'And some of the females held my banner' (qasida 6:6)

This is the motto for this section, which is either for the women view points or for the things that matter the most for them.

You can find all special expressions in the Glossary. We need your comments to develop this site for you.

Sayyda Nafisah [AAH]

She is the daughter of sayydi al-Hasan al-Anwar [AAT], the precious in the knowledge and the honorable in both the worldly life and hereafter. She grew up in an environment where the knowledge, the piety and Allah's fearing prevailed, and in a medium full of knowledgeable scholars, worshipers and ascetics. So she read The Holy Quran and memorized it, learned the knowledge and understood it and she listened to the knowledge of Hadith and Fiqh and understood it.

She [AAH] had an always answered prayer. She spent her days fasting and her nights worshiping. She knew the truth and abided by it, and knew the falsehood, denied it and avoided it. She strived in worshiping until Allah honored her with several miraculous acts.

Her origin and relations [AAH]:

She is sayyda Nafisah the daughter of sayydi Abi-Mohammad al-Hasan al-Anwar ibn Zaid al-Ablaj ibn Imam al-Hasan as-Sebt ibn Imam Ali [AHHF]. She is from the lofty tree of the prophecy, which had good branches and pure origin. Her mother is a mother of children. However the mother of her brothers is Om-Salma bent Zaynab bent al-Hasan ibn al-Hasan ibn Imam Ali [AHHF]. This was never harming or undermining her value. As if we look back to the past, we would find that Allah's Prophet Ibrahim al-Khalil [PBUH] owned Hajer and she gave birth to his son prophet of Allah Ismail [PBUH], and the Honorable Messenger [PPBUH] came from this Lineage. Also the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH] owned Mariah the Coptic then she gave birth to his son Ibrahim.

Her birth [AAH]:

The father of sayyda Nafisah [AAH], sayydi al-Hasan al-Anwar [AAH] was in the habit of setting in the Sacred House, in order to give people knowledge lessons, discuss with them Fiqh cases, and study with them the knowledge of Qur'an. One day, while he was in that condition, a servant girl came to tell him the good news and said to him: Rejoice! O, my master, a beautiful girl was born for you tonight. We have never seen anyone more beautiful in face or more enlightened in forehead than her. The light is shining from her mouth and radiating from her countenance. When sayydi al-Hasan al-Anwar heard this good news, he was delighted and prostrated for Allah thankfully for what He gifted him of blessing and praising Allah for answering his prayer. He turned to the servant girl and gave her generously, then he said to her: Tell the people of the house to name her "Nafisah" as she will be, ISA, a precious one.

Sayyda Nafisah [AAH] was born in Mecca on Wednesday, the eleventh of Rabi' al-Awal in 145H. Her mother was delighted by her birth. What increased the joy of sayydi al-Hasan al-Anwar was that she was much like his sister sayyda Nafisah bent Zaid [AAH], who was married to the Caliph al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malek. When those present from the finest of good people and righteous disciples heard the news of birth of the baby girl of sayydi al-Hasan al-Anwar, they congratulated him for a hope came true and a prayer answered. He thanked them then raised his hands towards the sky and spread his palms for prayer and entreating, saying "O, Allah, let her grow up the best growth, accept her with a good and kind acceptance and make her one of Your righteous servants and close patrons whom You love and they love You. O, Allah, make her the metal of grace, the source of goodness, the origin of piety and the shine of the right guidance and light. O, Allah, make her precious in knowledge, great in the patience, honorable in the rank, strong in religion and perfect in certainty".

At the same time of the good news of the birth of sayyida Nafisah [AAH], the messenger of the caliph al-Abbas Abo-Ga'far al-Mansour came and dismounted his horse then he entered Ka’ba and split the rows till he reached sayydi al-Hasan al-Anwar. He took a letter out from his quiver and gave it to him, he also gave him with the letter the caliphate’s gift which was a big bag containing twenty thousand dinars. The letter emanated the smells of musk, perfume, and good scent. Sayydi al-Hasan opened and read it with deliberateness and patience. People were listening with worry for the greatest of the people of the house [Ahl-al-Bait] and the greatest of Bani Hashem. They were afraid that the caliph might harm or mistreat him. It was not long before they saw sayydi al-Hasan al-Anwar weeping. Their worry and fear for him increased, so they asked him about the contents of the caliph's letter. He answered them from between his tears with fear of this situation for the great deposit that he received on his shoulders. He said: “I was appointed as the ruler of Medina, the caliph has chosen me as its prince”!  The people’s faces became radiant with joy and their foreheads got enlightened with delight and pleasure. Then they said to him: Pleasure be for the city of the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH] with a man like you, who will establish the banner of justice in it, spreads the flag of the truth in it, and emit all over its sides and parts security, tranquility, peace, and justice. Pleasure be for its people! For gaining all that by the hands of a righteous one of the kinship of the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH], who executes the judgments, carries out the penalties, revives Sunna, renew the features of the orthodox Religion. So do not be hesitated, as maybe you would find a wronged one to do him just, a crying one for recourse to rescue him, a captured one to liberate him, or a homeless and driven away one to shelter him.

