ummu ahmad

salam. For the benefit of those who didn't get to meet this wonderful lady, i thought i will just share with you our memorable evening.

Not too long ago, i was sitting with some medical students in our liqo' and i asked each one of them who their present day hero or idol is. Some said Hassan Al Banna, some said some lecturers they admire (some even said ..me..). I told them my hero is Dr Abdul Aziz Rantissi, the Paediatrician matyr.
Imagine my delight when i was told i could meet Ummu Ahmad, his wife, in person last Monday.

i was expecting to see a thin forlorn looking widow who will tell us tearful stories about her syahid hubby and the difficulties that she had to endure. so I was quite taken aback when this lady, came in suddenly and waved her hand to us and said salam in such a loud and cheery voice, gesturing her hand in the air with the like of a famous celebrity.
She was a picture of health, bubbly,with twinkling eyes and , subhanallah, her face is really shining.I remember when she first came back from Gaza, Dr Fauziah was telling me about how the palestinians sisters face had a kind of shine to it. Now I understood her completely.

This lady is 55 years old and has 22 grandchildren. ...but she looked like she's only 40..and i am not exaggerating when i said this. Those who were with me last Monday can testify to this. (maybe she's born with it...maybe its the fertile soil of palestine... maybe its the fresh food..but definitely it's iman...)

Ummu Ahmad said a lot of things, but i will only share today two things that i remember clearly.
she started by telling us the seerah of Abu Bakr. At one point of time, when the quraish people were oppressing the muslims, Abu Bakr had wanted to hjrah to habshah.But one man, by the name of ibnu Duganah, a kafir, prevented him from going and said he would provide protection for Abu Bakr.
So what did Abu Bakr do after getting the protection? he did something which has got great political strategy, ie,he began reciting Quran next to the kaabah.
All the great men of Quraish suddenly became very worried. They couldnt harm Abu Bakar coz he's under protection from Ibnu Duganah.
So they discussed with Ibnu Duganah and came to conclusion that Abu Bakr can be allowed to do all the islamic syiar but must be done within the confines of his room only. he must never read quran or solat at the kaaba or where other people can see him.

This is what the kafirs are doing even now. They dont mind us doing our islamic obligations, but it must be hidden. we are not encouraged to pray in the mosques..suffice for us to just pray in our house, fast, pay zakat etc..but do not potray your islamic values outwardly.
( i remember an incident when a nurse who was assisting me in surgery sneezed and said excuse me aloud..i told her in Islam we say Alhamdulillah. ..she replied back and said, i said Alhamdulillah 'dalam hati'....). anything which is done 'ddalam hati' only will not worry the kafirs..this is what they want and they have succeeded to a certain degree.

back to Abu Bakr, he refused totally protection from Ibnu Duganah and said i will seek protection from a power much-much stronger than you, i will seek protection only from Allah.

Ummu Ahmad reminded us about the 20 usul by al Banna.

the next important thing she remind us is to increase our tarbiyah zatiyah and tarbiyah to our children. she stresses the importance of bringing up the children and training them with adabul islam.

the session went on and on with sisters not getting enough from the palestinian sisters and they answered all questions so patiently and ummu Ahmad was smiling all the time.

this gutsy grandmother then had a grand finale - she requested to sing a nasyeed....! ! and my what a beautiful nasyeed..(tho' i only understood less than one fifth of the meaning)

And best of all she hugged everyone of us. each one of us had our share of big long long hug...she really took time in hugging us..although there were so many of us..

and so went home with a soul filled to the brim with happiness and feeling contented.our spirits lifted and we feel charged and refreshed...

oh..the beauty of ukkhuwah...
the beauty of iman shining through from your dhamir to your face...

Ya Allah, grant that we will be together in Jannah-for i love her....