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Barakah - Umm Aymān by Suraya Griffiths-Adams
BARAKAH – UMM AYMĀN (r.a)
By Suraya Griffiths-Adams
A ‘ūdhu
billāhi minash shayṭān nirrajīm
Bismillāh
hirraḥ mān nirraḥīm.
(I seek the protection of Allāh from the
accursed shayṭān).
(In the name of Allāh, the Most Merciful, the Most
Beneficent)
Parents
and birth
Barakah was born in the year 557. Her father
was Tha’lalaba ibn Amr. Very little is known about her parents at all. She was
from a region in Abyssinia (commonly known as Ethiopia). She was a slave of the
Prophet Muḥammad’s (pbuh) parents, Āminah bint Wahb and Abdullāh ibn Abdul
Muttalib.
Barakah’s
spouses and children
Her first husband was Ubayd ibn Zayd. They had a son named Ayman ibn Ubayd, hence
she is also known as Umm Ayman (mother of Ayman). Her second marriage was to Zayd ibn Ḥārithah
with whom she had Usama ibn Zayd.
Barakah as a slave girl
Barakah
was an early convert to Islam. She
served Prophet Muḥammad (pbuh) and his parents in the household of his
grandfather, Abdul Muttalib ibn Hishām. Barakah was a very optimistic person
and was the confidant of Āminah.
Shortly
after the marriage of Āminah bint Wahb and Abdullāh ibn Abdul Muttalib, Abdullāh
went to Ash-Shām (Syria) in the summer. Āminah had a dream of a bright light
shining from her belly. She told Barakah
about it, who in return said, “You have
someone important inside of you”.
Barakah
was also the bearer of the bad news to Āminah about the demise of Abdullāh (r.a),
as he had not returned from Ash- Shām.
Barakah as a worker and carer
When
Prophet Muḥammad (pbuh) was sent with a wet nurse Ḥalimah (r.a.), Barakah still
took care of and stayed with Āminah as a worker and friend. When Prophet Muḥammad
(pbuh) returned from the desert it was Barakah (r.a.) who further looked after
Prophet Muḥammad (pbuh).
When Āminah
fell ill, Barakah was the one who once again nursed Āminah (r.a). One day Āminah
called Prophet Muḥammad (pbuh) and Barakah (r.a). She asked Barakah to look
after the young Prophet Muḥammad (pbuh). Āminah died in her son’s arms. He was witness
to his mother’s request for Barakah to take care of him. After the demise of Āminah
(r.a) at Al-Abwa, Barakah (r.a) and the young boy moved to the house of Abdul
Muttalib (r.a).
Barakah
(r.a) took very good care of the young Muḥammad (pbuh). She took up the role as
his “second mother” indeed, even though she was never his milk mother.
Barakah gets her freedom
When Prophet Muḥammad married Khadijah he
arranged for Barakah’s freedom. He
arranged her marriage to Ubayd ibn Zaid, a Khazrajite companion. It was through
this marriage that she bore her first son Ayman. Her husband, Ubayd, was killed
in the Battle of Khaybar. Ayman was later killed in the Battle of Hunayn.
She
later married Prophet Muḥammad’s adopted son, Zaid ibn Ḥārith. Together they
had a son named Usāma. Later in life Usāma was appointed as an army leader by
Prophet Muḥammad (pbuh).
Migration
Barakah
became one of the first female followers when Prophet Muḥammad (pbuh) declared
his prophethood. She later migrated to Madinah.
Participation in battles
Barakah
was present at the Battle of Uḥud. She carried water to the soldiers and helped
to treat their injuries. She also accompanied Prophet Muḥammad (pbuh) in the
Battle of Khaybar.
She
was injured after there was a rumour of the death of Prophet Muḥammad (pbuh).
Some men ran away towards Madinah and she went towards the battlefield
accompanied by several women. The arrow
that she was injured by was shot by Hebban bin Araqa.
Relationship with fellow early muslims
Prophet
Muḥammad was fond of Barakah. He called her ‘sister’.
He held her in high esteem. (ibn Sa’d vol 8, p.222). There are many aḥadith
that mention his esteem for her. He
often visited her at her house. After his demise , Caliphs Abu-Bakr and Umar
did the same. Companions such as Anas
ibn Malik, Abu Yazid Madani narrated about her.
Ibn Hajr, vol, 12, p.459.
Barakah’s death
Barakah’s
death date is not so clear. According to
al-Tabarani, Volume 25, Page 86, quoted
from Zuhri, she died approximately five months after Prophet Muḥammad (pbuh).
Note: She was a second mother to Prophet Muḥammad.
She was the second woman to accept Islam- after Khadijah (r.a). She is the only woman who was with Prophet Muḥammad
(pbuh) from his birth to his death.
Conclusion
Barakah was very valuable to Prophet Muḥammad’s
family:
·
She was a therapist to Āminah.
·
She had Imān.
·
She
was optimistic.
·
The Prophet's
(pbuh) family loved her.
·
The
Prophet (pbuh) found comfort in her company
·
She
has merit with Allāh. Prophet Muḥammad (pbuh) called her a woman of Jannah.
·
She
stayed close to the Prophet (pbuh) even after she gained her freedom.
·
She
was a sister and mother figure to the Prophet (pbuh).
· She did not speak much.
References:
1. Wikipedia
2. Shaykh
Bilal Asad (lecture)
3. Shaykh
Dr Yasir Qadhi (lecture)
4. Shakh
Mufti Menk (lecture)
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