The Historical Background of the Women Involved in the Advent | |||||
In the hadi-ths Mufad.d.al ibn ‘Umar has clearly mentioned the number of women who will accompany Hadrat al-Qa-’im (‘a) at thirteen but among this number only nine have been introduced by name and description. Ima-m as.-S.a-diq’s (‘a) emphasis on the names was meant for us to study their biographies and salient features, and after research we obtained some points that give a convincing indication to a possible reason behind Ima-m as.-S.a-diq’s (‘a) emphasis on mentioning their names. Each of these individuals has her own special features, but all of them have shown their own merits in the struggle against the enemies of God. Some, such as Siya-nah, the mother of martyrs, have also attained martyrdom in a heartrending manner. Others such as Sumayyah had endured the most difficult tortures in the path of defending their Islamic convictions, and remained steadfast till the last breaths in defending their faith. Another group such as Umm Kha-lid had deprived themselves of the favor of having healthy physical bodies and became disabled for the sake of preserving Islam. Another group such as Zubaydah had never exchanged Islam for the glitters of the world and material fortune. On the contrary, they utilized those facilities in the way of faith and helped patronize the Hajj, which is one of the important manifestations of Islam and pillars of the religion. Yet another group had the honor of being wet nurses of the leaders of the Islamic ummah and rearing outstanding children while they themselves possessed lofty spiritual stations proverbial to all and sundry. Some of them had been from the family of martyrs and they themselves had carried their half-dead bodies and talked with them. Yes, they have blazing hearts, who by demonstrating those acts of bravery, have proved that they could take part in shouldering the heavy burden of the global Islamic government. Now, we will embark on introducing a number of them: 1. S.iya-nah It is stated in the book, Kha-s.a-’is. Fa-t.imiyyah: “In the government of al-Mahdi- (‘atfs) thirteen women will be revived and return to the world to treat the wounded. One of them is S.iya-nah who had been the wife of Hizqayl (Ezekiel) and hairdresser of the daughter of Pharaoh. Her husband, Hizqayl (Ezekiel), was the cousin and treasurer of Pharaoh. It has been said that Hizqayl is a believer from the family of Pharaoh and believed in Mu-sa- (Moses), the prophet of his time.[28] The Prophet (s.) said: “During the night of ascension [mi‘ra-j] on the way between Makkah al-Mu‘az.z.amah (Holy Mecca) and Masjid al-Aqsa- (in Jerusalem) I suddenly smelled something pleasant, which I had never smelled before. I asked Jibra-’i-l (Archangel Gabriel): “What is this pleasant smell?” He answered: “O Messenger of Allah (s.)! It is that of the wife of Hizqayl; she believed in Hadrat Mu-sa- ibn ‘Imra-n (Prophet Moses, the son of Amran) and used to hide her faith. She used to work as a hairdresser in the harem of Pharaoh. One day, she was busy dressing the hair of Pharaoh’s daughter when the comb suddenly fell from her hand and she inadvertently said, “Bismilla-h” [in the name of Allah]. Pharaoh’s daughter asked her: “Do you worship my father?” She answered: “No, but I do worship the One Who has created your father and will take him away. Pharaoh’s daughter hurriedly went to her father and said: “The woman who dresses hair in our palace has faith in Mu-sa- (Moses). The Pharaoh summoned and asked her: “Do you not recognize my divinity?” S.iya-nah answered: “I will never turn away from the Real Lord and I will never worship you.” The Pharaoh ordered a cupreous furnace be set ablaze and as the furnace became red-hot, he ordered all her children thrown into the fire in her presence. At the moment when they wanted to take her sucking baby in her arms and throw him into the fire, S.iya-nah was moved and became inclined to disavow her religion when suddenly, by the decree of God, the child spoke and said to its mother: “O mother! Be patient for you are on the right path.” The soldiers of Pharaoh threw S.iya-nah and her sucking child into the fire and burned them alive. Their ashes were poured into this very ground and until the Day of Resurrection this ground will have this pleasant scent…”[29] She is among the women who will be revived and returned to the world and render service under the command of Hadrat al-Mahdi- (‘atfs). 2. Umm Ayman Her name is Burkah. She was a bondwoman of the Prophet (s.) who took her as an inheritance from his honorable father, ‘Abdulla-h ibn ‘Abdil-Mut.allib, and she took the responsibility of attending to the Messenger of Allah (s.).