Common Merits of the Ummahat al Mu’minin

Purification of the Ahlul Bayt from impurity: shirk, Shaitan, immoral actions, and wicked character. The Mothers of the Believers are from the Ahlul Bayt. Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala declares:

يَا نِسَاءَ النَّبِيِّ لَسْتُنَّ كَأَحَدٍ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ ۚ إِنِ اتَّقَيْتُنَّ فَلَا تَخْضَعْنَ بِالْقَوْلِ فَيَطْمَعَ الَّذِي فِي قَلْبِهِ مَرَضٌ وَقُلْنَ قَوْلًا مَعْرُوفًاوَقَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ الْأُولَىٰ ۖ وَأَقِمْنَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتِينَ الزَّكَاةَ وَأَطِعْنَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا وَاذْكُرْنَ مَا يُتْلَىٰ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَالْحِكْمَةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ لَطِيفًا خَبِيرًا

O wives of the Prophet, you are not like anyone among women. If you fear Allah, then do not be soft in speech [to men] lest he in whose heart is disease should covet, but speak with appropriate speech. And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance. And establish Salah and give Zakat and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah intends only to remove from you the impurity [of sin], O people of the [Prophet’s] household, and to purify you with [extensive] purification. And remember what is recited in your houses of the verses of Allah and wisdom. Indeed, Allah is ever Subtle and Acquainted [with all things].^[1]

The context of the verses makes it absolutely clear that the Verse of Purification encompasses the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam wives.

Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala elevated them to the pedestal of Mothers of the Believers, making them mothers in esteem, veneration, and reverence:

النَّبِيُّ أَوْلَىٰ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ ۖ وَأَزْوَاجُهُ أُمَّهَاتُهُمْ ۗ

The Prophet is more worthy of the believers than themselves, and his wives are [in the position of] their mothers.^[2]

Their selection of Allah, His Messenger, and the Abode of the Hereafter over the worldly life and its adornments. Their recompense is a great reward prepared by Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala for them.

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لِأَزْوَاجِكَ إِنْ كُنْتُنَّ تُرِدْنَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتَهَا فَتَعَالَيْنَ أُمَتِّعْكُنَّ وَأُسَرِّحْكُنَّ سَرَاحًا جَمِيلًا وَإِنْ كُنْتُنَّ تُرِدْنَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَالدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ أَعَدَّ لِلْمُحْسِنَاتِ مِنْكُنَّ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا

O Prophet, say to your wives, “If you should desire the worldly life and its adornment, then come, I will provide for you and give you a gracious release. But if you should desire Allah and His Messenger and the home of the Hereafter, then indeed, Allah has prepared for the doers of good among you a great reward.^[3]

It is an established fact that they chose Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala and His Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, owing to which the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam did not separate from them.

Multiplied rewards for them for their obedience and virtuous deeds:

وَمَنْ يَقْنُتْ مِنْكُنَّ لِلَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَتَعْمَلْ صَالِحًا نُؤْتِهَا أَجْرَهَا مَرَّتَيْنِ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لَهَا رِزْقًا كَرِيمًا

And whoever of you devotedly obeys Allah and His Messenger and does righteousness – We will give her, her reward twice; and We have prepared for her a noble provision.^[4]

The Mothers of the Believers are unlike ordinary women in esteem, virtue, and noble rank:

يَا نِسَاءَ النَّبِيِّ لَسْتُنَّ كَأَحَدٍ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ ۚ إِنِ اتَّقَيْتُنَّ فَلَا تَخْضَعْنَ بِالْقَوْلِ فَيَطْمَعَ الَّذِي فِي قَلْبِهِ مَرَضٌ وَقُلْنَ قَوْلًا مَعْرُوفًا

O wives of the Prophet, you are not like anyone among women. If you fear Allah, then do not be soft in speech [to men] lest he in whose heart is disease should covet but speak with appropriate speech.^[5]

Allah favoured them with the distinction of the Qur’an and wisdom being recited in their homes, which indicates their lofty rank and position:

وَاذْكُرْنَ مَا يُتْلَىٰ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَالْحِكْمَةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ لَطِيفًا خَبِيرًا

And remember what is recited in your houses of the verses of Allah and wisdom. Indeed, Allah is ever Subtle and Acquainted [with all things].^[6]

They are the wives of the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam in the world and the Hereafter.

NEXT⇒ Sayyidah Khadijah bint Khuwaylid

^[1] Surah al Ahzab: 32–34.

^[2] Surah al Ahzab: 6.

^[3] Surah al Ahzab: 28–29.

^[4] Surah al Ahzab: 31.

^[5] Surah al Ahzab: 32.

^[6] Surah al Ahzab: 34.

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