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What is there that a woman may not do? She can do everything
except what Allah has forbidden. The teachings of Islam tell us what the limits
of behavior are. Anyone who goes beyond these limits is likely to meet trouble,
both in this world and in the next world. The best of women have lived their
lives within the limits of Allah and have achieved greatness, often through
actions, which even the best of men could not have equaled. They have gained the
love and respect not only of those who knew them, but also of those who came to
hear about them long after they have died. Among the best of women were the
wives of the Prophet Muhammad, (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) for he
was the best of creation, Al Quthum, the one who has all good virtues and
characteristics gathered together in him, and accordingly Allah granted him the
best of women in marriage. Today, even hundreds of years later, young girls
still learn a little about them and then, as they grow up and become women, they
follow their example, seeking the pleasure of Allah. It has been related by Anas
that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, " Of
all the women in all the worlds, these are enough for you (meaning that they
were the best of women): Maryam, the daughter of Imran, (and the mother of
Jesus, peace be upon them); and Khadijah, the daughter of Khuwaylid (the first
wife of Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon them); Fatima, the
daughter of Muhammad (and of Khadijah, may Allah be pleased with them); and
Asiyya, the wife of Pharaoh (who rescued Moses from the river Nile when he was a
baby and brought him up as her son, peace be on them)." Anas also related that
the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Love
Allah for the gifts that He gives you; love me for the sake of Allah; and love
the People of my House for I love them."
Abdullah ibn Jafar reported that he heard Sayyiduna Ali say in
Kufa that Allah's Messenger, (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
"The best of the women of her time was Maryam, daughter of Imran, and the bet of
the women of her time was Khadijah, daughter of Khuwaylid."
Is it not a great honor that the first person to embrace Islam
was a woman? She was the first to bear witness that there is no god except Allah
and that her husband was the Messenger of Allah. Her husband was our beloved
Prophet Muhammad, (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and she was called
Khadijah, ( may Allah be pleased with her) She was also called Thaira, meaning
'pure'.
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