Hafsah Binti ‘Umar Al Khattab.

Hafsah Binti ‘Umar Al Khattab.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful;

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and May Allah blessings and peace be upon His Messenger.

‘

‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar (radiyallāhu`anhu)who narrated that Habsah’s husband, Kunai Ibn Hudzaifah As-Sahmi (radiallāhu`anhu), who was one of the companions of the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) and he fought in Badar and later Uhud, which was seriously wounded and died. ‘Umar Ibn al-Khattab (radiallāhu`anhu) said, “I met ‘Uthman Ibn ‘Affan (radiyallāhu`anhu) and offered Hafsah to him in marriage. I said, “If you wish, I will marry Hafsah Binti ‘Umar to you”. He said, “I will think about it”. Several nights were passed, and then he said, “I think that I do not want to get married at this time”. ‘Umar said, “Then I met Abu Bakar and I said, “If you wish, I will marry Hafsah Binti ‘Umar to you”. Abu Bakar kept quiet and did not give me any response. I became more upset about him than about ‘Uthman. Several nights went passed, then the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) proposed to her and I married her to him. Then Abu Bakar met me and said, “Perhaps you felt upset when you offered Hafsah in marriage to me and I did not reply? I said, “Yes”. He said, “Nothing prevented me from responding to your offer but the fact that I knew that the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) had mentioned her, and I did not want to disclose the secret of the Messenger of Allāh (sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam). If he had decided not to marry her, I would have accepted your offer”. [Al-Bukhari].

Hafsah Binti ‘Umar (radiyallāhu`anha) was born five years before the Messenger of Allāh, became a Prophet. She was six years older than her brother ‘Abdullah. She was a beautiful and pious woman. Her first marriage was to Kunai Ibn Hudzaifah Ibn Qais as-Salami (radiyallāhu`anhu) who was from Quraish. He took part in the two emigrations; Abyssinia and Al-Madinah. He also fought in the battles of Badar and Uhud. In the latter battle he was fatally wounded and died shortly thereafter in Al-Madinah. Hafsah was then 18 years old.

‘Umar was depressed because of his daughter's affliction, since she had become a widow at such a young age. Whenever he went home and saw his sad daughter, he grieved. After thinking for a long period, six months becoming a widow he decided to find her a husband.

‘Umar first approached Abu Bakar (radiyallāhu`anhu) the dearest person to the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) and offered her hand in marriage to him. ‘Umar thought that Abu Bakar would not refuse to marry a young, pious woman who was the daughter of the man by whom Allāh made him supported Islam. Having sympathetically listened to him, Abu Bakar did not respond. ‘Umar went back with a broken heart and almost did not believe what had happened.

He then went to 'Uthman Ibn ‘Affan (radiyallāhu`anhu) whose wife, Ruqaiyah the daughter of the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) had recently died. ‘Uthman apologized to Umar by saying: "I think I would not like to marry at the present time." ‘Umar's gloom increased further by 'Uthman's refusal.

He was very upset with his two companions, mentioning it to the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) complaining about Abu Bakar and ‘Uthman. Thereupon the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) smiled and said:

"Hafsah will get a husband who is better than 'Uthman and 'Uthman will get a wife better than Hafsah." [Al-Bukhari]

After that, the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) married Hafsah and ‘Uthman in turn married Umm Kalthum, the Prophet’s other daughter. Accordingly, ‘Umar was elated to receive such a great honor which he had never imagined possible, earlier. He went off to tell the good news to whomever he met.

When Abu Bakar met him, he realized the source of his joy. ‘Umar told him of his unhappiness at Abu Bakar's refusal to reply when he had offered Hafsah's hand to him. Abu Bakar (radiallāhu`anhu) congratulated him and apologized by saying:

"Do not be angry with me, ‘Umar, the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) mentioned about Hafsah before, and I could not disclose the secret of the Prophet (sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam). Had he refused her, I would have married her."

The people of Al-Madinah were pleased with the Prophet’s marriage to Hafsah Binti ‘Umar. It was contracted in the month of Sya'aban in the 3rd of Hijrah. Thus, Hafsah joined the rank of the pure wives of the Prophet, the Mothers of the Believers, who were by then, Sawdah and ‘Aishah; and became a member of the household of the Prophet (sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam). Sawdah was happy to see her but 'Aishah was upset because Hafsah was within her age group and she feared that Hafsah would share the love of the Prophet (sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam). ‘Umar knew very well that the Prophet (sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam), loved ‘Aishah more than any of the other wives and at times tried to make his daughter aware of this fact. He once said to her: "You are not like 'Aishah and your father are not like her father."

When the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam), deserted his wives because they became too demanding, ‘Umar once again advised Hafsah to be careful saying: "You should not be deceived by the one who has been motivated by her beauty and the love of the Prophet (sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam), for her [‘Aishah]."

When the Prophet, married his other wives ‘Aishah (radiyallāhu`anha) began to realize that her protestations were in vain and she made a friend of Hafsah. Among the other wives of the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam), ‘Aishah was the most intimate and the closest one to Hafsah. It was Hafsah and ‘Aishah who supported each other against the Prophet (sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam), in a domestic intrigue which is mentioned in the Quran.

It is also mentioned in a tradition reported in the book of Imam Al-Bukhari, 'Aishah (radiallāhu`anha) narrated:

“Allāh's Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) used to drink honey in the house of Zainab Binti Jahsh (radiyallāhu`anha) and would stay there with her. So Hafsah and I agreed secretly that if he comes to either of us she would say to him: 'It seems you have eaten Maghafir [a kind of flower whose nectar is sucked by the honey bee, and has slightly bad smell] for I smell in you the smell of Maghafir,' [we did so] and he replied: 'No, but I was drinking honey in the house of Zainab, the daughter of Jahsh, and I shall never take it again. I have taken an oath as to that, and you should not tell anybody about it.’”

