Excessive Praise (Ahadith 2328 – 2329)

Bismillah.

Ahadith 2322 – 2327 (below) are repeats. See linked text for related posts.

Volume 3, Book 48, Number 824 :
Narrated by Abdullah bin Umar (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Bilal pronounces the Adhan when it is still night (before dawn), so eat and drink till the next Adhan is pronounced (or till you hear Ibn Um Maktum’s Adhan).” Ibn Um Maktum (radiallaahu `anhu) was a blind man who would not pronounce the Adhan till he was told that it was dawn.

Volume 3, Book 48, Number 825 :
Narrated by Al-Miswar bin Makhrama (radiallaahu `anhu)
Some outer garments were received the Prophet and my father (Makhrama) said to me, “Let us go to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) so that he may give us something from the garments.” So, my father stood at the door and spoke. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) recognized his voice and came out carrying a garment and telling Makhrama the good qualities of that garment, adding, “I have kept this for you, I have kept this for you.”

Volume 3, Book 48, Number 826 :
Narrated by Abu Said Al-Khudri (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Isn’t the witness of a woman equal to half of that of a man?” The women said, “Yes.” He said, “This is because of the deficiency of a woman’s mind.”

Volume 3, Book 48, Number 827 :
Narrated by Uqba bin Al-Harith (radiallaahu `anhu)
That he had married Um Yahya bint Abu Ihab. He said. “A black slave-lady came and said, ‘I suckled you both.’ I then mentioned that to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) who turned his face aside.” Uqba (radiallaahu `anhu) further said, “I went to the other side and told the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) about it. He said, ‘How can you (keep her as your wife) when the lady has said that she suckled both of you (i.e. you and your wife?)” So, the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) ordered him to divorce her.

Volume 3, Book 48, Number 828 :
Narrated by ‘Uqba bin Al-Harith (radiallaahu `anhu)
I married a woman and later on a woman came and said, “I suckled you both.” So, I went to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) (to ask him about it). He said, “How can you (keep her as a wife) when it has been said (that you were foster brother and sister)? Leave (divorce) her.

