After the battle the Muslims took a large amount of spoils of war. Spoils of war refer to what is left behind by the opposing army after either fleeing the battle or suffering a defeat at the hands of an army. The Holy Prophet (sas) used to distribute the spoils amongst those who fought in the Muslim army. Among the prisoners of war was Harith’s daughter Barrah. During this distribution Barrah bint Harith was handed over to Hazrat Thabit bin Qais bin Shamas (ra). Barrah was the daughter of a chief. She did not like being a prisoner of war. There was a practice in Islam where a prisoner of war can gain freedom by offering to pay a ransom with the agreement of his/her caretaker. It is called Mukatabat. Barrah asked Hazrat Thabit (ra) to enter into a Mukatabat agreement with her. Hazrat Thabit (ra) agreed to enter into this agreement and the ransom was decided to be nine Auqiyah (a measurement to specify the weight of gold).1
Barrah had settled the Mukatabat, but she did not actually have the gold in her possession, because she had been forced to leave her home empty handed. She had heard that the Prophet (sas) of the Muslims was a very kind-hearted man, and thought she could ask for either a loan or assistance from him. The next day she appeared before him and appealed for help:
“O Messenger (sas) of Allah, I am the daughter of the chief Harith bin Abi Darrar. You are well aware of the misfortune that has fallen upon me. I have settled into an agreement with my master for nine Auqiyah. My request is that you please help me with the payment of this amount.”2
She made this plea with such dignity and eloquence that Allah the Almighty put in the heart of the Holy Prophet (sas) to offer her marriage, which could lead to the elimination of all the animosity between Muslims and her tribe, and create opportunities for the spread of Islam.
The Holy Prophet (sas) responded, “I have a better solution. If you are willing to accept.”
Barrah said, “Please speak.”
The Holy Prophet (sas) said, “I will pay the amount on your behalf, and marry you.”
She agreed immediately and this blessed marriage took place. At the time of the marriage, Hazrat Juwairiyah (ra) was twenty years old.3
The marriage took place in the year 627. After the wedding, the Holy Prophet (sas) gave her the name Juwairiyah.4
1 Siyarus-Sahabah, Volume 6 (Siyarus-Sahabiyat), pp. 78-79, Published by Idarah Islamiyat, Lahore
2 At-Tabaqatul-Kubra’, Muhammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 8, p. 268/p. 303, Dhikru Azwaji Rasulillah (sas)/ Juwairiyatu bintul-Harith, Published by Daru Ihya’it-Turathil-‘Arabiyy, Beirut (1996)
3 At-Tabaqatul-Kubra’, Muhammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 8, pp. 303-305, Dhikru Azwaji Rasulillah (sas)/ Juwairiyatu bintul-Harith, Published by Daru Ihya’it-Turathil-‘Arabiyy, Beirut (1996)
4 At-Tabaqatul-Kubra’, Muhammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 8, pp. 303-305, Dhikru Azwaji Rasulillah (sas)/ Juwairiyatu bintul-Harith, Published by Daru Ihya’it-Turathil-‘Arabiyy, Beirut (1996)