إجازة الشيخ أحمد بن محمد بن أحمد لبن بقراءة الإمام عاصم

Juwayriyah bint Al-Haarith

may Allaah be pleased with her
mother of the faithful
=================
Mother of the faithful `Aa’ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, said: "I did not know a woman who brought greater blessing to her people more than Juwayriyah."

Juwayriyah is a diminutive form of Jaariyah.

Diminutive form in Arabic language has two opposing purposes. It can be used to as an expression of praise, commendation and showing love. It can also be used to disdain or derogate.

As for Juwayriyah, may Allaah be pleased with her, it was the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, who named her so. For her name was Barrah: the name her father gave her. The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, then changed her name from Barrah to Juwayriyah.

Changing names of his companions is a known habit of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, whether it is a male or a female's name. He did this in order to let his companions shun all that was related to the time of ignorance.

As to why he changed the name of a number of female Muslims from `Barrah', there are different opinions in this regard, some of these related to the individuals and some related to the meaning.

The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, disliked that a man should praise himself, for the name `Barrah' is derived from birr which means righteousness. How then can a person claim to be righteous and strut about with that name?

He also disliked that one should say: He just left the house of `Barrah' (which means: a righteous woman).

Juwayriyah, may Allaah be pleased with her, was the daughter of the chief of Banu Al-Mustaliq, Al-Haarith ibn Abu Diraar. She was married to Maani` ibn Safwaan, one of their leaders and most influential men.

Banu Al-Mustaliq is one of the tribes that waged war against Islam wanting to extinguish the light of Allaah with their mouths and hands and stubbornly remaining upon their state of ignorance and paganism.

They massed up weapons and prepared to attack Madeenah.

The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, given the capabilities and extraordinary leadership qualities he was endowed with, had appointed highly qualified men among his companions to monitor the movement of the enemy so that he could accurately estimate the situations and draw out plans. We are not saying this randomly.

All his battles rather testified to this. Even his directives to his commanders under whom he sent contingencies to different directions corroborate that.48

So Banu Al-Mustaliq's intention and preparations were known through one of the Prophet's, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, intelligence sources.

As an experienced commander, he decided to launch a sudden attack on them and arrived at their place near a well called Al-Muraysee`.

There he attacked them and put an end to their hopes and dreams.

Dear reader, it is from here that Juwayriyah, may Allaah be pleased with her, entered the company of the women around the Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam. And it is from here she attained the great honour and the title: `mother of the faithful'.

The mother of the faithful `Aa’ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, speaks about that day:
"The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, took the women of Banu Al-Mustaliq as captives. He took out the one fifth of them and divided the remaining ones among his companions giving the cavalry soldier two shares and the infantry soldier a share.
48 The reader may read the book, Muhammad, the Commander, by Major General Mahmood Sheeth.

Juwayriyah fell into the share of Thaabit ibn Qays Al-Ansaari. She was formerly married to a cousin of hers known as Maani` ibn Safwaan ibn Maalik ibn Judhaymah, who is also known as Dhu Ash-Shafrah. She was bereaved of him.

She then agreed with Thaabit ibn Qays to buy her freedom with nine Ooqiyah."

`Aa’ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, describes her saying, "She was a pleasant woman. No one saw her except he became captivated by her. While the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, was when suddenly Juwayriyah, may Allaah be pleased with her, entered asking him concerning her ransom agreement (with Thaabit).

By Allaah, as soon as I saw her, I disliked her entering the place of Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, for I knew that he would see what I saw in her.

She then started addressing the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, `O' Messenger of Allaah! I am Juwayriyah bint Al-Haarith the leader of his people. You are not oblivious of what had happened to me. So I fell in the share of Thaabit ibn Qays and I agreed with him to ransom myself with nine Ooqiyah. So help me to free myself.'

The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, replied, `Do you want what is better than that?'

She said: `What is it?'

The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: `I will pay on your behalf and then marry you.

She said: `Yes, O' Messenger of Allaah.'

The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, then said: `I have done that."'

This event leads us to a brief discussion about some of the Prophet's, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, marriages so that some among us might not fall victims to misconceptions, scorning or mocking stirred by the orientalist and occidentalist, enemies of Islam and the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam.

