umm Sulaym was one of
the first women of Yathrib to accept
Islam. She was influenced by the
refined, dedicated and persuasive Musab
ibn Umayr who was sent out as the first
missionary or ambassador of Islam by the
noble Prophet. This was after the first
pledge of Aqabah. Twelve men of Yathrib
had gone to Aqabah on the outskirts of
Makkah to pledge loyalty to the Prophet.
This was the first major break through
for the mission of the Prophet for many
years.
Umm Sulaym's decision
to accept Islam was made without the
knowledge or consent of her husband,
Malik ibn an-Nadr. He was absent from
Yathrib at the time and when he returned
he felt some change had come over his
household and asked his wife: "Have
you been rejuvenated?"
"No," she said, "but I
(now) believe in this man (meaning the
Prophet Muhammad)."
Malik was not pleased
especially when his wife went on to
announce her acceptance of Islam in
public and instruct her son Anas in the
teachings and practice of the new faith.
She taught him to say la ilaha ilia
Allah and Ash hadu anna Muhammada-r
Rasulullah. The young Anas repeated this
simple but profound declaration of faith
clearly and emphatically.
Umm Sulaym's husband
was now furious. He shouted at her:
"Don't corrupt my son."
"I am not corrupting him ,"
she replied firmly.
Her husband then left
the house and it is reported that he was
set upon by an enemy of his and was
killed. The news shocked but apparently
did not upset Umm Sulaym greatly. She
remained devoted to her son Anas and was
concerned about his. proper upbringing.
She is even reported to have said that
she would not marry again unless Anas
approved.
When it was known that
Umm Sulaym had become a widow, one man,
Zayd ibn Sahl, known as Abu Talhah,
resolved to become engaged to her before
anyone else did.
He was rather
confident that Umm Sulaym would not pass
him over for another. He was after all a
strong and virile person who was quite
rich and who possessed an imposing house
that was much admired. He was an
accomplished horseman and a skilful
archer and, moreover, he belonged to the
same clan as Umm Sulaym, the Banu Najjar.
Abu Talhah proceeded
to Umm Sulaym's house. On the way he
recalled that she had been influenced by
the preaching of Musab ibn Umayr and had
become a Muslim.
"So what?"
he said to himself. "Was not her
husband who died a firm adherent of the
old religion and was he not opposed to
Muhammad and his mission?"
Abu Talhah reached Umm
Sulaym's house. He asked and was given
permission to enter. Her son Anas was
present. Abu Talhah explained why he had
come and asked for her hand in marriage.
"A man like you,
Abu Talhah ," she said, "is
not (easily) turned away. But I shall
never marry you while you are a kafir,
an unbeliever."
Abu Talhah thought she
was trying to put him off and that
perhaps she had already preferred
someone wealthier and more influential.
He said to her:
"What is it that
really prevents you from accepting me,
Umm Sulaym? Is it the yellow and the
white metals (gold and silver)?"
"Gold and
silver?" she asked somewhat taken
aback and in a slightly censuring tone.
"Yes," he said. "I swear
to you, Abu Talhah, and I swear to God
and His Messenger that if you accept
Islam, I shall be pleased to accept you
as a husband, without any gold or
silver. I shall consider your acceptance
of Islam as my mahr."
Abu Talhah understood
well the implications of her words. His
mind turned to the idol he had made from
wood and on which he lavished great
attention in the same way that important
men of his tribe venerated and cared for
their personal idols.
The opportunity was
right for Umm Sulaym to stress the
futility of such idol worship and she
went on: "Don't you know Abu Talhah,
that the god you worship besides Allah
grew from the earth?" "That's
true," he said.
"Don't you feel
stupid while worshipping part of a tree
while you use the rest of it for fuel to
bake bread or warm yourself? (If you
should give up these foolish beliefs and
practices) and become a Muslim, Abu
Talhah, I shall be pleased to accept you
as a husband and I would not want from
you any sadaqah apart from your
acceptance of Islam."
"Who shall
instruct me in Islam?" asked Abu
Talhah. "I shall," Umm Sulaym
replied. "How?"
"Utter the
declaration of truth and testify that
there is no god but Allah and that
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Then
go to your house, destroy your idol and
throw it away."
Abu Talhah left and
reflected deeply on what Umm Sulaym had
said. He came back to her beaming with
happiness.
"I have taken
your advice to heart. I declare that
there is no god but Allah and I declare
that Muhammad is the Messenger of
Allah."
Umm Sulaym and Abu
Talhah were married. Anas, her son, was
pleased and the Muslims would say:
"We have never yet heard of a mahr
that was more valuable and precious than
that of Umm Sulaym for she made Islam
her mahr."