Volume 3, Book 48, Number 829 :
Narrated by Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa) (the wife of the Prophet)
“Whenever Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) intended to go on a journey, he would draw lots amongst his wives and would take with him the one upon whom the lot fell. During a Ghazwa of his, he drew lots amongst us and the lot fell upon me, and I proceeded with him after Allah had decreed the use of the veil by women. I was carried in a Howdah (on the camel) and dismounted while still in it. When Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) was through with his Ghazwa and returned home, and we approached the city of Medina, Allah’s Apostle ordered us to proceed at night. When the order of setting off was given, I walked till I was past the army to answer the call of nature. After finishing I returned (to the camp) to depart (with the others) and suddenly realized that my necklace over my chest was missing. So, I returned to look for it and was delayed because of that. The people who used to carry me on the camel, came to my Howdah and put it on the back of the camel, thinking that I was in it, as, at that time, women were light in weight, and thin and lean, and did not use to eat much. So, those people did not feel the difference in the heaviness of the Howdah while lifting it, and they put it over the camel. At that time I was a young lady. They set the camel moving and proceeded on. I found my necklace after the army had gone, and came to their camp to find nobody. So, I went to the place where I used to stay, thinking that they would discover my absence and come back in my search. While in that state, I felt sleepy and slept. Safwan bin Mu’attal As-Sulami Adh-Dhakwani (radiallaahu `anhu) was behind the army and reached my abode in the morning. When he saw a sleeping person, he came to me, and he used to see me before veiling. So, I got up when I heard him saying, “Inna lil-lah-wa inn a ilaihi rajiun (We are for Allah, and we will return to Him).” He made his camel knell down. He got down from his camel, and put his leg on the front legs of the camel and then I rode and sat over it. Safwan set out walking, leading the camel by the rope till we reached the army who had halted to take rest at midday. Then whoever was meant for destruction, fell into destruction, (some people accused me falsely) and the leader of the false accusers was ‘Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul. After that we returned to Medina, and I became ill for one month while the people were spreading the forged statements of the false accusers. I was feeling during my ailment as if I were not receiving the usual kindness from the Prophet which I used to receive from him when I got sick. But he would come, greet and say, ‘How is that (girl)?’ I did not know anything of what was going on till I recovered from my ailment and went out with Um Mistah to the Manasi where we used to answer the call of nature, and we used not to go to answer the call of nature except from night to night and that was before we had lavatories near to our houses. And this habit of ours was similar to the habit of the old ‘Arabs in the open country (or away from houses). So. I and Um Mistah bint Ruhm went out walking. Um Mistah stumbled because of her long dress and on that she said, ‘Let Mistah be ruined.’ I said, ‘You are saying a bad word. Why are you abusing a man who took part in (the battle of) Badr?’ She said, ‘O Hanata (you there) didn’t you hear what they said?’ Then she told me the rumors of the false accusers. My sickness was aggravated, and when I returned home, Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) came to me, and after greeting he said, ‘How is that (girl)?’ I requested him to allow me to go to my parents. I wanted then to be sure of the news through them I Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) allowed me, and I went to my parents and asked my mother, ‘What are the people talking about?’ She said, ‘O my daughter! Don’t worry much about this matter. By Allah, never is there a charming woman loved by her husband who has other wives, but the women would forge false news about her.’ I said, ‘Glorified be Allah! Are the people really taking of this matter?’ That night I kept on weeping and could not sleep till morning. In the morning Allah’s Apostle called Ali bin Abu Talib and Usama bin Zaid (radiallaahu `anhumaa) when he saw the Divine Inspiration delayed, to consul them about divorcing his wife (i.e. ‘Aisha). Usama bin Zaid said what he knew of the good reputation of his wives and added, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! Keep you wife, for, by Allah, we know nothing about her but good.’ ‘Ali bin Abu Talib said, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! Allah has no imposed restrictions on you, and there are many women other than she, yet you may ask the woman-servant who will tell you the truth.’ On that Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) called Buraira and said, ‘O Burair. Did you ever see anything which roused your suspicions about her?’ Buraira said, ‘No, by Allah Who has sent you with the Truth, I have never seen in her anything faulty except that she is a girl of immature age, who sometimes sleeps and leaves the dough for the goats to eat.’ On that day Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) ascended the pulpit and requested that somebody support him in punishing ‘Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul. Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, ‘Who will support me to punish that person (‘Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul) who has hurt me by slandering the reputation of my family? By Allah, I know nothing about my family but good, and they have accused a person about whom I know nothing except good, and he never entered my house except in my company.’ Sad bin Mu’adh (radiallaahu `anhu) got up and said, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! by Allah, I will relieve you from him. If that man is from the tribe of the Aus, then we will chop his head off, and if he is from our brothers, the Khazraj, then order us, and we will fulfill your order.’ On that Sad bin ‘Ubada, the chief of the Khazraj and before this incident, he had been a pious man, got up, motivated by his zeal for his tribe and said, ‘By Allah, you have told a lie; you cannot kill him, and you will never be able to kill him.’ On that Usaid bin Al-Hadir got up and said (to Sad bin ‘Ubada), ‘By Allah! you are a liar. By Allah, we will kill him; and you are a hypocrite, defending the hypocrites.’ On this the two tribes of Aus and Khazraj got excited and were about to fight each other, while Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) was standing on the pulpit. He got down and quietened them till they became silent and he kept quiet. On that day I kept on weeping so much so that neither did my tears stop, nor could I sleep. In the morning my parents were with me and I had wept for two nights and a day, till I thought my liver would burst from weeping. While they were sitting with me and I was weeping, an Ansari woman asked my permission to enter, and I allowed her to come in. She sat down and started weeping with me. While we were in this state, Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) came and sat down and he had never sat with me since the day they forged the accusation. No revelation regarding my case came to him for a month. He recited Tashah-hud (i.e. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is His Apostle) and then said, ‘O ‘Aisha! I have been informed such-and-such about you; if you are innocent, then Allah will soon reveal your innocence, and if you have committed a sin, then repent to Allah and ask Him to forgive you, for when a person confesses his sin and asks Allah for forgiveness, Allah accepts his repentance.’ When Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) finished his speech my tears ceased completely and there remained not even a single drop of it. I requested my father to reply to Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) on my behalf. My father said, By Allah, I do not know what to say to Allah’s Apostle.’ I said to my mother, ‘Talk to Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) on my behalf.’ She said, ‘By Allah, I do not know what to say to Allah’s Apostle. I was a young girl and did not have much knowledge of the Quran. I said. ‘I know, by Allah, that you have listened to what people are saying and that has been planted in your minds and you have taken it as a truth. Now, if I told you that I am innocent and Allah knows that I am innocent, you would not believe me and if I confessed to you falsely that I am guilty, and Allah knows that I am innocent you would believe me. By Allah, I don’t compare my situation with you except to the situation of Joseph’s father (i.e. Jacob) who said, ‘So (for me) patience is most fitting against that which you assert and it is Allah (Alone) whose help can be sought.’ Then I turned to the other side of my bed hoping that Allah would prove my innocence. By Allah I never thought that Allah would reveal Divine Inspiration in my case, as I considered myself too inferior to be talked of in the Holy Qur’an. I had hoped that Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) might have a dream in which Allah would prove my innocence. By Allah, Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) had not got up and nobody had left the house before the Divine Inspiration came to Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam). So, there overtook him the same state which used to overtake him, (when he used to have, on being inspired divinely). He was sweating so much so that the drops of the sweat were dropping like pearls though it was a (cold) wintry day. When that state of Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) was over, he was smiling and the first word he said, ‘Aisha! Thank Allah, for Allah has declared your innocence.’ My mother told me to go to Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam). I replied, ‘By Allah I will not go to him and will not thank but Allah.’ So Allah revealed: “Verily! They who spread the slander are a gang among you . . .” (24.11) When Allah gave the declaration of my Innocence, Abu Bakr (radiallaahu `anhu), who used to provide for Mistah bin Uthatha for he was his relative, said, ‘By Allah, I will never provide Mistah with anything because of what he said about Aisha.’ But Allah later revealed: — “And let not those who are good and wealthy among you swear not to help their kinsmen, those in need and those who left their homes in Allah’s Cause. Let them forgive and overlook. Do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? Verily! Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.” (24.22) After that Abu Bakr said, ‘Yes ! By Allah! I like that Allah should forgive me,’ and resumed helping Mistah whom he used to help before. Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) also asked Zainab bint Jahsh (i.e. the Prophet’s wife about me saying, ‘What do you know and what did you see?’ She replied, ‘O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)! I refrain to claim hearing or seeing what I have not heard or seen. By Allah, I know nothing except goodness about Aisha.” Aisha further added “Zainab was competing with me (in her beauty and the Prophet’s love), yet Allah protected her (from being malicious), for she had piety.”