Through these misconceptions, the enemies had created a crevice in the hearts and minds of the people. They mock and attack Islam, its Prophet and the Muslims. May Allaah destroy them; why are they deluded?

The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, was, in all his marriages, an excellent example of human attitude and inclination. He has more right to the Muslims than they have to their own selves.

His desire for any woman was only in accordance with the natural inclination that Allaah created in him as human being, though that desire was not the dominating factor in his marriages.

There are many harmonious evidences for this since his first marriage. He consummated his first marriage with Khadeejah, may Allaah be pleased with her, while he was in the prime of his youthfulness, active and energetic, while Khadeejah, may Allaah be pleased with her, was forty years old and close to menopause.

Then he married Sawdah, may Allaah be pleased with her, the rather overweight woman. She was, however, one of the earliest Muslims and immigrants. She was also one of the believing women who devotedly worshipped and emigrated for the cause of Allaah. It was then necessary to console her.

The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, then married `Aa’ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her.

The command to marry her came from the heaven. He then proposed marriage to her, and he did not consummate his marriage with her until after more than two years of contracting the marriage when her father, Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, reminded him.

It should be recalled that there was a strong relationship between the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, and Abu Bakr's, may Allaah be pleased with him, household generally and between him and Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, himself particularly.

Strengthening relationship is a necessity if the ties are to be kept alive, especially in a tribal society that was still impacted with clan inclinations. This was to help the cause of Islamic propagation and foster harmony among its elements and its supporters.

The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, caused a crack in the Umayyad household when he successively married his two daughters, Ruqayyah and Umm Kulthoom to `Uthmaan, may Allaah be pleased with them, who was one of the leading Umayyads in status, wealth and influence.

Consider also, his marriage to Umm Habeebah, may Allaah be pleased with her, who was in her loneliness, widowhood, emigrations, tribulation and patience. She was a daughter of Abu Sufiyaan the heir to the Quraysh leadership in politics and war and the chief of Banu Umayyah. We have already mentioned the statement he made when he heard of the Prophet's, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, marriage proposal to his daughter, and his acknowledgment of the Prophet's, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, farsightedness and wisdom.

Giving solace is a human tendency and strengthening relationships is one of the necessities of promoting the cause of Islam.

These two are some of the major factors in his marriages.

As regards sexual passion with which the misguided ones and the slanderers accuse him, the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, had, in his human life, no more than what he was naturally endowed with.

Let us now go back to our discussion on Juwayriyah and her being around the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam.

The first statement she uttered was, "O' Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam!"

This statement alone is enough to indicate her Islam.

She then added, "I am Juwayriyah, the daughter of Al-Haarith who is the leader of his people and I have been affected with something (captivity) that is known to you.

For, I fell into the share of Thaabit ibn Qays and I agreed with him to ransom myself with nine Ooqiyah. So help me to free myself."

Then she had embraced Islam though she was the daughter of her people's leader and she came to the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, seeking his help. She then needed to be put in her correct and rightful place.

The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, then told her, "Do you want what is better than that?"

She asked, "What is it?"

The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: "I will pay your ransom on your behalf and will then marry you."

She said: "Yes, O' Messenger of Allaah."

The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, then said: "I have done that.”

She came to the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, seeking for what was good but she got what was better and greater.

There is no doubt that this action of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, had left its impacts and far-reaching effects on her heart and in the hearts of her family and, by extension, her tribe.

`Aa’ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, said: "Then the news of the marriage came to the people and started saying, `Will the Prophet's, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, in-laws be held as captives?!!' Then the people freed all the captives that were with them of the tribe of Banu Al-Mustaliq, and the number of those freed reached one hundred households because of the Prophet's, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, marriage to Juwayriyah."

`Aa’ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, added, "I knew of no other woman who brought greater blessing to her people than Juwayriyah. And that was when the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was returning from the Battle of Muraysee`."

Juwayriyah was, at the beginning of her Islam, the source of good and blessing. And this was her first credit.

She had another credit that lies in her excellence adherence to the teachings of Islam the truthfulness of her Eemaan. This has to be so because she was in the household of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, and in a place where Allaah's clear verses were being revealed to the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam.

