A woman who spoke from the Quraan for forty years

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak Rahimahullah mentions that he was on his way to perform Haj of Baitullah and Ziyaarah of Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. While on route he came across an old woman who was sitting by herself. She was dressed in a woolen cloak and veil. The following fascinating exchange of words then occured between them:

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : "Assalaamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakaatuhu."

The woman : "Salaam (peace) - a word from the Lord (Allah), Most Merciful." (Surah Yaaseen, Verse 58)

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : "May Allah have mercy on you. What are you doing here all alone?"

The woman : "Whosoever Allah sends astray, none can guide him." (Surah A'araaf, Verse 186)

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : (From this I understood that she was lost). "Where do you intend to go?"

The woman : "Glorified be He who took His slave for a journey by night from Masjid al-Haraam (in Makkah) to Masjid al-Aqsa (in Palestine)." (Surah Israa, Verse 1)

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : (I realized that she had completed her Haj and was now heading for Baitul Maqdis.) "How long have you been in this place?"

The woman : "Three full nights." (Surah Maryam, Verse 10)

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : "I do not see any food with you. What have you been eating?"

The woman : "And it is He who feeds me and gives me to drink." (Surah Shu'ara, Verse 79)

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : "With what have you been making wudhu?"

The woman : "And if you find no water, then perform tayammum with clean earth." (Surah Nisaa, Verse 43)

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : "I have some food with me. Would you like to eat?"

The woman : "Then complete your fast till the nighfall." (Surah Baqarah, Verse 187)

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : "But this is not Ramadhaan!"

The woman : "And whoever does good voluntarily, verily Allah is All-Recogniser, All-Knower." (Surah Baqarah, Verse 158)

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : "It is permissible for us to break the fast while on a journey."

The woman : "And that you fast is better for you if only you know." (Surah Baqarah, Verse 184)

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : "Why do you not speak like I do?"

The woman : "Not a word does he utter, but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it)." (Surah Qaaf, Verse 18)

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : "Which tribe are you from?"

The woman : "And follow not that of which you have no knowledge. Verily, the hearing and the sight and the heart of each of those will be questioned (by Allah)." (Surah Israa, Verse 36)

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : "I have made a mistake. Please forgive me!"

The woman : "No blame on you this day. May Allah forgive you." (Surah Yusuf, Verse 92)

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : "Would you like to mount my camel and meet your caravan?"

The woman : "And whatever good you do Allah knows it." (Surah Baqarah, Verse 197)

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : (I then made my camel sit down).

The woman : "Tell the believing men to lower their gaze." Surah Nur, Verse 30)

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : (I lowered my gaze from her). "Mount the camel!"

As she proceeded to mount, the camel jerked suddenly and her clothes were torn in the process.

The woman : "And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. (Surah Shura, Verse 30)

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : "Wait until I tie the camel. Then you may mount it."

The woman : "And we made Sulaiman (Alaihis Salaam) to understand." (Surah Ambiya, Verse 79)

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : (So, I tied the camel). "Now mount!"

The woman : (After mounting). "Glory be to Him Who has subjected this to us and we could never have it." (Surah Zukhruf, Verse 13)

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : (I took hold of the reins and began to lead the camel swiftly and began shouting to make it go faster).

The woman : "Be moderate in your walking and lower your voice." (Surah Luqman, Verse 19)

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : (I began to walk slowly and I sang some verses of poetry)

The woman : "Recite as much of the Quran as may be easy for you." (Surah Muzzammil, Verse 20)

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : "You have been granted great bounties (from Allah)."

The woman : "But none remember except men of understanding." (Surah Baqarah, Verse 269)

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : (After I had walked a short distance) "Do you have a husband?"

The woman : "O you who believe, ask not of things, which if they were made known unto you, would give you trouble." (Surah Maa'idah, Verse 101)

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : (I kept quiet and I did not speak until we had found her caravan) "Here is the caravan. Do you know anybody in it?"

The woman : "Wealth and children are an adornment of the life of this world." (Surah Kahf, Verse 46)

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : (I realized she had children) "What work do they do in the caravan?"

The woman : "And landmarks and by the stars they guide themselves." (Surah Nahl, Verse 16)

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : (I realized that they were guides for the caravan. I led her to the tents.) "Here are the tents. Are your sons here?"

The woman : "And Allah took Ibraaheem as a friend." (Surah Nisaa, Verse 125) "And Allah spoke directly to Moosa." (Surah Nisaa, Verse 164) "O Yahya! Hold fast to the Scripture." (Surah Maryam, Verse 12)

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : (I called out) "O Ibraaheem, Moosa, Yahya!" (Soon a group of young men, handsome as the moon, were standing before me).

The woman : (When everyone was seated) "Now send one of you with this silver coin of yours to the city, and let him find which is the pure good food there and bring some of that to you." (Surah Kahf, Verse 19)

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : (One of them went out, bought food and presented it before me).

The woman : "Eat and drink at ease for that which you sent on before you in the past days." (Surah Haaqqah, Verse 24)

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : "Your food is haraam upon me until you tell me her story."

The sons answered : "This is our mother. For the past forty years she has not spoken except from the Quraan out of fear that she might speak something that is incorrect and this may anger Allah."

Abdullah Ibn Mubarak : "This is the grace of Allah which He bestows to whom He pleases. And Allah is the owner of great bounty." (Al-Mustatraf)

Lesson

The woman was undoubtedly very knowledgeable regarding the Quraan. She knew the appropriate verses for every occasion and discussion that had occured for forty years of her life. Her control over her tongue was absolutely amazing. Imagine! She had not spoken an evil word for forty years. It surely takes immense patience and perseverance to reach the stage where ones words are only verses of the Quraan. Subhaanallah!
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