HADRAT SAUDA
(May Allah be pleased with her)

Name and Genealogy
Her name was Sauda. She belonged to the famous Quraish tribe 'Amir bin Luwayy. Her genealogy is as follows : Sauda bint Zam'a bin Qais bin 'Abd Shams bin 'Abd bin Nasr bin Hal bin 'Amir bin Luwayy. Her mother's name was Shamus who belonged to Banl Najjar of Medina. Her genealogy is as follows: Shamus bint Qais bin Zaid bin 'Amr bin Labid bin Farash bin Amir bin Ghunaim bin 'Adi bin Najjar.

Marriage
She was married to Sakran bin 'Amr, the cousin of her father.

Conversion to Islam
She embraced Islam in the beginning of Apostlehood. Her husband also embraced Islam. She had, therefore, the privilege of being one of the earliest Muslims. During the first migration to Abyssinia Hadrat Sauda and her husband stayed at Mecca, but when the persecution of the polytheists became unbearable and a large number of people intended to migrate, Hadrat Sauda and her husband too decided to migrate.

She came back to Mecca after staying in Abyssinia for long and Sakran died after a few days of his return.

Marriage, with the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
Among the wives of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) Hadrat Sauda (Allah be pleased with her an excellent position in so far as she was the first to marry to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) after the death of Hadrat Khadija (Allah be pleased with her).

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was very depressed and dejected due to the death of Hadrat Khadidja (Allah be pleased with her). Seeing him in such a state, Khaula bint Hakim (the wife of 'Uthman bin Maz'un)said, "You seem to be in need of a companion and a consoler." The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be with him) replied : Yes, the management of the house and chidlren so far rested with Hadrat Khadija (Allah be pleased with her). So she went to Sauda's father with the Holy Prophet's permission and conveyed to her greetings in the style of the pagan Arabs and then gave the message of marriage. He replied: No doubt Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is a noble man but I would like to consult Sauda also. When all the matters were settled, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) himself went to Sauda's house. Sauds's father read out the Nikah. Four hundred Dirhams were fixed as dower. After the marriage when 'Abdullah bin Zam'a (Sauda's brother) who was then a disbeliever came to know of it, threw dust on his head exclaiming : Woe to me what has happened! Later on, when he embraced Islam he always repented of his foolishness.

The marriage of Hadrat Sauda (Allah be pleased with her) took place in Ramadan, on the 10th year of Apostlehood. Since this day falls nearer to 'A'isha's marriage, the historians differ ragarding the date of her marriage as to which one took place earlier. According to Ibn Ishaq, Sauda's marriage took place first and according to 'Abdullah bin Muhammad bin 'Aqil, Aisha's marriage took place first.

According to some traditions, Hadrat Sauda had related adream to her first husband during his lifetime and he had said : Perhaps my death is near at hand and you will be tied in the bond of marriage with the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). This dream proved to be hundred percent true.

General Events
On the 10th year of Hijra, when the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) performed Hajj, Hadrat Sauda also accompanied him. She was a long-statured bulky woman and so she could not walk quickly. The Holy Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) permitted her to proceed to Muzdalida earlier than the other people so that she could avoid the difficulty of walking through the multitude of people. (1)

Death
Once the wives of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah he upon him) were sitting in the company of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) when they asked him: Who will die first of us, The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied : One who has the longest hands amongst you. They took its literal meaning and measured their hands and it was Sauda's hand that was found to be the longest amongst them.(2) When Hadrat Zainab died first, they knew the exact implication of the Prophet's words that the longest hand implied the hand which excelled in hospitality and generosity. Waqid is of the view that Hadrat Sauda died in the 54th Hijra (3) but according to Thaqa her death occurred in the last days of the Caliphate of Hadrat 'Umar.(4) Hadiat 'Umar died in the 23rd Hijra, hence the year of death of Hadrat Sauda (Allah be pleased with her) can be the 22nd Hijra. This tradition is mentioned in Khamis and appears to be an authentic one.(5) Imam Bukhari, Zahbi, Jazri Ibn 'Abdul Bara and Khazraji have made a mention of it.

1. Sahih al'Bukhdri, Vol. I, p. 228.
2. Tabaqat, Ibn Sa'd, Vol. VIII, p. 37.
3. Ibid.
4. Isti'ab.
5. Zarqani, Vol. Ill, p. 262.

Children
She bore the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be cpon him) no children. She had one son from her first husband whose name was 'Abdul Rahman. He met with martyrdom in lie battle of Jalula' (Persia).(1)

Appearance
No one among the wives of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was taller than Sauda (Allah be pleased with her). Hadrat 'A'isba (Allah be pleased with her) said : Anyone who saw her could not remain hidden from her sight.(2) It has been stated in Zarqani that her stature was tall.