The idea was to suggest to him that this bad smell came from his mouth because of his taking that particular honey. The Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam has always disliked strong smells especially on his breath.

He then forbade honey unto himself for which Allāh revealed:

"O Prophet, why do you prohibit [yourself from] what Allāh has made lawful for you, seeking the approval of your wives? And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful. Allāh has already ordained for you [Muslims) the dissolution of your oaths. And Allāh is your Protector, and He is The Knowing, The Wise." [Surah At-Tahrim, 66: 1-2]

According to Imam Al-Bukhari, Hafsah was a bit short-tempered and sometimes would even answer the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) back. One day, her father, ‘Umar bin al-Khattab (radiallāhu`anhu) who had come to know this, went to her and asked:

"I have heard that you talk to the Prophet, as if you were on an equal footing with him. Is it true?"

Hafsah replied: "Of course! I do".

’Umar said: "My daughter, I warn you of Allāh's punishment. Do not compete with ‘Aishah, who is proud of her beauty due to the Prophet’s, love for her."

Hafsah would never hesitate in asking the Prophet(Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) , questions on any topic or problem. Once the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) said: “The companions of Badar and Hudaibiyah will not enter Hell.”

Hafsah quickly said: "O Prophet! Allāh Says that every one of you will pass over Hell."

The Prophet (sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam), answered her: “Yes! But Allāh also says in Surah Maryam: "Then We will save those who feared Allāh and leave the wrongdoers within it, on their knees.” [Surah Maryam, 19:72]

The Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) divorced Hafsah once when she sided against him and disclosed his secret [as mentioned earlier, in the story regarding ‘Aishah and the Prophet’s oath not to drink honey]. But Jibril came to him, and told him to take her back and said:

“Take Hafsah back because she is keeping fasts and is observing prayer in the last parts of the night, and she is going to be your wife in Paradise.”

Allāh Says: “And [remember] when the Prophet confided to one of his wives a statement; and when she informed [another] of it and Allāh showed it to him, he made known part of it and ignored a part. And when he informed her about it, she said: ‘Who told you this?’ He said: ‘I was informed by the All-Knowing, the Acquainted.’ If you two (wives) repent to Allāh, (it is best), for your hearts have deviated. But if you cooperate against him – then indeed Allāh is his Protector, and Gabriel and the righteous of the believers and the angels, moreover, are [his] assistants.” [Surah At-Tahrim, 66: 3-4]

Ibn ‘Abbas (radiallāhu`anhu) narrated: “For the whole year I had the desire to ask ‘Umar bin al-Khattab regarding the explanation of a verse [in Surah At-Tahrim], but I could not ask him because I respected him very much.

When he went to perform Hajj, I too went along with him. On our return while we were still on the way home ‘Umar went aside to answer the call of nature by the Arak trees.

I waited until he had finished then I proceeded with him and asked him:

‘O Chief of the Believers, who were the two wives of the Prophet(Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) , who aided one another against him?’

He said: ‘They were Hafsah and ‘Aishah.'

Then I said to him: 'By Allāh. I wanted to ask you about this a year ago, but I could not do so owing to my respect for you.'

‘Umar said: 'Do not refrain from asking me. If you think that I have knowledge [about a certain matter], ask me; and if I know [something about it], I will tell you.'

Hafsah realized the gravity of what she had done to her noble husband when she disclosed his secret. However, after the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) forgave her, she lived in tranquility and repose again.

Hafsah seemed to be much attached and close to her father, who used to consult her in matters relating to women. Once he noticed a woman reciting poetry about her husband who was away on Jihad. ‘Umar was disturbed, and asked Hafsah how long a woman may remain without her husband. She said six months, upon which ‘Umar issued a decree to all of his commanders to relieve every warrior after every six months.

When the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) died and Abu Bakar succeeded him, it was Hafsah who was chosen to keep the first copy of the Noble Quran. She continued worshipping Allāh devoutly, fasting, praying, and keeping the copy of the Muslims’ constitution, the immortal miracle and the source of legislation and belief: the Quran.

When the second compilation of the Quran was made during the caliphate of ‘Uthman she was asked to bring that copy, which she did, after putting the condition that when the work was completed, her copy would be returned to her. After the standard copy was made, ‘Uthman had decided that all the different versions of the Quran should be destroyed, but he was unable to do it with Hafsah's copy because of the condition she had attached. It was only after her death that the copy was discovered and destroyed.

Hafsah occupies a high position as far as scholarship and piety are concerned. She reported 60 Hadiths from the Prophet (sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam). Out of these, four are agreed upon, six are in the book of Imam Muslim and the remaining are in the other books of traditions. When her father, ’Umar, the Caliph of the Muslims, was about to die after being stabbed by Abu Lu'lu'ah the Zoroastrian in the month of Dzul-Hijjah 23 AH, Hafsah was the guardian of what he left of inheritance.

Hafsah took custody of all his important documents including his copy of the Glorious Quran, which was compiled during the time of Abu Bakar's Caliphate. Before her death, she made a will to ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (radiallāhu`anhu) that her property at Galba should be donated in charity. Hafsah had no children from the Prophet (sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam).

Hafsah, lived with the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) in Al-Madinah for eight years, and lived on for another thirty-four years after his death; witnessing with joy the victories and expansion of Islam under her father's guidance, and with sorrow the troubles that beset the Muslim community after the murder of 'Uthman(radiallāhu`anhu) .

She passed away during the reign of Mu’awiyah bin Abu Sufian in 47 AH at the age of sixty-three.

