إجازة الشيخ أحمد بن محمد بن أحمد لبن بقراءة الإمام عاصم

Safiyah bint Huyay ibn Akhtab,
may Allaah be pleased with her,
mother of the faithful
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The circumstances that made Safiyah, may Allaah be pleased with her, one of the mothers of the faithful are very important. They are strongly related to the movement of the historical course of the Da`wah of Islam.

Therefore, we need to discuss these circumstances and glorify them without any boring elaborations or faulty details.

Her father Huyay ibn Akhtab was, for Islam and the Muslims, one of the most maliciously and treacherously dangerous Jewish leaders in Madeenah. He was the leader of Banu Nadeer, one of the three biggest Jewish tribes that were living in Madeenah. These tribes had their distinctive districts and fortresses. Other two major tribes are Banu Qaynuqaa` and Banu Quraydhah.

The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, when he arrived at Madeenah on his Hijrah and started organizing the new society, had entered into pacts and treaties with the Jews, doing so separately with each Jewish clan.

But since the Jews are naturally treacherous, it was not long before they broke the treaties.

Banu Qaynuqaa` was the first to act treacherously, followed by Banu Nadeer.

The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, came to them one day along with a group of his companions seeking their help in paying the blood-money (Diyah) of two persons who were mistakenly killed. He did so because of the alliance that was between him and them. Outwardly, they welcomed him and they stood up for deliberations.

Their leader, Huyay ibn Akhtab then suggested that they should take the opportunity of Muhammad's, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, presence in their midst and the fewness of his companions that were with him to betray him and kill him. Most of them agreed on this suggestion and efforts were made to execute this evil plan.

It was here that angel Gabriel came to the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, and informed him of what was being planned against him. The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, then stood up quietly and left leaving behind, even, his companions.

The Jews of Banu Nadeer were taken by surprise that their evil plan had failed. As for his companions who were with him, they thought that he only left them to meet some of his needs. But when they noticed that he had been away for a long time, they traced him, and when they finally saw him he told them of what had happened.

As a punishment for their act of treachery, the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, commanded the Jews of Banu Nadeer to leave Madeenah, and he gave them a period within which they should do so. They refused to leave and rather fortified themselves in their forts. The leader of the hypocrites in Madeenah, `Abdullaah ibn Ubayy ibn Salool supported them and promised them help.

When the period of grace expired, the army of Islam, under the able leadership of Muhammad, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, besieged them and Ibn Ubayy, the hypocrite let them down and disappointed them. Then the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, forced them to evacuate Madeenah.24 So they went out of the city to Khaybar without anyone pitying them.

From here, Huyay ibn Akhtab went about spreading his malicious venoms anew and arousing the polytheists' anger against the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam; shuttling between Khaybar, Makkah and Madeenah.

These efforts of Huyay, culminated in the Battle of the Confederates, known otherwise as the Battle of the Trench. This was followed by the Battle of Banu Quraydhah who allied themselves with the polytheists and broke the treaties they made with the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam.

The presence of Huyay ibn Akhtab in the midst of Banu Quraydhah was coincidental with the time that the Muslims were in war with them.

So he was killed along with the fighters against whom Sa`d ibn Mu`aadh gave a judgment that they should be killed. They themselves appointed Sa`d as the arbitrator between them and the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, hoping that he would be lenient with them because he was their former ally. The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, told him, "You have indeed judged among them with the judgment of Allaah from above the seven heavens."

24 Allaah Says (what means), {He it is who drove out the disbelievers among the people of the Scripture [i.e. the Jews of the tribe of Bann an-Nadeer) from their homes at the first gathering. You did not think that they would get out. And they thought that their fortresses would defend them from Allaah! But Allaah's [Torment] reached them from a place whereof they expected it not, and He cast terror into their hearts, so that they destroyed their own dwellings with their own hands and the hands of the believers. Then take admonition, O' you with eyes [to see].

And had it not been that Allaah had decreed exile for them, He would certainly have punished them in this world, and in the Hereafter theirs shall be the torment of the Fire.} [Quran 59: 2-3]

In the light of the above, Khaybar, the source of problem and conspiracy against the Muslims had to be conquered. In spite of severe hardships from its many forts and powerful fighters, it eventually fell into the hands of the Muslims.