[30] The Prophet (s.) used to address her as mother and say: “She is among the surviving members of my family.” She had a son from her first husband, ‘Ubayd Khazarji-, whose name was Ayman. Ayman was among the migrants [muha-jiri-n] (from Mecca to Medina) and the strugglers [muja-hidi-n], and he attained martyrdom in the Battle of Hunayn. Umm Ayman is the person who, when intense thirst overpowered her on the way to Medina from Mecca (during the migration) and was about to die, a bucket of water was sent down to her from heaven. When she drank from it, she never became thirsty again.[31] She cried profusely during the death of the Prophet (s.). When they asked her for the reason behind her profuse crying, she said in reply: “By God! I knew that he (s.) will pass away, but I’m weeping because of the termination of revelation.”[32] In relation to the issue of Fadak, Fa-t?imah az-Zahra- (‘a) introduced her as a witness and testifier, and she finally passed away during the Caliphate of ‘Uthma-n ibn ‘Affa-n. 3. Zubaydah She is the wife of Ha-ru-n ar-Rashi-d[33] and had been one of the Shi-‘ah. When Ha-ru-n was informed of her faith, he swore to divorce her. She was famous for doing good deeds. At the time when a goatskin of water cost one gold di-na-r in Mecca, she gratuitously gave water to the pilgrims and perhaps to the people of Mecca as well. By constructing tunnels across the mountains, she brought water to Masjid al-Hara-m from a place 10 miles away. Zubaydah had a hundred bondswomen all of whom were memorizers [h.uffa-z.] of the Qur’an. Each of them was obliged to read one-tenth of the Qur’an so much so that from her place of residence the loud voice of Qur’an recital, like the buzz of bees, could be heard.[34] 4. Sumayyah the Mother of ‘Amma-r ibn Ya-sir She was the seventh person to embrace Islam and on account of this, she was subjected to the most horrible tortures. When the Prophet (s.) saw ‘Amma-r and his parents on the hot ground being tortured in the scorching heat of Mecca, he said to them: “O family of Ya-sir! Be patient; you have to know that your meeting place is heaven.” Finally, Sumayyah attained martyrdom from the spear of the bloodthirsty chief, Abu- Jahl, and she became the first woman martyr in Islam.[35] 5. Umm Khalid When the governor of Iraq, Yu-suf ibn ‘Umar, martyred Zayd ibn ‘Ali- in the city of Ku-fah, he also cut off the hand of Umm Kha-lid for the “crime” of being a Shi-‘ah and supporting Zayd’s uprising. Abu- Bas.i-r said: “We were in the company of Ima-m as.-S.a-diq (‘a) when Umm Kha-lid came with her amputated hand. He (‘a) said: ‘O Abu- Bas.i-r! Do you want to listen to the speech of Umm Kha-lid?’ He answered: ‘Yes, I would be pleased to listen to her.’ Umm Kha-lid went up to the Ima-m (‘a) and started delivering a speech. I knew her for having perfect eloquence and fluency. He also spoke to her about the issue of wila-yah and the disavowal of enemies…”[36] 6. Haba-bah Wa-libiyyah Shaykh at.-T.u-si- regarded her as among the companions of Ima-m al-Hasan (‘a) while Ibn Da-wu-d considered her as among the companions of Ima-m al-Hasan, Ima-m al-Husayn, Ima-m as-Sajja-d, and Ima-m al-Ba-qir (‘a). Others have regarded her as among the companions of the first eight Ima-ms, i.e. up to Ima-m ar-Rida- (‘a). It has also been said that Ima-m ar-Rida- (‘a) buried her in his own personal shirt. She was more than 240 years old at the time of death. She returned to her youth twice. The first time was through the miracle [mu‘jizah] of Ima-m as-Sajja-d (‘a) and the second time was through the miracle of the eighth Ima-m (‘a). It was she on whose stone the first eight Infallible Ima-ms inscribed their seal one after the other.[37] Haba-bah Wa-libiyyah said: “…I said to the Commander of the Faithful (‘a): ‘May God shower His mercy on you! What is the proof of your Imamate [ima-mah]?’ He (‘a) said in reply: ‘Bring that small stone to me.’ I brought it to him (‘a). ‘Ali- (‘a) sealed it with his ring such that the seal was inscribed on the small stone, and then he said to me: ‘O Haba-bah! Anyone who claims the Imamate and has succeeded in inscribing his seal on this stone the way I did is an Ima-m, obedience to whom is obligatory. The Ima-m is he who knows whatever he wishes.’ I continued my usual occupation till the Commander of the Faithful (‘a) departed from this world. Then, I went to see Ima-m al-Hasan (‘a) who succeeded ‘Ali- (‘a) when the people were asking him questions. When he (‘a) saw me, he said: ‘O Habba-bah Wa-libiyyah!’ I said: ‘Yes, O my leader!’ He (‘a) said: ‘Take out that thing with you.’ I brought it out and gave the small stone to him (‘a). He, like ‘Ali- (‘a), inscribed a seal with his ring on the spot where the previous inscribed seal was. After some time, I went to Ima-m al-Husayn (‘a) who was then in the Mosque of the Messenger of Allah (s.). He (‘a) asked to me to come to him. He welcomed me and said: ‘The proof for the thing you want exists. Do you want to see the sign of Imamate?’ I replied: ‘Yes, O my chief!’ He (‘a) said: ‘Take out that thing with you.’ I gave the small stone to him. He (‘a) stroke his ring against it and his seal was inscribed therein. After Ima-m al-Husayn (‘a), I went to Ima-m as-Sajja-d (‘a) and I had become so old by then that I was trembling all over; I was one hundred and thirteen years old. He (‘a) was then in the state of bowing [ruku-‘] and prostration [suju-d], and did not pay attention to me. I lost hope in obtaining the proof of his Imamate. He (‘a) pointed to me with his forefinger and through this I became young again. I said: ‘O my chief! To what extent has passed from the world and to what extent remains?’ He replied: ‘As to what has passed, yes, but as to what has remained, no; that is, we have knowledge of the past but the future is part of the unseen [ghaybah] which is known to no one except God, and it is not expedient for us to say anything about it.’ Then he (‘a) said to me: ‘Take out that thing you have. ’ I gave the stone to him (‘a) and he put his seal on it. As time passed by, I went to Ima-m al-Ba-qir (‘a) and he also put a seal on that stone. After him I went to Ima-m as.-S.a-diq (‘a) and he also inscribed a seal. After the passage of many years, I went to Ima-m al-Ka-z.im (‘a) and he also inscribed his seal on it. After him I went to visit Ima-m ar-Rida- (‘a) and he also inscribed his seal on it.” Thereafter, Haba-bah remained alive for nine months.[38] 7. Qanwa-’ the Daughter of Rashi-d Hijri Although nothing has been mentioned in both Sunni- and Shi-‘ah books concerning the personality of this lady, the events related to the manner of the captivity and martyrdom of her esteemed father at the hands of Ibn Ziya-d, which she narrated, clearly shows the degree of her firmness and steadfastness in faith, her attachment to Islam and Shi‘ism, and her love for the Commander of the Faithful (‘a). Abu- Hayya-n Bajali- said: “I asked Qanwa-’, the daughter of Rashi-d Hijri-: ‘What hadi-ths and narrations have you heard from your father?’ She said: ‘My father reported from the Commander of the Faithful (‘a) that he (‘a) said: ‘O Rashi-d! To what extent will be your patience when the adopted son of the Bani- ‘Umayyah (Ibn Ziya-d) summons you and amputates your two hands, two feet and tongue?’ He asked: ‘Will my destination be heaven…?’ He (‘a) replied: ‘O Rashi-d! You will be in my company both in this world and in the hereafter.’” Qanwa-’ said: “By God! After a little while Ibn Ziya-d summoned my father and asked him to denounce ‘Ali- (‘a), but my father never did it. Ibn Ziya-d asked: ‘How has ‘Ali- described the manner in which you will be killed?’ My father answered: ‘My friend ‘Ali- has informed me that you will ask me to denounce him but I will refuse. Then you will amputate my two hands, two feet and tongue.’ Ibn Ziya-d said: ‘By God! I will do something with respect to you that is contrary to ‘Ali-’s prediction.’ Then he ordered that my father’s two hands and two feet be amputated but that his tongue be spared. I carried my father on my shoulder and along the way I asked him: ‘O father! Do you feel pain and agony?’ He said: ‘No. I am only annoyed at the amount of pressure that the crowd would exert on me.’ As I took my father and brought him to the palace of Ibn Ziya-d, the people gathered around him. My father took advantage of the opportunity and said: ‘Bring pen, ink and paper so that I could narrate events to you. When Ibn Ziya-d was informed of it, he ordered that his tongue be cut off and my father attained martyrdom that very night.”[39] The Role of Women during the Time of the Prophets (‘a) In view of the fact that the women in the government of Hadrat al-Mahdi- (‘atfs) will have the same role as that which they had had during the early period of Islam, we shall examine the role of women during that period. Although hadi-ths indicate that they will treat the wounded and attend to the sick just like the [female] companions of the Messenger of Allah (s.) did, perhaps this is just one example of the important services rendered by the women during that period. They might have performed other activities as well. They will perform the same roles during the period of Hadrat al-Mahdi- (‘atfs). Ima-m as.-S.a-diq (‘a) said: “During the time of Hadrat al-Qa-’im (‘a), the women will perform the same tasks they did during the time of the Prophet (s.).” Women during the wars of the Prophet (s.) also shouldered other responsibilities such as delivering food and water to the combatants, cooking, keeping the belongings of the combatants, procuring medicine, delivering weapons, repairing equipment, transporting the martyrs, participation in defensive wars, encouraging combatants to go to the warfront, encouraging them at the scene of combat, and so on. Ima-m as.