And Allāh Knows Best

[Via Ummnurah]

Juwairiyyah Binti Al-Harith.

Juwairiyyah Binti Al-Harith.

   In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;

All the praise and Thanks are due to Allāh, the Lord of the al-ā’lamīn. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam, is His Messenger.

The daughter of Al-Harith Ibn Dhirar of Banu Al-Mustaliq

Juwairiyyah binti Al-Harith (radiallāhu`anha) became as a prisoner to the Muslims during the battle of Banu’l-Mustalaq, and she later went to the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)  to seek his help to ransomed her and buy her freedom. He offered to buy her freedom and marry her, and she accepted. The Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)   then married her and made her manumission her dowry. When the people came to know of that, they set free their own prisoners, so as to honour the in-laws of the Messenger (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)  . No woman brought a greater blessing to her people than she did. [Sirah Ibn Hisham, 3/408-409].

The fifth year of Hijrah was a year full of major events. During its second half, the Muslims were busy fighting the coalition of the tribes that rallied against them in an attempt to impede the spread of Islam.

Muslims dug a trench around Al-Madinah to defend it against the enemies outside. But a greater danger was facing them from inside, that of the Jewish tribes who breached the peace treaty. After defeating the parties, the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)   rallied the Muslims first against the Jewish tribe of Banu An-Nadir. They blockaded their fortress for twenty-five days but later they surrendered.

Then the Muslims set off towards the tribe of Banu Al-Mustaliq who were gathering forces to fight them. The two armies met at a watering well called Al-Muraisik. A fierce battle took place which ended with a heavy defeat of Banu Al-Mustaliq. Most of their fighters fell and their women were taken captives.

Their leader, Al-Harith Ibn Dhirar, escaped, but his daughter, Barrah, fell to the hands of the Muslims captive. The daughter of Al-Harith fell to the lot of Thabit Ibn Qais.

‘Aishah (radiallāhu`anha) who accompanied the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)   on this expedition, related, "When the Prophet distributed the captives of Banu Al-Mustaliq, she [Barrah] fell to the lot of Thabit Ibn Qais (radiallāhu`anhu). She was married to her cousin, who was killed during the battle. She gave Thabit a deed (document), agreeing to pay him for her freedom. She was a very beautiful woman. She captivated every man who saw her.

She came to the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)   to ask for his help in the matter. As soon as I saw her at the door of my room, I took a dislike to her, for I knew that he would see her as I saw her. She went in and told him who she was, the daughter of Al-Harith Ibn Dhirar, and the chief of his people.

She said, 'You can see the state to which I have been brought. I have fallen to the lot of Thabit, and have given him a deed for my ransom, and I have come to ask your help in the matter.'

Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)  said, 'Would you like something better than that? I will discharge your debt, and marry you.' She said: 'Yes, O Messenger of Allah!' 'Then it is done.' He replied." [Ahmad]

The news of the marriage spread fast and now that Banu Al-Mustaliq was the Prophet's relatives by marriage, the Muslims freed them from their captives. "The relatives of the Messenger of Allah!" They exclaimed. A hundred families were released from captivity because of this blessed marriage. ‘Aishah said: “I do not know a woman who was a greater blessing to her people than she."

Juwairiyyah (radiallāhu`anha) was a woman of exceptional beauty, and because she belonged to the highest class of her society, she acquired the best upbringing and education that was available during her time. She was twenty years old when the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)   married her. No doubt, she was the source of jealousy for his other wives but this did not prevent them from appreciating her good character and companionship.

When the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)   went back to Al-Madinah after that raid [on Banu Al-Mustaliq], with Juwairiyyah and was at a place called 'Thatul-Jaish', he entrusted her to one of the Ansar. Her father, Al-Harith, discovered that she had been captive and went back to Al-Madinah, bringing his daughter's ransom. When he reached Al-'Aqeq [a place near Al-Madinah], he looked at the camels he had brought as her ransom and admired two of them greatly, so he hid them in one of the passes of Al-'Alee.

Then Al-Harith came to the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)   dragging the camels behind him, and told him: "My daughter is too noble to be taken as a captive. Set her free by this ransom."

The Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)   replied, "Isn't it better that we let her choose for herself?"

Al-Harith said, "That is fair enough,”

He came to his daughter, Barrah and said, "This man is letting you choose so do not dishonor us!"

Barrah replied calmly, "I choose the Messenger of Allah,"

"What a disgrace!" Al-Harith exclaimed.

But when The Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)   asked him, "Where are the two camels which you have hidden in Al-'Aqeq in such-and such a pass?"

Al-Harith exclaimed, "I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah, and that you Muhammad are the Messenger of Allah! For none could have known of this but Allah."

He and his two sons who were with him and some of his men accepted Islam. The Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)   asked him again for his daughter's hand and he accepted. The Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)   gave his new bride four hundred Dirhams as her dowry. This was the event that turned Barrah's, later named Juwairiyyah by the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam). For not only she accepted Islam, but by accepting the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)   for her husband and thus became Umm Al-Mu'minin [Mother of the Believers].

Juwairiyyah (radiallāhu`anha) accepted Islam wholeheartedly and followed the excellent example of her husband in the worship of her Lord, trying to even compete with him at times. He left her room once for Fajar [dawn prayer] and came back after Dhuha [forenoon], when the Prophet asked her, she told him, "I spent all the time you were absent supplicating,"

The Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)   said: "Shall I tell you a few words; if you say them they will be heavier in the scale [on the Day of Judgment] than what you have done? You say: 'Subhana Allahi 'adada khalqih, subhana Allahi ridha nafsihi, subhana Allahi midada kalimatih." [Exalted and Praised is Allah as many times as the number of His creatures, and as much as pleases Him, and as much as the weight of His Throne, and as much as the ink for His Words]. [At-Tirmidzi]

Juwayriyyah (radiallāhu`anha) spent her life in seclusion after the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)  passed away. The Caliphs would provide for her sustenance, but she would spend it all for the sake of Allah. She performed Hajj many times, and was known for her passionate worship.

