The Holy Prophet (sas) passed away shortly after the death of Hazrat Ibrahim (ra). To Allah we belong and to Him shall we return.
After the passing of the Holy Prophet (sas), Hazrat Mariyah (ra) kept away from people and preferred to remain in complete seclusion. She spent most of her time in worship and remembrance of Allah the Almighty. There were only a few places that she would visit. She would either visit the grave of the Holy Prophet (sas), the grave of her innocent child Ibrahim (ra), or the home of her sister Hazrat Sirin (ra).1
Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and Hazrat ‘Umar Faruq (ra) gave her a lot of respect during their tenures as Khulafa’. They had fixed an allowance for her, which she continued to receive until her death.
Hazrat Mariyah (ra) passed away in Muharram 16th Hijri, during the Khilafat of Hazrat ‘Umar Faruq (ra). Hazrat ‘Umar Faruq (ra) led her funeral prayer and she was buried in Jannatul-Baqi‘.2
The Holy Prophet (sas) treated Hazrat Mariyah (ra) the same way he treated all of his holy wives, and instructed her to observe pardah (veil). He treated her with love and kindness, and respected her greatly. He used to say, “Treat the Copts with utmost respect because we are bound to them in two ways, through blood and through a pledge. We are bound to them by blood because the mother of Hazrat Isma‘il (as) (Hazrat Hajirah (as)) and the mother of my son Ibrahim (ra) (Mariyah (ra)) are both Coptic. The bond through pledge means that we have made a treaty with them.”3
Hazrat Mariyah Qibtiyyah (ra) lived for five years after the passing away of the Holy Prophet (sas).
Hazrat ‘A’ishah (ra) said that she did not dislike the coming of any other woman into the household of the Holy Prophet (sas) as much as she disliked the coming of Hazrat Mariyah (ra) because she was very beautiful, and the Holy Prophet (sas) adored her very much.4
All the wives of the Holy Prophet (sas) were very righteous and pious. They were not jealous of one another and loved each other very much. However, due to their overpowering devotion to the Holy Prophet (sas) they each strived to be the most pleasing to him. In this regard they would strive to be his favorite wife through their piety, righteousness, and charm.
It is an honour and distinction for Hazrat Mariyah (ra) that she became the cause of the bond that formed between Egypt/Africa and the Arabian Peninsula that will last till the Day of Judgement.
The Holy Prophet (sas) had admonished:
“Fear Allah when dealing with the Ahl-e Dhimmah and the dark-skinned people of Madrah because we are related to them by blood as well as marriage. ”
In another Hadith the Holy Prophet (sas) says:
“You will conquer Egypt in the near future, hence treat the people of Egypt with kindness because they are entitled to certain rights as non-Muslim citizens of the state and also other rights because of ties of relationship.”
It is obvious that these two admonishments concerning the fair and kind treatment of the people of Egypt were issued because of the exalted status of Hazrat Mariyah Qibtiyyah (ra) who is entitled to the utmost love and reverence from the Muslims, as she was the wife of the Holy Prophet (sas).5
1 Sau Barhi Zahid Khawatin aur un ki Sardar Hazrat Fatimah (ra) bintu Muhammad (sas), By Mufti Thana’ullah Mahmud, p. 163, Published by Baitul-‘Ulum, Anarkali, Lahore
2 Urdu Da’ira-e-Ma‘arif-e-Islamiyyah, p. 320, Published by Danish Gah Panjab, Lahore, First Edition (1985)
3 Tadhkar-e-Sahabiyat (ra), By Talib Al-Hashimi, pp. 113-114, Published by Al-Badr Publications, Urdu Bazar, Lahore, 27th Edition (2005)
4 Azwaj-e-Mutahharat (ra) wa Sahabiyat (ra) Encyclopaedia, By Dr. Dhul-Fiqar Kazim, p. 239 Published by Baitul-‘Ulum, Anarkali, Lahore
5 Sau Barhi Zahid Khawatin aur un ki Sardar Hazrat Fatimah (ra) bintu Muhammad (sas), By Mufti Thana’ullah Mahmud, p. 164, Published by Baitul-‘Ulum, Anarkali, Lahore