The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 243
VII - Days of Struggle 243 girl is the daughter of your friend Abū Bakr ra named ‘ Ā’ishah ra , and the widow is Saudah bint Zam‘ah ra , who was married to your late servant Sakrān bin ‘Amr ra. ” The Holy Prophet sa said, “Alright, make a proposal to the both of them. ” Therefore, Khaula ra first took a proposal to Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr ra and his wife Ummi Rummān ra. At first, they were both astonished and said, “How is this possible? The Holy Prophet sa is our brother. ” 1 But when the Holy Prophet sa sent word that spiritual brotherhood does not affect physical relations, what objection could they have had? Rather, what greater happiness could they have received than for their daughter to be married to the Messenger of God? After this, Khaulah ra approached Ḥaḍrat Saudah bint Zam‘ah ra and her relatives were also at consent. Consequently, in Shawwāl 10 Nabawī , the Holy Prophet sa was married to the both of them at a dowry of 400 dirham, and along with Ḥaḍrat Saudah’s ra marriage, her farewell ceremony was also held immediately thereafter. However, since at the time of her marriage, Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra was only seven years of age, her farewell ceremony was delayed until after the migration. 2 At this place, it should be remembered that the place which was vacated in the home of the Holy Prophet sa by the demise of Ḥaḍrat Khadījah ra , was actually filled by Ḥaḍrat ‘ Ā’ishah ra. The actual proposal of the Holy Prophet sa was to Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra , and she was also the one shown to him in his dream. His marriage to Ḥaḍrat Saudah ra was for a special purpose and due to a specific requirement. This era was an era of severe hardship and suffering for the Muslims. The hatchets of oppression and violence were being slashed against the Muslim men, women and children by the vicious Quraish. These were days of extreme torture, especially for the weak and helpless. Therefore, in such circumstances, the Holy Prophet sa did not like that this hurt and grief- stricken widow be left without care and be subjected to days of torment due to Islām. Moreover, since the Holy Prophet sa also needed to demonstrate a practical lesson in mutual love, sympathy and support among the Muslims, when Saudah ra was mentioned before the Holy Prophet sa , without any hesitation whatsoever, he decided to take her into his shadow of benevolence. This was 1 Until this time, the companions of the Holy Prophet sa considered their relationship with him as brotherhood, but they later realized that this relationship was not of brotherhood rather, it was of son and father. However, this spiritual relationship does not affect physical ones. (Author) 2 * Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Muḥammad bin ‘Abdul-Bāqī Az- Zarqānī, Volume 4, pp. 382-383, Bābu ‘Ā’ishata Ummil-Mu’minīn , Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) * Usdul-Ghābah, Volume 6, pp. 191-192, Dhikru ‘Ā’ishata binti Abī Bakriṣ-Ṣiddīq ra , Dārul-Fikr, Beirut (2003)