A new notion, a misconception, a fallacy has unfortunately been cultivated in today’s era. A concept of extremism and discrimination where people tend to believe that religion obliges a person to be become dull and boring.

People consider religion to be somewhat a black hole with restrictions, melancholy and lonely.

How absurd!!!

One would only yearn in this case to educate the masses. To show them proofs and evidences of how pleasant and genial were our heroes, our erstwhile role models.

Rather, not only were the menfolk known for their amiability but also the women, the women of the golden era…

An excellent paragon of deen blended with good humour is none other but the mother of the believers, the Umm ul Mu’mineen; Saudah Bint Zamah (May Allah be pleased with her).

Ibn Sa’ad mentions how once she was offering voluntary night prayers, standing behind the Prophet (May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). The next morning she told him how his very long prayer made her fear that her nasal vein would burst and bleed! On account of this, she said that while in the bowing position, she held on to her nose! This comical image that she presented of herself made the Prophet (May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) burst into laughter.

Besides her good humour, she was also a very warm and simple person. She took care of Umm Kulthoom and Fatimah (May Allah be pleased with them) and managed the household affairs.

Dear friends, we should try to learn from this embodiment of goodness and in times of distress and gloominess we should try to allay the person’s mood for verily indeed even smiling is a form of charity.

And as for all those young men who don’t marry women who observe hijab, or whom they only perceive to be religious, out of fear of becoming bonded to a salt mine who will keep them to the grindstone; remember Saudah Bint Zamah. She was an exemplification of goodness, humour and geniality, for indeed it is our deen that prescribes us to be pleasant and loving. She was a simple person, firm in her deen, yet, light-hearted.

The mother of the Believers Saudah (May Allah be pleased with her) passed away during the caliphate of ‘Umar bin Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) and was buried in Jannatul Baqi.

May Allah bless us to follow our role models and be granted Jannah-tul-Firdous

Ameen ya Rabbil Aalameen.

Abeer Hasan,

Writer, AAT