1. Umm Amarah (Naseeba Bint Ka'ab) Female Soldier of the Muslim Army

2. Umm Amarah was of the Ansar of Medina
Umm Amarah was of the Ansar of Medina. Her tribe was the famous Banu Najjar which was the maternal tribe of the Prophet's grandfather
For the record, this is the same tribe from which the Milhan sisters were from which was how the prophet was Mahram to them through breast feeding
The Ansar in Madinah who converted to Islam by the teachings of Mus'ab bin 'Umair went to a particular mountain pass to pledge allegiance to the Prophet for the second time. There were about seventy-two men and two women. One of the women was Umm Amarah.
When Umm 'Umarah returned to Madinah after taking this oath of allegiance, she devoted herself to the education and training of women in accordance with the teachings of Islam.
So thus she became a Dayee (Caller/teacher) for women

3. It was later when Allah sent down the command allowing the Muslims to fight back against the Unbelievers, that Umm Amarah's role changed.
Umm 'Umarah was married the first time to Zaid bin 'Asim Al-Mazni. and she bore two sons by him named Abdullah and Habib.
She also had a brother named Abdullah bin Ka'ab. He was been killed during the battle of Badr.
She had married a second time a man named Ghaziya and it was when married to him that her role change began.
As stated earlier, she had lost her brother during the Battle of badr. Immediately after that battle, the Muslims received word of the Quraysh plan to attack again in order to seek revenge for their loss.
This battle became known as the Battle of Uhud; and Umm Amarah had set out for the battle with her husband, Ghaziya, and two sons. Her intention had been to give water to and help nurse the wounded.

4. She and her family arrived at the battle field during the beginning of the day. The Muslims had the upper hand at this point, so she went to see how the Prophet was doing
The Quraysh began to leave the battle field and this is when the Muslim's made the fatal mistake of thinking the battle to be over and thus they abandoned their posts on the hill for the spoils of war.
Umm Amarah who had finally found the prophet and was making her way over to him saw the others fleeing thus leaving the prophet alone and unprotected on the battle field.
Umm Amarah shouted to her husband and sons, and then immediately ran to the defense of the prophet. Her sons and husband too came; and the three of them surrounded the prophet to prevent the enemies from attacking him.
Sure enough, the Quraysh had seen the prophet exposed and were making their way to him.

5. Umm Amarah saw the men advancing on horses and picked up a sword and held it in one hand but she had no sheild
The Prophet too saw the Quraysh advancing towards them on horse back so he yelled to one of the Muslims who was running to get the spoils, “Give your sheild to the one who stands to fight!”
Umm Amarah took the sheild from the man just as the horseman approached and she pulled the bridle of the man's horse to turn it around and plunged her sword into its back. The wounded horse fell, taking the rider with him.
Seeing this, the Prophet called out to 'Abdullah, Umm Amarah's son, to help his mother. And together she and her son finished off the enemy soldier.
During the attack, Abdullah was injured and bleeding profusely. Umm Amarah ran to him and bandaged his wounds, and then commanded him,
"Go and fight the people, my son!"

6. After bandaging her son Umm Amrah looked to the prophet and saw him warding off more attackers. She and her son Abdullah ran back onto the field to protect the prophet.
Another horseman was advancing. As the horse came closer, Abdullah picked up a rock and threw it at the horses eye. The horse fell to the ground somersaulting. He threw another heavy stone and hit the rider in the head thus killing him.
The Prophet looked pleased, and then he noticed that Umm 'Umarah was bleeding from the shoulder; he asked 'Abdullah to bandage his mother's wound and said that they were a truly great family. The prophet then invoked Allah's blessings on them, and prayed that they should be his friends in Paradise as well.
Both Umm 'Umarah and 'Abdullah were overjoyed when they heard these words from the lips of the Prophet . His words inspired them to fight harder.

7. After bandaging his mothers sholder, both Abdullah and his mother returned back onto the battle field. At this point other's including Abu Bakr and Ali had come to the aid of the Prophet
Abdullah remained close to the Prophet fighting until an ememy sliced his left arm. The Prophet went to help the boy as the blood flowed heavily from him. Umm Amarah ran back over to her son and bandaged his arm.
“Keep fighting my beloved boy,” she said as she helped him to stand.
The prophet smiled at Umm Amarah and said, “Oh Umm Amarah, From where can anyone get courage like you?”
He said this because what other mother would encourage her son to keep fighting knowing that he was bleeding to death. Only a woman with strong faith and courage would.

8. Umm Amarah went back onto the battle field and stood directly in front of the Prophet holding her sword.
Suddenly, the man who had struck her son advanced, and the Prophet called out, "Umm Amarah, Umm Amarah, This is the one who struck your son."
She bravely confronted the man, who her very son described as being like a great tree trunk, and swung her sword at his leg thus dropping him to his knees. The Prophet smiled so much his teeth became visible, and said, "You have received your revenge, Umm 'Umara!".
At that point some of the other companions who had joined in protecting the prophet fell upon the man and finished him off. The prophet then raised his hands and said,
"Praise be to Allah who has given you Umm Amarah, victory and delighted you over your enemy and let you enjoy your revenge directly."

9. Right after that, one of the Quraysh leaders known as Ibn Qumaya charged at the prophet saying “Show me Muhammad!”
Umm Amarah was one of the first to run to attack him before he could find the prophet. Ibn Qumay'a managed to strike a blow at her neck, leaving a serious wound. The Prophet saw her hit and quickly called to her son:
"Your mother! Your mother! Bind her wound! May Allah bless you, the people of a house! The stand of your mother is better than the stand of so-and-so. May Allah have mercy on you, people of a house! The stand of your foster father is better than the stand of so-and-so. May Allah have mercy on you, people of a house!"
Feeling faint from the wound, Umm Amarah said to the Prophet, “Oh Prophet of Allah. Ask Allah to make us be amongst you in paradise.”
The prophet then raised his hands and said, “Oh Allah, make Umm Amarah and her famliy be amongst me in Paradise.”

10. During this battle Umm Amarah sustained at least thirteen major wounds; the worst being the one to the neck. The wound was so severe that she passed out from it.
When she regained consciousness her first question was about the well being of the Prophet. When she learned her was fine she thanked allah. It wasn't until after hearing that the prophet was fine, before she then asked about her sons and husband.
This epic battle marked the beginning of a role change with Umm Amarah. She now became a soldier in the army of Allah. She fought as a soldier in every battle after this; including the Battle of Hunayn and the Conquest of Mecca.
She also fought in the battle against Musaylamah Al-Kadthab. She sustained eleven wounds during that battle and her arm was cut. Her son, Habib bin Zaid Ansari was killed in this battle, slain by Musaylamah himself.

11. In regards to her son Abdullah who fought so well during Uhud, he was martyred in the Battle of Hurrat. This war was fought in the year 63rd, after Hijrah, on stony black ground (Harrah) to the east of Al-Madinah.
After the battle of Uhud when the Muslim troops returned to Madinah under the leadership of the Prophet, he announced that they should get ready to march to a place called, Hamra' Al-Asad, to chase the pagans.
After resting just one night Umm 'Umarah also came out the next morning to join the fighters; despire her injuries. The prophet told her that she was too injured to partake in this battle and made duaa for her and asked her to sit this one out and heal. Regretfully she obeyed.
As soon as the Prophet returned from this mission, the first thing he did was ask of her welfare. When he heard that her wounds were healing he breathed a sigh of relief and thanked Allah for His Divine Mercy.

12. Umm Amarah along with some other women also took part in the battle against the jews of Quraytha. The prophet gave them part of the spoils.
This was important because it marked the ruling that women who participate in battle can receive a portion of the spoils of war just as men.
She also took part in the battle of Khaybar and it was during the battle of hunayn that a man rode into the Muslim camp carrying the banner of the enemy. Umm Amarah hit the camel from the back so violently that it fell taking the rider with it. Umm Amarah finished the man off.

13. Umm Amarah remained a soldier in the Muslim army even after the death of the prophet
During the caliphate of Abu Bakr, he sent the army to meet the challenge of the army of Musaylamah, the one who killed her other son Habib. Umm Umarah was around 60 years old now, and and her son 'Abdullah bin Zaid was also with her. In fact it was he who finally killed this man.
During this battle against Musaylamah, Umm Amarah's arm was cut off. Khalid bin Walid the General of the army boiled some oil and immersed her arm in it to cure her wound; but for Umm 'Umarah her happiness at hearing the death of Musaylamah, rather than her arm.

14. Umm Amarah served as a soldier during the Caliphate of Umar too.
Once some beautiful and exclusive sheets were sent to him. One of these sheets was exceptionally beautiful and large as well. Some of the companions suggested that it should be sent as a gift to Safiyyah bin 'Ubayd, the wife of 'Abdullah bin 'Umar, his daughter in law. But 'Umar bin Khattab said,
“This is something which I will not give to her. I will send it to someone who is more entitled to it than her. I will send it to Umm Amara Nasiba bint Ka'b; for on the day of Uhud, I heard the Messenger of Allah say, 'Whenever I looked to the right or left I saw her fighting in front of me'."

15. Umm Amarah was highly loved and respected by all the companions
Umm Amarah was highly loved and respected by all the companions. She was an advocate for equality amongst women. In fact she was the one who went to the prophet and asked why does allah mention reward for good works concerning men but he makes no mention of the reward for women.
The Prophet remained silent for a few minutes and then Allah sent down the following revelation:
"Verily, the Muslims men and women, the believers men and women, the men and the women who are obedient (to Allah), the men and women who are truthful, the men and the women who are patient, the men and the women who are humble, the men and the women who give Sadaqat (i.e. Zakah and alms), the men and the women who observe fast, the men and the women who guard their chastity (from illegal sexual acts) and the men and the women who remember Allah much with their hearts and tongues, Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise)." [Noble Quran 33:35]
Umm Amarah gave takbir in thanks.

16. Umm Amarah continued to fight as a soldier of Allah even after losing her arm and despite her old age
Whenever the call to fight was announced she was first to come out with sword in hand.
She died during the Caliphate of Umar who led her prayer and is burried in Al Baqi with many of the other companions.