SAWDAH’S EARLY TRIALS AND SACRIFICES

 FAJR REMINDER: SAWDAH’S EARLY TRIALS AND SACRIFICES

By: Umm Affān

Dhū al-Qa'dah 7, 1447 (25-April-2026)

Our mother, Sawdah Bint Zam’ah Ibn Qays (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anha), was first married to Sakrān Ibn ‘Amr (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anhu). When the light of Islām reached them, both of them accepted the call to Tawḥīd and submitted to Allāh. Because of this, Sawdah (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anha) became one of the earliest women in Makkah to embrace Islām at a time when accepting the truth came with severe social danger and open hostility.

Around the third or fourth year after the Prophet (ﷺ) began his mission, Allāh commanded him with the words: “Therefore proclaim openly (Allāh’s Message—Islāmic Monotheism) that which you are commanded, and turn away from Al-Mushrikūn (polytheists, idolaters, and disbelievers, etc.).” [Sūrah Al-Ḥijr (15): 94]

After this command, the early Muslims began to face intense persecution from the idolaters of Makkah. Their suffering became so severe that the Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) permitted some of them to migrate to Abyssinia for safety and freedom to worship. Among those noble migrants were Sawdah and her husband (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anhum).

They left behind their homeland and journeyed to a foreign land that neither spoke their language nor shared their religion. Subḥānallāh! Reflect on the sacrifice of our righteous predecessors—they abandoned familiarity, comfort, and family ties solely for the preservation of their Dīn.

Not long after settling in Abyssinia, news reached them that the situation in Makkah had improved. Believing the persecution had eased, they became hopeful and happily prepared to return home. However, that report turned out to be deceptive—a ploy meant to lure them back into greater oppression and torture.

After returning from Abyssinia, Sakrān (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anhu) sadly passed away, leaving Sawdah (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anha) as a grieving widow with a young child. She faced widowhood during a time when Muslim women were socially vulnerable and often struggled financially. It was a heavy trial, one that tested both her heart and her resilience.

Indeed, one of the greatest trials of this worldly life is losing a spouse or a beloved one. For a woman, the death of a husband can be especially painful, as it brings not only emotional heartbreak but also shakes the structure of family, support, and companionship. The Qur’ān teaches us the value of marriage and the tranquility found within it, so its absence can leave deep loneliness and sorrow.

Yet even in such painful moments, Islām teaches patience, reliance upon Allāh, and seeking comfort through prayer and the support of the believing community. Faith becomes the light that carries a grieving heart through darkness, and patience becomes the bridge to healing.

I beseech Allāh to heal every broken heart and be Especially Merciful to Sawdah and her first husband, Sakrān Ibn ‘Amr.

Aameen.