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through slapping their, faces, tearing their clothes and wailing which
had been customary in Jahiliyyah. Furthermore. the period of mourning
was reduced froni one year to three days except In the case of the
death of a' husband, when the period was four months ten days, as
mentioned earlier. When a group of women converted to Islam, the
Prophet extracted a personal pledge from them that they would
observe these changes. The purpose of forbidding excessive 'Outward
displays of grief was in order to nurture greater inner patience
and endurance under stress and in crisis.
One of the examples of faithful women who demonstrated great
forbearance in, crisis was the well-known poetess. al-Khanra: "Her life
spans'a time of unrest in the history of Arabia, the years before
the rise of the Prophet Muhammad and the acceptance of his message.
For history has recorded the extent and depth of the grief she
experienced and demonstrated at the loss of her brothers, Sakhr and
Mulawiyyah as she says:
"What have we done to you, death,
That you treat us so with always another catch.
One day a warrior, the next day a head of state,
Charmed by the loyal, you chose the best. " 2
She was considered talented, "Her poetry, from the time of her
brother's death assumed a dark and sombre quality, but the most
severe critics, past and present, attest to its magnificence. The
Prohpet'himself is said to have been very fond. of her poetry and
often asked her to recite for him when she was in his company.
1. -See Fernea. Elizabeth & Bezingan, Basima, op. cit. o P. 39 & Ibn
2. Ibid
ýajar, op, cit., Vol. 8, P. 66
1'67