Consciousness of Allah

　　Nothing gives a clearer idea of that consciousness and fear of Allah at all times than the following story of the young Muslim girl that was narrated by ‘Abdullaah ibn Zayd ibn Aslam, may Allah be pleased with him, from his father, from his grandfather, who said: "When I was accompanying `Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allah be pleased with him, on his patrol of Madeenah at night, he felt tired, so he leant against a wall. It was the middle of the night, and (we heard) a woman says to her daughter, "O my daughter, get up and mix that milk with some water." The girl said, "O Mother, did you not hear the decree of The Chief of the Believers today?" The mother said, "What was that?" The girl said, "He ordered someone to announce in a loud voice that milk should not be mixed with water." The mother said, "Get up and mix the milk with water; you are in a place where `Umar cannot see you." The girl told her mother, `I cannot obey Allah in public and disobey him in private.`"[Ibn Al-Jawzi]

　　This is the deep sense of awareness that Islam had implanted in the heart of this young woman. She was righteous and upright in all her deeds, both in public and in private, because she believed that Allah was with her at all times and saw and heard everything. One of the immediate rewards with which Allah honored her was that she married one of the sons of 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, one of whose descendants was the fifth rightly-guided khaleefah, `Umar ibn `Abd Al-`Azeez, may Allah be pleased with him.

　　The faith of the true Muslim woman is pure and clear, uncontaminated by any stain of ignorance, illusion or superstition. This faith is based on believing in Allah the One, the Most High, the Eternal, Who is able to do all things, Who is in control of the entire universe, and to Whom all things must return.

　　This is the pure, deep faith which increases the character of the Muslim woman in strength, understanding and maturity, so that she sees life as it really is, which is a place of testing whose results will be seen on the Day which will undoubtedly come. On that Day, people will be brought to account for their deeds. If they are good, it will be good for him, and if they are bad, it will be bad for him. There will not be the slightest injustice: {That Day will every soul be requited for what it earned; no injustice will there be that Day, for Allah is Swift in taking account.}[Quran 40:17]

　　The Balance (in which one's deeds will be weighed) will measure everything with the utmost precision: {Then shall anyone who has done an atom's weight of good, see it! And anyone who has done an atom's weight of evil, shall see it.} [Quran 99:7- 8]

　　Nothing could be hidden from the Lord on that Day, not even if it were as insignificant as a grain of mustard seed: {We shall set up scales of justice for the day of Judgement, so that not a soul will be dealt with unjustly in the least. And if there be [no more than] the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it [to account]: and enough are We to take account.}[Quran 21:47]

　　No doubt the true Muslim woman, when she ponders the meaning of these verses, would become moreConsciousness of Allah, and would think about that crucial Day and would turn to her Lord in obedience, repentance and gratitude, seeking to do as many righteous deeds as she is able, in preparation for the Hereafter.

　　Repentance

　　The Muslim woman may find herself becoming neglectful and slipping from the Straight Path, so she may fall short in her practice of Islam in a way that does not befit the believing woman. But she will soon notice her error, seek forgiveness for her mistakes or shortcomings, and return to the protection of Allah: {Indeed, those who fear Allah — when an impulse touches them from Satan they remember [Him] and at once they have insight.}[Quran 7:201]

　　The heart that is filled with love and fear of Allah will not be overcome by negligence. It is those who ignore the commands and guidance of Allah who will be led astray. The heart of the sincere Muslim woman is ever eager to repent and seek forgiveness, and rejoices in obedience, guidance and the pleasure of Allah.