Safiyah bint Huyay, may Allaah be pleased with her, fell, as a captive, in the share of Dihyah ibn Khaleefah Al-Kalbi. But a number of the companions vied with one another for her; each of them wanted to have her for she was amazingly beautifully and she is the daughter of the king of Banu Nadeer and the wife of Khaybar chief, Kinaanah ibn Abu Al-Huqayq.

To put an end to this dispute, the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, chose her for himself and made it a condition upon her that she should accept Islam and be set free. She accepted. He positioned her at the rear and wore his garment on her. By this the competitors were calmed.25

The above were the circumstances that led Safiyah, may Allaah be pleased with her, to the household of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, as one of the mothers of the faithful. She had played roles in the personal life of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, and in the course of his calling people to Islam.

This gave her backgrounds worthy of being recorded for remembrance and lessons:
One:

When the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, commanded Bilaal, may Allaah be pleased with him, to bring her, he brought her in the company of a female cousin of hers.

Bilaal, may Allaah be pleased with him, made them pass by the killed Jews. When her cousin saw them she struck her face and screamed and heaped soil on her head. The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, heard her and he said: "Keep this female devil away from me."

He then rebuked Bilaal, may Allaah be pleased with him, "Was mercy removed from your heart that you make the women pass by their killed people?"

He was indeed absolutely the Prophet of mercy. You will never find his equal among humans until Allaah inherits the earth and all that is on it.

25. This incidence is reported by Bukhaari and Muslim on the authority of Anas ibn Maalik.

Two:

When the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, saw that Safiyah's, may Allaah be pleased with her, eyes were green, he asked her of the reason and she said: "When I was a bride for Kinaanah ibn Abu Al-Huqayq, I saw as if the sun descended upon my chest. I told my husband and he slapped me very hard and said: `Are you wishing to be the wife of the king of the Arabs?"'

This reminded us of Prophet Yoosuf's dream when he, may Allaah exalt his mention, said: {... Verily, I saw [in a dream] eleven stars and the sun and the moon — I saw them prostrating themselves to me.} [Quran 12: 4]
[They are] descendants, some of them from others.

On the other side, it confirmed the Jews' discussions in their secluded assemblies about the Prophethood of Muhammad, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, and that some of them believed in it. The story of `Abdullaah ibn Salaam's embrace of Islam is a vivid example in this regard.

Also, the symbolic fall of the sun upon Safiyah's, may Allaah be pleased with her, chest has its own indications. For, she has yearning, from the depth of her heart that is full of Eemaan, for the person of the Messenger of Allaah, Muhammad, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam.

Certainly, the life of Safiyah, may Allaah be pleased with her, in the household of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, and after the Prophet's, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, death confirmed the great love that she had for him and the depth of her faith in Allaah.

According to historical narrations:
"The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, did not leave Khaybar until Safiyah, may Allaah be pleased with her, was clean from menstruation. He carried her on a mount behind himself and when he arrived at a place, six miles from Khaybar, he wanted to consummate the marriage with her.

She refused, and that annoyed him. And when he arrived at Sahbaa', a place that is some miles26 from Khaybar, he halted and lodged with her there. Umm Sulaym, may Allaah be pleased with her, combed her hair and perfumed her.

26 The word used here is bareed. It is a distance of miles upon whose number the scholars differ.

Umm Sinaan Al-Aslamiyah said:
"Safiyah, may Allaah be pleased with her, was the fairest of all women. The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, consummated the marriage with his family.

In the morning, I asked her about what the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, told her and she said: `He asked me: what made you refuse to halt and lodge in the first place?' And I said: `I feared for you, for the Jews were near the place.” This answer increased her status in his estimation.

This is Safiyah, may Allaah be pleased with her, whose father was killed in captivity during the Battle of Banu Quraydhah, whose husband, Kinaanah ibn Abu Al-Huqayq was killed during the campaign of Khaybar and who have seen her people suffered massacres, and yet, fearing for the life of Muhammad, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, that the Jews might harm him?!

This is a stand and an event that need reflections. However deep we try to go to unravel the mystery of this stand of hers, we cannot come out but with only one result: It is the emanation of the light of faith that filled the nature and overwhelmed the emotion.

