The Route She Took

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Umm Sulaym, Allah be pleased with her, was one of the first women of Madinah to accept Islam. She was influenced by the refined, dedicated and persuasive Musab ibn Umayr, Allah be pleased with him, who was sent to Madinah as the first ambassador of Islam by the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace.

Her husband, Malik ibn an-Nadr, was not pleased especially when she announced her acceptance of Islam in public and instructed her son, Anas, in the teachings and practice of the new faith. Umm Sulaym taught the young Anas the shahada and he repeated this simple but profound
declaration of faith emphatically.

Malik was now furious. He shouted at her: "Don't corrupt my son." She replied firmly, "I am not corrupting him." Malik then left the house and it is reported that he was met by his enemy and was killed.

Umm Sulaym was known for her excellent character, power of her intellect and her
independent attitude of mind. She wanted to secure the best future possible for her child. What do we do when we want to secure the best possible future for our children? We give them the best education and look for the best opportunities for them. Umm Sulaym wanted the same thing for her child but she went through another route. She went to the beloved of the Lord of the Worlds, Prophet Muhammad, Allah bless him and grant him peace. She presented her son to him and asked if he would accept him as a servant.

Umm Sulaym asked the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, to supplicate for her son. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, wiped his head and make du'a for him. "O Allah, increase him in wealth and children, give him long life and forgive him his sins."

Anas ibn Malik was ten years old when he first served the Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, until his death ten years later. He lived a long life. He would recollect that he had 125 children, his date orchard gave fruit twice a year and he hoped for the fourth part of the supplication.

Many people narrated hadith from him. Many of the descriptions of the Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, were related by Anas. Among them is the hadith describing the character of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, he narrated:

I served the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, for ten years and he never said to me ‘why did you do that?’ after I had done something or ‘why did you not do that?' after I had neglected to do something. He never said a word of contempt to me.

He fought in eight battles with the Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, including the opening of Makkah. He was the last Companion to die in Basra in the year 93H aged 103 years old.

May Allah guide us and help us raise our children well. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayer. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam