The Story of Hazrat Halima Sa`diyya (RA), the foster mother of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) is well-known.
The custom of the Arabs who lived in the towns was to entrust their young
children in the care of the Bedouin women, who earned a living by being wet
nurses. For the town Arabs, this time afforded their children the healthy
environment of the desert, facilitating good health, strength and an
opportunity to master the rich, untainted
speech of the Bedouins.
Thus, it was the good fortune of Hazrat Halima Sa`diyya, that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) was destined for her.
In the many books on the Seerah, we read Hazrat Halima’s personal account
of how she, her husband and baby travelled in the company of other women, in
search of children to suckle. It was a time of famine and drought, and theirs
was a state of hunger and want, to the extent that she could not even feed her
baby.
On reaching Makkah Mukarramah, none of the women were prepared to accept
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi
waSallam) once they were told
that he was an orphan. Their hope was to secure a child whose father would
reward them generously.
Whilst the other women were successful in their quest, Halima was not.
Before departing from Makkah Mukkarramah, she decided to take the orphaned baby,
rather than have none to take home.
Halima relates herself, that the moment she lifted him into her arms, she
found to her great surprise, that she had sufficient milk to feed him, as well
as feed her own little baby. And she thereafter related the good fortune that
came their way whilst taking care of the little Muhammad (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam): Their
she-camel was suddenly blessed with plentiful of milk; her lean, slow donkey
was suddenly blessed with strength and speed; their barren land was blessed
with plentiful of grass for their animals to feed on. And like this, prosperity
filled their homes due to the presence and blessings of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam).
Reflecting over this, we learn so much: Just the physical body of Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) coming into the arms of Hazrat Halima
as a little baby, caused such blessings to pour into their lives.
Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi
waSallam) was not able to give
lengthy speeches in the arms of Hazrat Halima; nor was his character, his
dealings, his relationships with people, his honesty and his truthfulness, his
charity and his sincerity, his nobility and forgiveness, and other beautiful
characteristics apparent at that time, when she took the little baby into her
arms. At this stage, it was only the physical body of Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) as a baby … yet look at the tremendous
Barakah.
Blessings in their lives, in their home, in their time and crops, in
their animals and their food …Blessings in everything.
If so much of Barakah came with just lifting and carrying the physical
body of Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi
waSallam), then what would we say about the Barakaat and the blessings that a
person will see and experience in his own life if he has to bring the teachings
of Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi
waSallam) in his life?
What kind of blessings he will experience…? And what kind of blessings
will the Ummah of Nabi (Sallallaahu
‘alayhi waSallam) experience if
they have to bring into their lives, the beautiful Sunnah?
We will experience the same Barakaat that Allah Ta’ala gave to Hazrat
Halima and thereafter what became even more manifest in the lives of the
Companions of Nabi (Sallallaahu
‘alayhi waSallam).
Look at their condition : Most of the Sahaba-e-Kiraam (RA) were extremely
poor, undergoing extreme difficulties, tests and trials. But with the
implementation of the teachings of Nabi (Sallallaahu
‘alayhi waSallam) in their lives,
look at the Barakaat that Allah Ta’ala gave to them : The Persian Empire at
their feet, the Roman Empire at their feet – something that could not be even
imagined at one time but the Prophecies of Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) were seen and experienced by them.
Of course they did not just sit and do nothing. They did what they had to
do - they fulfilled their part of the contract. They performed their Salaah,
they gave their Zakaah, they kept their fasts, they performed Hajj if it was
Fardh, they were kind, they were charitable, they were honest, they were
truthful; each one brought the beautiful, noble character of Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) in his or her life. …They went forth
in Jihad with Nabi (Sallallaahu
‘alayhi waSallam) and after his
demise also, they spread the message of Islam and the teachings of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) in the world – and then look at the
Barakaat that came pouring into their lives… “Barakaat minnas sa’maa’i wal ardh” (Blessings from the heavens and the
earth).
Thus, if someone looks at that incident of Hazrat Halima Sa`diyya (RA),
and the blessings of just taking Rasulullah (Sallallaahu
‘alayhi waSallam) into her arms
as a baby, then we draw the lesson : Blessings
are sure to follow, in abundance, if we only bring into our lives the beautiful
Sunnah of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu
‘alayhi waSallam). So simple.
Let those who wish to enjoy blessings, bring alive the Sunnah.
by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel (RA)
