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He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was wise when dealing with his wives’ jealousy:
Jealousy is a natural feeling that Allah The Almighty instilled in womenby nature, as in the saying of the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam: “Allah has decreed for women to be jealous.”
The wives of the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, were no different, and they were jealous about him. The following is an example showing the jealousy of ‘Aa’ishah and how it led her to follow the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to see where he went.
Aa’ishah narrated:
“When it was my turn for the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to spend the night with me, he turned his side, put on his mantle and took off his shoes and placed them near his feet, and spread the corner of his shawl on his bed and then lay down till he thought that I had gone to sleep. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, took hold of his mantle slowly and put on the shoes slowly, and opened the door and went out and then closed it lightly.1 I covered my head, put on my veil and tightened my waist wrapper, and then went out following his steps until he reached the Baqee’ graveyard.
He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, stood there and he stood for a long time. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then lifted his hands three times, and then turned around (to return home) and I also turned around. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, quickened his steps and I also quickened my steps. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ran and I too ran. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, came (to the house) and I also came (to the house). I, however, preceded him and I entered (the house), and as I lay down in bed, he (the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) entered the (house), and said: “Why is it, O ‘Aa’ishah, that you are out of breath?” I said: ‘There is nothing.’ He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Tell me or The Subtle and The All-Knowing would inform me.” I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, may my father and mother be ransomed for you …’ and then I told him the whole story. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Were you that dark thing [your shadow] that I saw in front of me?” I said: ‘Yes.’ He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, struck me on the chest which caused me pain, and then said: “Did you think that Allah and His Messenger would deal unjustly with you?”
He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:
“Gabriel [the angel] came to me when you saw me. He called me and he concealed it from you. I responded to his call, but I too concealed it from you [for he did not come to you], as you were not fully dressed. I thought that you had gone to sleep, and I did not like to awaken you, fearing that you may be fright- ened. He [Gabriel] said: ‘Your Lord has commanded you to go to the inhabitants of Baqee’ [to those lying in the graves] and beg pardon for them. I said: O Gabriel, how should I pray and beg forgiveness for them? He said: Say, Peace be upon the inhabitants of this place [graveyard] from among the Believers and the Muslims, and may Allah have mercy upon those who have gone ahead of us, and those who come later on, and we shall, God willing, join you.””
‘Aa’ishah enjoyed a special status with the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and she knew her status very well, yet she was jealous regarding the rest of his wives. In fact, she was jealous of one of his wives who had died. She used to say, “I was never jealous of anyone as much as I was jealous of Khadeejah.”