Ibn `Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that Juwayriyah's name was `Barrah', so the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, named her Juwayriyah. He then said: "The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, prayed Fajr prayer and then left her apartment. He stayed out until forenoon and then came while she was still at her place of prayer. She told him, `I have remained here ever since you left.'

The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, thereupon told her, `I have recited four words three times after I left you and if these are to be weighed against what you have recited since morning these would outweigh them and (these words) are, `Praise be to Allaah according to the number of His creation and according to the pleasure of His Self and according to the weight of His Throne and according to the ink (used in recording) words (for His Praise)'."

In addition to her great piety and deep worship, she was also a treasure of the noble traditions of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, which she narrated from him.

Abu Ayyoob Al-`Atakee narrated from Juwayriyah who said that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, visited her on a Friday while she was fasting.

He asked her, "Did you fast yesterday?" She said: "No." He said: "Are you going to fast tomorrow?" She said: "No." Thereupon he said: "Then, break your fast."

There are other Ahaadeeth like this from which Islamic legal ruling are derived, either in acts of worship or in human interactions, which the erudite scholars regard as important and fundamental sources.

Even the issue of coitus interruptus49 which is a subject of wide controversy where some scholars support it and some oppose it; it was a product of the Battle of Banu Al-Mustaliq of which Juwayriyah was one of its major personalities.

Bukhaari and Muslim, may Allaah have mercy upon them, reported on the authority of Abu Sa`eed Al-Khudri who said: "We went out with Allaah's Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, for the Campaign of Banu Al-Mustaliq and we received captives from among the Arab captives and we desired women and celibacy became hard on us and we loved to do coitus interruptus.

So when we intended to do coitus interrupt us, we said: `How can we do coitus interruptus before asking Allaah's Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, who is present among us?' We asked (him) about it and he said: `It is better for you not to do so, for if any soul (till the Day of Resurrection) is predestined to exist, it will exist."'

49 An act of sexual intercourse in which the man removes his penis from the woman's body before he ejaculates in order to prevent the woman from being pregnant. (Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary)

The Prophet's statement, "If any soul (till the Day of Resurrection) is predestined to exist, it will exist", means: whether you practice coitus interruptus or not, is useless. For, some sperms may sneak in before the withdrawal and conception takes place or the ejaculation may take place inside the woman's body and yet causes no pregnancy. The fact that this event took place during the battle of Banu Al-Mustaliq is the correct opinion.

There is another point in which the Prophet's, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, greatness vividly shows, through his prophethood and messengership:

Juwayriyah's father, Al-Haarith ibn Abee Diraar knew of his daughter's movement from the possession of Thaabit ibn Qays to the house of Muhammad, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, and that she had become the Prophet's wife.

He then decided to come to Madeenah to ransom her with one hundred camels, hoping that the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, will accept that from him.

When he came close to Madeenah, he looked at his camels scrutinizing them, and he saw two camels that impressed him. He made up his mind to put them aside so that they would not be among the ransom camels. So he set them aside, tied them up in a safe place and assigned some guards from his company to watch over them.

He then entered to meet the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, while he was in the mosque and greeted him. He then begged him to accept the ransom and give his daughter back to him.

The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, welcomed him and asked him with a smile, "What about the two camels you set aside and tied up in so and so place?"

The man suddenly became speechless and was visibly amazed. His tongue was unable to tell lie.

He then spoke the following words:
"I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah and that you, Muhammad are a Messenger of Allaah! By Allaah! No one knows of this matter except Allaah alone."

Following Al-Haarith's Islam, all members of Banu Al-Mustaliq tribe also embraced Islam when he returned to them and informed them about what happened and called them to Islam.

This is a manifestation of Allaah's blessing upon Juwayriyah and her tribe, through His Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam. It was also partly due to her stay with the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, among his household.

Juwayriyah lived till the 50th year of Hijrah.

She was said to have attained the age of sixty-five before she died.

The then governor of Madeenah, Marwaan ibn Al-Hakam performed the funeral prayer on her after which she was buried in al-Baqee`.

May Allaah be pleased with her and please her!

May He also honour her abode and the place of rest!

» Zaynab bint Khuzaymah,
» Asmaa' bint Abu Bakr
» Asmaa' bint 'Umays
» Umm Kulthoom bint 'Uqbah59
» Umm Sulaym bint Milhaan