إجازة الشيخ أحمد بن محمد بن أحمد لبن بقراءة الإمام عاصم

موضوع: Umm Haani' and Nab'ah الأحد 25 ديسمبر 2016, 8:14 am

Umm Haani' and Nab'ah,
May Allaah be pleased with them

Umm Haani' is Fakhitah50 bint `Abu Taalib and `Ali's sister; while Nab`ah is her Abyssinian maid.

We are mentioning them together and in a single context because the Hadeeth about the Prophet's, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, night journey (Al-Israa’) on the 27th night of Rajab in the 11th year after his commission as a Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, revolved around both of them.

Al-Israa' is one of the most important and fundamental events in the course of Da`wah. It is an event that attracts the attention of many among those whom Allaah endowed with knowledge and understanding and who derived lessons from it, either from the event itself or from what it entails and its consequences.

It is true that there are many narrations concerning Al-Israa' from a number of companions among whom are: Anas ibn Maalik, Buraydah ibn Al-Khaseeb Al-Aslami, Jaabir ibn `Abdullaah, Hudhayfah ibn al-Yamaan, Abu Sa`eed Al-Khudri, Shaddaad ibn Aws, `Abdullaah ibn `Abbaas, `Abdullaah ibn Mas`ood, `Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, Abu Hurayrah and `Aa'ishah, mother of the faithful, may Allaah be pleased with them. However, the narration of Umm Haani' has many chains, though there are slight differences in their wording.

This is in addition to the fact that the one who narrated it is Muhammad ibn Ishaaq Al-Muttalibi, the leading scholar in the writing of Seerah and whom Ibn Hishaam, Ibn Katheer and others quoted. He is an authority in this field.

Also none of the contemporaries of Umm Haani’ among the companions or their followers disputed her narration.

As for Nab`ah, the Abyssinian maid-servant of Umm Haani’, may Allaah be pleased with her, she was the link and a trusted source of the narration.

In Al-Isaabah, Ibn Hajar said about her:
50 Some say that her name is Faatimah. But Faakhitah is more popular according to Ibn Hajar.

"Nab`ah is the Abyssinian maid-servant of Umm Haani’, may Allaah be pleased with her.

Abu Moosa mentioned her in Adh-Dhayl. He mentioned through Al-Kalbi from Abu Saalih the freed-slave of Umm Haani’ bint `Abdul-Muttalib concerning the Prophet's, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, Israa’ that Umm Haani’ said: ‘The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was taken for the night journey while he was sleeping in my house on that night.

He performed the `Ishaa' prayer and then slept and we also slept. When it was just before Fajr prayer, we woke up for Fajr and we prayed behind him. He then told Umm Haani’, ‘Umm Haani’! I prayed `Ishaa' with you as you have seen, I then went to the Bayt Al Maqdis (in Jerusalem) and I prayed there. I then came back to pray Fajr with you'."'

When he was about to go out, Umm Haani’, may Allaah be pleased with her, took the edge of his garment, revealing thereby his belly that is white as a folded Egyptian fabric and told him, "O' Prophet of Allaah, do not tell people this, lest they disbelieve you and harm you."
But he said: "By Allaah, I will tell them."

I then told an Abyssinian maid-servant, known as Nab`ah, to follow him and listen to what he told people and the reply the people gave him.

When he went out informing people, they were surprised and said: "What is the sign for that, O' Muhammad?"

He (the narrator) then mentioned the remaining report in which there is a description of Bayt Al-Maqdis and the saying of Abu Bakr, "You have said the truth."

Ibn Haani’ proceeded, "I then heard the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, that day saying, `O' Abu Bakr, Allaah has named you As-Siddeeq (the truthful).' "

Ibn Hajar then comments, "This is more correct than Al-Kalbi's report. For there is in Al-Kalbi's report that the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, prayed `Ishaa' and Fajr with them, while the prayers were only ordained during the ascension to the heaven (in the night of Israa’). Also the report that he slept at Umm Haani’s house is not correct. What is correct is that he slept in the mosque."51
51 Al-Isaabah vol. 4, pp. 403-404.

Umm Haani’ was married to Hubayrah ibn `Amr of Banu Makhzoom clan by her father.

She embraced Islam, believed in Allaah and His Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, and followed him. But her husband remained upon his polytheism. So she stayed with her husband and children and did not migrate.

On the day of the conquest of Makkah, one of the polytheists escaped to her house seeking her protection and fearing for his life. `Ali ibn Abu Taalib, may Allaah be pleased with him, who was her brother followed this refugee to her house. But Umm Haani’, may Allaah be pleased with her, stood in his face, preventing him from hurting the man. This caused an argument between her and `Ali, may Allaah be pleased with him, that almost resulted in a fight.

The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, then arrived. When he heard her statement, he honoured her right of giving protection and said: "We have given protection to those you have given protection to, Umm Haani’." She then felt relieved.

The above should be enough about Umm Haani’.

As for Nab`ah, there is another aspect in her life regarding the report about the Prophet's, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, night journey. It is important to mention that she had a comprehending heart, open ears and a preserving memory. She sincerely and honestly narrated the conversation that took place between the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, and a group from the Quraysh.