|
Maria al-Qibtiyya (may Allah be pleased with her) is said to have
married the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and certainly
everyone gave her the same title of respect as the Prophet's wives, 'Umm al
Muminin' 'Mother of the Believers'. Maria was born in upper Egypt of a Coptic
father and Greek mother and moved to the court of the Muqawqis when she was
still very young. She arrived in Medina to join the Prophet's household just
after the Prophet returned from the treaty with Quraish which was contracted at
al-Hudaybiyya. Maria gave birth to a healthy son in 9 AH, the same year that his
daughter Zaynab died, and the Prophet named his new son Ibrahim, after the
ancestor of both the Jews and the Christians, the Prophet from whom all the
Prophets who came after him were descended. Unfortunately, when he was only
eighteen months old, Ibrahim became seriously ill and died. Even though he knew
that his small son would go to the Garden, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) could not help shedding some tears. When some of
his Companions asked him why he was weeping, he replied, "It is my humanness."
As Ibrahim's body was being buried, the sun was eclipsed and it
grew dark and gloomy. Some people thought this was connected with Ibrahim's
death, but the Prophet soon clarified this. "The sun and the moon are two of
Allah's signs," he said, "they are not eclipsed because of anyone's birth or
death. When you see these signs, make haste to remember Allah in prayer."
Although the kafirun used to mock the Prophet Muhammad because he had no sons,
and say that he was 'cut off' , Allah made it clear in the following surah that
the station of the Prophet Muhammad was far above that of any other man;
In the name of Allah, The Merciful, the Compassionate: Surely We
have given you AL Khawthar, so pray to your Lord and offer sacrifice. Surely he
who mocks you is the one cut off. (Quran 108:1-3)
Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the
Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets, and Allah has knowledge of all
things. (Quran 33:40)
Maria was honored and respected by the Prophet and his family and
Companions. She spent three years of her life with the Prophet, until his death,
and died five years later in 16 AH, (may Allah be pleased with her) For the last
five years of her life, she remained a recluse and almost never went out except
to visit the grave of the Prophet or her son's grave. After her death, Umar ibn
al Khattab led the prayer over her and she was buried in al Baqi.
|
Print
this page
 |
Top |
|
