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Wednesday, February 3, 2010

The Wife of Umar ibn al-Khattab

abaya mama by the Humanette.
Abaya Mama by the Humanette

I have always wondered about the women during the earliest generations of Muslims. How they dressed, how they cooked, how they educated their children. And, I have always wondered who took care of them during their pregnancies and deliveries. Coming across this paragraph below, I was fascinated to see that the wife of Umar ibn al-Khattab (May Allah's Mercy be upon them both) was a midwife! Can you imagine having her deliver your baby, perhaps with Umar patiently waiting outside? What a blessing that would be. I love the reminder of Umar's scrupulousness and love of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in the paragraph below. You can read the entire description here.

He was a very pious Muslim. His success lay in two things-fear of Allah and his love for the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam). He never used even oil from the Bait-ul-Mal (Public Treasury) to burn a lamp at night for his personal needs. Whenever he finished the official work he put off the lamp. He used to patrol in the city at night to find out the needs and requirements, and conditions of the people. He did not hesitate to take his wife to work as a midwife for a poor woman. The salary he got from the Bait-ul-Mal was so low that it was hardly enough for him and his family's needs. When some of the eminent Muslims requested him to increase the amount he, said, "The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam) has left a standard by his personal example. I must follow him".


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