David’s Heiress
June 15, 2009 by Guest Authors
Filed under Featured, Personal Development
Me and running don’t always see eye to eye. Some days it hurts more than others. But it doesn’t mean I don’t do it. I deal with it and I keep running because not everything that is good for you always feels good for you.”
- Lance Armstrong.
:::
This is a story for Muslim women, about a young woman of their own, named Sarah.
Do you know her?
To you, she’s just another Muslimah. She’s of average height and weight. Maybe you’ve seen her in class. Or at the office. Or at the masjid. Maybe in the mall.
She’s does her part in the community. She’s probably active in the MSA, or maybe not. I don’t know for sure. But you’ve seen her there often. Sometimes, she pitches in at the masjid. Helps little kids learn to read the Qur’an or cleans up the floor after the Ramadan dinner. Sometimes, she helps out a friend or an entire family in a pinch – freely and willingly – with no expectation of return. Sometimes, she helps out by writing articles, or blogs, or posts about issues affecting Muslims today. At other times, she’ll lend a hand in organizing an event raising local or even regional awareness about important social issues.
Of course, she’s human. Sometimes she gets tired, but can only sleep for a few hours at most. Other times she’ll be out cold for ten hours at a time, prancing around in dreamland with whatever version of Brad Pitt she fancies. Or maybe its Clooney. Omar Shareef. Shahrukh Khan. Amr Diab. Who knows. Maybe her mom.
She tries her best to keep her eeman decently high. And she does better on that score than she gives herself credit for. She hauls her weight around the house. Even though she might get into disagreements with family members, she’ll still do her fair share of work without being vindictive. Yeah, like many others, her parents also have high expectations of her, to which she doesn’t always measure up. She’s clueless as to how much her parents appreciate her and make dua for her, but it doesn’t matter. The angels know, and God knows. She herself will know too, one Day.
Yes, she makes mistakes, and yes she trips every now and then. But she gets back up, her resolve undiminished. Powered by that modest bit of taqwa, her conscience kicks into auto-correct mode and she glides back on course. She silently asks God for strength, and so it is delivered. She asks Him for the patience to endure gracefully, and so it is delivered. She asks Him to help her keep that torch lit ever so brightly, and so it is delivered.
Its there in her heart blazing the way for her spirit and tongue to follow. It’s there in her mind’s eye, giving her the pre-emptive foresight to overcome those pesky mountains in her way. It’s that determined sparkle you see in her eyes, it’s the potent juice which recharges her battery, and it’s what illuminates the strong ice that her confident steps walk upon.
And although she doesn’t carry her grandfather David’s sling, his blood runs through her veins like the torrential waters of the Niagara going over the edge of the precipice. His unflinching courage and determination make her legs become oaks more firmly rooted in certainty than the massive monoliths of Redwood yore. His legendary aim is as native to her in whatever she does as the sand that blows across the Sahara.
Unbeknownst to her, Sarah’s reputation has preceded her, and robbed the Goliaths of their sleep. She has hope from God, and they have none. She will stand, and they will fall.
…
Sarah is you.
…
::: AFTERWORD :::
In early December 2008, I was on the phone with that sterling champion of justice, the lawyer Dennis Edney. We were discussing a public event that had taken place a few days prior at the University of Toronto, and at McMaster University. Dennis and other speakers had been invited to speak on issues and challenges pertaining to social justice, about detainees in Canada and abroad for whom they were legal counsel, and to motivate the packed auditorium to stand up for the rule of law, fairness, and equality.
During the conversation, he expressed his admiration specifically for the young Muslim women who had worked so hard in bringing those events to life. He remarked about how proud and delighted he would be if such calibre of a woman were to become his daughter-in-law. When I asked him if he would be willing to be quoted on that, he agreed readily and sent me the following email – quoted here verbatim:
Dear Sol;
There is not much more that I can add than what I earlier stated.
I was greatly impressed by the young Muslim women who arranged and participated in my speaking engagements at the U of T and McMasters. Their approach in presenting the message of social justice for all was a tribute to their leadership and professionalism. I believe we can all learn from their example.
I had mentioned these young women represented the best of womanhood in that they exuded intelligence, a strong sense of identity, purpose and dignity. These are all the hallmarks of true leadership. We have a great need for such leadership in this day and age. I can only hope there example will be a catalyst for young Muslim males to follow.
Had my son been associated with any one of these women, I would have been well pleased at his choice.
I will always be available to assist in any way I can.
Dennis
So I write this for Sarah to tell her to keep her eyes on the ultimate prize. That sparkling castle on 4600 Firdaus Lane, the laughter of the cherubs drifting across the clouds, the sweet cool waters of al-Kauthar, and the fresh sunshine of His Eternal Pleasure on her heart and soul. Everything else along the way is just gravy.
Sarah, keep going. This is that last mile, that challenging 12th rep. Kick in those afterburners, slam that pedal to the floor, and keep doing whatever it is that you were doing for His sake. This isn’t the first time you and your kind have stepped up to the plate. This isn’t the first time you’ve rallied the team when it’s down and overcome the opposing lead to take home the Cup. While the guys were simply aiming for left field, I saw you look straight at the Sun and told it to open wide, and I saw you belt one straight out of the stratosphere.
