Highest Compensation

Addressing Salamah (radi Allahu anha), the nurse of his son Ibraheem, the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, "Does it not please any one of you that if she conceives by her husband and he is satisfied with her, that she receives the reward of fasting and vigil (remaining alert as a Mujahid protecting the borders of the Islamic state or Muslim army) for Allah's sake. And none of the dwellers of Heaven or Earth know about the coolness of eyes (a unique repose) she will receive for the labor pains she suffered. When she delivers, not a mouthful of milk flows from her and not an instance does the child suck, but that she receives for every suck and mouthful, the reward of a good deed. If she is kept awake by her child during the night, she receives the reward of freeing seventy slaves for the sake of Allah." The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) then said: "O Salamah do you know which women are being referred to? Those who, despite being pious and enjoying a respectable position, obey their husbands and do not belittle them." [Tabarani]

This hadith can be hugely comforting to millions of women for the troubles that they go through anyway in child bearing and child rearing. These activities are not a curse that women carry for somebody else's mistake. In fact, they are a source of enormous reward for them. It is hard to think of any activity that a woman can do which will surpass these in hasanaat (reward). The highest reward is that of a Mujahid, and she is compensated at least at this rate every moment from the point of conception till the time that she stops nursing her child. Nobody can compensate as beautifully as Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) does! 

It is important for women to keep in mind though, that they need to honour their husbands to receive the full reward, even if they should be of a higher social standing or more pious than their husbands. Respect of the husband is indicative of the piety of the wife.