Ideal Traits Modern Women Can Learn From Islam’s Greatest Women Of All Time

Living in a world where one is lavish with riches and too consumed with time and advancement of technology, does take away the special role that women really play in our society.

And while we often hear nonsensical stories that taint religion with the emergence of terrorist groups that suppresses and enslaves women, according to Islam, women should always be put on a pedestal, treated with love, honour, and respect for they are the most precious creatures of God.

Islam also glorifies women in a way that elevates them in society, placing them above men as the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself deemed the most important person in this world, beyond anyone else, is the mother and that Paradise is at her feet (Ahmad, Basa'i and Al-Baihaqi).

It was relayed in the Hadith (Bukhari) when a man asked the Prophet: "Who is most entitled to be treated with the best companionship by me?" the Prophet answered "Your mother." The man asked, "Who is next?" the Prophet repeated, "Your mother." Again, the man asked, "Who is next?" the Prophet said, "Your mother." And when the man asked for a fourth time, "Who is next?" the Prophet said "Your father."

Women in Islam have the right to own property, the rights of inheritance, the rights to education; and as for men with wives, the Prophet told Muslims: "Fear Allah in respect of women." And: "The best of you are they who behave best to their wives…The more civil and kind a Muslim is to his wife, the more perfect in faith he is."

But perhaps, the race to conform to society and being ignorant at the same time has also made women lose their charm in this modern day and age. So, we’ve compiled some ideal traits that women today can learn from some of the greatest women in Islam – because greatness starts within you.

Patience

Some women are undermined for their capabilities, some want to bear a child so badly but are unable to, while some just wish their lives would be better in every way. And the lack of perseverance sometimes makes them give up on their dreams and dwell on what is not bestowed upon them.

Although, looking at those who suffer a greater deal than us would make us grateful for what we have, it would be a greater reminder for women to compare their hardships to the suffering of Asiya, described in Quran as the wife of Pharaoh.

The ruling of Pharoah was one misguided as he deemed he was the Lord to worship, and under his wing, Asiya lived in oppression. But when she discovered baby Musa in a crate floating in the river, she soon took him in and became his wet nurse, then raised him as her own child, and her life changed. Musa grew to accept Islam and Asiya soon secretly worshipped God and prayed in disguise fearing her husband.

But Asiya finally came out of the closet, retaliating to her husband’s tyranny towards Muslims. She was whipped, tortured and taunted, and Pharoah even ordered his guards to drop the largest boulder they could onto her body, and they did – but not before God took her soul – straight into heaven she went− before the boulder even hit her body.

Loyalty

“She believed in me when the whole world refuted me and she attested to my trueness when the whole world accused me of falsehood. She offered me compassion and loyalty with her wealth when everyone else had forsaken me.” [Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): Narrated by Masnad Ahmad]

Those were the words of the Prophet about his first and most beloved wife Khadijah. Today, women have their own careers, are successful in life, and work around the clock, to the point that they often neglect their duties as a mother or wife.

This is why Khadijah should be an inspiration for women, because despite her success as a businesswoman, she was always present to support her husband and share all his troubles and difficulties, as well as offered him advice when needed.

Khadijah, the first person to become Muslim, was his best friend, companion and true love, and they were monogamously married for 25 years with six children. It was also narrated that the Prophet said: "The best of its women is Khadijah bint Khuwailid".

Purity

For the sake of ‘likes’ and ‘views’ these days, especially on the internet and social media, most women are seen flaunting their assets which only leads to them being seen as “objects” of sexual gratification for men. More and more females are also sexually inclined at a young age as there is no self-control, resulting in the value of a woman’s dignity depreciating by the day.

This is in contrast to the story of Maryam, the virgin who bore a child with God’s divine intervention – as a sign for mankind. She was a modest, honourable, and pious woman, that she was purified and chosen above all the women of creation.

She told the Angel Gabriel who represented himself to her as a well-proportioned man: “How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?”. He said, “Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, ‘It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter [already] decreed.’” (Quran chapter 19)

However after the birth of her son Isa, she was taunted by the men who accused her of committing adultery and did not believe that Isa was a miracle from God – until Isa later spoke from his cradle.

So, if Maryam was struggling to defend her dignity while remaining pure after her miraculous birth, it’s a shame how these days, more women are going out of their way to outdo one another, finding it flattering to be seen as objects of sexual gratifications, as they give away the purity that Maryam had guarded all her life.

Sincerity

Being truthful is a hard trait to find in most people these days, as it is also hard to encounter a person who is sincere in their deeds and with others. We often see people lying to their bosses, pretending to work, posing in pictures to show off their good deeds – which begs the question how does one live their lives lying to themselves just to look good in someone else’s eyes?

“There was not a trait most reprehensible in the sight of Prophet’s companions more than lying. Whenever the Messenger of Allah found any of his companions lying, that impression would not depart from his heart until he was vividly shown that the companion had sincerely turned to Allah in repentance," said Aisha, the third and youngest wife of the Prophet.

Aisha, was known to be an intellectual individual, the most learned in her time. She was a top Islamic scholar, a champions’ of women’s rights, a military commander in war battles, and she continued to spread the Prophet’s message and served the Muslim community for 44 years after his death – where he died in her arms.

She never conformed to notions of what a “traditional” Muslim woman should be, and with her substance as well as her gift of speech, she always fought for justice and stand up for the truth. Her sincerity made her the role model to women and people from all walks of life turned to her for advice on issues in their lives. Apart from spreading knowledge, she spent her days in charity and fast.

Steadfastness

Committing ourselves to our duties in this world and dedicating our worship to God in spite of life’s challenges is never an easy thing to do—especially for women who are juggling with so many roles.

But let’s be reminded of what the youngest daughter of the Prophet and his wife Khadijah, Fatimah, who, in spite going through a tough life, growing up in a time when her father was mistreated by unbelievers, and witnessed firsthand how he was abused, remained unmoved in her faith and her duties.

She led a humble life but her piety was so strong that she never let any of the sorrow and anguish in her lifetime get to her. Instead, she grew into the woman that is deemed “complete” − being a daughter, wife and mother at the same time – and spent her time being devoted to God.

She bore four children; Imam Hasan, Imam Hussain, Syeda Zainab and Syeda Umm-e Kulthum, who are all well-known for their piety, goodness and generosity. And even when she was married, Fatimah would do the work all by herself – from carrying pitchers of water on her shoulders, grinding corn until her hands were swollen from blisters, to doing household chores, while her husband was out making ends meet for their family.

Regarded the ‘Leader of all the women of the world for all times’, her son, Imam Hussain recounted “I often witnessed my mother…absorbed in prayer from dusk to dawn."

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