Assalaamu alaykum. My question is whether women can reach perfection in faith as did Maryam (the mother of Jesus, peace be upon him), Aasiyah (the wife of Fir‘awn [Pharaoh]), Khadeejah (the wife of the Prophet, sallallahu ʻalayhi wa sallam), and Faatimah (his daughter). Also, can you give me ways on how to perfect one's faith and become like them; like, what is one to do in order to reach such a level? Also, how can one have humility and be humble? How can one achieve sincerity in deeds and protect themselves from ostentation?

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

A woman can reach perfection in faith like the women mentioned in the hadeeth. Abu Moosa Al-Ash‘ari reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, said, “Many men reached perfection, but none among the women reached perfection except for Mary, the daughter of ʻImraan, and Aasiyah, Pharaoh's wife; and the superiority of ʻAa’ishah to other women is like the superiority of Thareed (traditional Arabic meat-and-bread dish) to all other food.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

Some scholars underlined that the superiority of these women was confined to their respective times; each of them was spiritually superior to the women of her time. Al-Qaadhi ʻIyaadh said, “The hadeeth does not suggest that no other women in this nation reached or will reach perfection other than the two mentioned.” [Ikmaal Al-Muʻallim]

As-Suyooti said, “It does not necessarily mean that no other women from his, Prophet Muhammad's, community reached perfection; rather, this community has been favored over the other nations, and this is why he also mentioned the superiority of ʻAa’ishah...” [Sharh Sunan Ibn Maajah]

We have previously underlined some means to strengthen one's faith in order to reach a higher level in perfection. Please refer to fatwas 84807, 86088, and 88104.

Among the most effective means to attain such perfection are seeking the help of Allah and having a strong determination, sincere resolution, and high aspirations.

Allah, the Exalted, says (what means):

·    {And those who strive for Us – We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good.} [Quran 29:69]

·    {Obedience and good words. And when the matter (of fighting) was determined, if they had been true to Allah, it would have been better for them.} [Quran 47:21]

We have previously highlighted the means to attain humbleness in fatwa 44859. Also, fatwas 92308 and 85820 emphasize the importance of sincerity and of avoiding ostentation and the way to achieve this, so please refer to them.

Allah knows best.