Today’s Ahadith:

Volume 3, Book 48, Number 830 :
Narrated by Abu Bakra (radiallaahu `anhu)
A man praised another man in front of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam). The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said to him, “Woe to you, you have cut off your companion’s neck, you have cut off your companion’s neck,” repeating it several times and then added, “Whoever amongst you has to praise his brother should say, ‘I think that he is so and so, and Allah knows exactly the truth, and I do not confirm anybody’s good conduct before Allah, but I think him so and so,’ if he really knows what he says about him.”

Volume 3, Book 48, Number 831 :
Narrated by Abu Musa Al-Ashari (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) heard someone praising another and exaggerating in his praise. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “You have ruined or cut the man’s back (by praising him so much).

Praising someone on their face can be very dangerous because it leads to insincerity, riyaa’ (showing off), pride and relying on others’ opinions. If you like someone, praise them all you want behind their back.. doing it in front of them can cause more harm than benefit. That does not mean you become stingy and never give good remarks to anyone.. it’s the exaggeration that’s prohibited. Read this for details.

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Help The Oppressor (Ahadith 2120 – 2121)

Bismillah.

Allah says in the Quran:

“…And do not help one another in sin and oppression; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah; surely Allah is severe in requiting evil.” [5:2]

Isn’t there a conflict between this ayah and the title of the post? Well, not really.

Volume 3, Book 43, Number 623:
Narrated Anas bin Malik (radiallaahu `anhu):
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is an oppressed one.”

Volume 3, Book 43, Number 624:
Narrated Anas (radiallaahu `anhu):
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is an oppressed one. People asked, “O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)! It is all right to help him if he is oppressed, but how should we help him if he is an oppressor?” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “By preventing him from oppressing others.”

Yes, even the oppressor needs help. Help him stop his zulm in this dunya, so Allah doesn’t punish him in the aakhirah! You are his brother in Islam, and it is upon you to help him.

Allah’s Apostle said, “Whoever has oppressed another person concerning his reputation or anything else, he should beg him to forgive him before the Day of Resurrection when there will be no money (to compensate for wrong deeds), but if he has good deeds, those good deeds will be taken from him according to his oppression which he has done, and if he has no good deeds, the sins of the oppressed person will be loaded on him.”{Volume 3, Book 43, Number 629: Sahih Bukhari}

And that ^ is something we all need to fear. May Allah protect us from oppression – whether it’s at the giving end or the receiving one.

The Four Commandments of Muslim Brotherhood (Hadith No. 2119)

Bismillah.

Volume 3, Book 43, Number 622:
Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Umar (radiallaahu `anhu):
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, so he should not oppress him, nor should he hand him over to an oppressor. Whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs; whoever brought his (Muslim) brother out of a discomfort, Allah will bring him out of the discomforts of the Day of Resurrection, and whoever screened a Muslim, Allah will screen him on the Day of Resurrection . “

This hadith has four parts. Let’s discuss each one separately and evaluate ourselves.

“A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, so he should not oppress him, nor should he hand him over to an oppressor.”

What to say? Be it on an individual level or as an ummah, we have terribly failed. We oppress our Muslim brothers – we treat each other badly, we backbite, we slander, we fight, we pull legs, we abuse, we harass, we bully, we judge and misjudge, we cheat, we deceive, we practice all kinds of oppression.. on our own brothers and sisters in Islam! We are merciless. Then why should we expect Allah to show mercy to us?

And let’s not even go to the Muslim governments and leaders. If a fellow Muslim country is in need, we’d rather stay in our comfort zone than to reach out to them. Hand them over to the oppressors and not bat an eye over how they treat our Muslim brothers and sisters. Let’s stay out of it, shall we?

“Whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs.”

Now this sounds easy but the practical test gets very hard. You have a tough exam lined up and you’re busy preparing for it when your brother walks in and requests you to help him with his science project etc. How do you react?

If at that point, you remember this promise of Allah, you wouldn’t let that opportunity go.

“Whoever brought his (Muslim) brother out of a discomfort, Allah will bring him out of the discomforts of the Day of Resurrection.”

And what more do you need? A believer trembles with fear when he thinks about the horrors of the Day of Judgement. You know you won’t be able to bear the humiliation and torture of that day. Now if only there was a way you could make sure that you’re saved from it all. If only..

Do I have to spell it out? Oh wait, I already did!

“Whoever screened a Muslim, Allah will screen him on the Day of Resurrection.”

Next time you feel like adding to the juicy gossip about how your aunt’s sister’s daughter’s friend did such and such when he parents were away, remember your own faults and weaknesses. And remember how badly you’ll be needing Allah to hide your sins on the Day of Judgement, when it won’t only be your Facebook friend-list that’ll be witnessing your embarrassing secrets, it’ll be the whole world – first human till the last. Enough said.

