Ideal Women

WOMEN FROM MUSLIM HISTORY gave me children by her, which He has not given me by my other wives.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 3818) Mary and Khadijah enjoy a unique historical status because they gave themselves entirely to God and attached their own will to the Almighty. When the Judaic era was drawing to a close, a woman who would be fit to be the mother of a miraculous Prophet of the nature of Jesus, on whom be peace, was required. God had ordained that the final Prophet of the Jewish people should be born without a father. For this purpose, a woman whose innocence and chastity were beyond question was needed. The Virgin Mary lived up to this standard. By living a life of extraordinary chastity, she showed herself fit to be selected as the mother of Jesus. The circumstances of the final Prophet, Muhammad, on whom be peace, were such that he needed a woman who would put her life and her property entirely in his hands and would never complain about anything. God selected Khadijah for this work because of her superlative qualities. She gave up everything—her life, her property, her leisure and her comfort—for the sake of the Prophet. She suffered tremendous affliction but never complained. These qualities made her worthy in God’s sight to be the Companion of His final prophet. In every day and age, women and men who will devote themselves to the mission of Islam are needed, as well as