| Yazid son of Mu'awiya came to know
about the beauty of Urainab, daughter of Ishaq who was the wife of
the Qurayshite Abdullah bin Salam. Urainab, was the most beautiful
and accomplished woman of her time and possessed enormous wealth.
Yazid fell in love with her without having seen her. He lost all
patience and mentioned the matter to Mu'awiya's favorite slave named
Rafig. The slave informed Mu'awiya about this love and told him that
his son was very keen to marry Urainab. Mu'awiya called Yazid and
enquired from him about the matter. Yazid admitted that whatever
Mu'awiya had been told was correct. Mu'awiya said: "Be calm and
patient. Something will be done in this behalf". Yazid said: It is
no use consoling me now because the matter is already finished. She
has already been married. Mu'awiya said: My dear son! Keep the
secret to yourself, because if it is divulged it will do you no
good. God completes what He ordains and what has already happened
cannot be helped. Mu'awiya began thinking of solving the problem
and meeting the wish of Yazid to marry Urainab. Abdullah son of
Salam, the husband of Urainab was at that time the Governor of Iraq.
Mu'awiya wrote a letter to him saying: "I have an urgent business
with you. Please come and see me as early as possible. The matter is
beneficial to you."
On receiving Mu'awiya's letter Abdullah proceeded to Syria at
once and met Mu'awiya. The latter received him with great honor and
respect. At that time Abu Darda and Abu Huraira, two companions of
the prophet were also available in Damacus. Mu'awiya called for them
and said to them: "Such and such daughter of mine is now of age and
I am anxious to give away her hand in marriage. I think Abdullah son
of Salam is a good man and I wish that she may marry him."
Both of them praised Mu'awiya for his intelligence and devoutness
and said that whatever he had thought of was absolutely proper.
Mu'awiya said to them: "Both of you should meet Abdullah and
mention the matter to him and find out his opinion about it.
Although I have authorized my daughter to marry a man of her choice,
but I am sure that she will like Abdullah bin Salam and will not
refuse to marry him."
Abu Darda and Abu Huraira went to see Abdullah. In the meantime
Mu'awiya went into his palace and said to his daughter: "Dear
daughter! Just hear what I have to say. When Abu Darda and Abu
Huraira come to you and tell you that I want to get you married to
Abdullah bin Salam, you should say: "Of course, Abdullah is a good
man and a near relative and of equal status with us. However, he has
already married Urainab, daughter of lshaq and I am afraid that if I
marry him I may also become jealous of her like all other women. If,
in that event, I say something unbecoming about Abdullah I am afraid
that I may invite the wrath of God by doing so. However, if Abdullah
divorces Urainab I am agreeable to marry him".
When Abu Darda and Abu Huraira conveyed the Message of Mu'awiya
to Abdullah bin Salam he was over joyed and told them to inform
Mu'awiya that the proposal was acceptable to him. When they informed
Mu'awiya of the developments he said to them: "As I have already
told you I would like this marriage. However, I have authorized my
daughter to marry a man of her own choice. You should, therefore, go
to her and ask her whether she is ready to marry Abdullah bin Salam".
When they approached the girl she gave them the same reply, which
Mu'awiya had taught her to give. They then conveyed her reply to
Abdullah.
When Abdullah son of Salam came to know that it was not possible
to marry Mu'awiya's daughter unless he divorced his wife he was
overpowered by avarice and divorced Urainab. He said to Abu Darda
and Abu Huraira: "Bear witness to the fact that I have divorced
Urainab. You should inform Mu'awiya about this and also convey my
proposal to him".
When they came to Mu'awiya and told him what had happened he
said: "Oh! What has Abdullah done? Why has he divorced his wife? He
should not have been so hasty. Had he waited for a few days might
have arranged his marriage with my daughter without allowing things
to come to such a pass? Anyhow, you should go now and ask my
daughter whether she is agreeable to this marriage".
Abu Darda and Abu Huraira approached Mu'awiya's daughter once
again and told her that Abdullah had divorced his wife. They also
stated that Abdullah was a very noble-minded and competent person
and enquired from her whether she was prepared to marry him.
Mu'awiya's daughter replied: "Abdullah no doubt enjoys a high
position amongst the Quraysh. However, as you are aware marriage is
not something trivial so that one may agree to it without seriously
pondering over the matter. It is a contract for one's whole life.
You gentlemen may, therefore go now. I shall think over the matter
and give you a reply later."
Both of them blessed her and departed. They then went to Abdullah
bin Salam and informed him about what the girl had said. Abdullah
said: "All right. Let us wait. If it is not settled today, it will
be settled tomorrow."
It was the talk of the town that Abdullah bin Salam had divorced
his wife and had proposed to Mu'awiya's daughter. As all were aware
of the cunning of Mu'awiya and the loose character of Yazid they
blamed and censured Abdullah for having divorced his wife without
first winning the consent of Mu'awiya's daughter.
After a few days Abdullah sent Abu Darda and Abu Huraira again to
the daughter of Mu'awiya. They advised her to give a final reply
where upon she said: "I am sure God has decided well for me, because
He does not forsake one who relies upon Him. I have pondered over
the matter and have come to the conclusion that my marrying Abdullah
bin Salam will not be a successful one. I have also consulted my
well-wishers in the matter. Some of them have approved the marriage
but others have opposed it".
When Abdullah came to know about the reply, which had been given
by Mu'awiya's daughter he became sure that he had been duped. This
grieved him very much. The news spread was the talk of the town. The
people blamed Mu'awiya for having defrauded Abdullah and making him
divorces his wife so that she might later marry Yazid.
