Wednesday

Rubayyi-bint-Mu'awiz رضي الله عنه


Rubayyi RA sense of honor could not bear a wretched person like Abu Jahl to be mentioned as the chief of her father. She therefore, replied angrily, "No. I am the daughter of one who killed his slave." Asma did not like this title for Abu Jahl and said with anger:


Rubayyi-bint-Mu'awiz RA, who had participated in many battles by the side of Nabi SAW, was a woman of the Ansar. She nursed the wounded and carried the dead bodies during the battle. She had accepted Islam before Nabi SAW emigrated to Madinah Munawwarah. She was married when Nabi SAW was in Madinah Munawwarah. He blessed her marriage with his presence. He heard some girls singing a heroic poem about the battle of Badr at her place. One of them sang a verse, which meant:


He stopped her from saying such things because nobody except Allah SAW knows what is going to happen in the future. It was Rubayyi’s RA father, Mu'awiz RA, who was one of those who killed Abu Jahl in Badr. Abu Jahl, as we know, was one of the big chiefs of Quraish and the worst enemy of Islam.
There was a woman named Asma who used to sell perfumes to the ladies. She once came to Rubayyi RA to sell perfume. When Rubayyi RA was introduced to her as the daughter of Mu'awiz RA, Asma remarked: "So you are the daughter of him who killed his chief.''
Rubayyi RA's sense of honor could not bear a wretched person like Abu Jahl to be mentioned as the chief of her father. She, therefore, replied angrily, "No. I am the daughter of one who killed his slave." Asma did not like this title for Abu Jahl and said with anger:

Image result for Ar-Rubayyi' binti Mu'awwidz,


"It is haram for me to sell perfume to you." Rubayyi RA replied in a similar manner, "It is haram
for me to buy perfume from you. I have never found stink in any perfume except yours." Rubayyi RA says: "I had used the last words simply to annoy her."

Look at her sensitivity and feeling for Islam. She could not tolerate an enemy of Islam being mentioned as a chief. We hear from the lips of Muslims the most flowery and hounourable descriptions being used for the open enemies of Islam. When they are corrected, they call it narrow-mindedness.
Nabi SAW says: “Don't call a Munafiq a chief. You displease Allah SWT when you take him as a chief.”

Related stories of Rubbiya Binti Muawiz and other women during the time of Prophet Muhammad SAW.

I thought you’ll like this article which details many of the contributions of women in early Muslim society. They were farmers, traders, surgeons, politicians, scholars, jurists and even soldiers!
The Prophet (PBUH) always listened to women with consideration and compassion as he valued their views and opinions not only about affairs that specifically concerned them, but also about matters of wider significance. It was because the Prophet gave such encouragement to women that there were well-known instances in early Muslim history of some of them freely speaking out for their rights. Following the injunctions in the Qur’an, the Prophet gave women the right to education and freedom in matters related to marriage, divorce, and property rights.

He taught his followers that it is God’s commandment to treat women with gentleness and affection because, he said, “Women are your mothers, daughters, aunts.” The Prophet described women as “the twin halves of men,” which emphasized the idea that their role in society is complementary to that of men. He declared that “the most valuable thing in the world is a virtuous woman.”

“Those scholars who study the role of women in Islam will notice that throughout the different periods of history, women were actively engaged in every field of endeavor, be it politics, government, or learning. As some have assumed, women were not confined to mothering and household occupations.” [Salah al-Din al-Munajjid] Busra bint Uzwan (ra) was the sister of Utbah bin Uzwan al-Mazini, the famous companion, the governor of Basra (in Iraq). According to the author, Busra hired Abu Huraira (ra) and he was her employee during the time of the Prophet. Later she married him, after Marwan succeeded him [as administrator] over Madinah.

[Al Isaba fi Tamyiz al Sahaba, by Ibn Hajar al Asqalani]

Nafisa bint al-Hasan (d. 208/824) taught hadith to Imam ash-Shafi’i. Ibn Hajar mentioned 12 women who were musnida (transmitters of collection of traditions). He studied with 53 women. Ibn Asakir al-Dimashqi (499-571) took hadith from 1,300 male shaykh and 80-odd female shaykha. The labor force in the Caliphate was employed from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, while both men and women were involved in diverse occupations and economic activities. 

