“Love is patient, love is kind. Love looks with the heart, not just the mind. Love does not exist for the moment but for eternity.” While the western world is motivated by fairy-tales of ‘love…at first sight’, we behold the real-tales of the beautiful example of Muhammad sallallahualaiwassallam and his inspirational teachings of ‘love…with every glance’. Such was the love of Muhammad sallallahualaiwassallam, conveyed successfully not merely to one wife but to all of his wives; even more than his words and ways with them, yet his every glance too…was a gentle caress of love. From Khadijah to ‘Ayesha…may ALLaH be pleased with them all.
Muhammad and His Khadija
From the moment she encountered him, she was captivated and enthralled: by his beautiful manners; his unparallelled honesty and trustworthiness; the light of his countenance. Earnestly, her words gushed forth, “I love thee for my kinship with thee and for that thou art ever in the centre; and I love thee for thy trustworthiness and I love thee for the beauty of thy character and I love thee for the truth of thy speech.” Such was her love for him that she proved to be his comfort, companion and most loyal supporter. When he returned as the Messenger of ALLAH, shaken and bewildered from the Cave of Hira, her soothing words provided him with deep solace, “Peace be upon you O Messenger of ALLAH,” she said. “Rejoice! By ALLAH I am certain that ALLAH will only bring you that which is good. I certainly hope that you are the Prophet of this nation.” Such was her love for him that she sacrificed her wealth and all that she possessed for his cause, the cause of Islam. This was the love of Khadija for her Muhammad.
While he was fifteen years her junior, he treated her with every care and courtesy. Such was his love for her that he assisted her with her business as well as the household chores; such was his love for her that he trusted and heeded her words of advice; such was his love for her that even many years after her death, he still deeply mourned her. He would clasp her necklace tightly to his chest as his tears cascaded in full view of grown men, his companions. The memory of her, their lives and their love would urge him to profess, “She believed in me while the people disbelieved. And she trusted in me while the people belied me. And she helped and comforted me, in person and wealth, when the people would not. ALLAH provided me with children only by her.” Tragically, she passed away, in what became known as the Year of Sorrow; a year in which Muhammad sallallahualaiwassallam, lost both his dear uncle and beloved wife. History narrates that while he may have remarried, as according to ALLAH’s decree, he certainly never failed to mention her; never stopped missing her and never forgot…his Khadijah. This was the love of Muhammad for his Khadijah.
Muhammad And His ‘Ayesha
Young and vibrant, she loved him with all her heart from the time she was a little girl. She would passionately state, many years after his death, “When the women of Yusuf AS time saw his beauty, they were so entranced that they cut off their hands. Had they seen the beauty of my Muhammad, they would have cut out their hearts.” Such was her love for Muhammad sallallahualaiwassallam that when she was wrongfully accused and slandered, she became greatly ill and could not bear to live, separated from Muhammad sallallahualaiwassallam, until ALLAH sent revelation concerning her innocence. This was ‘Ayesha’s love for her Muhammad.
When questioned by his companions, in the absence of ‘Ayesha RA, regarding whom he loved the most, he shied not away from the love overflowing from his heart. He would always reply , “Ayesha”. Conveying and voicing his love for her in the most apparent and vivid descriptions never failed him. When she would continually ask him to describe his love for her, he would answer, “My love for you is like a strong binding knot.” And sometimes, she would playfully ask again and again, “How is the knot?”
Muhammad SAW would always sincerely reply, “As strong as the first day that you asked.” Such was his love for ‘Ayesha RA that he once ordered his marching army to stop at a location without water, just to easen his young wife’s worry and search for the necklace she had lost. Such was his love for ‘Ayesha RA, that his response to her would be overwhelmingly poignant. Once while he was busy mending his shoes and ‘Ayesha RA glanced at his face, glistening with beads of perspiration, so in love and mesmerized was she by the sight of him, that she could only stare at him tranfixed. Until the moment he noticed and asked her, “What’s the matter O Humayrah (his endearment for her)?”
She responded, ” If Abu Bukair Al Huthali, the poet saw you now, he would know that his poem was written for you.”
Muhammad SAW intrigued questioned her, “What did he say?”
When ‘Ayesha RA replied, “Abu Bukair said that if you looked to the majesty of the moon , it twinkles and lights up the world for everybody else to see.”
On hearing thisMuhammad SAW stood up and walked over to his ‘Ayesha RA, kissed her between the eyes and said, “Wallahi ‘Ayesha, you are like that to me and more.” That was the love of Muhammad for his ‘Ayesha.
Such was the love conveyed by the Noble Prophet Muhammad sallallahualaiwassallam, for each of his wives that he would kiss them whenever he exited, even to lead the salaah; such was his love that he stopped drinking his favourite milk and honey drink to please them because they complained of its scent; such was his love that he would assist them in the cooking, mending and household chores; such was the love of Muhammad sallallahualaiwassallam…a love not established “at first sight”, but rather “with every glance.” SubhanALLAH!
Extracted from my feature column As Seerah, in the South African print magazine..The Muslim Woman Magazine @TMW_Magazine …To read and learn more about the Noble Prophet Muhammad SAW, get a copy of my debut book, Falling In Love With Muhammad SAW. Available in print in South Africa or on Kindle via Amazon.com or Amazon.UK…for more info contact me via email at rsbulbulia@gmail.com or rsbpublications@gmail.com
Let His Love lead the way…in the Blessings of ALLAH endeavour to live your day! RSB
@muslimahatpeace
Scroll Through My Thoughts...RSB 