Mu'awiya was successful at the first stage of his scheme to
fulfill the desire of his son but eventually the divine will
frustrated his program. His plan failed owing to the interference by
Hussain who had grown up on the pattern of life of his illustrious
father. Helping the oppressed had become his second nature.
When the waiting period (Idda) of Urainab expired Mu'awiya sent
Abu Darda to her to convey to her proposal for marriage on behalf of
Yazid. Abu Darda left Damascus and reached Kufa. It so happened that
Hussain son of Ali was also in Kufa at that time. Abu Darda
considered it proper to pay his respects to the son of the prophet
in the first instance. He, therefore, presented himself before the
Imam. Imam Hussain enquired from him the reason for his visiting
Kufa. Abu Darda informed him that he had been sent by Mu'awiya to
propose to Urainab daughter of Ishaq on behalf of his son Yazid. He
then related to the Imam in detail the events, which had already
taken place. Imam Hussain said: "I also thought that Urainab would
marry some other person and intended to propose to her after her "Idda"
ended. Now that you have arrived here it will be better if you
convey my proposal to her. She may choose whomsoever she likes.
However, I am prepared to give her dower equal to that which Yazid
has promised her."
Abu Darda promised to convey the Imam's message to Urainab. Then
he took leave of Imam Hussain and reached her house. He said to her:
"Madam! It was destined that Abdullah son of Salam should divorce
you. You are not going to be a loser on this account. Yazid son of
Mu'awiya and Hussain son of Ali wish to marry you. Both of them have
conveyed their proposals to you through me. You may choose whomever
you like."
Urainab kept quiet for some time and then said: "If some other
person had brought these two proposals to me I would have called you
for consultation and would have acted according to your suggestion.
Now that you yourself have brought these proposals I leave the final
decision to you."
Abu Darda replied: "It was my duty to convey the proposals to
you, but you are yourself the best judge in the matter." Urainab
said: "No; that is not so. I am your niece and cannot act in this
matter without your advice."
When Abu Darda saw that she was bent upon obtaining his opinion
he said: "I feel that the son of the prophet is a better choice."
Urainab said: "I agree with you. Also I like him."
Imam Hussain then married Urainab and paid her the stipulated
amount of dower.
When Mu'awiya came to know what had happened he was very angry
and abused Abu Darda. Then he said to himself: "Abu Darda has not
been at fault. It was my own mistake. If a person entrusts such a
difficult task to a simpleton he must fail."
At the time of his departure for Damascus Abdullah bin Salam had
entrusted a large sum of money to Urainab. Later when he divorced
her and Mu'awiya's daughter also refused to marry him it became
known to the people that Abdullah had been deceived by Mu'awiya and
made to divorce his wife. This was a matter of disgrace for Mu'awiya
and he held Abdullah responsible for it. He, therefore, dismissed
him from service and stopped his stipend. Abdullah became penniless.
He, therefore, returned to Iraq with the hope that he might get back
from Urainab the money, which he had left with her. He was, however,
afraid that she might decline to return the money on account of his
misbehavior and for his divorcing her without a just cause.
After his return to Iraq he met Imam Hussain and said: "As you
must be aware I was duped and made to divorce Urainab. While leaving
for Damascus I left some money with her as a trust."
Then he praised Urainab much and said: "I shall be grateful if
you speak to her and ask her to return that money to me. It is
possible that with that amount in hand I may be saved from
indigence."
Imam Hussain went to Urainab and said: "Abdullah bin Salam came
to see me. He praised you very much for your honesty, which pleased
me much. He also told me that he entrusted some money to you at the
time of his departure for Damascus. It will be only proper that you
should return that money to him because I think that what he has
stated is correct."
Urainab replied: "It is true that he left some bags with me, but
I don't know what they contain. They are still lying sealed as they
were. I shall bring them to you and you may return the same to him."
Imam Hussain praised Urainab on hearing this and said: "Will it
not be better if I call him here so that you may return the bags to
him yourself?" Then he met Abdullah bin Salam and said to him: I
have conveyed your message to Urainab. She admits your having left
some bags with her; they are still lying sealed, as they were. It
will be better if you come to Urainab and take back the bags from
her.
Abdullah felt very much ashamed and said: "I would request you to
make arrangements for the return of money to me." (i.e. I feel
ashamed to face Urainab). Imam Hussain replied: "No. That cannot be.
You should take back the money from her in the same manner in which
you gave it to her."
He, therefore, brought Abdullah to his house and then said to
Urainab: "Abdullah son of Salam has come and demands the things
which he entrusted to you. Return the same to him in the same manner
in which you took them from him."
Urainab brought the bags and placing them outside the curtain
said to him: "Here it is what you entrusted to me." Abdullah thanked
Urainab and praised her for her honesty. Imam Hussain then left the
place leaving them alone. Abdullah broke the seal of the bag, took
out some dinars from it and presented them to her requesting her to
accept the same from him. Thereupon tears trickled from their eyes
and they began to cry loudly. Imam Hussain heard the sound of their
crying. He then re-entered the room and said with great kindness:
"Just hear me. I call God to witness that I have divorced Urainab
just now. I call God to witness that I did not marry her for the
sake of her beauty or wealth. What I had desired was that it might
become lawful for her to re-marry her first husband.
Thus Urainab became the wife of Abdullah bin Salam once again and
Mu'awiya's scheme failed.
After re-marrying Urainab Abdullah said to her: "You should
return the amount of dower which Imam gave you." She brought the
money and gave it to Abdullah to give it to the Imam. However, Imam
Hussain declined to accept the money and said: "The spiritual reward
which I shall get in the Hereafter for this good deed is much better
than worldly wealth." |