Lady Maimunah bint Al-Harith
The Prophet's Wife: A Woman of
Submission to God
The Story of Maimunah Bint Al-Harith
For
Maimunah, submitting to the will of God
was always the highest priority.
Maimunah bint Al-Harith became one of the wives of Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him) seven years after Muslims' emigration from Makkah
to Madinah (known to Muslims as the Hijrah).
She had already been divorced once, after which she
re-married and was later widowed. Many women would have given up on love by
then, but Maimunah's story was slightly different.
When she became Prophet Muhammad's wife, she was a vibrant
and intelligent woman in her mid-20s and brought much wisdom to her third
marriage.
It was through Maimunah that plenty of Islamic teachings
were relayed to Muslims; one of them especially was the blessing of trust and
faith in Islam.
Besides being known for her total submission to Allah and
her steadfast support for her husband, Maimunah bint Al-Harith is another
Mother of the Believers (an honorary title given to all the wives of Prophet
Muhammad) who has narrated many Hadiths (sayings of Prophet Muhammad) — 76 to
be precise. Many of these narrations have to do with the nature of the
relationship between her and her husband so that Muslims can learn and emulate
through their own relationships and reap the happiness that is promised between
husband and wife.
When Prophet Muhammad initiated the marriage proposal to Maimunah, it was a huge
family affair, and
Prophet Muhammad spoke to her brother-in-law and her
sister Umm Al-Fadl.
The proposal was received
with much joy and
trust in Allah,
and Maimunah accepted it
willingly.
There is a verse from the Quran that says what means:
{O Prophet, We have made lawful for you… any believing woman who
has offered herself to the Prophet and whom the Prophet wishes to wed- this is
only for you [Prophet] and not the rest of the believers.} (33:50)
Many believe that this verse best suits Maimunah as her
soul was firmly dedicated to her new husband.
According to Martin Lings, a prominent Muslim scholar, it
was Umm Al-Fadl and her husband Abbas who approached the Prophet to marry
Maimunah and not the other way around. Umm Al-Fadl believed such a union would
bring great benefit to the Muslim community, which was being built slowly on
sturdy grounds. Prophet Muhammad accepted her suggestion and continued to
pursue a marriage proposal with Maimunah herself, whom he already knew
personally (281).
Prophet Muhammad was already very closely acquainted with
Maimunah and Umm Al-Fadl's family, as they too were amongst the first Muslims
during the initial revelation in Makkah. In fact, it was even narrated that Prophet
Muhammad described Maimunah and her sisters as "the believing
sisters", which was an amazing recognition for the entire family.
Her Marriage to the Prophet
his marriage with Maimunah led to opportunities
to spread the teachings of Islam to the tribe of Banu Hilal
to spread the teachings of Islam to the tribe of Banu Hilal
Indeed, Umm Al-Fadl had been right in initiating the relationship.
Prophet Muhammad, through his marriage with Maimunah, was led to opportunities
to spread the teachings of Islam to the tribe of Banu Hilal (Maimunah's tribe),
and consequentially, another important Muslim community began to grow and
integrate with the first one. Upon joining the Prophet's household, Maimunah
became instrumental in strictly endorsing the Prophet's orders, by decree of
Allah. Her passion towards her husband and her love for Islam were an emotional
ride, but were always based on reason and logic.
It is reported that one day she was visited by a relative
who seemed somewhat
intoxicated. Upon seeing the condition of this relative,
Maimunah became enraged. She warned him, "Purify yourself, or I will never
let you come here again." Her relative was quick to obey her, realizing
that Maimunah's piety weighed heavier than family relations, especially when
her family's behavior contradicted Islamic principles.
Her passion for her family was driven by Islam, and she
felt the constant need to protect others from the temptations of this world.
Even until her death, she took care of her relatives and protected them. Aishah
bint Abi Bakr, a wife of Prophet Muhammad, said: "Maimunah was the best
amongst us, as she feared Allah most and maintained a close and continuous
relationship with her kin." (Al-Hakim 8:181)
Maimunah Amongst the Women
She provided all the ingredients of a thriving marriage
Aishah's recognition of Maimunah did not end there. Aishah
always praised Maimunah's morals and dedication to Allah's directions.
Of course, the Mothers of the Believers were the women
that no other could contend with, as they were all recognized as virtuous and
strong Muslims who were hand-picked by Allah to teach and nurture the nascent
Muslim community that was still learning about the faith.
There were several occasions on which Maimunah stepped up
as the Prophet's consultant, advisor, and aid to help dispel ambiguity in rulings
and to allow Muslims to witness first-hand how Islam should be practiced. She
walked the talk of the Quran by virtue of Prophet Muhammad, rushed to his aid
when he needed her, and maintained her love for Islam above all.
