Hazrat Juwairiyah (ra) had great eagerness in her heart to please Allah the Almighty and His Messenger, the Holy Prophet (sas). She spent most of her time in worshipping Allah. She had reserved a special corner in her house specifically for worship.
One day, the Holy Prophet (sas) came to her house. It was daytime and she was busy in worship. When the Holy Prophet (sas) passed by her house later in the afternoon, he saw her still sitting on the prayer rug and busy in worship. The Holy Prophet (sas) inquired, “Have you been sitting like this all this time? Do you always worship like this?” She replied, “Of course, Messenger of Allah (sas).”
When she found out that Allah the Almighty likes it when His servants fast, she started fasting a lot. One Friday, the Holy Prophet (sas) came to her house and found out that she was fasting. He asked, “Juwairiyah, did you fast yesterday as well?” She replied, “No.” He asked, “Will you fast tomorrow then?” She replied, “No.” Upon that the Holy Prophet (sas) said, “Then you should break the fast.”1 The Holy Prophet (sas) did not like fasting only on Fridays.2
The wives of the Holy Prophet (sas) used to listen to his teachings very carefully and then obey them strictly. They observed his actions, and then advised others while citing him as an example. This way the sayings and actions of the Holy Prophet (sas) have been preserved in a way that can be claimed as one hundred percent accurate. Even the relatives of his wives were involved in these observations. Because of it, we find so many Ahadith that explain the teachings of Islam very clearly. For example, we will present here a Hadith narrated by Hazrat ‘Amr bin Harith (ra), the brother of Hazrat Juwairiyah (ra).
He narrates:
“The Holy Prophet (sas) did not leave a single Dirham, Dinar, slave, or a slave-woman behind at the time of his death.”3
This shows that not only did the Holy Prophet (sas) teach others to free the slaves, but he also set examples for them to follow through his actions. At the time he left this world he possessed no worldly wealth. He searched for heavenly wealth all his life, and only took that with him to the Hereafter.
1 (i) Sahihul-Bukhari, Kitabus-Saum, Babu Saumi Yaumul-Jumu‘ati Wa Idha Asbaha Sa’iman Yaumal-Jumu‘ati Fa ‘Alaihi Ain-Yuftira, Hadith No. 1936 ///// (ii) Siyarus-Sahabah, Volume 6 (Siyarus-Sahabiyat), p. 81, Published by Idarah Islamiyat, Lahore
2 (i) Rahmatullil-‘Alamin, Volume 1, pp. 164-165, Maktabah Islamiyyah, Lahore ///// (ii) Ummat Ki Ma’ain, Ali Asghar Chaudhary, p. 183, Hazrat Juwairiyah, Islamic Publications Private Limited, Lahore Edition, 4 November 1999
3 (i) Sahihul-Bukhari, Kitabul-Wasaya, Babul-Wasaya, Hadith No. 2739 ///// (ii) Mishkatul- Masabih, Volume 2, p. 407, Kitabu Ahwalil-Qiyamati Wa Bad’il-Khalq, Bab 10, Al-Faslul- Awwal, Hadith No. 5974