The importance of asking forgiveness for women

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds [i.e., people], and peace be upon the one who was sent as a mercy for mankind; our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his Companions.

Asking for forgiveness is obligatory on every sinner and desirable for all the people, men and women, but it is more obligatory for women because of the Hadith of `Abdullah ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) who narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "O womenfolk, you should give charity and ask much forgiveness for I saw you in bulk amongst the dwellers of Hell. A wise lady among them said: Why is it, O Messenger of Allah, that our folk is in bulk in Hell? Upon this the Prophet observed: You curse too much and are ungrateful to your spouses. I have seen none lacking in common sense and failing in religion but (at the same time) robbing the wisdom of the wise, besides you. Upon this the woman remarked: What is wrong with our common sense and religion? He (the Prophet) observed: Your lack of common sense (can be well judged from the fact) that the evidence of two women is equal to one man, that is a proof of the lack of common sense, and you spend some nights (and days) in which you do not offer Salah and in the month of Ramadan (during the days) you do not observe fast, that is a failing in religion."[1]

Some benefits gained from the Hadith:

The Hadith contains precious benefits and correct rulings, of which:

First, exhortation to give in charity and do all acts of goodness and benevolence because righteous deeds protect from bad death.

Second, good deeds remove the evil ones. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds (i.e. small sins)." [Surat Hud: 114].

Mu`adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Fear Allah wherever you are, do good deeds after doing bad ones, the former will wipe out the latter, and behave decently towards people."[2]

Showing ingratitude to the favors of one's husband, the denial of his benevolence, and cursing are misdeeds, however asking for forgiveness and charity are from the good deeds which remove sins.

So, if you do a sin, repent of it , if you waste money, stop it, and if you delay a matter, haste to it because the opportunity is still in hand and the door is still open.

Third, the importance of giving in charity and asking for forgiveness for women is: women like gossip, so the Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed them to ask for forgiveness and give in charity.

Fourth, women's affection of sermons and their rapid response to them as the Prophet (peace be upon him) indicated and was proven by reality.

Ibn Battal (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: One of the women who heard that Hadith was the wife of Ibn Mas`ud, so she departed to Ibn Mas`ud and told him about what she had heard from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) then took her jewelry.

Ibn Mas`ud asked her: Where are you going with these jewelry? She said: I shall give them in charity so that I would draw near to Allah and His Messenger perhaps I would not be one of the Hell inhabitants.[3]

Fifth, desirability of preaching women, teaching them the rulings of Islam, and reminding them of what they should do as the Prophet (peace be upon him) did. They complained to the Prophet (peace be upon him) about the domination of men over the Prophet's time and asked him to give them part of his time to teach and preach them, so he answered their request as was reported in the Hadith of Abu Sa`id Al Khudry (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: "O Allah's Messenger, Men (only) benefit by your teachings, so please devote to us from (some of) your time, a day on which we may come to you so that you may teach us of what Allah has taught you." In the narration of Al Bukhari: "Women said to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him): "Men have seized your time, so make a day for us to teach us. He (the Messenger) said: "Gather on such-and-such a day at such-and-such a place." They gathered and Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) came to them and taught them of what Allah had taught him. He then said, "No woman among you who has lost her three children (died) but that they will screen her from the Fire." A woman among them said, "O Allah's Messenger! If she lost two children?" She repeated her question twice, whereupon the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Even two, even two, even two!"[4]

Sixth, charity and asking for forgiveness are from the impediments of sending down torment and punishment as was reported in the Book of Allah and the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And Allâh would not punish them while you (Muhammad peace be upon him) are amongst them, nor will He punish them while they seek (Allâh's) Forgiveness." [Surat Al Anfal: 3].

Some said: "We had two things to protect us from torment: 1- The presence of the Messenger of Allah among us, (but he has gone now). 2- Asking for forgiveness which still exists but if it is gone, we shall be destroyed."[5]

Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "The sun eclipsed and the Prophet (peace be upon him)got up, being afraid that it might be the Hour (i.e. Day of Judgment). He went to the Mosque and offered the prayer with the longest Qiyam, bowing and prostration that I had ever seen him doing. Then he said, "These signs which Allah sends do not occur because of the life or death of somebody, but Allah makes His worshipers afraid by them. So when you see anything thereof, proceed to remember Allah, invoke Him and ask for His forgiveness."[6]

It was reported in the Hadith of `A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) she said: "When you see this, say: Allahu Akbar "Allah is the Greatest," invoke Allah, offer Salah, and give in charity."[7]

Seventh, exchanging advices and showing sincerity in them because the Prophet the Prophet (peace be upon him) came to women, advised them, and reminded them of Allah in regard to the sins they have committed and instructed them to the things which they have to do.

