Taw’ah al-Kufiya. Picture by Alkafeel Global Network.
Muharram 4, 1444 H, August 3, 2022
In the eternal Hussayni renaissance, women had important roles and bright positions, recorded by history in the finest and purest words, as they were at the peak of loyalty and sacrifice and made precious efforts, and gave their sons, husbands and brothers to the support of Imam al-Hussayn (peace be upon him).
Each of the women who supported the family of the prophet (Allah’s prayers be upon him and upon his holy Household) and stood with them has a different role, but they are united by faith in the finest human concepts that Islam came up with, and summarized them in the person of Imam al-Hussayn (peace be upon him) and his goals.
One of the female names that shone in the sky of the eternal hussayni renaissance is Taw’ah al-Kufiya, who lived in the time of the Justice of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) with the people of Kufa, and witnessed the oppression to which he and his family were subjected to, and knew the right of succession of Imam al-Hassan (peace be upon him) and confronting the corrupt rule of Mu’awiyah, until the time of Karbala came. So she registered an honorable position, when she hid Muslim Ibn Aqeel; the ambassador of Imam al-Hussayn (peace be upon him) to Kufa from the hands of enemies, and defended him alive and dead, so she was a model of loyal believing woman.
This woman who hid the rebel who found himself alone, after the Kufians broke their vows and covenants with al-Hussayn (peace be upon him). This woman, like all other women, bore love for her only son, so she was standing at the door waiting for his arrival for fear that something would happen to him, as Kufa was then in a massive uprising against the tyrant Yazid and his aides, who were practicing repression and persecution.
While she is standing at the door as usual, the rebellious rebel and the leading ambassador stood at her door; it is a Muslim Ibn Aqeel, the ambassador of al-Hussayn (peace be upon him), looking for a drink of water to quench his thirst, and a safe shelter from the treachery that surrounded him. Taw’ah recognized him from a conversation that took place between them, she did not hesitate for a moment to do the duty assigned to her from sheltering the loyal rebel, so she welcomed him, and hurried to prepare a room for him to shelter, and prepared all the necessary supplies of hospitality for him.
When her spoiled son Bilal, who cooperated with the authority, like the holy verse states {He brings forth the living from the dead and the dead from the living.} came back home and found out about the matter, he began to think about this precious hunt that he was looking for, and he did not hesitate to tell the governor about it, and the latter sent an army to fight and catch Muslim in this house.
Taw’ah had no choice but to disown her son Bilal, as the holy verse states: {…He is certainly not of your family—he was entirely of unrighteous conduct.} so she apologized from Muslim Ibn Aqeel, and she asked Allah for forgiveness: {Our Lord! Do not punish us if we forget or make a mistake.} And while Muslim got up to prepare to face the people he turned to her and said: {“There is no blame on you today. May Allah forgive you! He is the Most Merciful of the merciful!}.
He bid farwell to her and said, “May Allah’s mercy be upon you and give you good reward for what you have done for me”. Her role (may Allah be pleased with her) was to embrace that rebel, whom men were unable to embrace at the risk of her life, so she was an example of courage, altruism, sacrifice and selflessness.
This article was originally published in AlKafeel Global Network.
