Some more great women of Islam (II)

[The first and second parts of this series ran here and here respectively.  This is the third and concluding part.]

 

Hadhrat Sha’awana (May Allah be well pleased with her)

 

She would be crying always.  When she would be asked about it, she would say:  By Allah!  My desire is that I keep crying so much so that tears dry up.  Then I would shed tears of blood so much so that there should be no blood in any part of my body.  The one who can’t cry should have mercy on those who cry, as the one who cries is crying because he has recognized Self, the oppressions he has wrought on it and his final outcome.

 

She would cry and supplicate:  O my Allah!  You know that one thirsty of your love is never sated.

 

The lady who served her as her attendant said:  From the time I saw Hadhrat Sha’awaana (May Allah be well pleased with her), I have never inclined towards the world and I have never considered any Muslim as lowly.

 

Hadhrat Fudhail bin ‘Ayaaz (May Allah be well pleased with him) would come to her now and then and would request her to pray for him.  May Allah be well pleased with her.

 

Hadhrat Amina Ramliyya (May Allah be well pleased with her)

 

Hadhrat Bishr bin Al Harith (May Allah be well pleased with him) would go to pay his respects to her. Once, he fell ill.  Hadhrat Amina (May Allah be well pleased with her) called upon him.  She was still present when Hadhrat Imam Ahmed bin Hambal (May Allah be well pleased with him) also called upon Hadhrat Bishr.  On seeing Hadhrat Amina (May Allah be well pleased with her), the Imam asked:  Who is this lady?  Hadhrat Bishr said:  She is Amina Ramliyya.  She heard the news of my illness and has called upon me.  The Imam asked Hadhrat Bishr (May Allah be well pleased with him) to request her to pray for him.  Hadhrat Amina (May Allah be well pleased with her) supplicated thus:  O Allah! Bishr bin Harith and Ahmed bin Hambal seek thy protection from the fire of hell.  O Most Merciful!  Grant them thy protection.

 

Hadhrat Imam Ahmed (May Allah be well pleased with him) says:  When a portion of the night passed, an epistle was cast at me on which was written:  In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent and Merciful.  We have done the same and there are other bounties with Us.

 

Hadhrat Manfoosa bint Zaid (May Allah be well pleased with her)

 

When any of her children would pass away, she would place the child’s head in her lap and say:  By Allah!  With me, your preceding me is better than your remaining behind.  My being patient about you is better than my being restless about you. 

 

Hadhrat Syeda Nafeesa bint Al Hasan bin Zaid bin Al Hasan bin ‘Ali bin Abi Talib (May Allah be well pleased with them)

 

She was born in 145 Hijri in Makkah.  She grew up in the worship of Allah Most High.  She was married to Hadhrat Ishaaq Al Mu'taman (May Allah be well pleased with him) and she begot Hadhrat Qasim and Hadhrat Umme Kulthoom (May Allah be well pleased with them) from him.  She stayed in Egypt for 7 years and passed away in 208 Hijri.  Then her revered husband took both of his children and left Egypt and all of them are buried in Jannat Ul Baq’ee.  However, there is some disagreement in this regard about the father himself.

 

When Imam Shafa’ee (May Allah be well pleased with him) came to Egypt, he would come to pay his respects to her and in Ramadhan, would lead her in Taraweeh Salaat in her mosque. 

 

[Excerpted from Tabaqaat Imam Sha’arani (May Allah shower His mercy on him)]