Out of our rib you were made, a fortified pillar you have become, and no man shall succeed without you at his side. Hidden behind that polite nod and the simple reply of “jazakiyallahu khayran” is a massive ocean of admiration and dua that you know not of.
But the angels know. And God knows.
And on the Day it counts most, you will know too.
:::
“The reward of every deed is known, except for the reward of patience, which will be like heavy rain.” – Sulayman ibn Qasim
My sincere thanks go out to Saima for her assistance in giving shape to my thoughts. May God reward her. Ameen
Salman Dia-Eddine
(6 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Beautifully written!
‘no man shall succeed without you at his side’- really? Men don’t need women to succeed or do well, and women don’t need men, either.
Nice pic!
How can a bent rib support anything? Try and prop something on it and it’ll break. Women weren’t made to support men, and they don’t. And the more independent women become, the less they are in need of men themselves. I look forward to the day the two sexes will be totally self-sufficient; that way we’ll all be happy.
“They (your wives) are your garment and you are a garment for them.” [2:187]
Gimme a break WM, men don’t need women and women don’t need men? Muslim men and women have responsibilities to one another; and people need other people.
Check this up in a tafsir, it’s more to do with physical intimacy than anything else. Although, I should add, you can’t even depend on that, despite paying for the privilege.
Seriously, what is a man’s qawwamma over his wife if it isn’t just his having to bear a massive responsibility that he can’t share with anyone else? Marriage is a serious obligation and an onerous burden, but things are much easier for women (no qawwamma there). Men support women in marriage, or, at least, they should- not the other way around. If women become indepdendent it’ll put less of a strain on men- all the more reason to welcome their emancipation (whatever that means).
We celebrate a man’s wedding but really we should mourn for him; marriage is a hard business and a burden not lightened by any kind of mercy from his wife. For women things are different. Ha, you should encourage your wife to work if you have one, it’ll mean you don’t have to spend as much time with her.
likewise for women than shall we grieve? After all if we are looking at things cynically wouldn’t she be the one “loosing” most?
Can’t we just have one good post where Muslims don’t react cynically or with disdain and sarcasm?
There are many examples and teachings from throughout history that buttress the statement “no man shall succeed without you”.
Whether you want to take the old adage “Behind every great man is a great woman” or you want to take nabeyuna Muhammad [saws] statement that the best thing a man can have is a good wife, or even from his own life example – the support he recieved from Khadijah to be resolute in carrying out his duties – these examples and others, are way too many for bitter people to ignore.
Bent ribs are extremely strong, and can actually support a lot of weight, hence the architectural concept of the arch. Even in the bodies of men, the ribs are bent and they support plenty of weight.
I could go into plenty more, but I digress.
Women don’t need men either, but it helps to have them around. Why pay rent myself when someone else can pay it for me? A fair point, really. And since a good husband cooks for and cleans after his wife too…hey, well, you better do those things too. So when your wife goes out to work she earns for herself, and when she comes home she lives for herself; when you go out you earn money for her, and when you come home you have to clean and cook for her too. And if an irksome life of perpetual service doesn’t turn you into an abusive monster, you’re a saint.
Right…
do you ever plan on getting married?
This piece was an ode to the legacy of Muslim women beautifully made to life by the thoughts of an understanding Muslim man. MashaAllah! May Allah SWT reward the good intentions and the spirit of cooperation such pieces can foster. Knowing she has the support of her brothers can help David’s heiress flourish and reach her potential – and contribute to the betterment of humanity in a way that would make David (AS) proud. May Allah SWT guide us all to that which is pleasing to HIM.
MashaAllah, beautiful article. It literally gave me goosebumps. Every so often we need encouragement like this to continue. When women are put down or ignored, it doesn’t stop them but it certainly makes it harder to continue. Jazakallahu khair.
WM : I’d go into how each of your statements is ridiculous, but you’re not even married so why should anyone take anything you have to say about women or marriage seriously? You have no experience of the love, companionship, belonging, intimacy, or anything else that happens between spouses…so all your words and harsh crticisms of women should be taken with a grain of salt or even less.
How do you care for yourself and your own needs? In a healthy marriage, your spouses needs become your own and there isn’t so much selfishness. May Allah make our marriages healthy and pleasing to Allah, ameen.
Ameen, I agree completely.
I also felt the article was speaking to me directly, subhanAllah!
ameen, me too…in the absence of the companionship of a wife, life can truly be depressing…i can’t imagine the lives of some of the righteous and the prophets, alayhesalaam, who went without spouses, family or friends but instead only kept enemies, save Allah.
Very beautifuly written! JazakAllah Khairun for sharing this beautiful piece of work and inspiration. I felt like it was talking not only to me be many sisters I know who do these things MashaAllah.
♥ the site as usual.
Mashaallah..unique article.Excellent piece.Keep it up
An unbelievably moving piece, jazakum Allahu khayran.
Thank you for your support of women’s leadership.