Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) bint ‘Abdul-Muttalib

Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) bint ‘Abdul-Muttalib was a Sahabiyah (female companion of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sas)). She was the daughter of Hazrat ‘AbdulMuttalib, the chief of the Quraish and the grandfather of the Holy Prophet (sas). Therefore, she was the paternal aunt of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sas). This is why she is also known as ‘Ammatun-Nabi (the paternal aunt of the Prophet).1 The name of her mother was Hallah bint Wuhaib. Hallah was the first cousin of Hazrat Aminah (ra), the mother of Holy Prophet Muhammad (sas). The Holy Prophet (sas) and Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) were born around the same time, so it would be safe to say that they were about the same age. Some other paternal aunts of the Holy Prophet (sas) are also mentioned in the books of history. However, only Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) accepted Islam. When our beloved master, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sas), started calling people toward the true religion, Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) accepted Islam immediately. Thus she was included in the blessed group to whom Allah promised paradise in the hereafter while they were still alive.2

In the period of Jahiliyyah, before the advent of Islam, she was married to Harith bin Harb. When he passed away she married ‘Awwam bin Khuwailid, who was the brother of Ummul-Mu’minin (Mother of the Believers) Hazrat Khadijatul-Kubra (ra). Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) had three sons. One of them was Hazrat Zubair (ra) bin Al-‘Awwam who had the honour of receiving the title of Hawarie-Rasul (the Messenger’s Disciple), and he was also included in the group of those ten companions of Holy Prophet (sas) who were given the good news of entering paradise upon their deaths in this very life. The name of her second son was Sa’ib (ra), and the name of her third son was ‘Abdul-Ka‘bah. Hazrat Sa’ib (ra) participated in the battles of Badr, the Ditch, and Yamamah4. Hazrat Zubair (ra) was a little boy when his father passed away. Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) was also young at that time, but she chose to remain a widow for the rest of her life.3

After the death of her husband, Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) was left with the difficult task of raising her young son on her own. She raised Hazrat Zubair (ra) in an exemplary manner. Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) wished for her son to grow up to be a brave and courageous warrior. That is why she was very harsh with him when it was necessary for his training. Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) made Hazrat Zubair (ra) do very difficult and demanding tasks and when necessary she scolded him as well.

One day Hazrat Safiyyah (ra), was harshly disciplining Hazrat Zubair (ra). His uncle, Nawfal bin Khuwailid, happened to walk by and see Hazrat Zubair (ra) being punished. When he saw the child being disciplined he told Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) to stop. She responded by saying, “Do not think I punish him because I do not love him. I do so only so that he will become smart.”

As a result of her perfect training Hazrat Zubair (ra) grew into a sincere Muslim, a brave soldier, and a courageous commander. In fact, when Hazrat Zubair (ra) accepted Islam, this same paternal uncle tortured him by wrapping him in a mat and forcing him to inhale smoke. His uncle tried to force him to abandon Islam, but the training Hazrat Zubair (ra) had received from his blessed mother, Hazrat Safiyyah (ra), allowed him to endure this treatment willingly and he would only say, “I cannot reject the truth once I have recognised it.”

Hazrat Zubair (ra) was born with a pure and righteous heart, and his mother’s training enhanced these qualities even more in him and filled his heart with utter love and reverence for Islam and the Holy Prophet (sas).

We can get an idea of just how intensely Hazrat Zubair (ra) was devoted to the Holy Prophet (sas) from the following incident. In the early days of the Prophethood of the Holy Prophet (sas) someone spread the rumour that the Holy Prophet (sas) had been captured by the enemies or even martyred by them. The news distressed Hazrat Zubair (ra) so much that he did not waste a single moment and set out in search of the Holy Prophet (sas). When he found the Holy Prophet (sas) safe and sound he took a deep sigh of relief.

The Holy Prophet (sas) took a look at his unsheathed sword and asked, “What is this Zubair?”

Hazrat Zubair (ra) replied, “O Prophet of Allah, may my parents be sacrificed for you, I had heard that the enemies had captured you, or even martyred you.”

The Holy Prophet (sas) smiled and said, “If that really had been the case, then what would you have done?”

Hazrat Zubair (ra) replied immediately, “O Prophet of Allah, I would have died fighting the people of Makkah.”4 This is why Hazrat Zubair (ra) is given the honour of being recognised as the first to lift a sword in the defence of Islam.

This is exactly the kind of attitude Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) wanted her son to have. It was the result of her wonderful training that when Hazrat Zubair (ra) was put through unthinkable torture to make him renounce Islam and return to his old pagan religion, his response was that he would never go back to disbelieving no matter what it cost him. Five years after the start of the Prophethood of Muhammad (sas), the cruelty of the disbelievers towards the Muslims surpassed all bounds in Makkah. The Holy Prophet (sas) advised his followers to migrate to Abyssinia, which is called Ethiopia today. The first group to travel to Ethiopia consisted of about fifteen Muslims. Hazrat Zubair (ra) was part of this group. Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) was very distressed upon being separated from her son, but since it was the directive of the Holy Prophet (sas) and it insured the safety of her son, she very patiently and uncomplainingly bid farewell to her beloved son to go to a foreign land.

