The women in the life of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) - (5)

The women in the life of the Holy Prophet

(Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) - (5)

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was the one who granted women their due rights.  Here, we present a series on the women in the life of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

 

The 1st part ran here, the 2nd here, the 3rd here, the 4th here and this is the 5th part.

 

Hadhrat Safiya (May Allah be well pleased with her)

 

She was from the progeny of Hadhrat Haroon (May peace be upon him).  Her father Hui bin Akhtab was the chief of Banu Nadheer, a famous Jewish clan. 

 

At the age of 14, Hadhrat Safiya (May Allah be well pleased with her) was married to a famous soldier.  However, for some reason, they could not get on with each other and that man divorced her.  After this, her father married Hadhrat Safiya (May Allah be well pleased with her) to Kanaanah bin Abil Haqeeq.  He was a rich man and one of the chiefs of the clan.

 

After the Battle of Khaiber, when the war booty was being distributed, the Companions (May Allah be well pleased with them) requested that as Hadhrat Safiya (May Allah be well pleased with her) was the daughter of a chief, she should belong to the chief of Muslims i.e. to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  The Prophet accepted this and freed Hadhrat Safiya (May Allah be well pleased with her).  He gave her the freedom to go back to her own people if she chose to or to become the wife of the Prophet.  She accepted the proposal of the Prophet and thus became a mother of the believers.

 

She was a very lenient, generous and patient woman.  When she entered Madina for the first time and Hadhrat Fatima (May Allah be well pleased with her) came to meet her, she took off her own earrings and gave it to her as a gift.  She gave some kind of jewel to every woman who had come with Hadhrat Fatima (May Allah be well pleased with her).

 

She was very knowledgeable.  Women from Kufa would often come to her for guidance.

 

When the rioters laid siege to the house of Hadhrat ‘Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him), she tried to visit him but couldn’t.  Then she sent food for Hadhrat ‘Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him) at the hands of Imam Hasan (May Allah be well pleased with him).

 

She passed away in 50 Hijri in the month of Ramadhan.  She was then 60 years old. 

 

Imam Zain Ul A’abideen (May Allah be well pleased with him), Ishaq bin ‘Abdullah and some others have related Hadith on the authority of Hadhrat Safiya (May Allah be well pleased with her).

 

Hadhrat Maimoona bint Harith (May Allah be well pleased with her)

 

Her birth name was Barrah.  After coming into His marriage, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) changes her name to Maimoona.  Her mother’s name is Hind bint ‘Auf.

 

She was first married to Mas’ud bin ‘Amr.  For some reason, he divorced her.  She was then married to Abu Ruhum.  He died in 7 Hijri and Hadhrat Maimoona (May Allah be well pleased with her) was widowed.

 

The same year when the Prophet set out for ‘Umrah, Hadhrat ‘Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with him), the uncle of the Prophet requested Him to marry Hadhrat Maimoona (May Allah be well pleased with her).  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) accepted this.  Thus, in the month of Shawwal in 7 Hijri, Hadhrat Maimoona (May Allah be well pleased with her) became one of the mothers of the believers.  The Prophet didn’t marry anyone else after this marriage.

 

Hadhrat ‘Aisha (May Allah be well pleased with her) says about her:  Maimoona (May Allah be well pleased with her) was a pious lady and was extremely mindful of maintaining relations with relatives.

 

She was very generous.  Thus, sometimes she would have to take loans as well.  Once, the loans added up to a very large sum.  Somebody asked her:  How will you repay such a huge loan?  She replied:  I have heard the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) say:  If someone has the intention of repaying a loan, Allah Most High will create means to repay it.

 

She passed away in 51 Hijri at Sarf where she was married.  Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with them) led the Funeral Salaat and interred here.

 

Forty-six Hadith are related on her authority (and some say 72).  Seven are widely accepted, one is in Sahih Bukhari and 5 are in Sahih Muslim.  Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with them) is her nephew.

 

[To be continued....]