Safiyah, may Allaah be pleased with her, was the perfect example of this and the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, who is the leader of mankind testified to this.

Ibn Sa`d narrated on the authority of `Ataa ibn Yasaar, may Allaah be pleased with him, that he said: "When Safiyah, may Allaah be pleased with her, arrived from Khaybar, she lodged at a house belonging to Haarithah ibn An-Nu`maan.

The Ansaar women heard of that and they came looking at her beauty and `Aa'ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, also came wearing her face veil. When she came out, the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, asked her, `What did you see?' She said: `I saw a Jewish woman!!’ He then told her, `Do not say that. For, she has embraced Islam and practises it perfectly."'

The women's jealousy did not stop with `Aa'ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her.

Some of the Prophet's, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, wives were also jealous of her.

Ibn Sa`d narrated on the authority of `Aa'ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her: "That the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, was on a journey and a camel for Safiyah, may Allaah be pleased with her, became ill and Zaynab bint Jahsh, may Allaah be pleased with her, had an extra camel.

So the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, told her, `Safiyah's, may Allaah be pleased with her, camel is ill, can you please give her a camel?' But Zaynab, may Allaah be pleased with her, said: `Should I give (camel) to that Jewish woman?’ So the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, deserted her for Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, two or three months without coming to her. Zaynab, may Allaah be pleased with her, said: `Until I gave up all hope in him."'

It was also reported that the Prophet's, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, wives used to say many other things about her.

Her servant Kinaanah narrated that she (Safiyah) said:
"The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, entered my house while it had reached me that `Aa'ishah and Hafsah, may Allaah be pleased with them, used to say they were dearer to the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, than her and that they were his wives and cousins. When she mentioned that to the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, he told her, `You should have told them, `how could you be better than me while my husband is Muhammad, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, and my father is Haaroon and my uncle is Moosa?’"

Some of her most prominent qualities are intelligence, forbearance and nobility. A maid of her plotted against her in the presence of `Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, and informed him that she loved Saturday and that she was kind with the Jews.

`Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, sent for her and asked her about that. She said: "As for Saturday I no longer love it since Allaah have substituted it for me with Friday. As for the Jews, I still have kith and kin among them.
So I have to be kind to them."

Safiyah, may Allaah be pleased with her, knew that it was her maid who plotted against her and she asked her, "Why did you do this?" The maid said: "It was Satan." Safiyah, may Allaah be pleased with her, then told her, "Go, you are free."

I believed that Safiyah, may Allaah be pleased with her, freed her maid because she had said the truth and asserted that the cause of this plot was Satan. This act of Safiyah, may Allaah be pleased with her, is an indication of her forbearance and excellence.

Her intelligence and farsightedness also contributed to her freeing of the maid. For, this maid that had once succumbed to the temptations of Satan could do so once more or many times more. So keeping her away from such temptation through freeing her is a protection for her against it.

"She is truthful."
This is another testimony for Safiyah, may Allaah be pleased with her, from the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam. It was in fact, a testimony from the one who never talked out of his own desire.

Ibn Sa`d reported with a Hasan chain of transmitters on the authority of Zayd ibn Aslam, may Allaah be pleased with him, who said: "The Prophet's, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, wives gathered when the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, was in his sickness in which he died. Safiyah, may Allaah be pleased with her, said: `O' Prophet of Allaah! I wish I were suffering from that which you are suffering from!'

Upon hearing that, the Prophet's, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, other wives winked at one another. The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, commanded them, `Go and rinse your mouths.'

And they said: `From what?' He said: `Because of your wink at one another to mock her. By Allaah! She is truthful (in what she said)."'

Safiyah, may Allaah be pleased with her, lived as a mother of the believers, honoured and abundantly respected.

She died in the year 52 A.H. during the caliphate of Mu`aawiyah ibn Abu Sufiyaan, may Allaah be pleased with him. She memorized many Ahadeeth of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, and she narrated and people narrated from her, may Allaah be pleased with her!

» Safiyah bint 'Abdul-Muttalib
» Asmaa' bint 'Umays
» Aaminah bint Wahb
» Zaynab bint Khuzaymah,
» Juwayriyah bint Al-Haarith