The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) – Volume III — Page 218
Seal of the Prophets - Volume III 218 himself. The two-fold purpose in this was perhaps so that firstly, Abū Sufyān may become inclined towards Islām; and secondly, since she was the widow of the paternal-cousin of the Holy Prophet sa , so that her heart could be consoled. Ummi Ḥabībah ra , whose name was Ramlah, passed away in 44 A. H. Prior to announcing this Nikāḥ , the Negus officially sought permission from her, and then a near relative named Khālid bin Sa‘īd acted as her guardian and this marriage was settled with a dowery of 400 dinar. 1 At this instance, if anyone wishes to study the discussion relevant to the issue of polygamy, reference can be made to Volume 2 of this book. Although the other Negus who took his seat on the throne in 9 A. H. did not accept Islām, the first Negus became a Muslim and the Companions of the Holy Prophet sa took refuge in Abyssinia for a long time and lived lives of peace and security. The Muslims repaid the generosity of this country in such a manner that although their victorious marches planted the banner of the Islāmic state in all the four corners of the earth, no marches were lead against Abyssinia. They wielded their swords in the north and south, and in the east and west. From the boundaries of China and India to the ends of Marrakech and Spain, the sound of the thundering hooves of Muslim horses shook the face of the earth. Magnificent Kings such as the Caesar and Chosroes, fell before them like a heap of dust. However, in this universal wave of triumph, if there was any country against which the Muslims did not raise their swords, it was this very small Kingdom of Abyssinia. The region surrounding it in all four directions had come under the rule of the Muslims, but whenever they would happen to close in on Abyssinia, they would divert to other paths and did not even raise a finger at them. At the depth of this existed the very same highly moral sentiment that even at the pinnacle of their triumph, when hundreds of years had passed, the Muslims did not wish to forget the small act of benevolence, which the Negus of Abyssinia exhibited towards the early Muslims by granting refuge to a few Companions of the Holy Prophet sa. This is a very excellent moral example, which can serve as an example for the nations of the world. 1 * Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 8, p. 292-293, Dhikru Azwāji Rasūlillāhi sa / Ummi Ḥabībah , Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) * Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 4, pp. 403-405, Ummu Ḥabībata Ummul-Mu’minīn, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) * Usdul-Ghābah Fī Ma‘rifatiṣ-Ṣaḥābah, By ‘Izzuddīn Ibnul-Athīr Abul-Ḥasan ‘Alī bin Muḥammad, Volume 6, p. 323, Ummu Ḥabībata bintu Abī Sufyāna, Dārul-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon (2003)