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just to save their lives.
1 As for the oppressed Muslim women, they
refused to even pretend to be unbelievers and withstood the persecution
and torture until either they rid themselves of their persecutors or
were martyrs to their faith. Among such women was Sumayyah Bint
2
Khibba: She was a maid to AbU Hudhayfah and was married to
Y; sir. She was the seventh person to be converted to Islam and
follow the Prophet Muhammad. 3 Summayyah, her husband and their son,
Ammar, were persecuted so that they would renounce Islam and re-adopt
paganism. During the midday heat BaniY Makhz7um would drag the family
out into the open desert and throw hot sand on them. The Prophet
(to give them courage) would pass by them and say, "Forbearance
(Yi-sirls family), you are promised paradise. " 4
Although Summayyah was not young and her sonstitution was weak, yet
no matter how much torture she received, she remained resilient, resolute
and brave. She would not renounce Islam, even to save her life, she
finally died from wounds inflicted on her by Ab7 Jahl, thus becoming
the first woman martyr in Islamic history.
5 Howeyer, when AbZ7 Jahl
was killed at the Battle of Badr, the Prophet said togAmmar, "Allah
has killed the one who killed your motherOll
Another woman who refused to renounce her religion under persecution
was p Umm Shurayk. On conversion to Islam, she visited the woman of
Quraysh in secret to teach them her new beliefs. When discovered
by Meccan unbelievers, she was sent by camel through the desert
without food or water for three days and forced to stand in the sun
while her escort took shelter and refreshment. Eventuallyo while they*
1. See sAfIW.
2. See Ibn : A-d,
op. cit. s Vol. 2. P. 88
op. cit., Vol. 8, Po 193, Ibn Hajar, - op. cit. ', Vol. 8T
3. See Ibn Hajar, op. cit., Vol. 8, P-1140
A
4. Ibid and*Ibn d, op. cit., P. 193 andrAfi-fi, Vol. 2, P. 88
5. Ibn A. '-d,, op. cit., P. 193 and Ibn Hajar, op. cit., P. 114
6. Ibid
158