Once Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) was busy spinning yarn whilst Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was mending his shoe. Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) took a moment to gaze at Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and noticed that there were beads of perspiration on his blessed forehead. To her utter amazement, light began emanating from those beads of perspiration. Just then, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) turned towards Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) and, noticing her amazement, asked, “O ‘Aaishah! Why are you looking so astounded?”
Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) replied, “Your forehead began perspiring and light started emanating from the beads of perspiration. If only Abu Kabeer Al-Huzali (a poet) had seen you, he would have realized that you are most befitting of his poetry.”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then asked Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), “And what is the poetry of Abu Kabeer?” Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) thus recited the couplet to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) which meant:
“When you look at the lines on his forehead
It shines like a cloud struck by lightning on a dark night”
When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) heard these words of praise from Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), he (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) walked up to her, kissed her on her forehead and said in appreciation of her statement, “May Allah Ta‘ala reward you tremendously on my behalf O ‘Aaishah. I am more delighted with you than you are with me.”
(As-Sunanul Kubraa – Baihaqi #15427)
Lessons:
1. Marriage is a bed of roses that requires constant care and ‘watering’. Hence, love and affection are not confined to the first few months of marriage. Rather, from time to time, spouses need to compliment and praise each other, as these gestures of love nurture the relationship and ‘keep it fresh’. Merely having love and affection in the heart is not sufficient, as the spouse cannot read or hear the feelings hidden in the heart. It must also be expressed, within the limits of sharee‘ah.
2. When Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) expressed the words of praise, which was an expression of love from her, this was immediately returned with an act of affection from Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). It was also coupled with a statement that was sure to have filled the heart of Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) to the brim with joy and happiness. The important lesson taught to us by our most beloved Master (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is that the gestures of love and affection as well as the tokens of acknowledgement and appreciation from one’s spouse must never go unnoticed. In fact, they must also be returned with a more affectionate gesture.
3. An extremely important point to take note of is that the display of affection between the spouses took place in privacy. No couple can possess even an iota of the love and bond which existed between Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha). Yet the noble example of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was not to make any public display of affection. Such public displays of affection are against the dictates of hayaa and modesty.