There was once a slave girl named Jowharah (rahimahallah) (which means ‘jewel’). She initially belonged to a certain king, but was thereafter freed. After gaining her emancipation, she renounced the world and married Abu ‘Abdillah Al-Baraathi (rahimahullah). She then dedicated her life to remaining engaged in the ‘ibaadah of Allah Ta‘ala. The following are two incidents which shine in the life of this gleaming jewel:
On one occasion, Jowharah (rahimahallah) asked her husband, “O Abu ‘Abdillah! Will women be adorned with jewellery when they enter Jannah?” When he replied in the affirmative, she suddenly emitted a shriek and collapsed unconscious. When she regained her senses, her husband asked her, “What happened?” She replied, “I remembered my previous condition and lifestyle, and all the luxuries of the world that I had acquired. By Allah, I feared that I would be deprived of abundant rewards in the Hereafter!”
One night, Jowharah (rahimahallah) had a dream in which she saw magnificent tents erected. She enquired, “Who are these tents for?” She was informed, “It is for those who recite the Quraan Majeed in Tahajjud Salaah.” After seeing this dream, Jowharah (rahimahallah) dedicated her entire night to performing Tahajjud Salaah.
She would also awaken her husband at night to perform Tahajjud Salaah and would say, “Kaarwaan raft.” (a statement in Persian meaning ‘the caravan has departed’. What she meant was that they should not be left behind, but should also join the caravan of the people of Jannah, by performing Tahajjud Salaah).
(Sifatus Safwah vol. 1, pg. 575)
Lessons:
1. The purpose of a person’s life is to prepare and develop his Jannah. While we are allowed to enjoy the permissible pleasures and luxuries of this world, we should not allow these to distract us and become an impediment in our path to paradise by causing us to neglect fulfilling the rights of Allah Ta‘ala and the people, and by causing us to fall into sin.
2. In life, people generally fear ‘being left behind’. However, this fear is with regards to the latest fashions and fads, holiday destinations, cars, etc. that they fear being left behind from. In reality, even if we do not get ‘left behind’ with regard to these things, we will have to ‘leave them behind’ when we pass away one day. Hence, we should rather worry about not being left behind on the journey to Jannah.
3. Every person is able to influence and encourage others towards good in some way or another, but a wife has a unique position in influencing her husband. Due to his attachment and fondness for her, he will often accept encouragement from her which he would not accept from other people. She should thus take full advantage of this privilege to assist him in reaching Jannah.