When sayydi al-Hasan al-Anwar heard those words from them, he relaxed them and said to them "If this emirate was a gift from Allah upon us and upon people, then it would be the glad tidings of that newborn - he meant sayyda Nafisah - and if this emirate was an honor for us, this newborn girl would be its messenger".

Her early life [AAH]:

Sayyda Nafisah [AAH] grew up an honorable growth. After her start up in Mecca surrounded by the glory and dignity, her father accompanied her when she was five years old to Medina. He started teaching her the elements of her religion and worldly life. Then she memorized the Quran and he also taught her the Hadith of the Faithful Prophet [PPBUH]. She learned the biography of the righteous people and the attributes of the pious ones. Her father did not limit her upbringing to the memorizing and narration nor studying and learning, but he made sure that he combines in her raising between words and deeds. So he used to make her participate with him in his devoutness and worshiping and make her recite his Awrad with him. He often accompanied her to the Prophetic Masjid to watch the Muslim community and to see with her own eyes the processions of the righteous people and the delegations of the pious ones coming with longing to the Masjid of the Greatest Prophet [PPBUH].

Allah has blessed her early childhood, as she memorized all the Almighty's Book before she reached eight years old. She also memorized a good deal of the Prophetic Sunna. She never was separated from her father in his staying nor his travel. Her father was a role model and a good example for her. So her chest shined with the light of faith, and her soul was mixed with the sweetness of the obedience. She used to pray to Allah a lot when she was young saying "O, Allah, separate between my heart and anything that may make me busy from You, make me love all what might make me closer to You, facilitate for me the path to Your obedience, and make me one of the people of Your loyalty. You are the Hoped in the distresses and the Sought in the calamities and misfortunes".

Among those whom sayyda Nafisah [AAH] met them in Medina was Imam Malik [AAH] who was a topic of conversation of the people of Fiqh and all Muslims because of his book al-Mawta' and because of his Fiqh that spread in all countries. Imam Malik ibn Anas, the Imam of the emigration home, was one of the highest rank of the scholars, the most pious of them, the most correct in Hadith and the most knowledgeable in Allah's Book [AAH].

Sayyda Nafisah used to meet, in her father's house, with the best choice of the scholars, the prime of the Fiqh men, the greatest poets, the senior writers, and the sheikhs of ascetics and worshipers, like Bashir ibn al-Harith who was known as al-Hafi. She also used to meet the pious Imam of the people of Sunna, Ahmed ibn Hanbal, Imam ash-Shafe'y, Imam Malek, Abdullah ibn al-Hakam, Abi-Sa'id Sahnoun ibn Sa'id -the Maleki Fiqh man, ar-Rabi' ibn Soliman al-Murady -from the companion of ash-Shafe'y, and ar-Rabi' al-Geyzy… And many others. She used to listen to them and narrate from them. She also used to quote of their words and to memorize from their aphorism what feeds her open mind and lights her pure soul. She had a preponderant mind, a high purpose, an honest resolution, a correct thinking and a renewed activity.

Her marriage [AAH]:

It was known about the marriage of sayyda Nafisah, the precious in knowledge and the honorable in both the worldly life and hereafter [AAH], that when she reached the age of marriage, the young men of Aal-al-Bait of the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH] from Bani al-Hasan and al-Husain [AAT] wanted to marry her. Also many of the young men of the nobles of Quraish crowded to propose to her because of what they knew of her righteousness, her piety, her faith and Allah-fearing. However, sayydi Ishaq ibn Ga'far as-Sadiq [AAH] was the keenest one for her. He was called by his likes and known to the people as Ishaq, the confidant, as he was a very honest and trustful man and had a strong belief and religion.

