Umm Aiman bint Tha'labah

Taken from "Great Women of Islam Who were given the good News of Paradise by Mahmood Ahmad Ghadanfar

Her real name was Barakah bint Tha'labah, but she came to be known by her son Aiman's name as Umm Aiman (r.a). She was the lady who played the role of mother and took care of the young boy, Muhammad (s.a.w) when his mother Aminah bint Wahab passed away while travelling from Makkah to Al-Madinah. The Prophet (s.a.w) used to address her as 'mother' and said she would go to Paradise in the Hereafter. She was a lady who was like a member of the Prophet's family over the years. When Khadijah (r.a) passed away, she was deeply affected and wept for her. She was the one who bathed and shrouded her, and prepared her body for burial. When the Prophet's daughter, Zainab (r.a) passed away, again she was grief-stricken as any member of the family. She also prepared her body for burial, with the help of Mother of the Believers Saudah (r.a) and the Mother of the Believers Umm Salama (r.a). She took part in the Battles of Uhud, Khaiber and Hunain. She also had the distinction of migrating twice – once to Abyssiniah and again to Al-Madinah.

She had been a slave of the Prophet's father, Abdullah bin Abdul Muttalib. She was originally from Abyssinia. According to the tribal customs prevailing in the Arabia of the time, the Prophet (s.a.w) spent his early years with the tribe Banu Sa'd. He was nursed by Halimah Sa'diah, and was brought up by her. When he was five years old he was returned to Makkah to his mother. When he was six years old his mother decided to take him to Yathrib to meet his grandparents who were from the tribe of Banu Najjar. The slave girl Barakah Bint Tha'labah also accompanied them. On the way back when they reached Abwa, his mother suddenly fell ill and died. They then buried her there.

Barakah bint Tha'labah consoled the little boy, and tried her best to fill the gap of his mother.
When the Prophet (s.a.w) grew up to be a young man he freed her and married her to Obaid bin Zaid Khazarji. When Umm Aiman converted to Islam differences developed between them. He was not willing to swear the oath of allegiance and accept Allah (s.w.t) and His Messenger (s.a.w); so they separated.

By her first husband, Obaid, she had a son, Aiman. Thus she became known as Umm Aiman. He grew up to be a very prominent Companion and was martyred in the Battle of Hunain. Her second marriage was to Zaid bin Harithah (r.a). He was the General of the Muslim army and was martyred in the battle of Mu'tah. They had a son, Usamah bin Zaid, who was another great General of the Muslim army.

When the Prophet (s.a.w) married Khadijah (r.a) he asked Umm Aiman (r.a) for Zaid bin Harithah (r.a) to serve him. She was very happy to give her son to him. The Prophet (s.a.w) was aware of her exemplary character, noble manners and purity of heart. He said that whosoever wished to marry a lady of Paradise should marry Umm Aiman (r.a).

When Zaid bin Harithah (r.a) heard this statement of the Prophet (s.a.w), based not on her looks, but on her character, he developed a liking for her and was only too happy to marry her. Their son, Usamah bin Zaid (r.a), because of his praiseworthy character was loved deeply by the Prophet (s.a.w). Zaid bin Harithah (r.a) became famous because of the love for him; so also his son, Usamah bin Zaid (r.a), he became famous as the Prophet's favourite.

The Prophet (s.a.w) had great respect for Umm Aiman (r.a), and regarded her as his mother. Sometimes because of her nature, she would become insistent and stubborn. The Prophet (s.a.w) would then be very respectful and patient and try his utmost to please her.

Anas bin Malik (r.a) says that the Ansar of Al-Madinah gave their date orchards to the Prophet (s.a.w); he in turn distributed them among the Muhajirs (migrants) from Makkah. When the Muslims triumphed over Banu Quraidhah and Banu Nadheer, the Prophet (s.a.w) started returning their property to the generous Ansar owners. Anas bin Malik (r.a) relates that when he went to take back his orchards from Umm Aiman (r.a), she refused point blank. On the other hand, she tied a cloth around his neck, jerked him and said that it was out of the question, that she would not return the orchards to him anyway. When the Prophet (s.a.w) saw this he tried to persuade her to return the orchards. He said he would give her something of the same value in exchange, but she did not agree. Then he offered her something double the value; she still refused. Then he went on to offer her three times the value and so on. At last, he offered her something ten times the value of the orchards, and she finally agreed. And Anas bin Malik (r.a) got his date orchards back.

