Salafus-Saaliheen سلف صالحين

A believer is in constant need of reminders, especially during present times, due to widespread trials and tribulations which are endlessly affecting the Ummah. It is because of this that our Generous Lord has informed of that which is of benefit to the Muslim in this life and the next. Allah – The All-Mighty – stated:
وَننَُزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مَا هُوَ شِفَاءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
{We reveal in the Qur'an that which is a cure and a mercy for the believers.} Surah Israa:82
And He – The Glorified – also said:
يَا أَيهَُّا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَتْكُمْ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَشِفَاءٌ لِمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
{Oh you who believe, indeed there has come to you an admonishment from your Lord, and a cure for that which is in the hearts, and guidance and mercy for the believers.} Surah Yunis:57
What should be mentioned is that not only is the Qur'an a cure, but the complete religion of Islam is a cure and mercy for the believers. Based on this, the Prophet Muhammad sallah alahi wasallam said:
أَلاَ إِنِّى أُوتِيتُ الْكِتَابَ وَمِثْلَهُ مَعَه "Indeed I have been given the Qur'an, and that which is similar to it (Sunnah)" Sunan Abi Dawud: 4606
Therefore it's important for a believer to constantly read and ponder over what has been revealed by our Lord in His Glorious Book and likewise what has been revealed by way of the Sunnah of our beloved Messenger Muhammad sallah alahi wasallam. In doing so, one will always receive a beneficial reminder which will – by the permission of Allah – uplift him in this life and the next.
Likewise from the beneficial reminders which are related to eemaan (faith) and its increase is reading what has been mentioned about the lives of the salaf. The scholars of Islam constantly advise the believers to read the stories of those who have proceeded in eemaan in order that a person may profit from their lives which were filled with wonderful examples of their steadfastness upon the religion of Islam. One of the Salaf mentioned:
Stories of the people of the past are from the armies of Allah. He uses them to strengthen the eemaan of His servants who sincerely seek to please Him. It was then said to the person who made this statement: What is your proof for this? He replied: The statement of Allah:
نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنْبَاءِ الرُّسُلِ مَا نثَُبِّتُ بِهِ فُؤَادَكَ ﻛﻼ ﻛ
{Indeed We inform you of the stories of the messengers in order that your heart may become firm.} Surah Hud: 120
(Tareekh Baghdaad vol.3 pg.75)
Shaikh 'Abdul Razzaq bin 'Abdul Muhsin al 'Abaad similarly alluded to this fact in his book titled: Asbaab Ziyadatul Eemaan wa Nuksaanihee – Reasons for Increase and Decrease in Faith. He said:
When a person reflects upon the lives of these magnificent people, and reads their stories and that which they displayed of goodness, and ponders upon their exemplary character and how they followed the generous Messenger sallah alahi wasallam, and how they constantly were observant of their eemaan and how they feared evil and sin, and how they were extremely cautious of showing off and hypocrisy, and their eagerness to perform acts of worship and their competitiveness in performing righteous deed…… this would encourage the reader to truly follow them and it would likewise bring about love of wanting to be similar to them. When one remembers them, he will remember Allah, and reflecting upon their lives will increase a person's eemaan. (Summarized from pg.46)

