(Sayyidah Haleemah Sa’diyyah [radhiyallahu ‘anha] – Part Two)

When it was time for the Banu Sa’d to depart from Makkah Mukarramah, Sayyidah Haleemah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) bade farewell to Aaminah, the mother of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). She mounted the donkey, carrying Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) along with her, whilst her husband rode their camel.

As they began traveling, her donkey surprisingly began to surpass the other conveyances. On witnessing this, the people were quite amazed as this was the very same donkey which held her back on her way to Makkah Mukarramah due to its weakness. They said from behind, “Take it easy on us. Is this not the same donkey of yours which you had come with?” She replied, “By Allah, yes. This is indeed the very same one.” Hearing this, the women remarked, “By Allah, undoubtedly something truly strange has happened to it.”

Finally, they reached the place where the Banu Sa’d lived in the countryside. At that time, no other region was affected by drought as severely as theirs. Therefore, their goats would not have much to eat and could thus not produce milk. However, the goats of Sayyidah Haleemah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) would return home in the evening with udders swollen with milk.

On witnessing this, the people urged their shepherds to graze their goats where the goats of Sayyidah Haleemah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) would graze. They complied, but their goats would still come back with empty udders whilst the goats of Sayyidah Haleemah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) would return satiated and full of milk. Sayyidah Haleemah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) explains, “We continued witnessing an increase and goodness from Allah Ta‘ala until two years passed and I weaned him off.”

Thereafter, Sayyidah Haleemah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) took Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to Makkah Mukarramah in order to return him to his mother. Since they were really desirous of keeping Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) with them for a little longer due to the blessings that he had brought to them, Sayyidah Haleemah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) pleaded with his mother thus, “(It would be nice) if you would leave him by us until he grows stronger because I fear the plague of Makkah over him.” In this manner, she continued pleading with her until she finally agreed and they returned with him once again.

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) thus remained with them for another two years until he was four. During that time, he even began accompanying his milk-brothers to the grasslands to graze their goats. On one such occasion, the famous incident of the splitting open of the blessed chest of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had taken place. This event left Sayyidah Haleemah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) and her husband exceptionally alarmed and concerned for Rasulullah’s (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) well-being. They thus decided that it would be best to return Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to his mother. Therefore, Sayyidah Haleemah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) travelled to Makkah Mukarramah and returned Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to the care of his mother.

Nonetheless, Sayyidah Haleemah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) had taken excellent care of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) during this time and Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) gained proficiency in the Arabic language. Hence, once while addressing the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) remarked, “I am the most Arab among you, (since) I am from the Quraish, and my dialect (of Arabic) is the dialect of the Banu Sa’d bin Bakr (who spoke very eloquent Arabic).”

After many years, when Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was married to Sayyidah Khadeejah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), Sayyidah Haleemah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) came to visit Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and explained the dire constraints that they were facing due to a drought that had afflicted them. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) spoke to Sayyidah Khadeejah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) in this regard, and Sayyidah Khadeejah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) gave Sayyidah Haleemah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) forty sheep, as well as a camel.

Thereafter, the next time that Sayyidah Haleemah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) had seen Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was after nubuwwah (prophethood) on the occasion of the Battle of Hunain. As she approached Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), he exclaimed, “My mother! My mother!” Such was the love that he (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had for her that he even took his shawl and spread it out for her, upon which she sat. It was on this occasion that she accepted Islam.

(Seerah Ibni Hishaam vol. 1, pgs. 163 – 165, Tabaqaat Ibni Sa’d vol. 1, pgs. 111 – 114, and Sharhuz Zurqaani vol. 1, pgs. 270-282)

Lessons:

1. As long as a person remains connected to the blessed personality of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and to his beautiful teachings, he will continue experiencing goodness, favours and blessings from Allah Ta‘ala.

2. A person must never forget the kindness that people have shown to him, no matter how much of time may have passed and how far in life he may have progressed. Hence, despite Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) being blessed with the high rank of nubuwwah, and despite nearly six decades passing, he showed so much of respect and regard to Sayyidah Haleemah (radhiyallahu ‘anha). If this was the extent that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) went in respecting his foster mother, how much more compassion, love, respect and regard ought to be shown to one’s biological parents.