This young man was not a stranger from Her [AAH], as he was the son of Ga'far as-Sadeq ibn Mohammad al-Baqir ibn Ali Zain al-'Abedin ibn al-Husain the grandson of the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH]. Sayydi Ishaq has seen many people who wanted to propose to sayyda Nafisah [AAH] from her father sayydi al-Hasan al-Annwar. Those people included honorable knowledgeable scholars and famous worshipers. Her father, when asked about the reason of refusing them, he used say "I want to give the deposit - he meant sayyda Nafisah [AAH]- to its deservers, return the drop back to its sea and plant the flower in its garden". When people used to hear that from him, they used to stop asking and say: Maybe there is a secret in this matter that we do not know or understand. However, sayydi Ishaq decided to try and ask the hand of sayyda Nafisah in marriage. So, he made the consultation prayer to Allah, then he went to his uncle with the sheikhs of the people of the house. Sayydi al-Hasan welcomed them as honorable guests, however he refused to marry sayyda Nafisah to sayydi Ishaq. The people left him pain in their hearts as sayydi Ishaq is not the one to be refused.

Sayydi Ishaq left sayydi al-Hasan while with great sadness. He went to the Prophetic Masjid and stood at its auspicious Mihrab. He kept praying and when he finished, he entered the Prophetic Room and stood at the honorable grave and said "As-Salamu 'Alaik, O, Messenger of Allah, Master of Messengers, Last of Prophets and Beloved of the Lord the worlds. I complain to You my agony, put in front of You my case, and I demonstrate to you my need. As victims often called you for help and distressed often asked you for Aid. I proposed to Nafisah from my uncle al-Hasan, but he refused…" Then he saluted and walked away. In the morning, sayydi Ishaq was surprised that sayydi al-Hasan called for him. When he went to him sayydi al-Hasan said "I have seen my Grandfather the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH] in the best conditions, saluted me, saying (O, Hasan, marry your daughter Nafisah to Ishaq the confidant)". So, the marriage was completed on Friday at the first of the month of Ragab in 161H.

With their marriage, two lights gathered in her home, the light of al-Hassan and that of al-Husain, the youth of paradise’s masters. As Imam al-Hasan is the Grandfather of sayyda Nafisah and Imam al-Husain is the Grandfather of sayydi Ishaq the confidant [AAT]. Sayydi Ishaq was from the people of grace, diligence, and piety. Many of people narrated from him Hadith and traces, as he was a truthful, confidant and trustworthy narrator. It was mentioned in the book of Omdat at-Taleb: As for Ishaq bin Ga'far as-Sadiq who is nicknamed "Abo-Mohamed" and is surnamed "the confidant", he was born at al-'Arid ,which is a valley in Medina, he was the most similar one to the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH].

Sufian ibn 'Oyynah, the sheikh of Imam ash-Shafe'y [AAH], used to, when narrating from Ishaq, say “The trusted and content Ishaq ibn Ga'far ibn Mohamed ibn Ali ibn al-Husain [AAT] said to me”. Also al-Maqrizi in his hand writing “Ishaq ibn Ga'far, the man of righteousness, blessing, favor and religion , got married to Nafisah”.

Her coming to Egypt [AAH]:

It was narrated about the trip of sayyda Nafisah [AAH] to Egypt “al-Kenana”: that she had a great place in the hearts of Muslims in general and especially Egyptians. People of Egypt used to meet her in the season of Hajj. They used to ask her to visit them in their country because of what they heard about her virtue and knowledge. She used to welcome their invitation, saying “I will visit your country, ISA, as Allah has praised Egypt and mentioned it in His Holy Book. Also My Grandfather [PPBUH] has commended good to its people and said (If you conquest Egypt, commend kindness to its people, as you have there in-laws and relationship).

When the conditions changed with Ahl-al-Bait, her father sayydi al-Hasan al-Anwar was discharge from the emirate of Medina after the slander of ibn Abi-Zi'b against him. The conditions became worse, the seditions increased and Ahl al-Bait were compelled to leave Medina to another place, although  it was so dear to them. So they intended to move to Egypt, which had also long before that the privilege of having the pure sayyda Zaynab, the daughter of Imam Ali, the sister of Imam al-Hasan and Imam al-Husain, the daughter of sayyda Fatima az-Zhraa’ [AAT] and the Granddaughter of the most Honorable Prophet [PPBUH].

The Egyptians welcomed the people of the House [Ahl-al-Bait] and  at the top of them was sayyda Nafisah, her husband sayydi Ishaq, and her sons al-Quasem and Om-Kulthoum and also other sons of Ahl-al-Bait. The Egyptians raced to honor them and competed to host them. Mr. Gamal ibn al-Gassas had this honor and hosted them in his house. Sayyda Nafisah [AAH] stayed in Egypt till She passed away and was buried there.