More on the rights of a Muslim over another here.

Must be Awesome to have an Awesome Brother (Ahadith 1534 – 1539)

Bismillah.

Volume 3, Book 27, Number 11:

Narrated Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa):

We set out along with Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) shortly before the appearance of the new moon (crescent) of the month of Dhi-l-Hijja and he said to us, “Whoever wants to assume Ihram for Hajj may do so; and whoever wants to assume Ihram for ‘Umra may do so. Hadn’t I brought the Hadi (animal for sacrificing) (with me), I would have assumed Ihram for ‘Umra.” (‘Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa) added,): So some of us assumed Ihram for ‘Umra while the others for Hajj. I was amongst those who assumed Ihram for ‘Umra. The day of ‘Arafat approached and I was still menstruating. I complained to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) (about that) and he said, “Abandon your ‘Umra, undo and comb your hair, and assume Ihram for Hajj;.” When it was the night of Hasba, he sent ‘Abdur Rahman (radiallaahu `anhu) with me to At-Tan’im and I assumed Ihram for ‘Umra (and performed it) in lieu of my missed ‘Umra.

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Volume 3, Book 27, Number 12:

Narrated ‘Amr bin Aus:

Abdul Rahman bin Abu Bakr (radiallaahu `anhu) told me that the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) had ordered him to let ‘Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa) ride behind him and to make he perform ‘Umra from At-Tan’im.

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Volume 3, Book 27, Number 13:

Narrated Jabir bin ‘Abdullah (radiallaahu `anhu):

The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and his companions assumed Ihram for Hajj and none except the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and Talha (radiallaahu `anhu) had the Hadi with them. ‘Ali (radiallaahu `anhu) had come from Yemen and he had the Hadi with him. He (‘Ali (radiallaahu `anhu)) said, “I have assumed Ihram with an intention like that of Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) has assumed it.” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) ordered his companions to intend the Ihram with which they had come for ‘Umra, to perform the Tawaf of the Ka’ba (and between Safa and Marwa), to get their hair cut short and then to finish their Ihram with the exception of those who had the Hadi with them. They asked, “Shall we go to Mina and the private organs of some of us are dribbling (if we finish Ihram and have sexual relations with our wives)?” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) heard that and said, “Had I known what I know now, I would not have brought the Hadi. If I did not have the Hadi with me I would have finished my Ihram.” ‘Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa) got her menses and performed all the ceremonies (of Hajj) except the Tawaf . So when she became clean from her menses, and she had performed the Tawaf of the Ka’ba, she said, “O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)! You (people) are returning with both Hajj and ‘Umra and I am returning only with Hajj!” So, he ordered ‘Abdur Rahman bin Abu Bakr (radiallaahu `anhu) to go with her to At-Tan’im. Thus she performed ‘Umra after the Hajj in the month of Dhi-l-Hijja. Suraqa bin Malik bin Ju’sham (radiallaahu `anhu) met the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) at Al-‘Aqaba (Jamrat-ul ‘Aqaba) while the latter was stoning it and said, “O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)! Is this permissible only for you?” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) replied, “No, it is for ever (i.e. it is permissible for all Muslims to perform ‘Umra before Hajj.”

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Volume 3, Book 27, Number 14:

Narrated ‘Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa):

We set out with Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) shortly before the appearance of the new moon of Dhi-l-Hiija and he said, “Whoever wants to assume Ihram for ‘Umra may do so, and whoever wants to assume Ihram for Hajj may do so. Had not I brought the Hadi with me, I would have assumed Ihram for ‘Umra.” Some of the people assumed Ihram for ‘Umra while others for Hajj. I was amongst those who had assumed Ihram for ‘Umra. I got my menses before entering Mecca, and was menstruating till the day of ‘Arafat. I complained to Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) about it, he said, “Abandon your ‘Umra, undo and comb your hair, and assume Ihram for Hajj.” So, I did that accordingly. When it was the night of Hasba (day of departure from Mina), the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) sent ‘Abdur Rahman (radiallaahu `anhu) with me to At-Tanim.

