The Story of Shaykha Maryam Hamdan Ammash (q.s.)

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The head scarf was the only thing preventing the oldest woman in the world, Shaykha Maryam Hamdan Ammash (q.s.), from entering the Guinness World Records.  Shaykha Maryam Hamdan Ammash (q.s.), a 124-year-old Palestinian, refused to meet the condition of the Guinness team for her to remove her hijab to appear on television.  Shaykha Maryam (q.s.) had performed the hajj five times and the ‘umrah ten times.  She was a woman of firm religion.  In actuality, a woman past menopause need not wear the hijab.  However, this is about values and the example she showed to her family and those who learn of this, that our religion is not for sale even if we are offered all of dunya.  And may Allah (s.w.t.) Raise her amongst the awliya’. 

When a representative of the Guinness told her that they could make her famous, she answered with a question: “And will that make me happy?”  With a little hesitation, he replied that it would probably make her family and her happy.  She asked him, “How old are you?” 

He replied, “43.” 

She smiled and asked, “And you are not a Muslim?” 

This surprised the man.  He asked why this was an issue of any importance.  Shaykha Maryam (q.s.) replied, “You are old enough to distinguish between what is right and what is not.  But you are not a Muslim.  That means either you are too immature to distinguish truth from delusion, or you are an imbecile.  Because only a child or an imbecile would believe that it will make him happy to be honoured amongst mortals like himself when he risks being Thrown into shame in the Sight of the Creator.  So what should I choose?  To be honoured amongst those who themselves have no honour or to be Honoured amongst the fortunate possessors of the Pleasure of the Creator.” 

The representative from Guinness did not know what to say.  “Go away and start thinking if you do not have the answer.  And I promise not to die until you get back,” she joked at the end.  The man embraced Islam seven months later.  Four months after that, on Saturday, 24^th December, 2013, Shaykha Maryam Hamdan Ammash (q.s.). passed away.  It is a mystery why Guinness World Records needed the old Muslim woman to remove her scarf.