WHAT A BEAUTIFUL LESSON OF SACRIFICE!

Islam is the religion of Allah and the quality required to live under his standard is a sincere and complete faith (Imaan) in one Allah. When this Imaan penetrates the bottom of the heart of a person, it makes it more firm and stronger than a mountain, thus giving it exceptional qualities. Islamic history abounds in examples of this kind. Here is one:

In the initial days of Islam, Abu Jahl, the bitter enemy of the Muslims, having noticed the conversion of the mother of Hadhrat Ammar bin Yasir (Radiyallahu anhu), thought of torturing her by the vilest method. Indeed, this believing mother hardly gave in to Abu Jahl's threat who wanted her to abandon the worship of one and only Allah. However, her degree of Imaan, the fear of her creator in the depths of her heart, her enthusiasm for the Hereafter gave her superhuman courage to resist the tortures she underwent. She resolved to die in the right path rather than give in to the Lie.

Vexed by her belief and firmness, Abu Jahl pierced her private part with his spear.

Her sacrifice and bravery for the cause of Islam, her great love for Allah and her thirst for truth and righteousness made her the first female martyr (Shaheed) among the martyrs.

Islam was not only a battlefield for men. Many of our mothers also shed their blood so that Islam would be known to us today. They had sacrificed their lives to safeguard their Imaan and to help the propagation of Islam. The aims and interests of this world, did not mean anything to them, rather they aspired to the life of the Hereafter with unparalleled ardour.

Isn't this a beautiful example for the fighters of Islam and for those who call themselves Muslims? These martyrs lived only in fear of Allah and their ultimate goal was to gain the favour of Allah by dying in the right path and under the supreme blessing.

This is unlike us who only live for this world and its vain attractions and who spend only a tiny moment of our lives to please our Creator. Yet our material progress is in no way equal to the spiritual progress of these firm and sincere adherents of Islam. Moreover, true success is not limited to a purely transitory and material prosperity of this world, but includes success in this life and in the life of the Hereafter.

[English version of "Quelle belle leçon de sacrifice !‎" – Al Haadi – Vol. 1 No. 2]