Part 93

Bilal, the Prophet's Muezien led Safiyya and a cousin of hers and made them cross the scene of fighting in which there were many Jewish deaths. Safiyya kept patient and did not worry or cry. Unlike Safiyya, her cousin cried, slapped her cheeks and put earth over her head.

They were brought before the Prophet (pbuh). When the Prophet (pbuh) noticed the impatient state of Safiyya's cousin which was manifested in her torn dress, dusty face and cries, he said, "Take this devil away!" Then he came close to Safiyya and looked kindly to her. Then he said, "Did mercy forsake you Bilal to lead two women through the deaths of their men."

Then, the Prophet turned to Safiyya and covered her with his garment and kept her behind him. This was an indication that the Prophet (pbuh) chose her for himself. Muslims did not know, by then, whether the Prophet married her or adopted her as a slave girl? But after he veiled her, they realized that the married her.

In a prophetic hadith narrated by Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) took Safiyya bint Huyah, he said to her, "Do you like me?" She said, "O Messenger of Allah when I was an atheist I wished that. Then how would I be after I had embraced Islam?"

After her waiting period had expired (to verify that she is not pregnant) the Prophet married her and made her dowry freeing her. The prophet (pbuh) waited for a period of time in Khaybar until they reposed, he took Safiyya behind him after she became familiar with the new position.

The Prophet encamped with his army six miles away from Khaybar. He wanted to sleep with her but she refused. Thereby, he became angry of her refusal.

The prophet (pbuh) went on walking towards Madina followed by his army. When he reached as-Sahba’ (a place) he encamped there to have a rest. He noticed Safiyya ready for consummating the marriage. Then Umm Ana Ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with her) came to comb, adorn and perfume her until she became so charming. Umm Sinan commented, “I never saw a bright woman like her." The wedding banquet was offered in which the people ate of Khayber food: dates, oil, milk, until they became satiated.

When the Prophet (pbuh) was alone with her, he was angry with due to her previous refusal. She (the bride) lovingly told him an amazing tiding. She said, "I saw in a dream when I got married to Kinanah ibn ar-Rabee’ the moon falling upon my knee. When I got up I narrated the dream to Kinanah. He got angry and said, "Would you like the King of Hijaz, Muhammad?" Then He slapped my face. The trace of this punch was still in her face. The Prophet (pbuh) smiled and then asked, "Why did you refuse me at the first time?" She, at once, answered, "I feared the Jews who might be nearby" then the Prophet's face became bright and he consummated his marriage with her. She was seventeen by then.

Narrated Anas (may Allah be pleased upon him), "The Prophet (pbuh) stayed for three days at a place between Khaybar and Madina, and __ there he consummated his marriage with Safiyya bint Huiyay. I invited the Muslims to a banquet, which included neither meat nor bread. The Prophet (pbuh) ordered for leather dining sheets to be spread and then the dates, dreiet yoghourt and butter were provided over it,

and that was the banquet (walima) of the Prophet (pbuh). The Muslims asked whether Safiyya would be considered as his wife or as a slave girl of what his right hand possessed. Then they said, "If the Prophet (pbuh) screens her from the the people, then she iss the Prophet's wife but if he does not screen her, then she is a slave girl." So when the Prophet (pbuh) proceeded he made a place for her (on the camel) behind him and

screened her from people." [Reported by Al-Bukhari]

Reaching Madina, the Prophet (pbuh) did not let her stay with his other wives. Rrather he preferd that she stay in the house of his companion, Harithah ibn an-Nu‘ man.

When the women in Madina knew her coming, they looked forward to seeing her. The Prophet (pbuh) noticed ‘Aisha hiding herself among the women in order to see her. Although she was veiled, the Prophet identified her, held her dress and asked her, "What did you see, O Shuqaira' (blond woman)?" She out of jealousy answered, "She is just a Jewish woman." The prophet (pbuh) replied, "Do not say that; she embraced Islam."

When Safiyya moved to the Prophet's house, the other Prophet's wives became jealous of her beauty. Therefore, they boasted over her about their Arabic origin while she was foreigner.

Once, she was informed that Hafsa said that she was a daughter of a Jew and that made her weep. When the prophet (pbuh) found her weeping, he asked, "Why do you weep?" She replied, "Hafsa said that I am the daughter of a Jew." Then the Prophet (pbuh) said, "You are the daughter of a Prophet, the niece of a Prophet and the wife of a Prophet. Thus, how could she boast over you?" Then, he said, "Fear Allah, Hafsa."

Such words pleased her. Whenever any one boasted herself over her, she often said: "Why, I am Muhammad's wife, Harun's daughter and Musa's niece."

