In the family life of Prophet Ibrahim (AS)
yet again we see a manifestation of how a husband and wife treat one another,
and how Allah Subhana Wa Ta'la has created the husband and wife
to be a tranquility and peace together,
there must be trust and there must be transparency between them,
communication and talking,
but most importantly if they both don't have the foundation of the trust in Allah
and the same goals in life which is what pleases Allah first and foremost,
then there is no successful relationship.
My brothers and sisters in Islam,
Ibrahim (AS) was forced to leave his own hometown.
And his people could not have any more hope by his presence,
so Allah Subhana Wa Ta'la gave him permission
to leave for a prophet doesn't just give up.
He took with him his wife Sara (Aleiha assalam)
and his nephew prophet Lot.
Prophet Lot (Aleihi salyam) was summoned to become a prophet
and sent to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Prophet Ibrahim (Aleihi salyam) was newlywed to Sarah,
and the name Sarah means the one who brings happiness.
Sometimes naming your children with names that have good meanings
will help in them growing up with that character.
Brothers and sisters, Sarah (Aleihi salyam) is said to be
among the most attractive and beautiful women on earth.
And prophet Ibrahim (Aleihi salyam) did not marry her
because of that but only because she was a woman of truth
and followed the truth.
Her character, her integrity, her honesty,
and her strength could not be matched.
My brother and sister, Sarah (Aleihi salyam)
went with her husband Ibrahim, she also left her family
with the truth to establish a new home as Allah Subhana Wa Ta'la
told them to go to a place called Ilya,
it's the old name of modern-day Jerusalem or Palestine.
On their way they pass by a route which sent them to Egypt.
As they were passing a group of people who belonged
to the kingdom of a tyrant and oppressive king of Egypt
saw Ibrahim (Aleihi salyam) and Sarah.
When they recognized that she was a very beautiful woman,
they sent message to the king to telling him
– We have seen the most beautiful woman coming past your land and territory.
This king was known to abuse women and he loved to have women around him.
So we said to them: "Go and ask if she tells you that the man who is with her is her husband,
then kill him and bring her to me."
Jibreel (Aleihi salyam) Archangel he came to prophet Ibrahim (Aleihi salyam) and informed him
before the news came to him.
He said: "These soldiers will come and this is what they're going to ask you,
so be careful."
Ibrahim (Aleihi salyam) turned to his wife and said:
"Oh Sarah, you know there is no one but me and you
who are believers in this land,
when these people come to ask you who am I to you,
tell them that I am your brother."
Ibrahim (Aleihi salyam) meant that he is her brother in islam,
he is also her brother in humanity,
they both came from Adam and Eve and Adam and Eve are the fathers and mothers of all mankind.
Ibrahim (Aleihi salyam) told her to say those words
because his life was at stake.
Secondly if Ibrahim (Aleihi salyam) were to be killed at that instant
who will spread the message of truth?
It was the will of Allah Subhana Wa Ta'la that he was going to live anyway.
Sarah (Aleihi salyam) did say exactly that to the soldiers
who came to take her away
and he left while she went relying on Allah Subhana Wa Ta'la.
The fact that her husband had left did not trouble her as much anymore.
Because Sarah (Aleihi salyam) knows Allah will not abandon her.
The story goes on.
And the king he tried to abuse her but she made a dua,
she said: "O Allah if you know that I have guarded my chastity, my dignity, my honor,
my body, me from any other man except my husband,
then do not let this disbeliever, this tyrant king touch me."
Immediately his arm became paralyzed and he got scared.
So she made a dua for Allah to release him,
a second time he tried same thing happened and a third time he tried the same thing happened
and then he began to become afraid, he feared that she might be a sorcerer,
he said: "What kind of a woman have you brought me?
She is nothing but a witch, a sorcerer, take her away from me."
And he was so frightened,
Allah placed the fear in his heart that he wanted to give her a gift,
just in case she turns around and changes her mind
and in his mind make another spell on him.
Whereas in fact she was just making dua to Allah Subhana Wa Ta'la,
he gifted her with a servant girl that was with him,
her name was none other than Hajar (Aleihi salyam),
who later on becomes also the wife of Ibrahim (Aleihi salyam).
She was sent with Sarah as a servant for her as a gift as it was in those days and she treated her
with absolute dignity and respect.
Hajar (Aleihi salyam) left
and there was a qadr happening,
Allah Subhana Wa Ta'la had predestined and pre-measured something amazing to come out of that,
sometimes we only see things from face value,
but Allah may have something installed, something huge.
When Sarah (Aleihi salyam) arrived back to Ibrahim (Aleihi salyam),
she found him praying and when he finished,
he looked back at her and said in their language.
Him?
In their language means – what happened?
And she said – Allah took care of us.
That's it, she said nothing more than that.
My brothers and sisters, they left to Palestine and lived worshipping Allah Subhana Wa Ta'la
and calling those people to islam together.
Sarah (Aleihi salyam) and Ibrahim
the way they collaborated with each other in this story shows us
some significant lessons.
Number one – they trusted each other
that they can look after each other.
For Ibrahim (Aleihi salyam) trusted that she can go
and take care of herself,
which teaches us that you know when some men
or some women the Shaitan may come to their minds
and make them feel or want to be controlling
or like a helicopter kind of spouse,
but rather to show dignity and honor to your spouse,
you should give them some trust that they can take care of themselves sometimes
they are capable of having skills or learning their own skills.
Ibrahim (Aleihi salyam) trusted his wife also in her loyalty and dignity,
she was never going to give up on her husband,
that is something very important for husbands to know that their wife is loyal.
The wife knows that her husband can trust her
in that she will be dignified and loyal to him as well.
There is no assumptions or speculation about the other,
there is no doubt about the spouse and that's why trust is very important.
Sarah (Aleihi salyam) is a role model for all women of every age.
Strong, full of integrity,
but the most important thing that we can learn from their relationship
is number one – their foundation was mutual, what is that foundation?
That at the end of the day neither the husband nor the wife
is the one who can provide or do everything for their spouse
without Allah Subhana Wa Ta'la.
The husband has weaknesses, the wife has weaknesses
and at the end of the day they are both gifts to each other from Allah,
so Sarah called upon Allah Subhana Wa Ta'la
and He came before her husband.
When she said to him – Allah took care of us,
that conversation ended there.
The lesson my brothers and sisters,
husband and wife rely on Allah
and make Allah the foundation of everything that happens between you and that is why
the Prophet ﷺ said the best type of man to marry
is the one who has Deen – God fearing and good character
and the best type of woman to marry
is the one where you choose her based on her fear of Allah
and her Deen meaning their way of life.
And I end with the verse of the Quran where Allah says:
"Indeed among God's miracles is this
that He created your spouses for you from your same essence and origin in order
that you may find tranquility and peace together
and He made between you love, compassion and mercy,
in this there are many examples and signs for people who ponder."
Ibrahim (Aleihi salyam) now has to live a life of a relationship with his family
but he was growing old in age, 80 years old and still with no child.