Eighth, women are the majority of Hell dwellers because of the Prophet's saying: "I have seen you the majority of Hell Fire."

And because of the other Hadith: "I looked at Hell and saw that the majority of its inhabitants were women."[8]

Ninth, faith increases and decreases: Increases by obedience and decreases by evil deeds according to the doctrine of Ahl-ul-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah (those adhering to the Sunnah and the Muslim main body) because of many proofs from the Qur'an and the authentic Sunnah, of which is Allah's Saying: "The believers are only those who, when Allâh is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Verses (this Qur'ân) are recited to them, they (i.e. the Verses) increase their Faith; and they put their trust in their Lord (Alone)." [Surat Al Anfal: 2].

And His Saying: "And whenever there comes down a Sûrah (chapter from the Qur'ân), some of them (hypocrites) say: "Which of you has had his Faith increased by it?" As for those who believe, it has increased their Faith, and they rejoice." [Surat At-Tawbah: 124].

And His Saying: "And Allâh increases in guidance those who walk aright. And the righteous good deeds that last, are better with your Lord, for reward and better for resort." [Surat Maryam: 76].

Tenth, the one whose acts of worship are abundant, his faith is high and whoever his acts of worship are few, his faith is low, therefore it was reported from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Verily, Allah (may He be Exalted) says:"I shall declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshipper of Mine. The most beloved things with which My Servant comes nearer to Me is what I have enjoined upon him. And My Servant keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (praying or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him, so I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks My protection (Refuge), I will protect him; (i.e. give him My Refuge)."[9] So, when a person does many acts of worship, his faith shall increase and if they are few, his faith shall decrease, however he is still in the circle of Islam and has not become a non-Muslim.

Eleventh, the acts of worship are called faith and religion as was reported in the Qur'an and the authentic Sunnah where Allah named "Salah" as "faith" as in His Saying (may He be Exalted): "And Allâh would never make your faith (prayers) to be lost (i.e. your prayers offered towards Jerusalem)." [Surat Al Baqarah: 143]. i.e., your Salah.

Twelfth, a woman should ask about the confusing matters in religion because women at the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) were asking him about confusing matters.

Um Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated: "Um Sulaym came to Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) and said: Verily, Allah is not shy of (telling you) the truth. Is it necessary for a woman to take a bath after she has a wet dream (nocturnal sexual discharge?) The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: "Yes, if she notices a discharge."[10]

Thirteenth, the danger of cursing and explaining that it is one of the major sins because Allah threatened cursers with Hell and none is threatened with Hell but those who commit major sins.

Fourteenth, the danger of showing ingratitude to the favors of husbands because this is one of the major sins because threatening with Hell is a sign for the greatness of the sin.

Fifteenth, deficiency of women's reason and religion: As for deficiency in their reasons, the testimony of two women are equal to the testimony of one man and as for the deficiency of her religion, is that they do not offer Salah and do not observe fasting during their periods.

The texts of the Qur'an and the authentic Sunnah, history, incidents, and medical studies have proved the deficiency of women's reason.

This is not diminution of their rights but it is the pure instinct on which women were created, and there is no objection to His Judgment because He is the Most Just Ruler.

Sixteenth, permissibility of calling other than disbelief in Allah as "disbelief" such as disbelief of treatment, disbelief of benevolence, disbelief of favor, and disbelief of the truth.

Seventeenth, it is permissible for a learner to discuss a teacher in what he said if a learner does not understand the meaning as that woman did.

Eighteenth, the permissibility of calling Ramadan without attributing it to the month, however it is desirable to attach it to the month; so you should say: "The Month of Ramadan."

Finally, the above mentioned are some precious benefits and correct rulings gained from this Hadith.

And peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his Companions.