Certainly from those who are at the forefront of individuals who should be taken as examples after our beloved Prophet sallah alahi wasallam are his companions. They are the individuals whom Allah – The Mighty and Majestic – has praised in more than one verse in His Glorious Book. Allah – The Glorified – stated concerning them:
وَمَنْ يُشَاقِقِ الرَّسُولَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْه دَى وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نوَُلِّهِ مَا تَوَلَّى وَنُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ وَسَاءَتْ
مصَ يِرًا
{Whoever opposes the Messenger after the guidance has come to him, and follows a path other than that of the believers, We will leave him in the path which he has chosen, and burn him in the fire. What an evil destination.} Surah al Nisaa: 115
He – The Most High – also mentioned:
1 Arabic Print (Dar al Minhaaj, Riyadh)
لَقَدْ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ يبَُايِعُونَكَ تَحْتَ الشَّجَرَةِ فَعَلِمَ مَا فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ فَأَنْزَلَ السَّكِينَةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَثَابَهُمْ فَتْحًا
قرَِيبًا
{Verily Allah is pleased with the believers when they pledged to you under the tree. He (Allah) knew what was in their hearts, and He sent down calmness upon them, and He rewarded them with a near victory.} Surah al Fath: 18
And many other verses which inform that Allah – The Mighty and Majestic – is pleased with the companions of the Messenger sallah alahi wasallam.
Based on the aforementioned information, it is clear that Allah is pleased with the companions of the Prophet sallah alahi wasallam, and with this being so, why would anyone hesitate to follow them in all forms of good?! No doubt, a true believer is one who takes heed to what elevates his eemaan. Allah – The Most Kind and Generous – stated:
يَا أَيهَُّا الَّذِينَ آمَ نُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَا مُْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ ﻛ
{Oh you who believe, answer the call of Allah and His Messenger when They call you to that which will give you life.} Surah al Anfaal:24
If a believer were to read some of the situations of the companions, including men and women, he would immediately be reminded of how one should implement his religion and remain steadfast upon piety and righteousness. There are numerous examples which display this and it only requires that one spends some time and reads.
From the various examples present in the Sunnah of strong eemaan, and firmness upon the religion is a brief encounter between one of the female companions and the Prophet sallah alahi wasallam. Her name is Asma bint al Yazeed bin al Sakn al Ansariyah, and she was nicknamed: Khateebatun Nisaa – The Female Lecturer, due to her eloquent manner of speech. Asma was the niece of the famous companion and scholar Mua'th bin Jabal and she was well known for her uprightness and sound intellect. She nursed the wounded Muslim fighters during the Battle of al Yarmook and when the fighting became intense, she grabbed an iron spike from her tent and began fighting alongside the Muslim army, killing nine Roman fighters.
Al Hafith Ibn 'Abdul Bar1F1 mentioned concerning her:

It is mentioned that Asma bint al Yazeed approached the Messenger of Allah sallah alahi wasallam and said:
I am a messenger for a group of females. All of them say a similar statement to mine, and they all are in agreement with my opinion. Indeed Allah has sent you to men and women, and we have believed in you and we follow you. We (females) are responsible for tending to the homes and we are the place where men fulfill their desires, in addition to carrying their children (during pregnancy). But the men are preferred over us due to the merits gained for attending the Friday congregational prayer, attending burial procedures and also fighting in the way of Allah. If they leave their homes, we protect their wealth and we also raise their children. (With this being the case) do we take part in their tremendous reward, oh Messenger of Allah sallah alahi wasallam?
Upon hearing this, the Prophet sallah alahi wasallam turned toward his male companions and said:
Have you ever heard a female inquiring about her religion in a better manner than this female?
The companions replied: Indeed we have not, oh Messenger of Allah sallah alahi wasallam!
The Prophet sallah alahi wasallam then replied to her: Return oh Asma, and inform the group of females that being a good wife to your husband, exerting yourself to please him, and have him pleased with you is equivalent (in reward) to all of what you have mentioned concerning the men!
Asma walked away saying: La illaha ilAllah, Allahu Akbar, do to the extreme joy she felt after hearing the Prophet's sallah alahi wasallam reply.
Several benefits are derived from this hadeeth, from them:
1. The great eagerness of the female companions to learn their religion. They did not allow questions and doubts to remain unanswered. This is also illustrated in the statement of 'Aaisha when she said:
نِعْمَ النِّسَاءُ نِسَاءُ الأَنْصَارِ لَمْ يَمْنَعْهُنَّ الْحَيَاءُ أَنْ يَتَفَقَّهْنَ فِي الدِّينِ
How great are the Ansar women! They did not allow shyness to prevent them from learning their religion. (Sahih al Bukhari: 129)
2. The permissibility of a female speaking to a person of knowledge even while in the company of other men if need be. The female should of course make sure she does not speak in an attractive manner. Allah – The Most High – said:
فَ تَخْضَعْنَ بِالْقَوْلِ فَيَطْمَعَ الَّذِي فِي قَلْبِهِ مَرَضٌ وَقُلْنَ قَوْلًا مَعْرُوفًا ﻼ
{And do not be soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire. But instead, speak in an honorable manner.} Surah al Ahzaab:32
3. This hadeeth is an example of how the women during the time of the Messenger sallah alahi wasallam gathered to discuss matters of their religion. This undeniably is a lesson for present day Muslim females. They should make their meetings with their sisters the type of gatherings which contain profit and benefit, not that which contains evil and harm.
4. This encounter displays the tremendous mercy of our beloved Messenger sallah alahi wasallam. He did not interrupt Asma, nor did he scorn her for asking such a question, but rather he acted exactly how Allah described him in the Qur'an:
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِلْعَالَمِينَ
{We have only sent you as a mercy to the worlds.} Surah al Anbiyah: 107
And He – The Most High – said:
لَقَدْ جَاءَ مُْ رَسُولٌ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيهِْ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيكُْمْ بِالمُْؤْمِنِينَ رءَُوفٌ رحَِيمٌ ﻛ
{Indeed there has come to you a Messenger from amongst yourselves. It grieves him that anything should harm you, and he is anxious over you. He is kind and merciful to the believers.} Surah al Tawbah: 128
5. This story informs how a believer should react after hearing pleasing news. Asma immediately remembered Allah, glorifying and praising Him due to the tremendous news which she received from the Messenger of Allah sallah alahi wasallam.
6. It also shows her strong eemaan in the promise of Allah. She understood that Allah is All Just, and that He would never allow injustice. She truly believed the statements of Allah:
أَلَا إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَلَكِنَّ أَ ثَْرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ﻛ
{Indeed the promise of Allah is true, but most do not know.} Surah Yunis: 55
And His statement:
فاَصبْرِْ إنَِّ وعَدَْ اللهَِّ حَق {Be patient, for indeed the promise of Allah is true.} Surah al Room: 60
And His statement:
يَا أَيهَُّا النَّاسُ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ فَ تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُمْ بِاللَّهِ الْغَرُورُ ﻼ
{Oh mankind, indeed the promise of Allah is true, so do not be deceived by the life of this world and do not allow anyone to deceive you.} Surah al Faatir: 5
Asma, like any and every Muslim female was afflicted with tremendous difficulties and tribulations, but she was able to overlook that which befell her by keeping the goal in mind!3F1
7. This narration is a response to those who claim that women were created no different from men, and therefore they should be allowed to do everything a man does. Unfortunately many Muslim females hold this view due to the fact that it has been instilled in the minds of our women by means of various forms of propagation and education throughout the Western society.
This narration indicates that Allah created the female distinct from the male, and He has assigned her with different duties which are for the benefit of herself, the family and the overall society. It is upon her to act within the limits which Allah – The All Mighty – has legislated, and if she does so in a manner pleasing to Him, she will enter an everlasting paradise. But if, on the other hand, she seeks to exceed the limits which Allah has legislated, she will damage herself, her family and the Muslim society as a whole! Allah – The Sublime – stated:
أَلَا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ خَلَقَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ
{Does not the One Who created you know. And He is the Most Kind, the All Aware.} Surah al Mulk: 14
And He stated:
أَأَنْ مْ تُ أَعْلَمُ أَمِ اللَّه 1
{Are you more knowledgeable or is Allah.} Surah al Baqarah: 140
Without a doubt many more benefits can be derived from the narration of Asma bint al Yazeed. These were only a few which we felt the need to mention.[3]
In Conclusion:
This short narration is a great encouragement for our Muslim sisters. We all are aware of what occurs in the daily life of a Muslim female within the home, and outside of it. She is afflicted like no other person, as was indicated by Asma in the above narration, but what should be kept in mind is the statement of the Prophet sallah alahi wasallam:
إن عظم الجزاء مع عظم الب ء وإن الله إذا أحب قوما ابت هم ﻼ ﻼ
"Indeed the greatness of reward is according to the greatness of the trial, and when Allah loves a person, He tests him." (Tirmidhi: 2396)
We ask Allah to increase us in eemaan and taqwa, and we ask Him to grant us success to perform actions which are pleasing to Him.
May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family members and companions.
Mustafa George DeBerry
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
4th Thul Hijjah, 1431 / November 10, 2010

1 Al Hafith Ibn 'Abdul Bar is a famous scholar of the Malikee school of thought. He authored many beneficial works including: Al Temheed, Jam'ee Bayan al 'Elm wa Fadlihe, and many more. He died in Morocco/Spain in the year 463h.
2 Al Esti'aab vol.4 pg.233
3 We are not referring to clear, unjust oppression which takes place in some Muslim families. Indeed Allah has forbidden such oppression (harsh beating, cursing, etc) and any female who is afflicted with this has every right to seek separation after repeated advice and consultation has failed.

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