She kept away from all the trials that raged later during her life. She died during the caliphate of Mu’awiyah at the age of sixty five, some forty years after the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)  .

Allah Knows Best

[Srikandeh]

Safiyyah Binti Huyaii

Safiyyah Binti Huyaii

In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;

All the praise and Thanks are due to Allāh, the Lord of the al-ā’lamīn. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam, is His Messenger.

Safiyyah Binti Huyaii, (radiallāhu`anha) got married the Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) in seven AH, when the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)  was sixty years old and she was seventeen years old. As in the case of Juwairiyyah binti Harith (radiallāhu`anha), this marriage occurred after one of the Muslims' decisive battles. Perhaps the marriage was intended to foster a bond between the Muslims and Banu Nadir.

At the Battle of Khaibar in which the Muslims defeated the Jews, two women were captured and brought before the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)  by Bilal Ibn Rabab (radiallāhu`anhu), the famous black muezzin of Medinah. One of the two women was shrieking and screaming, and rubbing dust in her hair, while the other was mute with shock. The composed and silent one was Safiyyah, the daughter of Huyaii Ibn Akhtab, the chief of the Banu Nadir who were expelled from Medinah in 4 AH after plotting to kill the Messenger of Allah (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)  by dropping a stone on his head as he sat talking with their leaders. It was the cousin of Safiyyah who was the noisy one.

Safiyyah Binti Huyaii (radiallāhu`anha) could trace her lineage directly back to Harun, the brother of the Prophet Moses, Alaihis Salam.

The Prophet Muhammad (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)  asked someone to look after the woman who was screaming and then took off his cloak and placed it over the shoulders of Safiyyah Binti Huyaii (radiallāhu`anha), whose husband had been killed in the battle. It was a gesture of pity, but from that moment, she was to be honored and given great respect in the Muslim community. Then the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)  turned to Bilal Ibn Rabab (radiallāhu`anhu), and said, "Bilal, has Allah plucked mercy from your heart that you let these two women pass by those of their men folk who have been killed?" This was considered a severe reprimand, for the Messenger of Allah (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) rarely criticized the behavior of those who served him. Anas Ibn Malik (radiallāhu`anhu), for example once said, "I served the Messenger of Allah (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) for eight years. He never once scolded me for something that I had done or for something that I had not done."

Like Umm Habibah (radiallāhu`anha), Safiyyah Binti Huyaii (radiallāhu`anha) was the daughter of a great chief of the tribe. The only person who could save her from becoming a slave after having enjoyed such a high position was the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam). Although her father had planned to assassinate Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) after the Battle of Uhud, and had conspired with the Banu Quraizah to exterminate all the Muslims during the Battle of Al-Khandaq, it was characteristic of the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)  that he did not bear any grudges.

As for those who did wrong, he felt pity rather than anger, and for those who had done no wrong, he had even greater compassion.

The Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) invited Safiyyah Binti Huyaii (radiallāhu`anha) to embrace Islam, which she did, and having given her, her freedom, he then married her. Some people may have wondered how it was that Safiyyah Binti Huyaii (radiallāhu`anha) could accept Islam and marry the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) when her father had been his bitter enemy, and when bloody battles had taken place between the Jews and the Muslims. The answer may be found in what she had related of her early life as the daughter of the chief of the Banu Nadir.

Safiyyah Binti Huyaii (radiallāhu`anha)   said, "I was my father's favorite and also a favorite with my uncle Yasir. They could never see me with one of their children without picking on me. When the Messenger of Allah (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) came to Medinah, my father and my uncle went to see him. It was very early in the morning and between dawn and sunrise. They did not return until the sun was setting. They came back worn out and depressed, walking with slow, heavy steps. I smiled to them as I always did, but neither of them took any notice of me because they were so miserable. I head Abu Yasir asks my father, 'Is it him?' 'Yes, it is.' 'Can you recognize him? Can you verify it?' 'Yes, I can recognize him too well.' 'What do you feel towards him?' 'Enmity, enmity as long as I live!'

The significance of this conversation is evident when we recall that in the Torah of the Jews, it was written that a Prophet would come who would lead those who followed him to victory. Indeed before the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) came to Medinah, the Jews used to threaten the idol worshippers of Yathrib, as it was then called, that when the next Prophet came to the believers were going to exterminate them, just as the Jews had exterminated other tribes who refused to worship God in the past. As in any case, of the Prophet Jesus (‘alaihissalam) who had been clearly described in the Torah - but rejected by many of the Jews when he actually came - the next and last Prophet was accurately described in the Torah, which also contained signs by which the Jews could easily recognize him. Thus Ka'ab Al-Ahbar, one of the Jews of that time who embraced Islam, relates that this Prophet is described in the Torah as follows:

'My slave, Ahmad, the Chosen, born in Makkah, who will emigrate to Medinah (or he said Tayyibah - another name given to Yathrib); his community will be those who praise Allah in every state.'

'Amr Ibn Al-'As (radiallāhu`anhu) said that it also says in the Torah:

'O Prophet, We have sent you as a witness, a bringer of good news and a warner and a refuge for the illiterate. You are My slave and My messenger. I have called you the one on whom people rely, one who is neither coarse nor vulgar, and who neither shouts in the markets nor repays evil with evil, but rather pardons and forgives. Allah will not take him back to Himself until he has straightened out the crooked community and they say, "There is no god but Allah." Through him, blind eyes, deaf ears, and covered hearts will be opened.'

