What does reading means in islam? What does Islam say about reading?
There was an old lady named Umm Mihjan who lived in one of the suburbs of the beautiful city of Medina. One day, this woman, whose thoughts and heart were as pure as she was, said:
“Since the Almighty Allah has cleansed my heart of unbelief and sin, and given me the purity of faith, then I should clean His house. Thus she started to clean the Prophet’s Mosque every day.”
Umm Mihjan’s cleaning of the mosque was very pleasing to the Messenger of Allah. Our Prophet loved Umm Mihjan very much and every time he saw her in the mosque, he would smile and inquire about her health and wellbeing.
One day, Umm Mihjan, who was already old lady, fell ill. For days, she could neither clean the Prophet’s mosque nor see his blessed face. Ummi Mihjan was so upset about this situation that she wanted to get well soon and continue her work in the mosque again. However her illness prevented her from going to the mosque. She was always crying out of her sadness.
When the Prophet -upon him blessings and peace- could not see her for a few days, he asked her neighbors. they said:
“She is sick, O Messenger of Allah!”
Upon this answer, the Prophet started walking towards Umm Mihjan’s house, who lived in the suburbs of Medina. Some went to Umm Mihjan before the Prophet and said:
They said, “Good news to you, Umm Mihjan, our Prophet is coming to visit you.”
When Umm Mihjan received this good news, she did not know what to do with excitement. Her heart, which had been weak due to her illness, began to beat rapidly. Before long, a sweet voice was heard:
“Assalamu Alaykum”, it was the voice of our Prophet -upon him blessings and peace-…
Umm Mihjan tried to get up and replied in a weak voice:
“Wa Alaykum al-Salam, O Messenger of Allah.”
The visit was short, but it was very valuable for Umm Mihjan. Because the Prophet of Allah -upon him blessings and peace- had come to her visit. She would not be upset even if she could not get up anymore.
After that day, our beloved Prophet -upon him blessings and peace- often asked her neighbors how Umm Mihjan was. He received frequent information about the condition of her health. He advised her neighbors:
– If Umm Mihjan dies, do not bury her without my knowledge.
Finally, one evening, Umm Mihjan gave her pure soul to Allah. Her neighbors immediately washed her and enshrouded her. When the preparations were completed, they decided to go to the Prophet’s house and ask him to lead the funeral prayer. However, the night prayer had been performed and it was quite late, and the Prophet -upon him blessings and peace- was resting in his house.
Those who were present at the funeral began to talk among themselves:
– What a good woman she was.
– She was cleaning the mosque whenever we saw her.
– Should we wake up our Prophet?
– It would not be appropriate for us to disturb the Prophet.
– However, our Prophet commanded us to inform him. Let us not make a mistake without knowing it!
– I think we should not disturb our Prophet!
Such hesitant conversations continued. In the end, Umm Mihjan was taken to the cemetery without informing the Prophet. The funeral prayer was performed and she was buried. When the Prophet -upon him blessings and peace- asked about her in the morning, his companions said,
– O Messenger of Allah! She passed away, we buried him. In fact, we came to you after we washed and shrouded her. But you were at rest. We did not want to disturb you.”
Our Prophet was very upset. Because he wanted to lead her funeral prayer himself.
“Then come with me,” he said, and went to the cemetery with his companions. Their neighbors showed Umm Mihjan’s grave. The Prophet and his companions reperformed the funeral prayer for Umm Mihjan. They invoked Allah for her soul and left.
Our Prophet valued this woman with good character after her death as well as before her death, and showed a good example of loyalty to her. Thus, Umm Mihjan received the reward of her love for the Messenger of Allah and cleaning the house of Allah, both during her life and after her death. (It has been storified from Bukhari, Janaiz, 67.)
Source; Islamic Etiquette, Faruk KANGER – Lokman HELVACI, Erkam Publications
Good Manners Towards Allah Almighty
Good Manners Towards Our Prophet