Women were employed in a wide range of commercial activities and diverse occupations in the primary sector (as farmers, for example), secondary sector (as construction workers, dyers, spinners, etc.), and tertiary sector (as investors, doctors, nurses, presidents of guilds, brokers, peddlers, lenders, scholars, etc.). Muslim women also held a monopoly over certain branches of the textile industry, the largest and most specialized and market-oriented industry at the time, in occupations such as spinning, dyeing, and embroidery.

Some specific examples (by no means a comprehensive list) of working women living at the time of the prophet follow.

Since the time of Rasulullah SAW, women have taken part in various fields. There are those who become businessmen, farmers, traders, nurses, teachers, and various other aspects of life. In fact, not a few women took an active part in the fighting, both as health workers, guarding the ranks of women and children, and taking up arms.

She was called Ar-Rubayyi bint Mu'awwidz bin Afra al-Ansyariyah, an Ansar woman from Bani Najjar, who participated in the war. He was the son of Umm Yazid bint Qais bin Za'wa. He converted to Islam in Medina when he was very young.

Rubayyi was one of the first women to pay allegiance to the Prophet Muhammad. This bait event took place under a tree. Those who take Bai'at are known as Bai'atur Ridwan.
The story of this bait is enshrined in the verse of the Koran: 
"Verily Allah was pleased with the believers when they paid homage to you (Muhammad) under a tree. Allah also knows the faith and sincerity that was in their hearts, then sent down calm upon them and rewarded to them with imminent victory and much booty that they could take. And Allah is Mighty, Wise." 
(Surah al-Fath [48]: 18-19)

Ar-Rubayyi's participation made him very close to Rasulullah SAW. She is known as a brave woman who has a strong will. He advanced to the battlefield with the Prophet and his companions. Ibn Kathir said about ar-Rubayyi, "He went with the Messenger of Allah to participate in various wars to treat the wounded mujahideen and give drinks to those who were thirsty, and brought the wounded to Madinah.

Rubayyi's closeness to Rasulullah SAW caused him to get high glory and honor. Many friends and followers asked Rubayyi various questions. He is also very thick to know the figure and character of the Prophet Muhammad.

In one history, Abu Ubaidah bin Muhammad bin Ammar said, "I once asked Rubayyi, 'Explain the figure of Rasulullah SAW to me!" Rubayyi replied, "O my son, if you see the Messenger of Allah, you will see him like the sun is rising."
 
War situations often require Rubayyi to jump into battle. He joined the brave cavalry in a precarious condition to fend off enemy attacks.

Apparently, this brave nature flowed from his father who participated in the Battle of Badr. He joined the team that killed Abu Jahl. On one occasion, Rasulullah SAW prayed for Rubayyi's father, "May Allah give mercy to the two children of Afra who both joined forces to kill the Pharaoh of these people (Abu Jahal)."

His father's courage flowed through Rubayyi. He once challenged Abu Jahal's mother, Asma bint Makhrabah. It is narrated that ar-Rubayyi took perfume from Asma. The woman asked ar-Rubayyi's lineage. He also mentioned his lineage. Hearing Muawwidz's name, Asma said, "You are the daughter of a master's killer (Abu Jahal)." Rubayyi boldly replied, "I am the daughter of a slave killer." That answer left Asma speechless, not daring to respond to ar-Rubayyi's courage.

Get to know Ar-Rubayyi bint Muawwidz, Hadith narrator about Wudhu; 

Rubayyi is not only known as a brave mujahidah. Her figure is known as a gentle woman who loves knowledge. Because of his broad insights and scholarship, he is believed to be a reference in a law, the Prophet's Sirah, and various events in the early days of the emergence of Islam.

Many hadiths were narrated through ar-Rubayyi. One of these hadiths shows in detail how the Prophet Muhammad performed ablution. In fact, it is referred to as the only most detailed hadith regarding ablution. At that time, Rasulullah Saw was visiting Rubayyi's house. There, he performed ablution. Rasulullah SAW said, "Pour ablution water for me." Next, Rubayyi told about the ablution of Rasulullah SAW. "He then washed his hands three times." 
(Narrated by Abu Dawud)

Rubayyi was also close to the wives of the Prophet. He often visited Aisyah RA to add insight and knowledge. From Aisyah, ar-Rubayyi narrated 21 traditions. Al-Bukhari and Muslims narrated traditions from Rubayyi. Several companions and tabi'in also came to ar-Rubayyi to obtain hadiths. A number of prominent tabi'in, such as Khalid bin Dzakwan, Sulaiman bin Yasar, Abu Ubaidah bin Ammar bin Yasir, and others also narrated hadith from him.

