Domestic Life of the Beloved Rasool
صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم
The Seerah of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمin relation to his domestic life is to be followed. Despite fulfilling the heavy responsibilities of propagating religion, his great conduct towards his blessed wives and blessed daughters holds the importance of being the guiding principle for the entire Ummah. The Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمhas stated: ‘Best among you is the one who is best for his household; and I am the best for my household among you all.’ (Sunan-ut-Tirmizi, vol. 5, pp. 475, Hadees 3921) Let’s have few glimpses of this aspect of the life of Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم:
Heartening Azwaaj-e-Mutaharraat [blessed wives]
He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمwould hearten Azwaaj-e-Mutaharraat رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُنَّ. Once, in order to please Umm-ul-Mu`mineen, Sayyidatuna Khadijah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمfed her Heavenly grapes through his miraculous grandeur. (Al-Mu’jam-ul-Awsat, vol. 4, pp. 315, Hadees 6098)
He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمwould delight Azwaaj-e-Mutaharraat [blessed wives]
According to the situation, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمwould also delight [Azwaaj-e-Mutaharraat], as Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَاhas stated: I was with Rasoolullah صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمon a journey. We stayed at a place, so Rasoolullah صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمsent the blessed Sahabah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَاahead and had a race with me. Since I was thin, I outstripped him. Then, after a short period of time, I was with Rasoolullah صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمon another journey. We stayed at a place, so Rasoolullah صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمsent the blessed Sahabah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَاahead and had a race with me. At that time, I had gained weight; therefore,Rasoolullah صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمoutstripped me. Then, while [gently] striking my shoulder with his blessed hand, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمsaid: This is the pay back for that [last race].
(Explanation: Remember that this race was in seclusion. Therefore, this Hadees cannot be taken as a proof for the races of men and women in the current era.)
Likewise, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمwould also express happiness upon seeing Ummahat-ul-Mu`mineen delighting each other, and at times, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمhimself would join them as well; as Umm-ul-Mu`mineen Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَاhas narrated: I prepared Khazeerah (food prepared from meat and flour) for Rasoolullah صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمand served it to Rasoolullah صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم. Rasoolullah صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمwas seated with Sayyidatuna Sawdah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَاand me. I also asked Sayyidatuna Sawdah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَاto eat; she refused. I said: ‘Eat it, or else I will rub it on your face.’ She again refused, so I took Khazeerah in my hand and rubbed it on her face. Rasoolullah صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمstarted smiling; he took Khazeerah in his hand and gave it to Sayyidatuna Sawdah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا, and said: ‘Here, you also rub it on her face.’ Rasoolullah صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمexpressed happiness at that time. (Musnad Abi Ya’la, vol. 4, pp. 88, Hadees 4459)
He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمwould teach religious knowledge
The Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمwould impart religious knowledge to Azwaaj-e-Mutaharrat. In this regard, names of Umm-ul-Mu`mineen Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَاand Umm-ul-Mu`mineen Sayyidatuna Umm-e-Salamah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَاcome at the top of the list, who received invaluable pearls of knowledge from the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم. In fact, the status of Umm-ul-Mu`mineen Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَاwas such [great] that she would resolve great perplexing scholarly issues with ease. (Sunan-ut-Tirmizi, vol. 5, pp. 471, Hadees 3909)
He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمwould take care of the rights of Azwaaj-e-Mutaharraat Before his apparent demise, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمbecame ill and wanted to spend the last days of his apparent life at the house of Umm-ul-Mu`mineen, Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا. Instead of clearly announcing his decision, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمrepeated the following question again and again, while keeping in view the rights of wives: ‘At whose house will I be tomorrow?’ The blessed wives came to know the will of Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمand humbly said: ‘Wherever you like.’ Therefore, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمstayed at the house of Umm-ul-Mu`mineen, Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَاuntil [his] apparent demise. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 3, pp. 468, Hadees 5217)
He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمwould also consult with Azwaaj-e-Mutaharraat
Similarly, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمwould encourage them by seeking their advice. At times, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمeven sought their advice in very critical situations. For example, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمsought advice of Sayyidatuna Khadijah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَاwhen the first Wahee [Divine revelation] was sent down (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 1, pp. 8, Hadees 3) and the advice of Sayyidatuna Umm-e-Salamah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَاat the occasion of Suleh Hudaybiyah [treaty of Hudaybiyah], and accepted their advice. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 2, pp. 227, Hadees 2732)
Great conduct towards the daughters
Similarly, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمwould treat his blessed daughters with extreme kindness and affection. He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمwould become happy upon their joy and sad upon their grief. In fact, when his most beloved daughter, Sayyidatuna Fatimah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَاwould come, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمwould stand up out of extreme kindness and affection. (Subul-ul-Huda War-Rishaad, vol. 11, pp. 44) Through this kind and affectionate conduct, the Ummah not only attains the guidance to create a pleasant environment at home, but undoubtedly, it also highlights the rank and status of woman in Islam.
