Umm Aiman By: Naflah Mohammed

Introduction Barakah ( Umm Aiman ) was the servant and caretaker of the Prophet Muhammad ( pbuh). She was the one woman who knew Rasulullah (pbuh) better than anyone else. She lived close to him throughout the Prophet (pbuh)’s years of growth, study struggle, torture, immigration, and revelation. Barakah gave her life, as a mother would have, for the Messenger of Allah.

cHildhood/ Teenage years Barakah’s parents were from Abyssinia, Africa. She had been sold as a slave in the slave market of Makkah. As a young girl she became the property of Abd al Muttalib, and when his son, Abdullah married Aminah, Barakah became Aminah’s helper. When Abdullah died soon after the marriage on a business and trading trip, Barakah became the property of Aminah. Barakah, then a teenager, cared for Aminah during her pregnancy and was present for the birth of her son, Muhammad (pbuh). When muhammad was sent to live with Halimah, Barakah did not see him often until he returned to Makkah at the age of four. When the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) was six, Barakah accompanied him and Aminah to Madinah to visit some relatives. On the way back, Aminah fell ill, and died at Abwa, near Madinah, leaving Barakah in possession of her son. Barakah prepared for the journey to Makkah and began the trip home with some travellers. She and Muhammad went to Abd al Mutallib’s home, and Abu Muttalib took both of them into his household.

Marriage When the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) married Khadijah, he set Barakah free and arranged a marriage for her, thinking that she must want a life of her own. Her first husband was named Ubaid ibn Zaid, and he was from the Khazraj tribe of Madinah. The couple moved away from everything Barakah ever knew. She was gone for a few years until her husband died or divorced her, and she moved back to Makkah with her young son, Aiman, and moved back into the Household of the Prophet. Muhammad (pbuh) was glad to have her back. In the 3rd or 4th year of the revelation, Barakah had to deliver an important message from Khadijah to her husband, Muhammad who was in the house of Arqam meeting with the other Muslims. Barakah delivered the message, and when she left, Rasulullah said “ He that would marry a woman of the people of Paradise, let him marry Umm Aiman.” Zaid ibn Harith, who was present, took that remark to heart, and he married Barakah . they had a son, Usamah, who the prophet treated as a grandson.

Adulthood Barakah was one of the first to believe Rasulullah, and was one of the first Muslims. When the Message became public, Barakah was one of the first to endure the torture, shunning, insults, and torments that followed the Makkan Muslims. The years that followed the Revelation were wonderful because of the Revelation and its teachings and terrible because of the torments and hardships. The worst time was when Khadijah died.Barakah was present at that event, including the time when The Prophet left Makkah and migrated to Madinah, the time when the Prophet’s daughter, Fatimah, was married to Ali, and the time when Rasulullah’s daughter, Zainab, died. Her son, Usamah was so beloved to Rasulullah that he was often found at Rasulullah’s house or next to him at the Masjid. When the lie was circulated that Aishah was unfaithful to Rasulullah, Usamah and Umm Aiman protested against it, saying “This is all a lie. We know nothing but good of her.” Umm Aiman’s faith in Rasulullah and his family was secure and strong.

battles Umm Aiman was always one of the Muslim women to be found at the battles. The women usually didn’t fight unless the situation demanded it, but they were an immense help, tending to the wounded and the sick, collecting arrows, and bringing water to the warriors. Umm Aiman attended the battles of both Uhud and Khaibar. In the Battle of Uhud, the women were commanded to stay in the city, but as soon as the battle was over, they came to help the wounded. Umm Aiman, Saffiyah, and Aishah were among the first out on the battlefield. In the Battle of Khaibar, Umm Aiman treated the many arrow wounds from the high fortresses of the Jews, who shot arrows on the Muslims.

Rasulullah’s Death Before the time of Rasulullah’s death, the Prophet ordered Usamah to lead a large army to the North to confront some rebellious tribes and to open a way for the Muslims to enter Syria. When the army was getting ready to leave, Rasulullah became so ill that the army did not want to leave,so they camped out just outside the city. Umm Aiman stayed with him constantly,nursing him in his illness as she did when he was a child. She sent messages to her son, Usamah, about his condition. When it was clear the prophet was dying, she sent word to Usamah, and Usamah ordered the army to return, where he found his mother and the entire city in grief.

May Allah reward this woman who gave her whole life, as a real mother would have, to the Prophet (pbuh).