Rasulullah SAW said:
"O Allah! Make this family
my friends in Paradise."
Umm 'Umarah RA was also an
Ansariyyah. She was from the famous Banu
Najjar tribe. Her two sons had been martyred and her brother 'Abdullah bin Ka'b
RA was a Companion of Rasulullah SAW in
the Battle of Badr. She was renowned for her courageous exploits in the
battlefields.
She was a faithful and loyal wife, and a loving mother, and had remarkable patience and forbearance. Also she was very learned in the Quran and Hadith. Her life makes pleasurable and instructive reading for the growth and development of one's faith.
The fortunate Ansar in Madinah Munawarah who converted to Islam by the teachings of
Mus'ab bin 'Umair RA went to a particular mountain pass to pledge allegiance to
Allah SWT and His Messenger for the second time. There were about seventy-two
men and two women. One of the women was Umm 'Umarrah RA and the other was Umm Muni' Asma' bint 'Amr
bin 'Adi RA.
The former narrates that her husband, Ghazyah bin 'Amr, told
Rasulullah SAW that these two women also
wanted to swear allegiance on his palm. He said it was all right, but for these
women too, the terms would be the same
as for the men. He said that the only difference would be that he took the
men's palms in his palm, but he did not shake hands with women. This incident
of the swearing of allegiance is called Bay'atul-'Aqabah Ath-Thaniyah (second
oath) in Islamic history. When Umm 'Umarrah RA returned to Madinah Al Munawarah
after taking this oath of allegiance, she devoted herself to the education and
training of women in accordance with the teachings of Islam.
Umm 'Umarrah RA was married for the
first time to Zaid bin 'Asim Al-Mazni. and she bore two sons by him named
Abdullah and Habib both of whom were among the Companions of Rasulullah SAW. A
boy Tamim, and a girl Khawlah, were born from her second marriage which was to
Ghazyah bin 'Amr Mazni.
Umm 'Umarah RA took part in the
Second Bait-ul-'Aqabah, the Battle of Uhud, the Battle of Hunayn, the war of
Yamamah, and the Treaty of Hudaybiyah. Her skill with the sword in the battle
of Uhud astonished those who saw her. Rasulullah SAW said that in whichever
direction he turned in the battlefield he could see her defending and
protecting him.
She herself describes a very
critical stage in the battle of Uhud. The Mujahidin of Islam was on the verge
of defeat and they were scattering. She, along with her two sons, and husband
tried to surround Rasulullah SAW in
order to ward off and repel any attack on him. She had a sword in one hand and
a shield in the other. If the enemy had been on foot and not on horseback, they
would have slain all of them. When one of the enemies attacked her she warded
off the attack with her shield; she then pulled at the bridle of the horse to
turn it around. Taking this opportunity, she plunged her sword into the horse's
back. The wounded horse fell, taking the rider with him. Seeing this,
Rasulullah SAW called out to 'Abdullah bin Umm Umarah RA to help his mother. And together she and her
son finished off the enemy soldier.
'Abdullah bin Umm 'Umarah RA relates
how during the battle of Uhud the enemy made a forceful thrust against them.
The Mujahidin scattered before them and he and his mother moved close to
Rasulullah SAW to defend him from all quarters. Rasulullah SAW it, called out
to him to attack the enemy. He threw a stone at the disbeliever; it hit the eye
of the horse he was riding. The horse fell to the ground somersaulting. He
threw another heavy stone and the enemy died. Rasulullah SAW looked pleased, and then he noticed that Umm
'Umarah RA was bleeding from the
shoulder; he asked 'Abdullah to bandage his mother's wound and said that they
were a truly great family. He 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 auspicious words from the lips of
Rasulullah SAW. At the same time they were inspired to greater heights of
heroism and returned to the attack with renewed vigour. His next victim injured
him on the left arm with his sword, and a fountain of blood gushed out.
Rasulullah SAW told him to immediately
bandage his wound. When Umm 'Umarah RA saw her son bleeding profusely, she
bandaged his arm and told him not to lose courage but continue with his attack
on the enemy. Rasulullah SAW smiled when
he saw the heroism and courage of both mother and son, and said,
'From where can anyone get
courage like you, O Umm 'Umarrah?'
Umm 'Umarrah RA was standing in
front of Rasulullah SAW with a naked sword when the same man came before them.
Rasulullah SAW pointed out to her that this was the man who injured her son.
She struck a powerful blow cutting off his leg. The man fell face down; a few
other Mujahidin leaped on him and killed him.
Rasulullah SAW was very impressed
with this display of strength and courage by Umm 'Umarrah RA. He smiled and
thanked Allah SWT who gave her that success and soothed her grief and
avenged her by the death of the enemy before her very eyes.