In spite of the features of easy life that surrounded Sayyda Nafisah [AAH] during her growing up in her father's house, she chose the asceticism and austerity. She used to have little food. It was narrated that she used to eat once every three days. Her nephew Zaynab said “I served my aunt sayyda Nafisah for forty years and I never saw her slept at night nor broke her fasting except in the two feasts and the three days after Eid al-Adha. So, I said to her: could you go easy on yourself? She said: How can I? while I have obstacles in front of me that cannot be crosses except by the winners”. Zaynab used to say also “My aunt was memorizing the Holy Qur’an and its interpretation and she used to read Qur’an crying”. Sayyda Nafisah had a continent self, she never asked any creature for help. She was spending on her self and her household from her money, her husband’s money, or what she gained of what she was spinning with her hands.

Her famous Miraculous acts [AAH]:

Her Lord, Almighty, has honored her with many miraculous acts which she was famous for. This increased the people of Egypt’s holding onto her. We here by are mentioning some of it:

·      The basket of food: Al-Qana'I [AAH] said "I said to Zaynab bint Yahyah the brother of Sayyda Nafisah: What was the food of your aunt? She said: She was eating a meal every three days. She had a basket suspended in front of her place of prayer. Whatever she asks for to eat, she finds inside that basket. She never took any thing except from her husband and from what her Lord endowed her with. Praise be to Allah who made us a share of what He made for sayyda Miriam bint Omran [PBUH]".

·       The flowing of Nile water: Sa'id ibn al-Hasan said: The Nile in Egypt stopped running during the time of sayyda Nafisah. So people came to her asking for her prayer. She gave them her veil, and they took it to the river and cast it into it. Before they return the Nile overflowed with its water and even a lot more.

·       With the snake: Abd-er-Rahman al-Awza'y [AAH], Imam Fiqh man and knowledgeable scholar of Sham [Syria], who died in 158H, narrated that he said to Jawharah, who was one of the bondmaids of al-Husain [AAH]: Did you see from your young lady, Nafisah, any Miraculous acts? she said: Yes. One day, it was very hot, a large snake came to me while I was carrying some water for my lady Nafisah. The snake rolled its cheek on the pitcher, as if it was wiping itself against it, seeking the blessing from her water. Then it went to where it came from.

·       Her Prayer for ash-Shafe'y [AAH]: whenever Imam ash-Shafe'y [AAH] became sick, he would send her a messenger like: ar-Rabi' al-Geyzi or ar-Rabi' al-Murady. The messenger would inform her of his salute and say to her: Your cousin ash-Shafe'y is ill and is asking for your prayer. Then she would pray for him. Before his messenger would come back to him, Imam ash-Shafe'y would have recovered from his illness. When ash-Shafe'y became sick his final illness, he sent her, as usual, his messenger asking for her prayer, but she said to the messenger “May Allah make him pleased with looking at his Honorable Face” i.e. His Divine Self in the hereafter. That was a sign that he was about to pass away [AAH]

·       The command of Her Grandfather [PPBUH] to Her [AAH]: One day, her husband sayydi Ishaq the confidant [AAH] said to her: Let's leave to al-Hejaz , She said: I will not do that as I saw the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH] in a vision saying to me (Do not leave Egypt as You will pass away to Allah, Almighty, in there).

Her passing away [AAH]:

Sayyda Nafisah [AAH] became sick on the month of Ragab in 208H. The illness was getting strong till Ramadan then the illness reached the utmost and crippled her from movement, they brought a doctor who told her to break the fasting. She [AAH] said: "What a Wonder! For thirty years I have been asking Allah to take my soul while I am fasting. Am I to break the fast now?" There was a dug grave behind a veil of hers. She pointed to it and said "This is my grave and I will be buried here, ISA. So when I die, get me into it". When her honorable chaste soul was raised, she was buried inside her grave which she dug with her own hands. That was forty years after the death of Imam ash-Shafe'y.

May Allah accept sayyda Nafisah the noble and chaste, the precious in knowledge and honorable in both the hereafter and worldly life. O, Allah support us with her support and gather us with her in the paradises of grace with the prophets, the veracious ones, the martyrs and the righteous ones, and what an honorable companions are those! Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.

Written by Rawyah Ramadan

Translated by Fatima az-Zahraa