Man’s Rest vs. Woman’s Test

A philosophical dialogue with Umm Ammar, Islam’s pioneering female martyr, as she illuminates timeless inquiries on women’s resilience.

Last night, in my sleep,
A thought grew deep.

I thought about her plight:
Suffers for reasons not right.

All her life is this toil,
Forever she’s in this coil.

When appeared like a distant star,
Asked I to the bold Umm Ammar:

“Hey, the mother of martyrs,
Who lived through many fears.

You endured the pain,
Wounded when slain.

The world has gone far,
Yet her rights do men mar.

Why is she in chains?
Like cattle she pains.

Her patience always put to test,
Soiled are her hands with dust.

As long as the clock ticks,
As long as the sun sets,

As long as the calendars turn,
No end to her miseries burn.

Why this historic imbalance?
Where’s Destiny’s vigilance?”

Replied Umm Ammar:

“With the secrets of Time,
You have not reached prime.

Lord has made this world,
But justice, not here served.

He has kept a life after:
There shall be our laughter.

Since we toil
For the men to rest,

Our least be better
Than his best.

Not a sweat’s drop shall be lost,
With joy shall our cheeks, moist.

In Him our trust,
He is the Most Just.

Therefore, for this simple test,
We shall not beat our chests.”

Aug 09 2010. Edit 2024

Sumayyah Bint Khabbab (may Allah be pleased with her) was among the earliest to accept Islam. Abu Jahl tortured her by stabbing her in the private parts and she died as a result of that. She was the first martyr of Islam. She had a son named Ammar.

Despite the advancement of human civilization and systems of civil governance, the women do not enjoy the equality with men. Although the maternal obligations and domestic duties are most suited for women, unlike men, she never has a break from her duties. While working men have a weekend or annual vacation all for himself to enjoy, his female counterpart, working or not, are not relieved from her duties at home like child-rearing or preparation of food.

While such injustice may be a natural necessity for the progress of humanity, it does not mean that she would not be compensated for her sacrifices. The Creator, who has established justice and is most just, shall recompense her in full measure. The concept of Akhira is therefore a logical necessity to establish justice even for those who made sacrifices for the sake of balance in Allah’s world. This phenomenon is explained through the words of Umm Ammar, the mother of all martyrs in Islam, who suffered like no other men or women.