Um alFadl (ra)

One source of great support and consolation for rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and who were among the first people to support Islam Lubabah bint al-Harith, the full-sister of rasulullah's [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam] wife Maymunah. She was known as UmAlfadl, who became Muslim after Khadijah, thus, the second woman to embrace Islam (May Allah be pleased with them).

Lubabah, her husband Al-'Abbas and their sons used to hide their Islam, in obedience to rasulullah's [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam] command and in accordance with a well-thought-out plan. They were able to learn the secrets of the idolators in order to convey them to rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.

When the battle of Badr took place between the Muslims and the idolators and news came of the defeat of Quraysh, Um AlFadl urged her sons and her freed slave Abu Rafi' to hide their celebrated feeling at this defeat, because she was aware that the idolators such as Abu Lahab who was filled with hatred towards rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, his companions and his message, will harm them.

However, her freed slave Abu Rafi' could not contain his joy and expressed his emotions at the Muslims' victory. Abu Lahab became extremely angry and vented his fury on him, beating him in the presence of Um alFadl. Um alFadl attacked Abu Lahab shouting, "You pick on him when his master is absent!" She struck him with one of the (wooden) pillars of the house with a fatal blow to the head. Abu Lahab did not live more than seven days after that.

Um alFadl withstood her separation from her husband Al-'Abbas with patience, for the sake of Allah subhana wa ta'ala when rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam commanded that Al'Abbas should stay in Makkah, and she should migrate to Madinah.

Their separation was a lengthy and difficult one, but Um alFadl bore it patiently, hoping for reward and seeking help from Allah subhana wa ta'ala through prayer and fasting, waiting for her beloved husband's arrival in Madinah. He was one of the last to migrate to Madinah.

The only thing that helped to ease the pain of this separation was seeing her eldest son 'Abdullah, accompanying rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam daily.

She was to be the great mother of the great authority on Islamic teaching and the interpretation of the Qur'an: 'Abdullah ibn al-'Abbas [radi Allahu anhu]