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The
best women are those who attain the Paradise
of delights. The women of Paradise are of
different grades, and the leaders of the women
of Paradise are Khadijah, Fatimah, Maryam
(Mary), and Aasiyah. Imam Ahmad reported with
an authentic chain of narration that the
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon
him) drew four lines and said to the
Companions,
"Do
you know what these are?"
They said, "Allah and His Messenger
know best." He said, "The
best women of the women of Paradise are
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, Fatimah bint
Muhammad, Maryam bint `Imran, and Aasiyah
bint Muzahim (the wife of the
Pharaoh)."
Maryam
and Khadijah are the best of the four. Imam
Al-Bukhari narrated from `Ali ibn Abi Talib
(may Allah be pleased with him) that the
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
said,
"The
best of its women is Maryam and the best
of its women is Khadijah."
Maryam Bint `Imran
Maryam
is the "First Lady," the best of all
women. At-Tabarani reported from Jabir that
the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be
upon him) said,
"The
leaders , after Maryam bint `Imran, of the
women of Paradise will be Fatimah,
Khadijah, and Aasiyah the wife of the
Pharaoh."
The
reason why Maryam is considered to be the best
of all women is clearly stated in the Qur'an,
[Behold!
The angels said, "O Maryam! Allah has
chosen you and purified you and preferred
you above the women of all nations."]
(Aal `Imran 3:42)
How
could she not be the best of women when
Almighty Allah has clearly stated,
[And
her Lord accepted her with a goodly
acceptance and made her to grow in a good
manner].
(Aal `Imran 3:37)
These
four women are beautiful examples of perfect,
righteous women. Maryam bint `Imran is praised
by Allah in the Qur'an,
[Maryam,
daughter of `Imran, whose body was chaste,
so We [Allah] breathed therein something
of Our Spirit. And she put faith in the
words of her Lord and His scriptures, and
she was of the obedient.]
(At-Tahrim 66:12)
Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid
Khadijah
As-Siddiqah (the true believer) believed in
the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon
him) without hesitation; she consoled him and
supported him in every way. Her Lord gave her
the good news, during her lifetime, of a
palace in Paradise in which there would be no
noise and no exhaustion.
Al-Bukhari
reported from Abu Hurairah: "Jibreel came
to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon
him) and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, Khadijah
is coming to you carrying a tray of food and
drink. When she comes to you, convey to her
greetings of peace from her Lord and from me,
and give her glad tiding of a house in
Paradise in which there is neither noise nor
confusion."
Aasiyah the Pharaoh's Wife
Aasiyah,
the wife of the Pharaoh, despised the power
and luxuries of this world and rejected the
Pharaoh and his false claims of divinity, so
her husband tortured her until her soul
departed and returned to its Creator.
[And
Allah sets forth an example for those who
believe: The wife of Pharaoh when she
said, "My Lord! Build for me a home
with you in the Garden, and deliver me
from Pharaoh and his doing, and deliver me
from evil-doing folk]
(At-Tahrim 66:11)
Fatimah Bint Muhammad
Fatimah
Az-Zahraa', the daughter of the Prophet (peace
and blessings be upon him), was patient and
forbearing, and she feared Allah. She was like
her father in every way, even his walk. She
learned from his manners and abided by his
commands.
It
is reported that the Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) said, "Fatimah
is a part of me, and what hurts her hurts
me"
(Muslim). She was a branch from the pure tree,
brought up by the educator of humanity himself
(peace and blessings be upon him).
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