Little Um Khalid and Her New Dress
Last Saturday was World refugee day - this story came to mind..
Um Khalid bint Khalid (Ama bint Khalid ibn Sa’id ibn al-As) said:
The Prophet ﷺ was given some clothes including a black Khamisa. He said, "To whom shall we give this to wear?" The people kept silent whereupon the Prophet ﷺ said, "Fetch Um Khalid for me." I (Um Khalid) was brought carried (as I was small girl at that time). The Prophet ﷺ took the Khamisa in his hands and made me wear it and said, "May you live so long that your dress will wear out and you will mend it many times." On the Khamisa there were some green or pale designs (The Prophet ﷺ saw these designs) and said, "O Um Khalid! This is Sanah." (Sanah is an Abyssinian word meaning beautiful). [Bukhari]
Um Khalid’s parents were among the early Muslims, companions of the Prophet ﷺ who migrated to Abyssinia to escape the cruelty of Quraysh. Arriving as refugees in Abyssinia they fell under the protection of King Negus. Um Khalid was born in Abyssinia. She spoke the Abyssinian language, as a second mother tongue. She was a child born in another land, raised as a Muslim, who knew nothing of her parents’ homeland except what they told her about it and the blessed Prophet ﷺ.
After the migration ended she left Abyssinia by boat for Medina with her parents. The Prophet ﷺ was delighted when his companions were reunited with him in Medina where he’d formed a safe base. On their return he ensured that they’d settle well in their new environment.
This incident with her new khamisa reminds us of the caring, generous and empathetic nature of the Prophet ﷺ. The understanding that it’s a child’s right as any human being no matter where they are or have come from to feel loved, secure and safe.
By saying ‘Sanah’ in Abyssinian, he honoured her roots and life experiences with dignity.
Imagine how welcome to the community a gift and word like this would have made her feel, easing the transition for a child who had found herself uprooted and now amongst strangers in a strange land.
She grew up remaining steadfast in Islam. She later married Az-Zubayr ibn Al- Awam, a companion among those promised Jannah within their lifetime.
𝑴𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 of 𝗦.𝗡.𝗝𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗹𝗶 ✍🏼 (𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 of 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗯𝗻 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, Islamic chapter books for kids📚)
