PIOUS WOMEN

Râyi‘ah or Râbi‘ah Shâmiyah bint Ismâ‘îl

She used to spend the entire night in ‘ibâdah and fast all the time. She used to say: "When I hear the 'adhân , I think of the angel who will call out on the day of qiyâmah . When I look at the heat (hot weather), I think of the heat of qiyâmah ." Her husband was also a very pious personality by the name of Ibn Abî al- H iwârî. She used to say to him: "I love you just as one loves one's brother." What she meant was that her nafs did not have any desire. She used to say: "When a person occupies himself in the ‘ibâdah of Allah, then He makes the person aware of his faults and shortcomings. Once a person becomes aware of his shortcomings, he has no time to look at the faults and shortcomings of others." She used to say: "I can see the jinns moving around, and I can also see the h ûrs ."

Lesson : O women! This is what you call ‘ibâdah . See what a good cure she showed for the treatment of this sickness which you have, i.e. looking and searching for the faults of others. Look at your own faults and you will never see anyone else's faults. We learn that she also used to get kashf . We have already mentioned this above.