When barely three months had passed since these migrants had migrated in the way of Allah to Ethiopia, they heard the news along the lines that all the disbelievers of Makkah had accepted Islam or maybe that the disbelievers and the Holy Prophet (sas) had made peace between them. Upon hearing this news some migrants came back to Makkah. Hazrat Zubair (ra) was one of them. However, upon their arrival in Makkah they came to find out that this news was false. Nevertheless, Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) rejoiced upon being reunited with her beloved son and prostrated in front of Allah while her heart was filled with gratitude to see her son alive and well. After living in Makkah for a while Hazrat Zubair (ra) decided to take up trade as a profession and started traveling to and from Syria with trading caravans. During the same time, Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) arranged a marriage between him and the daughter of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), Hazrat Asma’ (ra).

At the time when the Holy Prophet (sas), along with his dear friend Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), migrated to Madinah, Hazrat Zubair (ra) was in Syria on business. When he was returning to Makkah from Syria he happened to cross paths with the Holy Prophet (sas) and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) who were on their way to Madinah. Hazrat Zubair (ra) presented them with a few white garments and the Holy Prophetsa and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) entered Madinah wearing these same garments.

After staying in Makkah for a while Hazrat Zubair (ra) also migrated to Madinah along with his mother Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) and his wife Hazrat Asma’ (ra). In Madinah, Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) lived with her son Hazrat Zubair (ra) and he looked after her lovingly and wholeheartedly. In 1st Hijri, Hazrat Zubair (ra) was blessed with a son named ‘Abdullah bin Zubair (ra). The birth of this grandson of Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) holds a lot of importance in the history of Islam because no child had been born to any Muslim immigrant in Madinah for many months preceding his birth. The Jews of Madinah had taken advantage of the situation and had spread a rumour that they had cast a spell on the Muslims which was preventing them from having children and now they would never have any more children. The birth of Hazrat ‘Abdullah (ra) proved them liars and gave Muslims a reason to rejoice. When the Muslims raised the joyous and passionate slogan of Na‘ra-e-Takbir, [slogan proclaiming the Greatness of Allah] which echoed throughout the hills of Madinah.

Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) was a brave and courageous lady and she took part in several battles. She brought water to the soldiers and tended to their wounds, and sometimes she even picked up the sword and fought the enemies herself. The battle of Uhud that took place in the 3rd Hijri was a difficult battle for the Muslims because they suffered heavy losses in that battle. When the tables turned on Muslims in this battle because of their mistakes, panic spread among them and they became confused. The enemy army managed to surround the Holy Prophet (sas) and started to close in on him. Back at home when Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) heard about this situation, she immediately marched out of her home with a spear in her hand. On her way to the battlefield she came across Muslim soldiers who were fleeing from the battlefield. She called out to them angrily and challenged their sense of honour and pride by saying, “Have you left the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sas) behind!”5

Her provocations caused these fleeing soldiers to return to the battlefield and fight to protect the Holy Prophet (sas).

In the 5th year after Hijrah many of the disbelieving tribes of Arabia and the Jewish tribes joined forces and prepared an immense attack on the Muslim city of Madinah. Madinah was the stronghold of the Muslims and compared to the approaching army had very few resources with which to defend itself.

Inside Madinah a Jewish tribe called Banu Quraizah had a fortress. This tribe had signed a pact of peace with the Muslims; however, during the Battle of the Ditch they betrayed the Muslims and began helping the enemies of Islam. It was a time of great trial for the Muslims, however they remained firm and did not hesitate because they had made an oath to sacrifice their wealth and lives in the cause of Allah.

The biggest problem that the Muslims faced in this battle was the defenselessness of their women and children to the enemy threat inside Madinah. To keep the women and children safe the Holy Prophet (sas) moved them all into a fortress called Fari‘ which was built by the Ansar.

The fortress of the Banu Quraizah was located very close to this area. When the women and children were sent there the Muslims were not yet aware of the changed loyalties of the Banu Quraizah. They believed that the Banu Quraizah would help protect the women and children of Madinah. Hazrat Hassan bin Thabit (ra) was appointed guard at this fortress. Even though this fortress was quite strong, it was not completely safe from danger. Because the Holy Prophet (sas) and all his companions were busy fighting and defending the city at the boundary lines, no Muslim warriors were available inside the city to defend this fortress.

When it became known that the Jewish tribe had switched 16 allegiances the Muslims became worried about their women and children who were vulnerable to the threat presented by the Banu Quraizah. As the war went on for many days, a Jewish man showed up in the vicinity of the fortress and started asking questions about the people inside it. Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) happened to spot this Jewish man, and her superior intelligence and instincts allowed her to identify this man as a spy. She feared that if he told the Banu Quraizah that there were only women and children in this fortress with no one to defend them, they would certainly attack the fortress. So, she sought out Hazrat Hassan bin Thabit (ra) immediately and advised him to go outside the fortress and kill this Jewish spy. If he were not killed he would tell the enemy that this fortress was defenceless and was housing only women and children. If this information reached the Banu Quraizah it would most likely lead to an attack in which all the women and children of the Muslims would be killed!

