Story Name: “Amanah”

The sky of Medina was calm, only the shadows of the leaves of the trees were in the air. Although everything was silent, a middle-aged woman pushed open the door of a small house. Her eyes were deep, her face was full of worry. Her feet were covered in dusty slippers, her hands were clasped in a handkerchief. Her name was Khawla—Khawla bint Aslam, who later became known to history as Khawla bint Azam. Her life story is like a chapter of courage burned in a burning fire, a courage that no man could do in that era.

Khawla's life was rough, her family was in crisis. Her husband, Aws ibn Samit, was a hot-tempered man. He would burst into anger if something happened. One day, he argued with Khawla about a trivial matter. In anger, Aws said, "From today on, you are like my mother's back to me." In that era, these words were 'zihar'—a type of divorce, which was used as a final injustice to women.

After these words, Khawla's life fell apart. She was neither divorced nor legally able to live with her husband. Society was silent, and women were like dumb stones in patriarchal society. But Khawla was different.

That same day, she wrapped herself in a sheet and set off towards the house of the Prophet (PBUH). Walking along the streets of Medina, tears in her eyes and a single prayer on her lips—“O Messenger of Allah, I have come to complain. Not to a man, but directly to Allah.”

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) listened to her. However, no revelation had come from Allah on this matter yet. The Prophet stopped, lowered his head. Khawla stood and waited—not in anger, nor in arrogance; rather in hope, with an unwavering faith that someone beyond the sky was listening to her.

At that very moment, the revelation came. Allah Himself heard Khawla’s complaint, and revealed it as a verse in the Quran:

“Allah has heard the word of the woman who disputed with you concerning her husband and complained to Allah. And Allah hears your conversation.”

—(Surah Al-Mujadilah, verse 1)

This was a revolutionary moment in the history of Islam. A woman, alone, destitute, insignificant in society—but her voice reached the court of the Creator. And in response to that voice, the eternal words of the Quran were revealed, which taught all of humanity—a woman’s status is not determined by any man, it is determined by her Lord.

Khawla returned home. But she did not stop. She began to teach women among the Companions. She encouraged widows and divorced women. She used to say, “Allah is not silent. If there is truth in your heart, even the sky will not turn it away.”

She also lived during the era of Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA). One day, she stopped Caliph Umar by the side of the road. She said, “Umar, I will tell you something about your rule.” Umar stood up. The companions were a little annoyed, saying, “This old woman is taking a long time.” Umar immediately said, “Don’t you know, this is the woman whose words shook the sky. Why shouldn’t I listen?”

Khawla was a living beacon. She was proof that just as the light of Islam reaches a woman’s heart, her status in the court of Allah is also unwavering.

Khawla’s greatest gift in life was her voice—which knew how to break silence, knew how to confront injustice. Her weapons were truth and faith.

This Khawla has taught us that even if we are alone, if we have faith in Allah in our hearts, Allah Himself will speak for us.

She was not just a woman—she was an ‘Amanah’. That eternal responsibility, which not only creates humans, but also creates history.