Hazrath Umme Salma
Umme Salma went through trials and tribulations following her conversion to Islam
Hazrath Umme Salma is though known as one of the wives of the holy Prophet (Pbuh), her illustrious family background is virtually ignored. Umme Salma’s real name was Hind. She was the daughter of a very well-known chieftain of the Quraish whose generosity was legendary. He (her father) came from Banu Makhzoom. Whenever he travelled with a caravan of merchants, his co-travellers took it for granted that he will take care of feeding the entire caravan. Umme Salma was married to Abdullah bin Abdul Asad who was one among the early 10 companions of the holy Prophet to say the Shahadah. Umme Salma embraced Islam alongwith her husband. Their conversion to Islam led to extremely painful atrocities against them. She and her husband were allowed to migrate to Abyssinia to escape the persecution. Even though they enjoyed the protection of Emperor Negus, they were looking forward to joining the Prophet in Makkah. Soon enough, they heard that some leading lights of the Quraish such as Umar bin Khattab and Hamzah had joined the fold of Islam. They immediately came back to Makkah only to face a barrage of hostility. They soon realised that their decision was a hasty one. However the Prophet ordered a good number of his companions to migrate to Madinah. Umme Salma and her husband were part of this team too. But it was no longer that easy. Even as they stepped out of the boundaries of Makkah, some members of the Banu Makhzoom intercepted them. They asked Abdullah to leave back his wife (Umme Salma) and proceed alone to Madinah. This thus separated him from his wife. But that was not the end. Her husband’s clansmen then demanded that her child be given to Banu Asad. Thus the entire family was split. She was so grief-stricken with the turn of events that she began to visit the place where her son was taken away. She would sit there all through the day and would cry and sob loudly. This went on for a year. Ultimately one of her cousin helped her out of the situation. Banu Makhzoom allowed her to migrate to Madinah, while Banu Asad returned her young son. She thus set out for Madinah with her son. Osman bin Tualha spotted her near Tanayeem and offered to accompany her till Madinah. Umme Salma narrates that she did not find a man more gentler than Osman who led her camel along the route. He would walk in the front while holding the rein of the camel. On the wayside stations, Osman would tie the camel, bring Umme Salma down from the camel and would himself retire at a distance to sleep under a tree. As they reached the village of Quba on the outskirts of Madinah, Osman asked her to proceed to Madinah on her own and himself turned back for the journey to Makkah. This is how the family was re-united. Her husband fought in the battle of Badr valiantly. In the battle of Uhud, he incurred a deep wound which refused to heal. This ultimately led to his death after prolonged suffering. The Prophet was attending to him while he breathed his last. The holy Prophet shut his eyes. his death caused deep sorrow in the Muslim community of Madinah. But there were fewer companions of the Prophet who were elder to her. Several companions wanted to help her. So they sent offers for Nikah. These included Abu Bakr and Hazrath Umar. But she refused. She had several kids. All of the companions of the Prophet were keen to provide her the security that a widow like her would require. Finally Prophet Muhammad himself offered to marry her. She told him that she was a short-tempered woman and if she incurred the Prophet’s wrath, she will incur Allah’s wrath. Secondly, she pleaded she was old and thirdly, she had several kids to look after. The Prophet (Pbuh) assured her that his (Prophet’s) prayers would calm her temperament. Further, he told her that he too was olda nd wanted to help her look after the kids well by taking the economic responsibilities off her shoulders. This is how she was persuaded to enter into a wedlock with the holy Prophet. It is how Hind turned into Umme Salma and earned the sobriquet of “Mother of the Muslims.”
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A Lustful Request And a Wise Response
Bahuddin Zakariah MultaniBahauddin Zakariah Multani was a great saint of Multan. He was known as the Sheikhul Islam. He followed the practice of giving away whatever he received at his monastery. Nobody would go bare handed. Once a person came to him and wanted to know if his wish would be fulfilled by him. Multani said if Allah willed, it should not be impossible for him to give him anything that he wanted.
These were just the words the stranger was waiting for. He put forward his bizarre request. He told him he desired to receive as many guineas from him as there were prophets. Multani was perplexed for some time. There were 1,24,000 Prophets who were sent to the earth by Allah and he clearly did not have so many guineas with him. And even if he had, he wondered how could they be given to a person who was a complete stranger.
