A Women of Paradise
Ibn Abbas said to Ata b. Rabah: "Do you see that
black lady? She approached the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: 'I suffer
from epilepsy and during a fit, my body becomes exposed. So please supplicate
Allah on my behalf.'
"Then the Prophet said to her: 'If you choose, you
might rather bear it patiently and you will attain Paradise on account of it. Or
if you like, I will beseech Allah to cure you.'"
"She said: 'I will bear it patiently. But my body
gets exposed, so please beseech Allah that my body will no longer be exposed.'"
"The Prophet (peace be upon him) beseeched Allah for this."
[Sahih al-Bukhari (5652) and Sahih Muslim (2576)]
The woman's name was Suayrah ? though some say
her name was Shuqayrah ? al-Habashiyyah al-Asadiyyah. She was known as Umm Zufar.
She had been Khadijah's lady in waiting. After Khadijah's demise, the Prophet
(peace be upon him) used to show her extra deference and respect. When she grew
older, she became afflicted with epilepsy, and her body would become exposed due
to the severity of her seizures.
Here are five things we can learn from this incident:
1. We need to turn to Allah with our needs.
It is Allah alone who can cure our ills and alleviate our suffering. Medical
doctors admit that faith has a great affect on healing, often more pronounced
than medications, though medications certainly can benefit us.
2. We also learn how virtuous the quality of
patience is. When we bear illness in patience and fortitude, it
is a means by which our sins are forgiven and by which we attain Allah's
blessings and entrance into Paradise.
3. We can also see how the Prophet's glad tidings
were a help and a comfort to her. It gave her hope. The role of
a positive attitude in coping with illness and in aiding the recovery process is
well-known.
4. We can see the respect that the Prophet (peace
be upon him) showed this woman by his giving her the choice. He
respected her right to make the decision for herself in a matter that affected
her life. He let her know her options, while showing that he was well aware of
the extent of her suffering. He knew it was best for her to be patient if she
had the fortitude to bear her illness. However, he trusted her to make the
decision for herself.
5. We can learn from this woman the value of
modesty. We can see her concern for keeping her body from being
exposed when she had a seizure, in her asking the Prophet (peace be upon him) to
beseech Allah to protect her modesty when she was not able to control her
movements and was free from all blame. We can also see how the Prophet (peace be
upon him) readily complied with her request.
Source:
?Shouldn't
I point out to you a woman of Paradise?? ? Mun⠡l-Q⳩m