Justice Rewritten Through a Woman’s Struggle

(Khawla bint Tha‘labah: A Woman Whose Struggle Echoed in Revelation)

A symbolic image representing sincere supplication and struggle for justice

Khawla bint Tha‘labah was a woman of Madinah known for her deep faith and religious sensitivity. She lived her beliefs consciously and sought to embody them in daily life. In her later years, an incident between her and her husband placed her at the very center of not only a personal marital crisis, but also the deeply rooted social norms of an entire society.

One day, overcome by anger, her husband uttered the following words:

“You are to me like my mother’s back.”

In pre-Islamic Arab society, this statement was known as ẓihār, a harsh and humiliating practice. When a man declared this, his wife became unlawful to him— yet she was not truly divorced either. She was left suspended: neither married nor free, deprived of dignity and excluded from normal social life.

When his anger subsided, her husband regretted what he had said and wished to reconcile. But Khawla paused. She knew exactly what those words meant.

At that time, no divine revelation had yet addressed this issue. Law was still shaped by custom rather than revelation. And custom favored the man, while condemning the woman to silence.

Khawla refused that silence. She did not turn to public opinion, nor did she seek sympathy from others. Instead, she chose the only path she believed could bring justice.

In the heat of Madinah, with weary yet resolute steps, a woman approached the door of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. She knocked. Inside was Aisha, the Mother of the Believers.

Khawla at the Door

— “Who is it?” — “It is Khawla… Khawla bint Tha‘labah.” — “Welcome, Khawla. You don’t look well. Has something happened?” — “Do not ask… A great hardship has befallen us.” — “What happened?” — “My husband has pronounced ẓihār upon me.”

Aisha paused. It was a grave and painful declaration.

— “He pronounced ẓihār?” — “Yes… He has grown old. He can no longer restrain his anger.” — “He said to me, ‘You are to me like my mother’s back,’ then he left the house and went away.”

Khawla fell silent for a moment, then added:

— “When he returned, he regretted it… but what choice do we have now?”

Aisha tried to comfort her and said gently:

— “The best course is to present your case to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.” — “Allah will surely show a way out.”

In the Presence of the Messenger of Allah

Khawla was admitted into the presence of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. She began to speak. Her words carried the weight of a lifetime—years of marriage, shared hardship, and unspoken sacrifice.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ listened attentively. Yet, as no revelation had yet been sent regarding this matter, he responded according to the existing custom.

— “This statement results in a separation from which there is no return.”

Khawla was shaken, but she did not retreat.

— “O Messenger of Allah… he did not speak of divorce.” — “I gave him my youth, my strength, and my possessions.” — “He is the father of my children.” — “Now that we have both grown old, who could be better for either of us than one another?”

The response did not change. Still, Khawla remained seated.

— “I have young children.” — “If I leave them with their father, he cannot care for them.” — “If I take them with me, I cannot provide for them.”

The exchange was repeated. The answer remained the same.

Yet Khawla remained where she was.

It seemed there was nothing more to say.

Khawla fell silent for a moment.

The Prophet ﷺ was asking her to accept the ruling as it stood.

What could she say? What could she do?

Yes… there remained one appeal still.

To the One who knew her and her husband better than they knew themselves. To the One who knows every woman and every man. To the One who created them, sustains them, and hears what is whispered in the depths of the heart.

And so she turned — not away — but upward. A supplication to the Lord of all worlds.

The Moment of Supplication

Khawla felt that human words had reached their end.

She gently raised her head. Her voice grew faint.

“O Allah…”

“You see the state of my distress.”

“I place before You the pain of this separation.”

“I entrust to You my poverty and my helplessness.”

“O Allah… grant us a way out that leads to relief and justice.”

Our mother Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), who witnessed those moments, later said: “How exalted is Allah, who hears every sound. She was supplicating so softly and sincerely that I could barely hear her words, yet Allah heard her—and revelation descended.”

The Revelation

Suddenly, the atmosphere changed.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was overtaken by the state of revelation.

Khawla fell silent. Everyone fell silent.

When the moment of revelation passed, there was a gentle smile upon the face of the Prophet ﷺ.

— “O Khawla… verses have been revealed concerning you.”

Then he recited the opening verses of Surah Al-Mujādilah:

“Allah has indeed heard the statement of the woman who argues with you concerning her husband and complains to Allah. And Allah hears your dialogue. Indeed, Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.”
(Qur’an 58:1)

“Those among you who declare ẓihār upon their wives — that is, likening them to their mothers — they are not their mothers. Their mothers are only those who gave birth to them. Indeed, they utter an evil and false word. And surely Allah is Pardoning, Forgiving.”
(Qur’an 58:2)

With these verses, it was not only Khawla’s fate that changed. An entire tradition was overturned. Her injustice was redressed by Allah Himself. The practice of ẓihār— which suspended and dishonored women— was abolished.

Atonement and Mercy

The solution was then explained:

— “Before returning to his wife, he must free a slave.” — “O Messenger of Allah… he owns no slave.” — “Then he must fast for two consecutive months.” — “He is unable to do so.” — “Then he must feed sixty poor people.” — “He cannot afford that either.” — “Then we shall give you a basket of dates to distribute.” — “O Messenger of Allah… I can add another basket from my own wealth.” — “May Allah have mercy on you. Go, and continue striving for the good of your husband.”

After Khawla

Years later, when Khawla had grown old, she once stopped Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab and advised him. Those around him were astonished. Umar said:

“By Allah, if she were to hold me until nightfall, I would listen. Do you know who she is? Allah heard her words from above the seven heavens. Should Umar not listen to her?”

Conclusion: Justice Born of a Supplication

The story of Khawla bint Tha‘labah presents a powerful and unmistakable portrait of women’s rights and dignity in Islam. A woman is entitled to justice and respect within marriage; even a single word spoken in anger is not treated lightly in the sight of Allah.

Khawla did not remain silent. She sought justice, voiced her grievance, and refused to abandon her plea. Allah honored her persistence and raised her voice from the earth to the heavens.

Yet she was not vengeful. She forgave, and even helped her husband fulfill his atonement. Her stance teaches us this: the pursuit of justice does not negate mercy. Rather, mercy is elevated when it walks alongside justice.

“Call upon Me; I will respond to you.” (Qur’an 40:60)

Khawla bint Tha‘labah opened the path to justice not through silence, but through perseverance, struggle, and unwavering supplication. And for this reason, her story was immortalized in the Qur’an under the name “Al-Mujādilah” — The Woman Who Struggles.