It was these descriptions in the Torah, that the most learned rabbi of the Jews, 'Abdullah Ibn Sallam (radiallāhu`anhu) had embraced Islam on seeing Muhammad (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam), and it was because of these descriptions that Huyaii Ibn Akhtab was also able to recognize him.

Huyaii Ibn Akhtab, like most of the other Jews, was deeply disappointed that the last Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) was a descendant of Isma'il and not of Ishaq, (the two sons of the Prophet Ibrahim, peace be upon them), since the Jews of that time claimed exclusive descent from Ishaq, through the twelve sons of his son Ya'qub (who was also known as Israel), from whom the twelve tribes of Israel had originated. Not only did Huyaii resent the fact that the last Prophet had appeared amongst the Arabs, but also he did not want to lose his position of power and leadership over his people.

It was for these reasons that Huyaii Ibn Akhtab, secretly decided to oppose and fight the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)  while in public he and the other leaders of the Jews made peace treaties with the Muslims and the Jews broke as soon as it seemed a favorable time to do so.

Although Safiyyah was Huyaii's daughter, she had a pure heart and had always wanted to worship her Creator and Lord, the One who had sent Moses, to whom she was related, and Jesus, and finally Muhammad, may Allah be pleased with all of them. Thus, as soon as the opportunity arose, not only to follow the last Prophet, but also to be married to him, she took it.

Although Safiyyah Binti Huyaii had in Prophet Muhammad (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) a most kind and considerate husband, she was not always favorably accepted by some of his other wives, especially when she had first joined the Prophet's household. It was related by Anas Ibn Malik (radiallāhu`anhu) that on one occasion, the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) found Safiyyah weeping. When he asked her what the matter was, she replied that she heard that Hafsah had disparagingly described her as 'the daughter of a Jew'.

The Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) responded by saying, "You are certainly the daughter of a Prophet (Harun), and certainly your uncle was a Prophet (Moses), and you are certainly the wife of a Prophet (Muhammad), so what is there in that to be scornful towards you?" Then he said to Hafsah, "O Hafsah, fear Allah!"

Once the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) was accompanied on a journey by Safiyyah and Zainab binti Jahsh when Safiyyah’s camel went lame. Zainab had an extra camel and the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) asked her if she would give it to Safiyyah. Zainab retorted, "Should I give to that Jewess!" The Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) turned away from her in anger and would not have anything to do with her for two or three months to show his disapproval of what she had said.

Some three years later, when Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) was in his final illness, Safiyyah felt for him deeply and sincerely. She said "O Messenger of Allah, I wish it was I who was suffering instead of you." Some of the wives winked at each other, which made the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) felt irritated, and he exclaimed, "By Allah, she spoke the truth!"She still underwent difficulties after the death of the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam). Once her slave girl went to the Amirul-Mu’minin Umar Al-Khattab (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) and said, "Amirul-Mu’minin! Safiyyah loves the Sabbath and maintains ties with the Jews!"

Umar asked Safiyyah about that and she said, "I have not loved the Sabbath since Allah replaced it with Friday for me, and I only maintain ties with those Jews to whom I am related by kinship."

She asked her slave girl what had possessed her to carries lie to 'Umar and the girl replied, "Syaitan!" Safiyyah said, "Go, you are free."

Safiyyah Binti Huyaii (radiallāhu`anha) was with the Prophet(Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)  for nearly four years, she was only twenty-one when the Prophet(Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) died, and lived as a widow for the next thirty-nine years, died in 50 AH, at the age of sixty .May Allah be pleased with her.

Allah Knows Best

[Via Ummnurah]

Ramlah Binti Abu Sufian

Ramlah binti Abu Sufian

 In the Name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful;

All praise and thanks are due to Allāh, May Allāh blessings and peace be upon His Messenger.

Ramlah binti Abu Sufian, (radiyallāhu`anha), got married to the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) in 1 AH, although she did not actually come to live with him in Medinah until 7 AH, when the Prophet was sixty years old and she was thirty-five.

Ramlah was the daughter of Abu Sufian Ibn Harb, who for some of his life was one of the most resolute enemies of the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) spending much of his great wealth in opposing the Muslims, and leading the armies of the kafirun against the Muslims in all the early major battles, including the battles of Badar, Uhud and Al-Khandaq.

Indeed it was not until the conquest of Makkah, when the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) generously pardoned him and his wife Hindun binti Utbah [the lady whom at the Battle of Uhud cut open the chest of Hamzah Ibn Abdul Muttalib, Prophet’s uncle who was martyred. She dissected and swallowed his heart out of hatred] embraced Islam and began to fight with the Muslims instead of against them

Abu Sufian ibn Harb could not conceive of anyone among the Quraish who would dare challenge his authority or go against his orders. He was after all, the Sayyid or chieftain of Makkah who had to be obeyed and followed. His daughter, Ramlah, known as Umm Habibah, (radiallāhu`anha) however dared to challenge his authority when she rejected the deities of the Quraish and their idolatrous ways. Together with her husband, Ubaidullah Ibn Jahsh, she put her faith in Allah alone and accepted the message of His prophet, Muhammad Ibn Abdullah.

Abu Sufian tried with all the power and force at his disposal to bring back his daughter and her husband to his religion and the religion of their forefathers. But he did not succeed. The faith which was embedded in the heart of Ramlah was too strong to be uprooted by the hurricanes of Abu Sufian’s fury. Abu Sufian remained deeply worried and concerned by his daughter's acceptance of Islam. He did not know how to face the Quraish after she had gone against his will and he was clearly powerless to prevent her from following Muhammad. When the Quraish realized though that Abu Sufian himself was enraged by Ramlah and her husband, they were emboldened to treat them harshly. They unleashed the full fury of their persecution against them to such a degree that life in Makkah became unbearable.

