Hazrat Saudah رضي الله عنها

Features, Character and Qualities:

Hazrat Saudah(RA) was the tallest of all the the wives of the Holy Prophet(SAW) and put on flesh. She was most obedient of all wives. Hazrat Aisha(RA) was so much impressed by her obedient conduct towards the Holy Prophet that she praised her in the following words: “Except Saudah, I have never seen a women to desires that my should have been in her body.” Five traditions of the Holy Prophet(SAW) have been mentioned on her authority by the companions Hazrat Abbad, Hazrat Ibn-e-Zubair and Yahya Bin Abdul Rehman Bin As’ad Bin Zararah.

She was meticulous in the obedience of the Holy Prophet(SAW) in word and spirit. On the occasion of the Last Pilgrimage, the Holy Prophet(SAW) had desired that his wives stay in their homes after his death, Hazrat Saudah(RA) obeyed this order to the extent that she did not leave her home even for another Haj saying “I have already performed Haj and Umrah both and hence I shall stay on in my home as per orders of God and His Prophet(SAW).”

In alms-giving and generosity she was above all the wives except Hazrat Aisha(RA). Once Hazrat Umar(RA) sent to her a sac. She asked the courier: “What does it contain?” He replied: “Durhams! [gold coins].” She retorted: “Durham’s are being sent in a sac like dates!” And she hastened to distribute the money among the poor and the needy. She earned magnificently form cleansing of hides and skins and spent lavishly in the way of Allah on deeds of virtue and righteousness.

In the matter of sacrificing her personal rights, she was unique. She was of advanced age when she for into wedlock with the Holy Prophet(SAW). She was closely followed in marriage with Hazrat Aisha(RA) who was younger in age. lest the Holy Prophet(SAW) may divorce her due to her advanced age, she voluntarily surrendered her conjugal rights in favor of Hazrat Aisha(RA) who accepted with pleasure and gratitude. Thus she had the satisfaction of continuous relationship with the Holy Prophet(SAW).

She was rather quick to agitate and Hazrat Aisha(RA) who was ready to appreciate her virtues, said that she was prone to be easily overwhelmed with anger. Once she was going out in the open to answer the call of nature [after the then prevalent system of rustic life] when Hazrat Umar(RA) recognized her and told her in so many words. This agitated her and she complained of it to the Holy Prophet(SAW). After this incident, the verse of veil was revealed to the Holy Prophet(SAW).

She also had good sense of humor. At times she walked in such a way that the Holy Prophet(SAW) was amused. Once she said the Holy Prophet(SAW): “Last bight I prayed in your company but your bowing became so prolonged that I feared my nose has started bleeding and I caught a hold of my nose for a pretty long time.” This amused the Holy Prophet(SAW) and he smiled.

She was very fearful of the Dajjal [Anti christ]. Once she was coming to Hazrat Aisha(RA) and Hazrat Hifsah(RA), both of them knew her weakness ans said to her in a jovial mood: Have you heard that the Dajjal had made his appearance?” She was alarmed and she readily entered a tent where certain people were busy kindling fire. Both the ladies, Hazrat Aisha(RA) and Hazrat Hifsah(RA) came running to the Holy Prophet(SAW) and informed him of the joke they had with Hazrat Saudah. The Holy Prophet(SAW) quietly came to the entrance of the tent and said: “The Dajjal has not yet made his appearance.” On hearing this, Hazrat Saudah(RA) came out of the tent and cleared her garments of the cobweb which had clung to her dress in the tent.”

Taken from: Biographies of the Women Companions of the Holy Prophet(SAW) and The Ways of Their Sacred Lives by Maulana Saeed Ansari Nadvi, Maulana Abdus-Salam Nadvi, and Allama Syed Suleman Nadvi.