It is related that she had a bondswoman during the caliphate of ‘Umar who went to him and said, "Safiyya loves Saturday and has connections with the Jews. Whereupon ‘Umar sent for her and investigated the case. She replied, "As for Saturday, I have not loved it since Allah gave me Friday in its place, and as for the Jews, I have kinfolk among them and maintain my family ties." When she asked her servant what made her do what that, she was told, "The Devil," to which Safiyya responded, "You may go now, you are free.”

She died in Madianh in 50 AH - 670 AC during the caliphate of Mu’ awyah. She was buried in Bagee' beside the other Mothers of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with them all)

She was Juwairiya bint al-Harith ibn Abu Dirar ibn Labib alKhuza'iyya, who was from Mustalaq. She was a beautiful woman. She was taken as a prisoner of war when Muslims defeated the tribe of Banu al-Mustalaq in the battle of Al-Muraysee’.

When the spoils of the war were distributed among the warriors, Juwairiya was in the share of Thabit ibn Qays ibn ash-Shammas or a cousin to him. She was twenty by then. She tried to escape such slavery and made a contract with Thabit ibn Qays to free her in return for money. Then she went to the Prophet (pbuh) asking for help; to free herself. The Prophet (pbuh) sympathized with her and said, "Would you want something better than that?" She anxiously said, "What is this, Messenger of Allah he said, "I will pay your contract and marry you" she was so happy that she could not believe what she heard. She pleasantly agreed. Then, the Prophet (pbuh) said, "Ok".

‘Aisha narrated, "Then the people knew that the Prophet (pbuh) got married to Juwairiya bint al-Harith ibn Abu Dirar. Thereupon, they freed whom they had captured of her tribe because they became relatives by marriage. They freed about a hundred of Banu alMustalaq families. I have never known a woman who blessed her tribe greater than her."

‘Aisha, the mother of the believers added, "She (Juwayriya) had a good looking and captivated whomever saw her.” When she came to the Prophet (pbuh) to help her pay the contract of freedom. By Allah, no sooner did 1 see her standing by my door than I grew jealous and expected that the Prophet (pbuh) world realize what I realized."

Afterwards, the bride of Banu al-Mustalaq joined the Prophet's house. She was called Burrah before the Prophet (pbuh) changed her name to Juwairiya.

Ibn Hajar stated in "Al-Isabah" that Juwairiya was a true faithful. Once her father came to the Prophet (pbuh) complaining about the capture of his daughter. Then the Prophet said, "Would you like to give her the choice?" He said, "Ok." Accordingly, her father offered her to return, she said, I have chosen Allah and His Messenger."

Ibn Hisham also narrated that her father, al-Harith, two of his sons and some people of his tribe embraced Islam. She (may Allah be pleased with her) died in 50 or 56 AH may Allah have mercy on her whose marriage was a blessing for her tribe. After the Prophet (pbuh) had married her, her people converted to Islam. This is of course one of the wisdoms of polygamy in Islam.

She was Maymuna bint al-Hurith ibn Hazan ibn Bujair, ibn alHazm, ibn Ruwaiba ibn ‘Abdullah, ibn Hilal, ibn ‘Amer, ibn Sa’‘sa‘a alHilaliyya. She was a sister of Umm al-Fadl, Al-Abbas' wife, an aunt of Khalid ibn al-Walid and ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them all). She was among the mistresses of Quraish who were famous of honour and nobility.

She first got married to Mas‘ud ibn Amr ath-Thagafi before Islam. Nevertheless, she frequently visited her sister, Umm al-Fadl; from her she leamt some teachings of Islam and the news of the Islamic victory in Badr and Uhud that affected her heart.

When the Muslims retumed victorious after the battle of Khaybar, she was in her sister's house. She was so happy because of the victory. When she went home, she found her husband depressed and sad. They quarreled and then separated each other. She resorted to Al-Abbas' house.

When the Prophet (pbuh) and the Muslims came to stay in Makka for three days to perform their rites as stated in the Hudaybya truce, they entered Makka peacefully on the appinted day. Then they loudly chanted "labbayka allahumma labayk. Labbayka la shareeka lake Jabbyaka" (Ever at Your service, O Allah, ever at Your service. Ever at Your service. You have no partner, ever at Your service." All parts of Makka responded to this clamour and the land beneath the disbeliever's feet quivered. They resorted to mountains and hills so as not to see Muhammad and Muslims' returning to Makka strong. Some men and women of those who did not declare thier faith publicly stayed in Makka believing that the day of victory was coming. Maymuna was among those who did not declare their faith, However she was not satisfied with her hidden belief. Therefore, she declared publicly that she embraced Islam. Furthermore, she wanted to declare her wish to join the Prophet's house. She talked to her sister Umm al-Fadl about her wish. In turn, her sister told her husband Al-Abbas and commissioned him to her marriage. Then Al-Abbas went at once to the Prophet (pbuh)