One history says that Rubayyi died in 37 Hijriyah. However, another history confirms that he died in 45 Hijriyah, to be precise during the caliphate of Mu'awiyah bin Abu Sufyan. She died after setting an example for Muslim women in terms of goodness, piety, knowledge, and the spirit of struggle in the way of Allah.

The Jihad of a Woman
One time Abu Dharr asked Rasulullah SAW. "O Messenger of Allah, what is the most important practice? Rasulullah SAW answered, "Faith in Allah and jihad in His way".
Jihad is one of Allah's commands to his servant, the word jihad is mentioned many times in the Qur'an, namely 41 times. Some of them mean war, and some don't.

Jihad literally means sincerity. While in terms it means devoting all seriousness to achieving certain goals. Jihad has a very diverse meaning and is not narrow in meaning. The meaning of jihad through war only emerged after the verse was revealed regarding the permissibility of fighting if wronged.

At the time of the Prophet Muhammad, women did not wage jihad directly with the sword. Even so, the women still joined the battlefield to prepare food and treat the wounded troops. Rubai' bint Muawwidz once told me that women used to participate in jihad with Rasulullah SAW. They gave water, treated the injured, and took care of the bodies to be returned to Medina. Women were not required to carry out jihad with special meaning at that time, namely fighting. Because most of the women at that time did not have the skills to fight and face the enemy. Therefore, the implementation of jihad is more identically carried out by men.
However, this does not mean that women cannot wage jihad. Fighting the enemy of Islam by way of war is only one way of understanding jihad. Evidenced by the existence of jihad verses that do not mean war or killing, the word in 
(QS Al Furqan verse 52) states:`

وَلَوْ شِئْنا لَبَعَثْنا فِي كُلِّ قَرْيَةٍ نَذِيراً فَلا تُطِعِ الْكافِرِينَ وَجاهِدْهُمْ بِهِ جِهاداً كَبِيراً وَما أَرْسَلْناكَ إِلَّا مُبَشِّراً وَنَذِيراً
If you wish, we send in each village warner. Do not obey those who disbelieve. And jihadi them with it with a great jihad. And we did not send you except as a giver of glad tidings and a warning. Regarding the jihad of a woman in Islam, Ali Ibn Abi Talib explained that good obedience to her husband is worth jihad for women. In the book "Hikam Ali Ib Abi Talib" it is stated:
الصلاة قربان كل تقي والحج جهاد كل ضعيف ولكل شيئ زكاة وزكاة البدن الصيام وجهاد المرأة حسن التعبل
Prayer is an effort to get closer to every person who is pious, pilgrimage is jihad for everyone who is weak, everything has zakat, and zakat for the body is fasting, and jihad for a woman is good obedience to her husband Apparently good obedience to husband is jihad for a woman. It needs to be underlined that a wife must obey her husband only in terms of good, not applicable bad things. So why bother looking for the hard way if obeying her husband is worth jihad for a woman?
Hadith from 'Abdurrahman bin 'Auf, he said that Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam said:
إِذَا صَلَّتِ الْمَرْأَةُ خَمْسَهَا وَصَامَتْ شَهْرَهَا وَحَفِظَتْ فَرْجَهَا وَأَطَاعَتْ زَوْجَهَا قِيلَ لَهَا ادْخُلِى الْجَنَّةَ مِنْ أَىِّ أَبْوَابِ الْجَنَّةِ شِئْتِ
"If a woman always keeps the five daily prayers, also fasts a month (in the month of Ramadan), and really guards her private parts (from adultery) and really obeys her husband, then it is said to this woman who has this noble character, "Enter in heaven through whichever door you like.” 
(Narrated by Ahmad 1: 191 and Ibn Hibban 9: 471. 
Shaykh Syu'aib Al Arnauth said that this hadith is authentic)
The hadith explains that a woman who is devout to her religion and also obeys her husband will have the right to enter heaven through whichever door she wants. The reward is comparable to the reward of the mujahid who died on the battlefield in his time. For this reason, every woman who wants to wage jihad or wants to get a reward comparable to jihad, then obeys her husband.