A Faithful Wife
When a man is blessed with a faithful woman, he forgets to compare loyalty to dogs or horses. Especially if the wife is loyal, he experiences heaven on earth.
Colonel Hashim shared that he had the opportunity to perform Umrah with his family last month. His wife, children, and entire family were with him. During their visit, they saw a woman pushing a man in a wheelchair around the Kaaba. He was amazed by this sight and offered her help through his son, but the woman politely declined. She appeared to be from Pakistan, and after some conversation, it was confirmed. After they finished the circumambulation, Colonel Hashim had a detailed meeting with the woman and the man in the wheelchair.
During the conversation, Colonel Hashim asked the woman who the man was and what their relationship was, and how he ended up in this condition. While asking, he noticed that the woman's arm seemed slightly crooked, as if it had been broken and didn’t heal properly. Curious, he asked her about it, but she hesitated to answer. Seeing her reluctance, Colonel Hashim didn't push the question further.
The woman then replied to his earlier question and said, "This man is my husband. He had a stroke a few years ago, and since then, he cannot walk or speak. It was very difficult to get permission for him to travel for Umrah. After many requests and pleas, I finally got approval. It was my wish to be with him before God because I want to live with him in paradise, just like I have in this world. I wanted to ask for forgiveness for both of us in Allah's house.
While my husband worked, he spent all his money on his siblings, and I didn’t even receive my fair share for household expenses. I had to ask my family for help, or I worked hard to cover the costs. We didn’t have children, so my husband was everything to me. I considered him my god in this world, and how could I turn my back on my god? That’s why I decided to stay with him no matter what. If he ever gave me a divorce, I would have had no choice but to leave, but he didn’t, perhaps because his family found a free servant in me. I cooked for everyone, did their laundry, and handled all the household chores. After finishing their work, I did the work of other houses to earn money, as I was their maid too.
Despite everything, my husband was never happy with me. He used to beat me, curse me, and mistreat me. He would even make me stand outside in the freezing cold at night or under the scorching sun during the day. I obeyed all his commands, not just because of fear but also because of respect for him as my husband. Despite my patience, all I received in return was hatred. One time, my sister-in-law accused me of witchcraft, saying that I had caused her son’s death. My husband beat me so badly that my arm broke. Even then, he didn’t arrange for my treatment. My arm healed on its own, but crookedly. I didn’t tell my family because I wasn’t allowed to visit them. I would only meet them once every six months to a year.
Eventually, Allah eased my trials. One day, my husband had a stroke, and most of his body became paralyzed. He couldn’t move or walk. His family abandoned him. Although they visited occasionally for appearances, they never offered financial help or medical assistance. I had to take care of everything myself. I even had to clean and bathe him, though it was difficult. Still, none of his siblings came to help. With Allah’s help, I did everything alone. Now that my husband was dependent on me, I saw it as an opportunity to serve him and earn Allah’s approval. I could fix my afterlife through my service to him. I looked after him, did my best to get him treated, made food for him in the morning, and went to work in other people’s homes. I returned at noon to change his clothes, feed him, and give him his medicine. After he slept, I went back to work and returned by five in the evening to take him outside for fresh air, massage him, and continue caring for him. After dinner, I gave him his medication and went to bed once he fell asleep.
One of my deepest desires was to perform Umrah or Hajj with my husband. I saved money for years and prayed to Allah. When I finally had enough, I learned that my husband’s health would not allow him to travel. But through the agent who arranged our Umrah, we found a boy traveling with his family who agreed to pose as our helper. This allowed us to obtain visas and come for Umrah.
Here, my husband cries constantly. Maybe he regrets his past actions. He can’t speak to apologize, but for the sake of Allah, I have already forgiven him. I believe life is unpredictable, and death could come at any moment. I don’t want to die harboring resentment or complaints against my husband, nor do I want him to face embarrassment on Judgment Day because of me.”
Colonel Hashim said that when he looked at her husband, tears were streaming down his face. Perhaps he was full of regret. He realized how he had wronged his wife by listening to his family, but now he could not even ask for forgiveness. Even though his wife had already forgiven him, his heart was filled with the desire to apologize. Colonel Hashim praised the woman’s parents for raising such a kind-hearted daughter and admired the woman's strength in forgiving and forgetting the injustices done to her.
This couple’s story gave Colonel Hashim and his wife a new perspective on raising their own children. They learned how to find peace and happiness in life.
After performing Umrah, they returned home. Colonel Hashim said he still keeps in touch with the woman. She is from a village near Sargodha, while her husband is from Karachi. The biggest lesson he learned from their story was never to commit injustice, no matter how weak or powerless the other person seems. Sometimes, people sin thinking they can repent later, but Allah’s punishment can be swift, and they might not get the chance to ask for forgiveness. The man in the wheelchair is a clear example of this—he wanted to apologize, but now it was too late. So, before hurting anyone, think twice, because Allah is all-knowing and all-powerful.