During this battle she sustained
at least twelve major wounds; the deepest one, the one on her shoulder, it was
so deep that she fainted; and it took a year for it to heal. When she regained
consciousness her first question was about the well-being of Rasulullah SAW,
rather than about her own sons or husband. When she learned that he was fine,
she thanked Allah SWT. Besides the battle of Hunayn and the conquest of Makkah,
Umm 'Umarrah RA fought valiantly in the battle against Musaylamah Al-Kadthab.
She sustained eleven wounds and her arm was cut. Her son, Habib bin Zaid Ansari
RA was martyred in this battle, slain by Musaylamah himself.
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Umm 'Umarrah RA and some other
women also took part in a war with the Banu Quraizah. Rasulullah SAW gave them
part of the booty taken during this war. These were the terms of equality practiced
by Rasulullah SAW. She was also active during the Treaty of Hudaybiyah. She related
how they set out from Madinah Al
Munawarrah to perform 'Umrah under the
leadership of Rasulullah SAW. They were stopped at Hudaybiyah because the
Quraysh did not want the Muslims to enter Makkah. 'Uthman bin 'Affan RA was
appointed ambassador and sent to Makkah to negotiate. Since his return was
delayed, rumors spread that he had been martyred. At the command of Allah SWT,
Rasulullah SAW sat under a tree and people started swearing allegiance to Allah
SWT and His Messenger.
Those who were armed took hold of
their weapons. Most people came unarmed as they set out for 'Umrah. Umm 'Umarrah
says she had a stick and she stuck a knife in her belt, to defend herself in
case of an enemy attack. As it turned out the news about the death of 'Uthman bin
'Affan RA was a false rumor. And a pact was made with the enemy that came to be
known as the Treaty of Hudaybiyah. This treaty is mentioned in the Quran in the
following words,
"Indeed, Allah was pleased with the believers when they gave the
pledge to you under the tree: He knew what was in their hearts, and he sent
down calmness and tranquility upon them, and He rewarded them with a near
victory. And abundant spoils that they will capture. And Allah is Ever
All-Mighty, All-Wise." [Noble Quran 48:18-19]
Twenty women took part in the
Battle of Khyber; one of them was Umm 'Umarrah RA. Once again when the Muslim
army triumphed women were given a share of the booty of war. Umm 'Umarrah RA got
expensive dresses and jewelry and two Dinars. In the Battle of Hunayn as well
she had fought valiantly and received some part of the booty. A man of the
tribe of Banu Hawazin entered the battlefield on camelback, waving a flag. She
hit the camel from the back so violently that it stumbled and fell; the rider
also fell, and she attacked him so that he never recovered.
Rasulullah SAW sent Umm 'Umarah's
son, Habib bin Zaid RA as his representative to Musaylamah Al-Kadthab, in order
to bring him to the right path. Breaking all norms of diplomacy, this low-down
man captured Habib and tied him to a pillar. He then asked him, "Do you
testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah?" When he answered in the
affirmative, he asked him if he also testified that he, Musaylamah, was also
the messenger of Allah. Habib replied that he was deaf and could not hear him.
He kept on repeating the question again and again. And Habib kept on repeating
the same answer. Then this cruel man cut off each part of his body, one by one,
and gradually martyred him. When Umm 'Umarrah RA got this news about her son she
displayed exemplary patience. Rasulullah
SAW consoled the family and prayed for them.
During his caliphate, Saidina Abu
Bakr Siddiq RA sent the army to test the challenge of the army of Musaylamah.
Umm 'Umarah RA was also in the army. She was about sixty years old at the time,
and her son 'Abdullah bin Zaid RA was also with her; he was one of those who
finally killed this man. During this battle, her arm was cut off and she
sustained eleven injuries. Khalid bin Walid RA the General of the army boiled
some oil and immersed her arm in it to cure her wounded arm; but for Umm
'Umarrah RA her happiness at the death of Musaylamah was much greater than her
grief at the loss of her arm.
During the caliphate of Saidina Umar
bin Khattab RA, 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. But Saidina Umar bin Khattab RA said that he
knew of someone even better than her and was praised by no less a person than Rasulullah
SAW. He then sent it to Umm 'Umarah RA.
Once Umm 'Umarrah told Rasulullah
SAW that in the Noble Quran only men were mentioned and women were often
deprived of any importance. Then this Ayah was revealed.
"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 'Umarrah RA held a very
special place among the women Companions. When Rasulullah SAW, saw the valor
and sacrificing spirit of the whole family - husband, wife, and sons - in the
most intense part of the battle of Uhud he prayed that Allah might have Mercy
on that family.
Umm 'Umarrah RA requested him to
pray that they should have the good fortune to be with him in Paradise. It was
then that he prayed that they should be his friends in Paradise.
"Allah will be pleased with them and they with Him." [Noble
Quran 98:8]