In the fifth year of his mission, the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) gave permission to the Muslims to migrate to Abyssinia. Ramlah, her little daughter Habibah, and her husband were among those who left. Abu Sufian and the Quraish leaders found it difficult to accept that a group of Muslims had slipped out of their net of persecution and was enjoying the freedom to hold their beliefs and practice their religion in the land of the Negus.

They therefore send messengers to the Negus to seek their extradition. The messengers tried to poison the mind of the Negus against the Muslims but after examining the Muslims beliefs and listening to the Quran being recited, the Negus concluded: "What has been revealed to your Prophet Muhammad and what Jesus the son of Mary preached came from the same source." The Negus himself announced his faith in the one true God and his acceptance of the Prophethood of Muhammad, peace be on him. He also announced his determination to protect the Muslim Muhajirin.

The long journey on the road of hardship and tribulation had finally led to the oasis of serenity. So Umm Habibah felt. But she did not know that the new-found freedom and sense of peace were later to be shattered. She was to be put through a test of the most severe and harrowing kind.

One night, it is related, as Umm Habibah was asleep she had a vision in which she saw her husband in the midst of a fathomless ocean covered by wave upon wave of darkness. He was in a most perilous situation. She woke up, frightened. But she did not wish to tell her husband or anyone else what she had seen.

The day after that ominous night was not yet through when Ubaidullah Ibn Jahsh announced his acceptance of Christianity. What a terrible blow! Ramlah's sense of peace was shattered. She did not expect this of her husband who presented her forthwith with the choice of a divorce or of accepting Christianity. Umm Habibah had three options before her. She could either remain with her husband or accept his call to become a Christian in which case she also would commit apostasy and - God forbid - deserve ignominy in this world and punishment in the hereafter. This was something she resolved she would never do even if she were subjected to the most horrible torture. Or, she could return to her father's house in Makkah - but she knew he remained a citadel of syirik and she would be forced to live under him, subdued and suppressing her faith. Or, she could stay alone in the land of the Negus as a displaced fugitive - without country, without family and without a supporter.

She made the choice that she considered was the most pleasing to God. She made up her mind to stay with her daughter in Abyssinia living a very simple life in isolation, waiting to see what Allah would decree for her.

She divorced her husband who lived only a short while after becoming a Christian. He had given himself over to frequenting wine merchants and consuming alcohol, the "mother of evils". This undoubtedly helped to destroy him.

Umm Habibah (radiyallāhu`anha) stayed in Abyssinia for about ten years. Towards the end of this time, relief and happiness came. It came from an unexpected quarter. One morning bright and early, there was a loud knocking on her door. It was Abrahah, the special maid-servant of the Negus. Abrahah was beaming with joy as she greeted Umm Habibah (radiyallāhu`anha)and said: "The Negus sends his greetings and says to you that Muhammad, the Messenger of God, wants you to marry him and that he has sent a letter in which he has appointed him as his wakil to contract the marriage between you and him. If you agree, you are to appoint a wakil to act on your behalf."Umm Habibah (radiallāhu`anha)was in the clouds with happiness. She shouted to herself: "God has given you glad tidings. God has given you glad tidings." She took off her jewelry- her necklace and bracelets - and gave them to Abrahah. She took off her rings too and gave them to her. And indeed if she had possessed all the treasures of the world, she would have given them to Abrahah at that moment of sheer joy. Finally she said to Abrahah: "I appoint Khalid Ibn Said Ibn Al-Aas (radiallāhu`anhu) to act as wakil on my behalf for he is the closest person to me."

In the palace of the Negus, set in the midst of beautiful gardens and luxuriant vegetation and in one of the lavishly decorated, sumptuously furnished and brightly lit halls, the group of Muslims living in Abyssinia gathered. They included Ja’afar Ibn Abi Talib, Khalid Ibn Said, Abdullah Ibn Hudhafah  As-Sahmi (radiyallāhu`anhum) and others. They had gathered to witness the conclusion of the marriage contract between Umm Habibah, the daughter of Abu Sufian, and Muhammad, the Messenger of God.

When the marriage was finalized, the Negus addressed the gathering: "I praise God, the Holy, and I declare that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Servant and His Messenger and that He gave the good tidings to Jesus the son of Mary. The Messenger of God, peace be on him, has requested me to conclude the marriage contract between him and Umm Habibah the daughter of Abu Sufian. I agreed to do what he requested and on his behalf I give her a mahr or dowry of four hundred gold dinars." He handed over the amount to Khalid Ibn Said (radiallāhu`anhu)  who stood up and said: "All praise is due to God. I praise Him and seek His help and forgiveness and I turn to Him in repentance. I declare that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger whom He has sent with the religion of guidance and truth so that it might prevail over all other forms of religion even if the disbelievers were to dislike this."

"I have agreed to do what the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) has requested and acted as the wakil on behalf of Umm Habibah, the daughter of Abu Sufian. May God bless His Messenger and his wife. "Congratulations to Umm Habibah on account of the goodness which God has ordained for her." Khalid took the mahar and handed it over to Umm Habibah.

The Sahabah thereupon got up and prepared to leave but the Negus said to them: "Sit down for it is the practice of the Prophets to serve food at marriages." There was general rejoicing at the court of the Negus as the guests sat down again to eat and celebrate the joyous occasion. Umm Habibah (radiyallāhu`anha) especially could hardly believe her good fortune and she later described how she was eager to share her happiness. She said: "When I received the money as mahar, I sent fifty mithqals of gold to Abrahah who had brought me the good news and I said to her: 'I gave you what I did when you gave me the good news because at that time I did not have any money.'