The Prophet (s.a.w) often visited her. As soon as he saw her he would say that she was a reminder of his family and she was his mother who deserved respect.

Aishah (r.a) narrated that one day when all of them were seated together, the Prophet (s.a.w) drank some water. Umm Aiman (r.a) asked him to fetch some water for her too.

Aishah (r.a) asked in a rather shocked tone if she was asking the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) to get some water for her.
She said, "Why not? I have served him often." He fetched the water for her and offered it to her in a very respectful manner.

Anas bin Malik (r.a) narrated that he would sometimes visit Umm Aiman (r.a) with the Prophet (s.a.w). She would express great pleasure on their arrival and serve delicious food and drinks. If the Prophet (s.a.w) refused to partake of it for some reason, she would be very angry and offended. She would ask him why he did not eat or drink. The Prophet (s.a.w) would smile at her getting upset in this manner. Sometimes it would so happen that he was fasting.
Anas bin Malik (r.a) said that one day, she started kneading dough to make some bread. He asked her what she was doing. She answered she was making some bread for him as was the custom in her country, Ethiopia. Usamah (r.a), resembled his mother rather than his father. So the hypocrites used to taunt him, saying that he was not really the son of Zaid bin Harithah (r.a). This used to upset the Prophet (s.a.w) very much. Aishah (r.a) said that once, the Prophet (s.a.w) entered the house looking very happy and smiling. She asked him if there was any special reason for this. He answered that something strange had happened. He said Zaid bin Harithah and Usamah bin Zaid (r.a) were lying asleep with their faces covered, but their feet could be seen from under the sheet. Majzaz Madalji, and expert in physiognomy saw the sleeping and said, "Looking at the bone structure of the feet: It seems that father and son are sleeping." The Prophet (s.a.w) said he was very pleased to hear this.

Some miracles associated with Umm Aiman (r.a) are to be found in books of history. In Tabqat Ibn Sa'd it is mentioned that during her migration from Makkah to Al-Madinah, she experienced such severe thirst that she thought she would die. There were no signs of water in the vicinity. Suddenly she saw a bowl of water tied with an extremely beautiful pure white rope, descending gradually towards her from the sky. It came near her face and stopped. She put her lips to it and drank her fill to her heart's content. This cool water from the heavens was enough to ward off hunger, thirst and disease for the rest of her life. After that, she says she never experienced thirst for the rest of her life. Though she fasted during the hottest months possible she never experienced a desire for water. Abu Nuلym Asbahani, a noted biographer and historian, had mentioned this incident in his book Hiliyat-ul-Awlia'. He says umm Aiman (r.a) was a God-fearing, pious woman of pure character who fasted during the day and spent her nights in prayer.

Under the guidance of the Prophet (s.a.w) she played an active role in Jihad. She was active in various battles. In the battle of Uhud she gave herself up completely to nursing the wounded and providing water to the thirsty Mujahideen in the battlefield. In the battle of Khaiber she was one of the twenty women who fought against the enemy. When her son did not take part in this war because his horse was sick she called him a coward.
A devotee of the Prophet (s.a.w) and a poet of Islam, Hassan bin Thabit (r.a) wrote poetry on this occasion, and elaborated on this point. The horse of Aiman (r.a) had eaten poisoned grain and he could not take part in the battle because he had to tend to it.

In the battle of Hunain this same courageous and fearless warrior Aiman (r.a) was martyred proving his valor as a warrior of Islam. When the Muslim army was losing ground a few of the Companions –Abu Bakr Siddique, Umar Farooq, Ali bin Abi Talib, Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib, Abu Sufyan, Harithah bin Nu'man, Usamah bin Zaid and Aiman bin Obaid (r.a) were those noteworthy Companions who stood their ground with the Prophet (s.a.w). They did not falter and displayed unmatched loyalty and bravery.

During the battle of Hunain the Muslim army faced a very critical situation, the army panicked and scattered and the Mujahideen were on the verge of running away from the battlefield. It seemed that the earth that was spread out so wide was now closing in on them. At this stage when all seemed lost, the Prophet (s.a.w) displayed extraordinary courage and said –

'I am the Prophet no lie.
I am the son of Abdul Muttalib.'

He meant that he was standing steadfast in the field of the battle and at that critical stage it was no trivial matter.
Umm Aiman lost her son Aiman (r.a) in this battle, but she was a role model in patience and acceptance of the Will of Allah.

