Great Women in Islam

Firstly I have to apologise for posting this so late. It was supposed to be done yesterday, and I like it that way because it gets posted on the best day of the week, a Friday. Unfortunately though this week I just couldn't manage. The past few days I have not been feeling very well as I have a flu. Alhamdullillah I am recovering and this has also reminded me of how much we take our health for granted. Everything is so much easier when we are feeling well and we should always be thankful.

Okay, having said that; The answer for the quiz question (Whose name did the Beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) change from Barrah to another name?) is:

• The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) named Juwayriyah . He changed her name from Barrah to Juwayriyah.
• The name ‘Barrah” was linked to the times of ignorance and was “self-praising”, and the Prophet (PBUH) didn’t like this.
• Juwayriyah is used as an expression of praise, commendation and love.
• She was the daughter of the Chief of a Tribe called Banu al-Muṣṭaliq, who was one of the tribes who wanted to wage war against the Muslims.
• It was when the Muslims defeated the Tribe of Banu al-Muṣṭaliq in battle, that Juwayriyah (May Allah be pleased with her) entered the home of our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

• She was married to a cousin of hers and her husband had just been killed in the battle between her tribe and the Muslims.
• She was taken as a captive after war and was allotted to a Companion named Thabit ibn Qays al-Ansari (May Allah be pleased with him).
• She bargained with Thabit ibn Qays to buy her freedom with nine measure of silver.
• She then went to the Prophet (PBUH) to ask for his assistance with the ransom she had offered.
• She addressed the Prophet (PBUH) as follows: “O Messenger of Allah! I am the daughter of Al-Harith, the leader of his people. You are not oblivious to what has happened to me. I was part of the share of Thabit ibn Qays and I bargained with him to ransom myself with nine measures of silver. So help me free myself.”
• The Noble Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) then asked her if she would like to marry him and she agreed. The Prophet (PBUH) paid her ransom to Thabit ibn Qays and married her.
• The implications of the Prophet’s (PBUH) marriage to Juwayriyah were far reaching.
• A’isha (May Allah be pleased with her) has reported that; “the news of the marriage came to the people, and they started saying, ‘Will the Prophet’s in-laws be held as captives?’ Thus the people freed all the captives they held of the tribe of Banu al-Muṣṭaliq, and the number of those reached one hundred households- this was as a result of the Prophet’s marriage to Juwayriyah.”
• When Juwayriyah’s father heard about what had happened to her and that she had married the Prophet (PBUH) he decided to go to Madinah to ransom her with one hundred camels, hoping that the Prophet (PBUH) would accept that from him.
• When he came close to Madinah he scrutinized his camels and saw two good camels that he really liked , so he decided to keep those two. He set the camels aside, tied them up in a safe place and assigned some guards to watch over them.
• He then went to meet the Prophet (PBUH) while the Prophet was in the mosque and he begged him to accept his ransom and give his daughter back.
• The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) welcomed him and asked him with a smile, “What about the two camels that you set aside and tied up in such and such a place?”
• The man became speechless and was amazed. His tongue was then unable to tell a lie and he spoke the following words; “I testify that there is none worthy of worship other than Allah and that you, Muhammad are a Messenger of Allah! By Allah! No one knows of this matter except Allah alone.”
• Following Al-Harith’s embrace of Islam, all the members of Banu al-Muṣṭaliq, also embraced Islam, for he told them what had happened and he invited them to Islam.
• This is a manifestation of Allah’s blessing upon Juwayriyah and her tribe, through his Messenger (PBUH). It was also partly due to her marriage to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and her entrance into his household.”

Masha'Allah this is such an interesting story. I urge you to please read more about this to gain a better understanding. There are many books available on the subject, but if it's difficult for you to get books then you can download books for free at the following link:

http://www.kalamullah.com/index.html

May Allah Almighty increase us all in knowledge and grant us understanding, Inshaa Allah Ameen!