-S.a-diq’s (‘a) comparison of the women in the period of al-Mahdi- (‘a) with the women in the period of the Prophet (s.) prompted us to mention some of their activities during the early period of Islam. Some of the women who played important roles in these activities are the following: 1. Umm ‘At.iyyah. She participated in eight wars with the Prophet (s.) [ghazwah]. Treating the wounded was among the services she rendered.[40] She said: “One of my duties was guarding the belongings of the soldiers.[41] 2. Umm ‘Amma-rah (Nasi-bah). Her acts of bravery in the Battle of Uh.ud were such that they were profoundly praised and appreciated by the Prophet.[42] 3. Umm Abi-h. She was one of the six women who made their way to the castle of Khaybar. The Prophet (s.) asked them: “By whose order did you come here?” Umm Ubayyah said: “Since we could notice the sign of anger on his countenance, I said: ‘We have come here with some medicine to treat the wounded,’ so, the Prophet (s.) agreed for us to stay. Our assignment in that war was treating the wounded and cooking food.” 4. Umm Ayman. She used to treat the wounded in the wars.[43] 5. Haminnah. She used to deliver water to the wounded and treat them. She lost her husband, brother and maternal uncle in the battlefield.[44] 6. Rabi-‘ah bint Ma‘u-dh. She used to treat the wounded.[45] She said: “We went to the battlefield with the Prophet (s.) and transported the martyrs to Medina.” 7. Umm Ziya-d. She was among the six women who went to the war region of Khaybar to treat the wounded.[46] 8. Umayyah bint al-Qays. She became Muslim after the migration [hijrah] to Medina. She said: “I went to see the Prophet (s.) along with a group of women from Bani- Ghaffa-r. I said: ‘We want to be with you in going to Khaybar to treat the wounded and assist the combatants.’ Showing his happiness, the Prophet (s.) said: ‘You move by the grace of God!’”[47] 9. Layla- al-Ghaffa-riyyah. She said: “I was a woman who used to go to the war along with the Prophet (s.) to treat the wounded.”[48] 10. Umm Sali-m. While pregnant, she delivered water to the combatants in the Battle of Uh.ud. She also participated in the Battle of Hunayn.[49] 11. Mu‘a-dhah al-Ghaffa-riyyah. She used to attend to the sick and treat the wounded.[50] 12. Umm Sina-n Aslamiyyah. When going to the Battle of Khaybar, she said to the Prophet: “I want to go with you and treat the wounded, attend to the sick, assist the combatants, safeguard their belongings, and deliver water to the thirsty in the battle field. The Prophet (s.) said: “You are permitted. Go with my wife, Umm Salamah.”[51] 13. Fa-t?imah az-Zahra- (‘a). Muhammad ibn Muslimah said: “In the Battle of Uh.ud the women were engaged in looking for water and they were fourteen in all. Fa-t?imah (‘a) was also one of them.”[52] The women used to carry the food and water on their shoulders, engage in the treatment of the wounded and give water to them.[53] 14. Umm Sulayt.. ‘Umar ibn al-Khat.t.a-b said: “During the Battle of Uh.ud, Umm Sulayt. used to carry goatskins of water for us and engage in repairing weapons and equipment.”[54] 15. Nasi-bah. She participated in the Battle of Uh.ud along with her husband and son. She used to carry goatskins of water and give water to the wounded. When the war became intense, she also participated in the battlefield and sustained twelve wounds by the sword.[55] 16. Ani-sah. In the Battle of Uh.ud she went to see the Prophet (s.) and said: “O Messenger of Allah! My son, ‘Abdulla-h ibn Salamah, was among the combatants in the Battle of Badr. Now, in the Battle of Uh.ud, he has been martyred. I want to bring him to Medina and bury him there so that his grave would be near (our house) and I would be near to him.” The Prophet (s.) gave her permission. Ani-sah transported the pure corpse of her martyred son by means of a camel along with the corpse of another martyr of Islam named Mujdar ibn Ziya-d, which was wrapped in a cloak, to Medina.[56] This was just a glimpse of the activities and roles of women in the battles of Islam under the command of the Messenger of Allah (s.). Perhaps, the cooperation of women in military and defense was meant to maximize all the combatant forces in the war and in confronting enemies. With the same objective in view, the women in the government of Hadrat al-Mahdi- (‘atfs) will also play the roles the women played during the time of the Prophet (s.). During that period or prior to that, women will have various roles to play; propaganda against the Dajja-l (the Anti-Christ) and warning the people against him will be among their roles and duties. Abu- Sa‘i-d al-Khudri- said: “Wherever the Dajja-l wants to go, a woman with the name of La’i-bah (T.ayyibah) will go there before him and say: “The Dajja-l will come to you; keep away from him and beware of the consequences of his work!”[57] |