THE JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME WITH PROPHET MUHAMMAD THE PROPHET OF ALLAH 041 THE DEATHS OF LADY ZAYNAB & ABU SALAMAH May Allah be pleased with them by Khadeijah A. Stephens Bismillah Ir Rahman Ir Raheem The Deaths of Lady Zaynab & Abu Salamah May Allah be pleased with them The Death of Lady Zaynab Lady Zaynab's marriage to the Prophet (salla Allahu Alihi was sallam) was not destined to last long and eight months after their marriage Lady Zaynab passed away and was buried near the grave of the Prophet's daughter, Lady Rukiyah, in the graveyard of Baki, may Allah be pleased with them and grant them perfect peace. Through the blessing of her marriage to the Prophet, (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) Allah had raised and rewarded Lady Zaynab for her patience, virtue and charitable affairs, and she like her co-wives was honored by being given a title, the like of which, no other woman had been ever given "Mother of Believers." The Tribe of Asad, Khuzaimah’s Son Two months of peace followed the hostilities of Uhud. However, the Muslims were rightfully on their guard against a surprise attack from the Koraysh and in particular their allies from the not-so-far away tribes in the Najd. It was the 1st Muharram, 4H when news reached Medina that the tribe of Asad, Khuzaimah's son were planning an attack. The time had come to let it be known that even though matters had not gone as well for the Muslims at Uhud as they had at Badr, they were able to fight for their belief and right to exist. With this intent, the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) ordered a cavalry of a hundred and fifty well-armed men to ride out under the command of Abu Salamah to engage the enemy in a surprise attack. When the time came, Abu Salamah led the attack quickly and skillfully the result being there was very little loss of life on either side. The unbelievers were routed and fled whilst Abu Salamah and his men started upon their return journey to Medina with a large herd of camels and three herdsmen as spoils of war. Abu Salamah had sustained a severe wound during the hostilities of Uhud, and the wound reopened once more and he passed away before reaching Medina. The attack had further merits, not only had Medina been protected from the planned attack but their victory sent a clear message to the unbelievers that they were still very capable of defending themselves. Abu Salamah Abu Salamah's family was originally from Medina, from the tribe of Asad. However, they had at one time, settled in Mecca under the sponsorship of his uncle, Abu Talib. It was there that Abu Salamah, met and married Umm Salamah from the tribe of Mughirah, who was then eighteen years of age. From the very beginning their marriage had been a happy one, and they had been among the early converts that migrated to Abyssinia. Allah Accepts the Tender Prayer of Abu Salamah Such was their love for each other that one day Umm Salamah told her husband that if he should die before her, she would not remarry. It was a touching gesture; times were difficult, especially for a woman, whereupon Abu Salamah told her that if this should be the case, she should remarry. He then supplicated, saying, "May Allah grant Umm Salamah, after I am gone, a man better than myself who will neither sadden nor harm her." Abu Salamah was a cousin of the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) and when the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) learned of his death, he went straight to his house to pray for him. Upon reaching the grieving household he bent over Abu Salamah and gently closed his eye lids as he told his family, "When the soul of a person is taken away, the vision of the eye also follows it." There was great sadness in the household and tears began to flow as the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) consoled them saying, "Supplicate for that which is good for yourselves, because the angels say Ameen to your supplications." Prophet Muhammad (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) then supplicated, "O Allah, forgive Abu Salamah and exalt his rank among those who are guided, and be the Guardian of those he has left behind. O Lord of the worlds, forgive him and all of us, and make his grave spacious and illumine it for him." The Marriage of Mercy, The Prophet Marries Lady Umm Salamah Four months after the death of Abu Salamah, the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) asked Umm Salamah to be his wife. Umm Salamah was completely overwhelmed and totally unprepared for the proposal and modestly said, "I am no longer young and the mother of orphans. By nature I am a jealous person and you, O Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) have other wives." The Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) replied, "I am older than you; as for your jealously, I will supplicate to Allah that it is taken away from you. As for your orphaned children, Allah and His Messenger (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) will take care of them." The sincere response of the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) touched Lady Umm Salamah’s heart and shortly afterward, the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) and Lady Umm Salamah were married, whereupon she lived in Lady Zaynab's room adjoining the Mosque. The Deaths of Lady Zaynab & Abu Salamah May Allah be pleased with them 041 Back Cover Subtitles The Death of Lady Zaynab The Tribe of Asad, Khuzaimah’s Son Abu Salamah Allah Accepts the Tender Prayer of Abu Salamah The Marriage of Mercy, The Prophet Marries Lady Umm Salamah