Excellence and Knowledge
Only five traditions have been reported by Hadrat Sauda (Allah be pleased with her) of which only one tradition has been menitioned in Sahih al-Bukhdri. Out of the companions of the Holy Prophet, the names of Ibn 'Abbas, Ibn Zubair and Yahya bin 'Abdul Rahman cam be mentioned who have transmitted from her. Hadrat 'A'isha has reported : None among the women has inspired this feeling in me that my soul should have been in her heart.(4)

She was more prominent than all the wives of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in obeying and serving the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

1. Zarqani, Vol. II, p. 260.
2. Aal-Bukhdri, Vol. II, p, 707.
3. Zarqani, Vol. Ill, p. 452.
4. Tabaqat Ibn Sa'd, Vol. VIII, p. 37.

The Holy Prophet while addressing his wives on the occasion of Hajjat-ul-Wada said : When I leave, do not go out of the house.(1) Hadrat Sauda acted upon this advice strictly and did not proceed for Hajj after this. She said : I have performed both Hajj and 'Umra and I shall remain in the house according to the Will of Allah.(2)

Hospitality and generosity were her outstanding merits and she excelled the other wives in these virtues except 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her). Once Hadrat 'Umar (Allah be pleased with him) sent to her a bag. She enquired : What is in it ? He replied : Dirhams. She said : Dirhams are also sent in a bag like dates and then she distributed all of them.(3) She used to make skins of Ta'if and distributed the income accruing from them liberally on good deeds.(4)

She was also far ahead in making sacrifice; We have already mentioned that she and 'A'isha were married to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) just one after the other. Since she was senior in age to 'A'isha, when she became old, she was afrraid lest the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) should divorce her and thus she should be deprived of the noble company of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), she, therefore, gave her turn to 'A'isha which the latter willingly accepted.(5)

Sauda was easily susceptible to anger. 'A'isha admired her greatly ; but she said : Sauda flares up within no time. Once she was going to the desert to answer the call of nature. On the way she met 'Umar (Allah be pleased with him). As she was quite a tall woman, Hadrat 'Umar (Allah be pleased with him) recognized her. He did not like that the wives of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) should go out. Since Hadrat 'Umar (Allah be pleased with him) had already brought forth this issue (at keeping the women under veil) he said to Sauda : “I have recognized you.” She (Sauda) got extremely offended; went to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and! complained against 'Urnar Immediately after this incident, the Sura Hijab was revealed.*

1. Zarqani Vol. Ill, p.-291.
2. Tabaqat Ibn Sa'd, Vol. VIII, p. 38.
3. Issba, Vol. VIII, p. 118.
4. Ibid., p. 65.
5. Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Nikah.

Nevertheless, she had the element of laughter in her. She sometimes walked in such a way that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) could not help smiling. Once she told that yesterday night she offered her prayer with the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). He prolonged his prostration to such an extent that I feared lest my nose should begin to bleed. So I caught hold of my nose for long. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah upon him) smiled on hearing these words.

She was terribly afraid of Dajjal. Once she came to 'A'isha Hafsa when both of them said to her jokingly : Dajjal has appeared. Hadrat Sauda (Allah be pleased with her) was utterly founded. There was a camp nearby where some persons were lighting fire ; she entered it. Hadrat 'A'isha and Hafsa (Allah be pleased with them) went to the Holy Prophet (peace blessings of Allah be upon him) laughingly and told him about the joke which they had played with Sauda. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) went to the camp and said : Dajjal has not yet come. Thereupon, Hadrat Sauda (Allah be pleased with her) came out; the cobwebs had struck to her clothes. She removed the cobwebs from her clothes. (According to M.S.Siddiqi this Hadith is weak and unauthenticated).

DEVOTED WOMEN IN ISLAM

::: "The woman is the queen of her house" (Hadith)

::: Hadhrat Sauda (RA)
::: Hadhrat Khansa (RA) Exhorts Her Sons to Bravery
::: Hadhrat Safiyyah (RA) Kills A Spy
::: Hadhrat Asma (Radhiyallaho anha's) interview with
    the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) regarding the Reward for Women.
::: The Story of Hadhrat Umme Ammarah (RA)
::: Story of Hadhrat Umme Hakim (RA).
::: Martyrdom of Hadhrat Sumayyah (RA)
::: The story of Hadhrat Asma bint Abu Bakr (RA)

::: ARIFAT

::: MUHADDITHAT

::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: :::