She provided all the ingredients of a thriving marriage.
Through her sayings, she spoke of intimacy between husband and wife, like
washing up from the same container of water and keeping a close watch on the
emotions of one's spouse. All this indicates that Maimunah was picked as a wife
for anything more than her zeal in nurturing a strong marriage, and it was only
through her piety and submission to God that she achieved that.
It so happened that the night before Prophet Muhammad's departure
from the world, he spent his day at Maimunah's home, as per his routine
schedule. Maimunah, who was deeply dedicated and sensitive towards her
husband's needs, sensed that he was at unease. He began asking her to suggest
whose house he should spend his next night, as this was his tradition in
parting from each wife's home.
Maimunah knew that it was not Aishah's turn yet, but as
she saw her husband falling ill and weak, she knew best that he would want to
spend the night with his most beloved wife. She asked him to leave her for
Aishah's house, before rounding up the other wives, as if she felt it was time
for him to leave the world.
Maimunah Amongst the Muslims
Maimunah was known to the Muslims as a woman of charity
Her complete submission to Allah and Prophet Muhammad encouraged
her to denounce worldly pleasures and to worship and love for the sake of Islam
only. Maimunah was known to the Muslims as a woman of charity. She freed slaves
and cared for the poor. And it was through her actions that other Muslims
followed suit.
Yet her participation in Muslim society was even more
apparent during war. During the battles that took place in the Prophet's life
time, it was Maimunah who mobilized the first female group who would accompany
the men at war and provide medical aid and emotional support for the wounded.
For a woman who was later known to rarely leave her house
after her husband's passing, Maimunah was actively involved in travelling with
the Muslim army when they needed the help the most. With her husband leading
the battles, she mostly felt that it was his right to have her by his side.
In many ways she served Islam throughout her entire life,
relaying important aspects of Muslim life so that the torch of Islam would
never die down. She took care of her kin and encouraged good relations amongst
all Muslims. Moreover, she was always in the middle of action, leading by
example and translating emotions into sense and logic, in hopes that her and
her husband's behavior would be understood and adopted by the Muslim followers.
But over and above her zeal for charity and serving the
Muslim community, Maimunah was still a romantic at heart. Her passion and
emotional attachment to Prophet Muhammad, whom she outlived, lived on within
her.
In the year 51 AH (after Hijrah), Maimunah fell ill in
Makkah. Upon so, she said, "Get me out of Makkah. I will not die in
Makkah," (Ibn Kathir 4:261).
She then asked to be transported to Sarf — the town in
which she had spent her wedding night with her beloved husband, Prophet
Muhammad — where she eventually passed away.
Did the Prophet Marry Maymunah During Ihram?
Islam pays due care to marriage and its rulings.
Therefore, Muslims are ordained to follow these rulings in all matters of
marriage.
Responding to your question, Dr.`Abdul Fattah Edris,
Professor of Usul Al-Fiqh, Al-Azhar University, stated,
It is known that a Muslim in the state of ihram (special
clothing of Hajj) cannot get married, engage, or marry a woman to another man.
This is due to the hadith narrated by `Uthman ibn `Affan in which he says, “I
heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saying, “A Muhrim (the
person wearing the clothing of Hajj) must neither get married, nor marry a
woman to another man, nor should he engage (make the proposal of marriage.)”
(Muslim)
As for your question, it is true that the Prophet (peace
and blessings be upon him) married Maymunah during the journey of Hajj, but
this took place on his way back from Hajj, not on his way to Hajj.
Regarding the hadith narrated by Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased
with him), he may have been confused, as he was still young. He may have
thought that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) married Maymunah
while being in the state of ihram, but that was only an introduction to
the marriage, while the actual marriage only took place on the way back from
Hajj, after taking off the clothing of ihram.
Another point is: how could the Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) forbid his followers from doing something and do it
himself? This could not happen as he is the role model of the Ummah.
In addition, there are may hadiths narrated by many
companions such as Ibn
`Umar, Yazid Ibn Al-Asamm, and Abu-Rafi` that contradict
Ibn `Abbas's narration. Commenting on that hadith, Ibn Numayr said that, “I told Az-Zuhry (a
prominent scholar of hadith) about it and he said, “Yazid Ibn Al-Asam told me that
he (the Prophet) married her while he was halal (not muhrim)”
(Muslim).
In one of these hadiths, Abu-Rafi` said, “He married her
while he was halal (not muhrim), and I was the messenger between them”
(At-Tabarani)
Given the above, it is clear that the Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) married Maymunah on the way back from Hajj while he was
not muhrim; after taking off the clothing of ihram.
Allah knows best.