"Shortly afterwards, Abrahah came to me and returned the gold. She also produced a case which contained the necklace I had given to her. She returned that to me and said: 'The King has instructed me not to take anything from you and he has commanded the women in his household to present you with gifts of perfume.'

"On the following day, she brought me ambergris, saffron and aloes and said: 'I have a favor to ask of you.' 'What is it?' I asked. 'I have accepted Islam,' she said, 'and now follow the religion of Muhammad. Convey to him my salutation of peace and let him know that I believe in Allah and His Prophet(Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam). Please don't forget.'

"She then helped me to get ready for my journey to the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam)."

Six years later, in 7 AH, when the emigrant Muslims in Abyssinia were finally able to return to Arabia, Umm Habibah (radiyallāhu`anha) moved to Medinah and there the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam), who had just returned victorious from Khaibar, warmly welcomed her. Umm Habibah relates: "When I met the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam), I told him all about the arrangements that had been made for the marriage and about my relationship with Abrahahl. I told him that she had become a Muslim and conveyed her greetings of peace to him. He (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) was filled with joy at the news and said, 'Wa alaiha as salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh - And on her be the peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessing.'"

The strength of Umm Habibah’s character can be measured by what happened shortly before the conquest of Makkah, when her father, Abu Sufian Ibn Harb, went to Medinah after the Quraish had breached the Treaty of Hudaibiyah, to try and re-negotiate a fresh settlement with the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam). He first went to Umm Habibah’s room and was about to sit down on the blanket on which the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) slept when Umm Habibah, who had not seen her father for over six years, asked him not to sit on it and quickly folded it up and put it away.

"Am I too good for the bed, or it is the bed too good for me?" he asked.

"How can the enemy of Islam sit on the bed of the Holy Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam)?" she replied.

It was only after Abu Sufian had embraced Islam, after the conquest of Makkah, and had become the enemy of the enemies of Islam, that Umm Habibah (radiallāhu`anha)  accepted and loved him again as her father. When she received the news that her father and brother Mu’awiyah, who later became the Khalif of the Muslims, had become Muslims after the conquest, she fell down in prostration to Allah out of thankfulness. Umm Habibah spent four years of her life with the Prophet SAW and lived for another thirty-three years after he had died, died at the age of seventy-two in 44 AH, may Allah be pleased with her.

Like all the wives of the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) Umm Habibah (radiyallāhu`anha) spent much of her time remembering Allah and worshipping Him.

She has related that once the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said to her, "A house will be built in the Garden for anyone who, in the space of a day and a night, prays twelve voluntary raka’at;" and she added, "I have never stopped doing this since it from the Messenger of Allah (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam).”

Wallahu`alam

[ Via Ummnurah]

Maria Al-Qibtiyah

 Maria Al-Qibtiyah ( Radiallahu`anha)

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,
All the praise and thanks are due to Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala., and May peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

 Maria Al-Qibtiyah was said to have married the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wassallam)  and certainly everyone gave her the same title of respect as the Prophet's wives, 'Ummul Mu’minin' 'Mother of the Believers'.

Maria was born in Upper Egypt of a Coptic father and Greek mother and moved to the court of the Muqawqis when she was still very young.

The Christian ruler, or Muqawqis, of Egypt, sent him two Christian slave girls who were sisters as a gift, in response to the Prophet's letter inviting him to embrace Islam. She arrived in Medinah just after the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wassallam)  returned from the treaty with Quraish which was known as at Al-Hudaibiyah.

The Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wassallam)  accepted Maria Al-Qibtiyah, into his household; her sister, Serene got married to a man that the Prophet honor, Hassan Ibn Thabit.

Maria gave birth to her son in 9 AH, the same year that his daughter Zainab died, and the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wassallam)  named his new son Ibrahim, after the ancestor of the Jews and the Christians, the Prophet from whom all the Prophets who came after him were descended.

Unfortunately, when he was only eighteen months old, Ibrahim became seriously ill and died. Even though he knew that his son would go to the Garden, the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wassallam)  could not help shedding some tears. When some of his Companions asked him why he was weeping, he replied: "It is my humanness."

As Ibrahim's body was being buried, the sun was eclipsed and it grew dark and gloomy. Some people thought this was connected with Ibrahim's death, but the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wassallam)  soon clarified:

"The sun and the moon are two of Allah's signs; they are not eclipsed because of anyone's birth or death. When you see these signs, make haste to remember Allah in prayer."

Although the kafirun used to mock the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wassallam)  because he had no sons, and say that he was 'cut off’, Allah made it clear in the following surah that the station of the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wassallam)  was far above that of any other man:

“Surely We have given you Al-Kawthar, so pray to your Lord and offer sacrifice. Surely he who mocks you is the one cut off.” [Surah Al-Kawthar, 108:1-3]

“Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets and Allah has knowledge of all things.”[Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:40]

Maria Al-Qibtiyah was honored and respected by the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wassallam)  and his family and Companions. She spent three years of her life with the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wassallam) , until his death, and died five years later in 16 AH. For the last five years of her life, she remained a recluse and almost never went out except to visit the grave of the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wassallam)  or her son's grave. Umar Ibn Al Khattab led the prayer over her and she was buried in Al-Baqi.

And Allah Knows Best

[Via Ummnurah]

Maimunah Binti Al-Harith

Maimunah Binti Al-Harith

 

Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;

All the praise and Thanks are due to Allāh, the Lord of the al-ā’lamīn. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, Sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam, is His Messenger.

Maimunah Binti Al-Harith (Radiallāhu`anha) married the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) in 7th AH, when the Prophet was sixty years old and she was thirty six years old. The sister of Maimunah Binti Al-Harith, Umm Al-Fadl Lubaba, was the mother of Abdullah Ibn Abbās, the son of one of the uncles of the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) and the one of the wisest of his Companions.