Hazrat Hassan bin Thabit (ra) disagreed with her and said, “If I were able enough to fight this Jewish man, then would I not be fighting alongside the Holy Prophet (sas) right now?”

Upon hearing this response, Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) got up immediately, dug out a wooden pole from the ground that was holding the tent they were standing in, and went after the Jewish man herself. She served a forceful blow on the Jewish man’s head with the wooden pole rendering him dead. Then she advised Hazrat Hassan (ra) to confiscate the dead man’s clothes and weapons, but Hazrat Hassan (ra) hesitated again. She asked Hazrat Hassan (ra) to cut off his head and throw it over the walls of the fortress, and yet again Hazrat Hassan (ra) refused. This lead to Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) taking the matters into her own hands again. She decapitated the dead Jewish man herself and flung his head out of the fortress walls. When the men of Banu Quraizah who were waiting for their spy to return saw the severed head they were horrified. They thought that an army of Muslims soldiers was inside the fortress. They decided against attacking it and returned to their own fortress.6

This is how the courage, bravery, and fearlessness of Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) saved all the Muslim women and children from a huge danger, and the cruel and evil plans of the Banu Quraizah. She not only defeated the Banu Quraizah with her foresight and wisdom but she also proved that if the occasion demanded the Muslim female warriors were also ready to jump into the battlefield and fight dutifully. Her wise actions sabotaged the evil plans of the Banu Quraizah.

Because of her services the Holy Prophet (sas) granted her a share from the war bounty. It should be noted that Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) was about fifty-eight years when she displayed such acts of unmatched bravery.7

During the battle of Uhud when the Holy Prophet (sas) heard the news of the martyrdom of Hazrat Hamzah (ra), he set out to find Hazrat Hamzah (ra) himself, and his search ended in the Valley of Batan. Hazrat Hamzah (ra) was speared to death while fighting courageously by the slave of Jabr bin Mut‘im named Wahshi bin Harb. When the Holy Prophet (sas) saw Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) approaching the battlefield, he called out to her son Zubair (ra) and said to him, “Stop your mother from coming any further because Safiyyah (ra) might lose her senses upon seeing the mutilated body of her brother Hamzah (ra).”

The Holy Prophet (sas) did not want Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) to find her beloved and brave brother’s body in such an awful condition. Hazrat Zubair (ra) relayed these instructions to his mother, and she understood the reason behind them and said, “I have learned that my brother’s dead body was mutilated, but it all happened while he fought in the way of Allah. Allah knows that I am not happy about it, but I will be patient while facing this misfortune, and God willing, I will display forbearance, and I hope that Allah will reward me for it.”

When the Holy Prophet (sas) was made aware of the response by Hazrat Safiyyah (ra), he gave her permission to view the dead body of Hazrat Hamzah (ra) and admonished others to clear her way. She approached her beloved brother’s lifeless body while weeping and when she saw his scattered remains she sighed loudly and recited, “To Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return.” Then she silently prayed for his forgiveness and offered two sheets of cloth to aid with his burial. After the burial she journeyed back to Madinah.

When Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) was praying for her beloved brother’s forgiveness, she could not stop her tears from spilling out of her eyes and started wailing uncontrollably. When the Holy Prophet (sas) saw her crying his eyes welled up with tears as well. He approached her and admonished her to be patient and said, “Gabriel the trustworthy has given me the good news that Allah has given Hamzah (ra) bin ‘Abdul-Muttalib the titles of Asadullah and AsadurRasul (The Lion of God and The Lion of the Messenger) in His heavenly abode.”8

This incident signifies that Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) was very patient and she always surrendered to Allah’s will like a true and devout Muslim.

Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) was highly intelligent and knowledgeable. She was very skilled in Arabic poetry and literature. She even composed poetry herself and was considered a poetess. At the death of her father, Hazrat ‘Abdul-Muttalib, and her brother, Hazrat Hamzah (ra), she wrote some very sentimental odes in their honour. She also wrote a beautiful poem on the death of the Holy Prophet (sas).9

The Holy Prophet (sas) was the nephew and cousin of Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) and was also her husband’s brother-in-law. Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) grew up in the same house as the Holy Prophet (sas). This is why she had an extraordinary love for the Holy Prophet (sas). He also shared a heartfelt bond with her, and used to call her son, Hazrat Zubair (ra), ‘Ibn Safiyyah.’ When the Holy Prophet (sas) passed away in 11th Hijri, Hazrat Safiyyah (ra) suffered from tremendous grief. At this occasion she wrote a verse which accurately depicts the extent of her sorrow and torment.

This brave lady passed away in 20th Hijri at the age of seventy-three, during the Khilafat of Hazrat ‘Umar Faruq (ra). She was laid to rest in Jannatul-Baqi‘.10

May Allah shower her with abundant mercy. Amin.