Introduction:
There are journeys in history that reshape nations. And then there are journeys that reshape the soul.
When the hijrah from Makkah to Madinah began, it was not only the young and strong who set out. Among those who left everything behind for Allah was an elderly woman nearing seventy years of age. She was not a bystander to revelation. She was woven into it.
Her name was Umm Ayman رضي الله عنها.
She was the beloved caretaker of the Prophet ﷺ in his childhood, a woman whom he would call “my mother after my mother.” Her loyalty was not symbolic. It was embodied.
And when the call to migrate came, she did not hesitate.
The Hijrah as a Test of Faith
The migration was not a comfortable relocation. It was a survival journey across scorching desert terrain. Even the Prophet ﷺ himself experienced thirst until he reached the tent of Umm Ma'bad, where Allah provided sustenance.
Now imagine an elderly woman walking that same path.
No convoy.
No shade.
No certainty of water.
The Qur’an reminds us:
“And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out and provide for him from where he does not expect.”
Umm Ayman رضي الله عنها would live this verse in a way that would echo through history.
A Bucket From the Heavens
She found herself alone in the desert, without water, fearing death by thirst. The sun scorched the earth. The sky offered no cloud, no mercy.
Then she narrates:
“When the sun set, I saw a bucket descending above my head, suspended by a rope. By Allah, I could not see the top of that rope.”
She drank until her thirst was quenched. There was still water remaining, so she poured it over her body to cool herself.
And then something extraordinary happened.
She later said:
“After that day, I would fast on the hottest days and perform tawaf in the blazing sun just to feel thirst… and by Allah, I never felt thirsty again in my entire life.”
The act of migration for Allah was met with divine provision from beyond the visible realm.
Resilience and the Islamic Psychology of Trust
This story is not merely miraculous. It is formative.
Modern neuroscience speaks of resilience as the brain’s ability to adapt through adversity. Stress, when endured with meaning, rewires neural pathways, strengthening our capacity for future trials. Viktor Frankl called this “meaning-centered endurance.”
Islam framed this centuries ago.
The hijrah was not just physical relocation. It was spiritual neuroplasticity. A radical reorientation toward Allah.
When we endure hardship for a transcendent purpose, our nervous system shifts. Studies show that faith-based coping reduces stress biomarkers and increases emotional regulation.
Umm Ayman رضي الله عنها did not survive by optimism. She survived by tawakkul, complete reliance upon Allah.
Allah says:
“Indeed, Allah is with those who are patient.”
Patience in Islam is not passive. It is active perseverance rooted in certainty.
The Dust of Hijrah and the Glad Tidings of Jannah
When she finally reached Madinah, her feet were swollen. Her face was covered in dust. Her body bore the marks of sacrifice.
The Prophet ﷺ looked at her and said:
“O my mother, O my mother. Indeed, you have a place in Jannah.”
This was not the first time he gave her glad tidings of Paradise.
Covered in dust. Exhausted. Dehydrated.
Yet elevated.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Shall I not inform you of the people of Paradise? Every weak person who is considered weak, yet if he were to swear by Allah, Allah would fulfill it.”
How many of Allah’s beloved servants appear unremarkable in the world’s eyes?
Umm Ayman رضي الله عنها walked quietly. But her footsteps echoed in eternity.
What This Teaches Us About Mental Health and Islam
We live in an age of convenience and anxiety.
We fear discomfort. We avoid inconvenience. Yet resilience is forged in meaningful strain.
From an Islamic psychology of resilience perspective, three elements stand out:
Purpose transforms pain.
Reliance regulates the nervous system. Trust reduces cortisol levels.
Sacrifice births ease. Her fasting became effortless after that trial.
Sometimes Allah grants us difficulty not to break us, but to prepare us.
Sometimes the thirst precedes the provision.
And sometimes the dust on our faces is a sign of proximity to Paradise.
Applying This Teaching to Our Personal Lives
1. Practice Intentional Fasting Beyond Ramadan
The Prophet ﷺ fasted Mondays and Thursdays (Tirmidhi 745, Hasan Sahih)
Spiritual Benefit: Fasting cultivates discipline and detachment.
Scientific Insight: Intermittent fasting activates autophagy and improves metabolic resilience.
Start with one voluntary fast a week. Build gradually.
2. Make Small Acts of Physical Sacrifice for Allah
Walking to the masjid carries immense reward (Sahih Muslim 666)
Spiritual Benefit: Each step elevates rank.
Scientific Insight: Regular walking improves cardiovascular health and reduces anxiety.
Do not outsource your effort. Earn your dust.
3. Cultivate Tawakkul Through Breath
The Prophet ﷺ would turn to prayer in times of distress (Abu Dawud 1319, Hasan)
Spiritual Benefit: Salah anchors the heart.
Scientific Insight: Slow, regulated breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system.
Before reacting to stress, pause. Breathe deeply. Whisper “Hasbunallahu wa ni‘mal wakeel.”
4. Embrace Meaningful Hardship
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The people who are tested the most severely are the Prophets, then those nearest to them.”
Spiritual Benefit: Trials elevate ranks.
Psychological Insight: Growth often follows adversity when framed with purpose.
Do not flee every discomfort. Some thirst is sacred.
Conclusion: The Rope We Cannot See
Umm Ayman رضي الله عنها saw a rope descending from the heavens whose top she could not see.
We too live suspended by a rope we do not see.
It is called divine decree.
It is called mercy.
It is called trust.
When we migrate away from sin, away from heedlessness, away from attachment, Allah sends provision from where we do not expect.
And when we arrive, dusty and weary, perhaps we too will hear words that make every hardship worthwhile:
“You have a place in Jannah.”
FAQ
1. Who was Umm Ayman in Islamic history?
Umm Ayman رضي الله عنها was a Companion of the Prophet ﷺ and his caretaker in childhood. He loved and honored her deeply and gave her glad tidings of Paradise.
2. Is the story of the bucket during hijrah authentic?
It is reported in early historical narrations about Umm Ayman’s migration. Scholars cite it as part of her biography. As with many historical reports, details are transmitted through early sources and should be approached with reverence and scholarly awareness.
3. What does this story teach about overcoming fear in Islam?
It teaches that reliance upon Allah transforms fear into trust. True security comes from tawakkul, not circumstances.
4. How does hijrah relate to modern resilience?
Hijrah symbolizes leaving harmful environments and habits for Allah. Modern psychology affirms that purposeful change strengthens mental resilience.
5. What is the connection between sacrifice and ease in Islam?
The Qur’an states:
“Indeed, with hardship comes ease.”
Often the ease we seek is born through the hardship we endure.
Footnotes
Southwick, S., & Charney, D. (2012). Resilience: The Science of Mastering Life’s Greatest Challenges.
Koenig, H. G. (2012). Religion, Spirituality, and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications. ISRN Psychiatry.
Pargament, K. I. (2011). Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy.
Longo, V., & Panda, S. (2016). Fasting, Circadian Rhythms, and Time Restricted Feeding. Cell Metabolism.
Harvard Health Publishing. Benefits of Walking.
Brown, R., & Gerbarg, P. (2005). Sudarshan Kriya Yogic Breathing in the Treatment of Stress. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.