Hazrat Umme Haani — Page 5
5 5 Even though her husband deserted her for accepting Islam, no worldly force or relation could budge her from her beliefs. She was left with the sole responsibility of raising her four children and educating them. However, she handled the situation with unwa- vering courage and commitment, and held on to Almighty Allah. ’s ra husband, who was a distinguished poet, warned her through his poetry about the adversities that came with accepting Islam. He tried to convince her that following the religion of the Prophet saw entailed merely a tough life of hunger and homelessness, but ra truly believed that it was the right path. Special Honours At the time of Makkah’s conquest, ra had an honour that no other female companion of the Prophet saw ever received. The Holy Prophet saw went to ’s ra home and performed eight voluntary rak‘aat of prayer in grat- itude. It was the time of optional, late-morning prayers. Umme Haani ra narrates, ‘I had never seen the Holy Prophet perform such a short salat, however he performed his prayer and prostrations in a very peaceful and content manner’. Further, she also had the honour of the Holy Prophet saw dining at her home and compli- menting her cooking. The food he ate consisted of pieces of dry flat bread soaked in water and drizzled with vinegar instead of a sauce. The Holy Prophet saw said, ‘O Umme Haani, vinegar is the best sauce; the household that keeps vinegar, is never poor’. 8 ra also had the distinguished honour of