Life-of-Muhammad

Life of Muhammad sa 71Prophet sa of God done?" It was a strange expression touse, but when we remember it was a woman who usedit, it no longer seems so strange. A woman's emotionsare strong. She often addresses a dead person as thoughhe were alive. If that person is nearly related, she tendsto make a complaint to him and ask why he isabandoning her and leaving her behind uncared for andunlooked after. It is common for women to mourn theloss of their dear ones in this way. The expression usedby this woman, therefore, is appropriate to a womangrieving over the Prophet's sa death. This woman held theProphet sa dear and refused to believe he was dead evenafter she had heard that he was. At the same time shedid not deny the news but continued to say in truewomanly grief, "What has the Prophet sa of God done?"By saying this she pretended the Prophet sa was alive,and complained that a loyal leader like him had chosento give them all the pain of separation.When the returning soldier found that this womandid not care about the death of her father, brother andhusband, he understood the depth of her love for theProphet sa and told her, "As for the Prophet sa , he is asyou wish, fully alive." The woman asked the soldier toshow her the Prophet sa . He pointed to one part of thefield. The woman rushed to that part and reaching theProphet sa , held his mantle in her hand, kissed it andsaid, "My father and mother be sacrificed to thee, OProphet of God sa , if thou livest, I care not who else dies"(Hisham).We can see, therefore, what fortitude and devotiondid Muslims—both men and women—display in thisbattle. Christian writers narrate proudly the story ofMary Magdalene and her companions and tell us of theirdevotion and bravery. It is said that in the small hoursof the morning they stole through the Jews and madefor the tomb of Jesus as . But what is this compared withthe devotion of this Muslim woman of the tribe of Dinar?One more example is recorded in history. After thedead had been buried and the Prophet sa was returning