Thekabarnews.com—On a tranquil afternoon in Medina, a lovely breeze blew through the tiny lanes as a well-known nobleman from the Bani Najjar clan walked toward a small house full of blessings. Abu Talhah Al-Ansari was his name. He was good-looking, well-respected, and admired by many. He still practiced the religion of his ancestors at that time, though.

Inside the house was a woman whose name would be remembered throughout Islamic history: Ummu Sulaim, also known as Rumaisha bint Milhan, the mother of Anas bin Malik. She was smart, strong-willed, and had just become a Muslim.

Abu Talhah spoke directly, “O Ummu Sulaim, I have come to propose to you.” He was sure of himself because of his years of social rank.

She gazed at him with kindness and respect. She answered in a calm but strong way.

“O Abu Talhah, I swear by Allah that no one will ever turn you down. But you do not believe, and I am a Muslim woman. I cannot marry you.”

The words shocked him. He was not used to being turned down. He believed that money could transform her heart, so he presented her with an offer he believed no one could refuse.

“I will give you silver and gold. You can name whatever mahr you want,” Abu Talhah said.

However, Ummu Sulaim smiled, and her smile reflected her faith rather than her desire for material wealth.

“O Abu Talhah, I don’t want gold or silver. This is my mahr: you must adopt Islam. That will be my mahr if you accept Islam. I do not want anything else,” she said.

Abu Talhah stopped talking. He remembered what she said. It did not seem like they were trying to convince him; it sounded like they were sure. His heart could not find calm in the days that followed. He kept thinking about her request, which was not because she was greedy but because she believed.

He went to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and heard the message of tawhid, which is about the oneness of God, what true worship means, and the way of faith. Finally, his heart gave in.

“I testify that there is no deity but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,” Abu Tahlah declared.

Abu Talhah went back to Ummu Sulaim, but this time he did not bring money; he brought faith. She cried when she saw him.

“Abu Talhah, you are now a Muslim. You are my husband,” Ummu Sulaim said.

Anas bin Malik would later add, “I never knew of a woman whose mahr was better than Ummu Sulaim’s.” Abu Talhah’s Islam was her mahr.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself complimented the marriage, stating that it was the best mahr, not due to its monetary value but because of the guidance it provided.

Their house became a place of illumination. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ went there a lot. Anas bin Malik and other young people who lived in that house grew up with faith.

Ummu Sulaim taught history an important lesson: faith is more valuable than gold. She did not want to be rich. She wanted more than the world and everything in it.

“Your Islam is my mahr.”

As a result, it became one of the most honorable dowries ever recorded in Islamic history.