During the battle of Mu'tah, Zaid bin Harithah (r.a) was appointed General of the Muslim army. The Prophet (s.a.w) said if Zaid bin Harithah (r.a) was martyred, then Jafar bin Ali Talib (r.a) should be made General. If he was also martyred, then Adbullah bin Rawahah should take his place, and if he was martyred then the Mujahideen should choose anyone they thought suitable. And it was Allah's Will that all three of them were martyred one by one. Umm Aiman (r.a) bore the loss of her husband with great fortitude and asked her son, Usamah too to bear the loss of his father bravely.

Umm Aiman (r.a) sometimes pronounced some words in the Ethiopian dialect. When the Prophet (s.a.w) heard her pronounciation of certain words he would just smile pleasantly and correct her. She would not say Assalam-u-Alaikum and would invariably say Assalam la Alaikum. He told her gently one day to just say Salam, as the meaning became the opposite the way she said it. In the same way she mispronounced certain expressions in supplications to Allah (s.w.t); so he told her to keep silent.

She was a very straightforward person with absolutely no malice; she was very soft-hearted, sincere and sympathetic. On returning from the Battle of Bani Mustalaq when the hypocrites spread slanderous gossip regarding the character of Aishah (r.a), she vouched unhesitatingly for the purity of her character. This endeared her and increased her worth in the eyes of Aishah (r.a). It is recorded in history books that Aishah (r.a) said about Umm Aiman (r.a), "My eyes and my ears have the best impressions about her."

The Prophet (s.a.w) prepared an army to crush the power and might of the Romans in Palestine; Usamah bin Zaid bin Harithah (r.a) was appointed General of the army. Such Companions as Abu Bakr Siddique and Umar Farooq (r.a) were also asked to serve under him. Some of the Mujahideen were not happy with his appointment. But the Prophet (s.a.w) remained very firm about his decision and said that Usamah bin Zaid (r.a) would retain that position he deserved. He sent for Usamah bin Zaid (r.a) and told him to start his journey in the Name of Allah. The army had hardly reached Jaraf near Al-Madinah when Umm Aiman (r.a) sent a messenger to say that the Prophet (s.a.w) was very ill. The army stopped and camped at Jaraf. When Usamah (r.a) reached Al-Madinah, the Prophet (s.a.w) passed away. It seemed that Umm Aiman could not withstand this sorrow.

Involuntarily, plunged in grief, she burst into tears. The people there were taken by total surprise; they had never heard anything like it before. She had nurtured him in his childhood and held him in her arms; she had seen him grow into a fine young man – a young man who wore then wore the mantle of the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w). She witnessed him as a young bridegroom, when he wed Khadijah (r.a). She also underwent the tortures and cruelties inflicted by the Quraish and the polytheists of Makkah against him and the new converts. She experienced the days when Makkah was like the Final Day of Judgement. She saw those historic days when he ruled over the newly founded Muslim Islamic state. And best of all she saw the miraculous revelations of Allah's radiance. All the golden pages of his life seemed to pass before her eyes.

A few days after the death of the Prophet (s.a.w) Abu Bakr Siddique and Umar Farooq (r.a) went to visit Umm Aiman (r.a) to console with her. She started to cry remembering the Prophet (s.a.w). They asked her why she was crying though she knew very well that he was in a far better world than this one with Allah (SWT). She said that although she indeed knew this, she was crying because the revelations from Allah (SWT) had come to an end with his passing away. Hearing this they also started weeping.

One day Mu'awiyah bin Sufyan talking to Usamah bin Zaid (r.a) praised his mother highly. Zaid (r.a) agreed saying that she was more blessed than even his mother, Hind. Mu'awiyah bin Sufyan (r.a) accepted the truth of this statement and said he was right. Then he said Allah (s.w.t) also said so and quoted the following Ayah:
"Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is the most pious among you." (49:13)

She had looked after the Prophet (s.a.w) from his childhood and given him a mother's love and care after Aminah bint Wahab's death. The Prophet (s.a.w) loved and regarded her highly; his Companions also treated her with great respect.
Sahih Muslim records that Umm Aiman (r.a) died just six months after the passing away of the Prophet (s.a.w). But some others disagree and say that she died during the caliphate of Uthman bin Affan (r.a). She lived to a ripe old age.