The sub-narrator adds: He (‘AbdurRahman (radiallaahu `anhu)) let her ride behind him. And she assumed Ihram for ‘Umra in lieu of the abandoned one. Aisha completed her Hajj and ‘Umra, and no Hadi, Sadaqa (charity), or fasting was obligatory for her.

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Volume 3, Book 27, Number 15:

Narrated Al-Aswad:

That ‘Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa) said, “O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)! The people are returning after performing the two Nusuks (i.e. Hajj and ‘Umra) but I am returning with one only?” He said, “Wait till you become clean from your menses and then go to At-Tan’im, assume Ihram (and after performing ‘Umra) join us at such-and-such a place. But it (i.e. the reward if ‘Umra) is according to your expenses or the hardship (which you will undergo while performing it).”

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Volume 3, Book 27, Number 16:

Narrated ‘Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa):

We set out assuming the Ihram for Hajj in the months of Hajj towards the sacred precincts of Hajj. We dismounted at Sarif and the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said to his companions, “Whoever has not got the Hadi with him and likes to make it as ‘Umra, he should do it, but he who has got the Hadi with him should not do it.” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and some of his wealthy companions had the Hadi with them, so they did not finish Ihram after performing the ‘Umra. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) came to me while I was weeping. He asked me the reason for it. I replied, “I have heard of what you have said to your companions and I cannot do the ‘Umra.” He asked me, “What is the matter with you?” I replied, “I am not praying.” He said, “There is no harm in it as you are one of the daughters of Adam and the same is written for you as for others. So, you should perform Hajj and I hope that Allah will enable you to perform the ‘Umra as well.” So, I carried on till we departed from Mina and halted at Al-Mahassab. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) called ‘Abdur-Rahman (radiallaahu `anhu) and said, “Go out of the sanctuary with your sister and let her assume Ihram for ‘Umra, and after both of you have finished the Tawaf I will be waiting for you at this place.” We came back at mid-night and the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) asked us, “Have you finished?” I replied in the affirmative. He announced the departure and the people set out for the journey and some of them had performed the Tawaf of the Ka’ba before the morning prayer, and after that the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) set out for Medina.

This incident and rulings derived from it have been discussed before in Kitaab-ul-Hajj. See Changing Intention During Hajj and Hajj – Woman Problems to read more.

There’s something that strikes me about this incident.. Whenever we comment on it, we discuss what happened to `Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa) and how she behaved [it was cute how she started crying in front of her husband..], how the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) reacted and how lenient and considerate he was. But there’s one person we miss out. We probably don’t think it important what he did, or we just don’t see it.

Brothers, pay attention now.

You see how `Abdur Rahman (radiallaahu `anhu), brother of `Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa), behaved in this situation? Do you see how considerate he was towards his sister? He obeyed the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) readily, without a question, and took his sister for her `Umrah. And he didn’t even have to perform it himself. He could have easily said ‘why should I waste my time? Can’t she just skip it or something?’. Isn’t that how brothers usually react? (No offence!)
And don’t forget this was the time of Hajj, when tens of thousands of people were in Makkah. And Makkah wasn’t as expansive and comfortable as it is now. It had tough weather and terrain. The places for Tawaaf and Sa`ee didn’t have marble floors as they do today. And as mentioned in the last Hadith above, they left sometime during the day and returned at mid-night. All in all, it wasn’t easy. Not for `Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa) and not for her brother. But they showed remarkable patience. And it’s their examples we should follow when faced with such situations. Allah be pleased with them.

This reminds me of my first `Umrah back in 2011. I was caught up in almost a similar situation, and my dad had to take me for a special `Umrah. He was so considerate Alhamdulillah, didn’t say a word. May Allah reward him immensely. :)