True Love

Zainab bint RasulAllah (sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) was deeply in love with her husband, Abu'l 'Aas ibn Rabee'.
However, when the command came from Allah that she was no longer allowed to be with him because he refused to accept Islam, her love for the Divine superceded her mortal love.
They were parted for some time, during which their love abided and never grew weaker. Zainab's sacrifice for her Lord was rewarded when Abu'l 'Aas finally decided to accept Islam. They were reunited, and their love was made all the sweeter and purer because of the turmoil that Zainab experienced due to her commitment to Allah's Pleasure over her own.

When Muslim women today try to justify the decision to marry non-Muslim men because "true love conquers all," they are unfortunately choosing to put their love for the transient and mortal over their love for the Divine.

If the daughter of the Messenger of Allah was commanded to leave her non-Muslim husband, who loved her passionately and never prevented her from practicing Islam, how can we make the excuse that our love for a non-Muslim is worth defying Allah?

It is sincere sacrifice, out of true love for Allah, that will grant us both the sweetness of mortal love as well as that of the Divine.

#ForgottenHeroines