Umm Sulaym was pleased
and delighted with her new husband who
placed his unique energies and talents
in the service of Islam. He was one of
the seventy three men who swore
allegiance to the Prophet at the second
Pledge of Aqabah. With him, according to
one report, was his wife Umm Sulaym. Two
other women, the celebrated Nusaybah
bint Kab and Asma bint Amr witnessed
Aqabah and took the oath of allegiance
to the Prophet.
Abu Talhah was devoted
to the Prophet and took enormous delight
in simply looking at him and listening
to the sweetness of his speech. He
participated in all the major military
campaigns. He lived a very ascetic life
and was known to fast for long periods
at a time. It is said that he had a
fantastic orchard in Madinah with date
palms and grapes and running water. One
day while he was performing Salat in the
shade of the trees, a beautiful bird
with brightly colored plumage flew in
front of him. He became engrossed in the
scene and forgot how many rakats he had
prayed. Two? Three? When he completed
the Prayer he went to the Prophet and
described how he had been distracted. In
the end, he said: "Bear witness,
Messenger of Allah, that I hand over
this orchard as a charity for the sake
of Allah, the Exalted."
Abu Talhah and Umm
Sulaym had an exemplary Muslim family
life, devoted to the Prophet and the
service of Muslims and Islam. The
Prophet used to visit their home.
Sometimes when the time of Prayer came,
he would pray on a mat provided by Umm
Sulaym. Sometimes also he would have a
siesta in their house and, as he slept,
she would wipe the perspiration from his
forehead. Once when the Prophet awoke
from his siesta, he asked: "Umm
Sulaym, what are you doing?"
"I am taking these (drops of
perspiration) as a barakah (blessing)
which comes from you ," she
replied.
At another time, the
Prophet went to their house and Umm
Sulaym offered him dates and butterfat
but he did not have any of it because he
was fasting. Occasionally, she would
send her son Anas with bags of dates to
his house.
It was noticed that
the Prophet, peace be on him, had a
special compassion for Umm Sulaym and
her family and when asked about it, he
replied: "Her brother was killed
beside me."
Umm Sulaym also had a
well-known sister, Umm Haram, the wife
of the imposing Ubadah ibn as-Samit. She
died at sea during a naval expedition
and was buried in Cyprus. Umm Sulaym's
husband, Abu Talhah, also died while he
was on a naval expedition during the
time of the third Caliph, Uthman, and
was buried at sea.
Umm Sulaym herself was
noted for her great courage and bravery.
During the Battle of Uhud, she carried a
dagger in the folds of her dress. She
gave water to and tended the wounded and
she made attempts to defend the Prophet
when the tide of battle was turning
against him. At the Battle of Khandaq,
the Prophet saw her carrying a dagger
and he asked her what she was doing with
it. She said: "It is to fight those
who desert."
"May God grant
you satisfaction in that," replied
the Prophet. In the face of adversity,
Umm Sulaym displayed a unique calmness
and strength. One of her young sons (Umayr)
fell sick and died while her husband was
away looking after his orchards. She
bathed the child and wrapped him in
shrouds. She told others at her home
that they should not inform Abu Talhah
because she herself wanted to tell him.
Umm Sulaym had another
son whose name was Abdullah. A few days
after she gave birth, she sent Anas with
the baby and a bag of dates to the
Prophet. The Prophet placed the baby on
his lap. He crushed the dates in his
mouth and put some in the baby's mouth.
The baby sucked the dates with relish
and the Prophet said: "The Ansar
are only fond of dates."
Abdullah eventually
grew up and had seven children all of
whom memorized the Quran.
Umm Sulaym was a model
Muslim, a model wife and mother. Her
belief in God was strong and
uncompromising. She was not prepared to
endanger her faith and the upbringing of
her children for wealth and luxury,
however abundant and tempting.
She was devoted to the
Prophet and dedicated her son Anas to
his service. She took the responsibility
of educating her children and she played
an active part in public life, sharing
with the other Muslims the hardships and
the joys of building a community and
living for the pleasure of God.
Sheikh Abdulfattah Abu-Abdullah Adelabu (Ph. D. Damas),
a West African Islamic Academic founded AWQAF Africa, of
which he's the first al Amir (i.e. President).
Sheikh Dr. Adelabu was studying Postgraduate Degrees in
Damascus early 1990's during when Syria reviewed its
national security after an �Oslo Accord'...
Syria like many other countries around the world
witnessed, during this period, the flood of refugees
from war troubled nations like Somalia, arrival of
people from Algeria during the brutal struggling between
the Mujahidun and the government, resettlement of the
Palestinians fleeing from sophisticated guns of the
Israelis as well as adventure of African migrants for
reasons uncountable�
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