The Daughter of Saeed ibn al Mussayib

I now present to you the example of the granddaughter of the great Companion Abu Hurayrah. Abu Hurayrah had married his daughter to the illustrious taabi’ee Sa’eed ibn al Musayyib. From this blessed marriage, Allah gifted Sa’eed with a pious and knowledgeable daughter.

When time came to get his daughter married, Sa’eed ibn al Musayyib chose for her one of his students called Abdullah; ‘Abdullah stood out from the rest as his sincerity in seeking knowledge was clearly visible.

‘Abdullah’s love for knowledge can be seen in the fact that the very next day after his marriage to the daughter of Saeed ibn al Musayyib he was putting on his cloak to go out, when his new bride asked him,

Where are you going?

He said:

To the assembly of Sa’eed to attain knowledge.

She said to him:

Sit here, I will teach you the knowledge of Sa’eed.[1]

Hence she taught him from her knowledge. For one month, ‘Abdullah did not attend Sa’eed ibn al Musayyib’s circle because the knowledge that this beautiful young girl had learned from her father (which she was passing on to him) was sufficient.

It is important to ask ourselves the question – if Muslim Women did possess this kind of knowledge over their husbands today, would it increase them in respect and obedience towards their husbands or would this knowledge become a source of many marital problems? The greatness of these women was such that their knowledge only increased them in obedience and respect for their husbands.

The following statement from the husband of this great female scholar suffices us in understanding the sort of love her husband possessed for her due to her knowledge and obedience,

“She was among the most beautiful people, and most expert of those who know the Book of God by heart, and most knowledgeable of the Sunnah of the Prophet, and most aware of the right of the husband.”[2]

May Allah make the mothers, sisters and daughters attain such a status in the eyes of their husbands by their knowledge, obedience and love for this deen. Ameen