Haji Jamal Kanooh, a close friend of Multani was listening to the exchanges between the stranger and the saint. Jamal was a rich merchant of Multan. He asked Multani to leave the entire matter to him and took the stranger home. He was offered a sumptuous meal. He then asked his cashier to bring out all the guineas he had then with him. Soon the guineas were piled before his diwan (cot).
Jamal then asked the stranger to name a Prophet and he would place a coin on his palm against it. The very idea of naming prophets greatly embarrassed him. But then he began to name the Prophets and Jamal placed a coin on his palm against each name he uttered. He began to scratch his head after 20 such names and could go no further than 22. Jamal kept on pressing and persuading the stranger to remember a few more. But then he fizzled out and left with a fistful of guineas.
Thus Haji Jamal Kanooh was successful in making it plain for the stranger that it was his lust for riches and not the genuine need that made him make such a stupid request with the saint. Divinely inspired wisdom also enabled to save the day for Saint Multani.
Translated by Maqbool Ahmed Siraj from Ibrat Angez Waqiat by Maulana Mahmood Hassan Ghazi, published by (Darul Kitab, Deoband).
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Do You Know?
One kg of Kashmiri saffron contains 5 lakh stigma parts which is isolated from 2, 60,000 flowers of saffron!
By Shiraz Khaki
Kashmiri SaffronKashmiri saffron is a very precious and costly medicinal plant which is being cultivated in Pampore and Shopian, the two townships of Kashmir Valley, for the last many centuries.
One kg of saffron contains 5 lakh stigma parts which is isolated from 2, 60,000 flowers of saffron
Uses of Saffron
*It is used for making juices.
*It is also used for rheumatic and neurological pains.
*Paste of saffron is used in dressing for bruises and sores.
*It is used as an oil. This oil is very expensive and is used in traces to impart its characteristic smell.
*It is used with “Khawa” the traditional and famous Kashmiri tea.
* It is used for quick relief in headache and cough.
* It is used in Kashmiri wazawan (meat dish) for colouring and flavouring.
The writer can be reached at
mrkhaki200@yahoo.co.inTop
Great Thinkers of the Islamic World
Al-Karaji
Abu Bakr Muhammad Ibn Hasan Al Karaji was born in Al-Karaj, Iran in the 10th century. He was a mathematician and an engineer. He went to Baghdad and held high posts in the administration and did most of his work there. He is known for his attempt to free Algebra from the influence of Geometry. In his book Al-Fakhri, he systematically explained Algebra. He developed this study in his other book Al Badi Fi Al-Hisab and concluded it in a work now lost. But it is preserved in parts in the Bahir of Al Samawad ibn Yahya Al Maghribi. Al Karaji applied arithmetical operations to algebraic terms and expressions. He gave a first account of the algebra of polynomials. His Al Kafi Fi Al-Hisab is about the use of functions. It is a summary of arithmetic, algebra, geometry and register based on mental calculus (a branch of mathematics). Al Karaji’s Inbat al-miyah al-Khafiyya is a good manual on hydraulic power supplies. It contains some autobiographical notes. He also discusses ideas about the geography of the globe. He describes some surveying instruments. He gives details on how to build and maintain Kanats (underground tunnels) for providing water to arid areas. Al Karaji died in his native land, Iran between 1019 and 1029 A.D.
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ZOO NEWS
First Eye Operation on Lioness !
First Eye Operation on LionessEver heard of a cataract operation on an animal-that too a lioness? The veterinarians at the Delhi Zoo have successfully operated the right eye of 12 year-old Sitoo, an Asiatic lioness, to restore the near total loss of vision due to a mature cataract. According to Dr. N. Panner Selvam, the Zoo's official vet, Sitoo's left eye was also suffering from immature cataract with about 50 per cent loss of vision. Sitoo was unable to move freely. But now vision of her right eye has been restored, upto a short distance, making life easier. The feat, first on a lion in India was performed by veterinarians Dr Selvam and Dr Rawat under the direction of Dr Balasubramaniam. The upbeat team said, they were waiting to operate on the other eye as well, as the cataract had to mature totally before the operation, which would take another six months to one year.
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