Zainab binti Khuzaimah, Ummul-Mu’minin, was also her half-sister. Her other sisters included Asma binti Umays, the wife of Ja’far Ibn Abi Talib, who later married Abu Bakar As-Siddiq, and Salmah binti Umays, the wife of Hamzah Ibn Abdul Muttalib, the "Lion of Allāh".

Her full sisters were Umm Al-Fadl Lubaba, Asma and Izzah.

Umm Al-Fadl Lubaba was one of the earliest Companions of the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam). Once Abu Lahab, the enemy of Allāh and the Messenger of Allāh, entered the house of his brother, Al-Abbās Ibn Abdul Muttalib, and proceeded to attack Al-Abbās helper, Abu Rafi, because he had embraced Islām. Abu Lahab knocked him to the ground and knelt on him, continuing to beat him. Umm Al Fadl Lubaba grabbed a post that was available and cracked it across Abu Lahab's head, saying, "Will you victimize him because his master is absent?" He retreated in shame and died a week later.

Maimunah or Barra as she was then called yearned to marry the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam). She went to her sister, Umm Al Fadl Lubaba to talk to her about that and she, in turn, spoke to her husband, Al-Abbas. Al-Abbas immediately went to the Messenger (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) with Maimunah’s offer of marriage to him and her proposal was accepted. When the good news reached her, she was on a camel, and she immediately got off the camel and said, "The camel and what is on it is for the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)." They were married in the month of Shawal in 7 AH just after the Muslims of Medinah were permitted to visit Makkah under the terms of the Treaty of Hudaibiyah to perform umrah. Allāh Almighty sent the following ayat about this:

 "Any believing woman who dedicates herself to the Prophet if the Prophet wishes to wed her, that is only for thee and not for the believers."

(Al-Ahzāb, 33:50)

The Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) gave her the name, Maimunah, meaning "blessed", and Maimunah lived with the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)  for just over three years, until his death. She was obviously very good natured and got on well with everyone, and no quarrel or disagreement with any of the Prophet's other wives have been related about her. 'Aishah (Radiallāhu`anha) said about her, "Among us, she had the most fear of Allāh and did the most to maintain ties of kinship." It was in her room that the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) first began to feel the effects of what became his final illness and asked the permission of his wives to stay in Aishah's room while it lasted.

It is also related by Ibn Abbās (Radiallāhu`anhu) that he once stayed the night as a guest of Maimunah, who was his aunt, and the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam). They slept on their blanket lengthways and he slept at the end, crossways. After they had all slept for awhile, the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) rose in the middle of the night to perform Solat Tahajjud, and Ibn Abbas joined him.

They both did wudhū', and he prayed eleven raka’at (including Witr) with the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam). Then they both went back to sleep again until dawn. When Bilal Ibn Rabab (Radiallāhu`anhu) called the adzan and the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) did another two short raka’at, before going into the masjid to lead the Dawn Prayer.

Ibn Abbas (Radiallāhu`anhu) said that one of the do‘ā that the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) made during the night was:

"O Allāh, place light in my heart, light in my tongue, light in my hearing, light on my sight, light behind me, light in front of me, light on my right, light on my left, light above me and light below me; place light in my sinew, in my flesh, in my blood, in my hair and in my skin; place light in my soul and make light abundant for me; make me light and grant me [abundant] light.” 

 [Muslim]

It is commonly agreed that it was after the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) had married Maimunah Binti Al-Harith, giving him now nine wives [‘Aishah, Sawdah, Hafsah, Umm Salamah, Zainab binti Jahsh, Juwairiyyah, Umm Habibah, Saffiyyah and Maimunah], that the following ayat was revealed:

"It is not lawful for you (O Muhammad, to marry more) women after this, nor to exchange them for other wives, even though their beauty is pleasing to you, except those whom your right hand possesses (as maid servants); and Allāh is always watching over everything."

(Al-Ahzāb, 33:52)

After this, the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) did not marry again. When however, the Christian ruler, or Muqawqis, of Egypt, sent him two Christian slave girls who were sisters as a gift (in response to the Prophet's letter inviting him to embrace Islam), along with a fine robe and some medicine. The Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) accepted one of the slave girls, Maria Al-Qibtiyah, into his household; he gave her sister Serene, to a man whom he wished to honor, namely Hassan Ibn Thabit; he accepted the robe; and he returned the medicine with the message, "My Sunnah is my medicine!" This occurred in 7 AH, when the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) was sixty years old and Maria was twenty years old. Maria bore him a son, Ibrahim who died as an infant.

After the Prophet's (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam)  death, Maimunah continued to live in Medinah for another forty years, dying at the age of eighty, in 51 AH, (Radiallāhu`anha), being the last of the Prophet's wives to die. She asked to be buried at Saraf where she got married to the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) and her request was carried out. It is related that at the funeral of Maimunah, Ibn Abbas said, "This is the wife of Allāh's Messenger (sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) so when you lift her bier, do not shake her or disturb her, but be gentle."

Maimunah Binti Al-Harith was thus one of the 'Ahlul-Bait', 'the people of the House', not only by virtue of being a wife of the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) but also because she was related to him. Zaid bin Arqam related that the Messenger of Allāh (sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "I implore you by Allāh! The People of my House!" three times. Zaid was asked who the People of the House were, and he said, "The family of Ali Ibn Abi Talib, the family of Ja’far Ibn Abi Talib, the family Aqil Ibn Abi Talib, and the family of Al-Abbas Ibn Abdal Muttalib."

And Allāh Knows Best.

[Via Ummnurah]