The era of our Prophet (pbuh), that is, the era of the Age of Bliss , is a period in which all kinds of examples are presented to us. Many examples of those who were polytheists and found the guidance of Islam, those who showed patience and were resolute, those who fought in the battlefields, those who stood by the right against the wrong, were shown to us through the companions. The lady we will talk about in this article is a companion who was instrumental in her husband’s guidance. Let’s learn together the life of Hz. Rumeysa (ra), the mother of Hz. Anas (ra) .
Who is Hazrat Rumeysa (Umm Sulaym)?
Ummu Sulaym , who was from the sons of Najjar, is also known and mentioned by the names Rumeysa, Rumeyla, Sahla and Uneyfa. She had two children named Enes and Bara from her marriage to her husband Malik b. Nadr. When Prophethood came to Hz. Muhammad (pbuh), Bara was a newborn. At the time of prophethood, Hz. Rumeysa was probably in her 30s. She was one of the first Ansar to become Muslims while our Prophet (pbuh) was in Mecca before migrating to Medina .
Although she was a Muslim, her husband Malik bin Nadr avoided becoming a Muslim and continued the religion of his ancestors. When Malik bin Nadr saw his wife teaching her son the Shahada one day , he became angry with his wife and left her for Syria. While he was still on the road, one of the enemies of his family killed him before he could reach Syria. When the Prophet (pbuh) came to Medina, Umm Sulaym put her son Anas bin Malik in his service, and Anas bin Malik stayed with him until the death of the Prophet (pbuh).
After the news of the death of her husband Malik bin Nadr, she married Abu Talha , who was her suitor, and from this marriage she had two children named Abu Umayr and Abdullah. Although there is no clear information about the death of Umm Sulaym , it is thought that she died during the caliphate of Hz. Uthman (ra) . It is also known that she narrated 14 hadiths . The Prophet (pbuh) saw Umm Sulaym in his dream and said that she was in heaven.
The Most Auspicious Dowry
After becoming a Muslim and converting her child to Islam, her husband got angry and left her, and she became a widow. Despite being a widow, she had suitors, the most important of which was Abu Talha. When Abu Talha first approached her, she had not yet become a Muslim. When Abu Talha proposed to her, Umm Sulaym set one condition: “To become a Muslim.” Umm Sulaym said the following to Abu Talha, who had not converted to Islam at that time:
Abu Talha! In fact, you are not a person to be rejected. But you also know that I am a Muslim. You are an infidel. The god you worship is a piece of wood carved from a tree that grew from the ground. Aren’t you ashamed of worshipping a piece of wood? Look, if you become a Muslim, I will accept you and I will not ask for anything else as a dowry.
Upon these words that affected her, Abu Talha asked for some time and left. Later, she gave the testimony and became a Muslim. The people of that time said that because of this incident, Umm Sulaym (ra) received the best dowry, that is, the guidance of Abu Talha. She was remembered as the woman who guided her husband and the person she would marry. Our Prophet (pbuh) was very happy that Abu Talha became a Muslim and said that he was worth a thousand soldiers in war. Thus, Rumaysa (ra) was instrumental in guiding someone worth a thousand soldiers and became the wife of this blessed companion.
An Exemplary Mother, a Good Raiser
Ummu Sulaym (ra) was a very intelligent and clever woman. She also participated in wars just like the other female companions, and despite being pregnant, she prepared herself for everything possible with a dagger on her waist. Hazrat Rumaysa (ra) was a mother who achieved the reward of leaving a good child, which is also considered as a sadaqah-i jariya . She showed courage enough to give her son to the service of the Prophet (pbuh) when he was very young. Her son Anas (ra) was one of the companions who never left the side of the Prophet (pbuh), was young and intelligent, and narrated the most hadiths. Ummu Sulaym (ra) raised her son very well and well, and told what she had learned about Islam to her two children who were still young. She did not want her son to stay with her like other mothers, and gave him to the Prophet (pbuh) so that he could learn, understand and live Islam better. He raised a child to serve the Messenger of Allah, a companion for the Age of Bliss, and a narrator of hadith for the Islamic world .
The mother is seen as the door of compassion and mercy for the family. Umm Sulaym (ra) was undoubtedly such a mother. However, she also had a side that provided fortitude in the family, which became apparent after the death of Abu Talha and their son Abu Umayr. Abu Umayr was a child that the Prophet (pbuh) loved and showed interest in when he came to Abu Talha’s house. Umm Sulaym advised her husband as follows regarding Abu Umayr, who was ill: “Can a person who borrows something from someone keep it with him instead of giving it back if he asks for it back?” When Abu Talha said that the borrowed thing must definitely be returned, Umm Sulaym said that their son Abu Umayr was a trust from Allah and that he had taken back the children he had lent. When Abu Talha, who had lost her child, went to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) prayed for them. When Umm Sulaym became pregnant again and had another son, the Prophet named him Abdullah.
Umm Sulaym (ra) both lived and experienced the love of Allah. She instilled this in her children and left behind beautiful legacies from them. As a parent, she kept her child out of her sight, but she also wanted him to serve the Prophet for the sake of Islam, on the path of Allah. When she lost her child, she showed the necessary fortitude and knew the wisdom behind it. As a wife, she looked for spirituality in her husband rather than worldly things and saved his afterlife. May Allah be pleased with her and may her life be an example for us.