Maimoonah bint al-Harith (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma)

Source:

• The Honorable Wives of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) compiled by Darussalam
• The wives of the Prophet Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) by Faridah Mas’ood Debas, International Islamic Publishing House.

Maimoonah was born six years before the start of the Prophetic Mission and thus, she had reached adulthood before the migration of the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) to al-Madinah. Her pure soul was inclined towards Islam from her earliest years; and this inclination was increased by her nearness to her sister, Lubabah.

Her Geneology

She was Barrah, the daughter of al-Harith ibn Hazn ibn Bujair. Her mother was Hind ibnt ‘Awf ibn Zubair, who was known as ‘the most noble old lady in the land with regard to her relatives by marriage’;, for they included the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Ja’far ibn Abi Talib, al-Abbas and Hamzah ibn Abdul-Muttalib (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma) – the Prophet’s uncles.

Maimoonah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) had three full sisters, whose names were: Lubabah al-Kubra, ‘Asma and Izzah. Lubabah (Umm al-Fadl), the first woman to believe after Khadeejah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) was the mother of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas and one of the wisest of the Prophet’s (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) Companions. Lubabah is also remembered as the woman who struck Abu Lahab, the Prophet’s uncle and foremost enemy of Islam.

The half sisters of Maimoonah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) from her mother were: Zainab, the daughter of Khuzaimah, the Mother of the Believers – who was known as the Mother of the Poor (she was married to the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) in the year 3 A.H and died a few short months after that), Asma’ the daughter of ‘Umais, who was the wife of Ja’far ibn Abi Talib and later, the wife of Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq and then she was married to Ali ibn Abi Talib. Her half sister, Salma bint ‘Umais was the wife of Hamzah ibn Abdul-Muttalib. She had other sisters from her mother as well.

Maimoonah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) was the maternal aunt of Khalid ibn al-Waleed, he being the son of her sister, Lubabah as-Sughra.

Maimoonah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) was thus one of ‘Ahlul Bayt,’ ‘the people of the House’, not only by virtue of being a wife of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), but also because she was related to him. Zayd ibn Arqam related that the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “I implore you by Allaah! The People of my House!” three times. Zayd was asked who the People of the House were, and he said: “The family of ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, the family of Ja’far ibn Abi Talib, the family Aqil ibn Abi Talib, and the family of Al-‘Abbas ibn ‘Abdul-Muttalib.”

Her Marriage to the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)

Maimoonah’s first marriage was to Masood ibn ‘Amr ath-Thaqafee. Then she married Abu Ruhm ibn ‘Abdul-‘Uzza, who was a non-Muslim, but he died when she was still a young woman of twenty-six years. She then placed her affairs in the hands of Umm al-Fadl (Lubabah) who placed it in the hands of her husband, al-‘Abbas. Thus Maimoonah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) took up residence in the house of her sister.

Maimoonah or Barrah as she was then called yearned to marry the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam). She informed her sister Umm al-Fadl (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) of her desire to marry him and she in turn spoke to her (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) husband al-‘Abbas  (the Prophet’s uncle). Al-‘Abbas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) immediately sent a message to the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) informing him of Maimoonah’s desire to be married to him.

The Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) sent a message to al-‘Abbas informing him that he agreed to Maimoonah’s request. Al-‘Abbas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) then delivered the good tidings to his wife, Umm al-Fadl, at which time Maimoonah was not at home.

 When the good news reached Maimoonah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha), she was on a camel. So great was her joy that she leapt from the camel and said: “The camel and what is on it are for the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)”, after which Allaah, the Most High, revealed:

“Any believing woman who dedicates herself to the Prophet if the Prophet wishes to wed her, that is only for you and not for the believers.” [Surat al-Ahzab 33:50]

Maimoonah bint al-Harith (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) married the Prophet Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) in 7 A.H., when the Prophet was sixty years old and she was thirty six years old.

They were married just after the Muslims of Madinah were permitted to visit Makkah to perform ‘Umrah, under the terms of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. When the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) intended to go to Makkah to perform the compensatory ‘Umrah (so called because it was to make up for the ‘Umrah he had been prevented from performing in the year of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah), he sent Aws ibn al-Khawli and Abu Rafi’ (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma) to al-‘Abbas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) asking for Maimoonah’s hand in marriage, who informed her of the matter, and she accepted, barely able to contain her happiness. When the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) reached Makkah, he sent a message to al-‘Abbas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu), informing him of his arrival. Maimoonah placed her case before the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), who then submitted his proposal of marriage to al-‘Abbas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu). After the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) had completed his ‘Umrah rites, he went to al-‘Abbas and the marriage contract was completed, al-‘Abbas presenting a dowry of four hundred dirhams to her on behalf of the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam).

When he made the contract of marriage to Maimoonah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha), the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) had already spent three days in Makkah (according to the agreement made at Hudaybiyyah). So, after three days, the Quraish sent a message to the Messenger of Allaah, reminding him that he had completed the three days and now it was incumbent on him to leave Makkah.  So the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) departed without having consummated his marriage to Maimoonah. However, he left his slave Abu Rafi’ behind, so that he might bring her to him in Saarif after she had prepared herself.

The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) gave her the name, Maimoonah, meaning “blessed”, and Maimoonah lived with the Prophet for just over three years, until his death. She was obviously very good natured and got on well with everyone, and no quarrel or disagreement with any of the Prophet’s other wives was related about her. ‘Aishah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) said about her: “Among us, she had the most fear of Allaah and did the most to maintain ties of kinship.” It was in her room that the Prophet first began to feel the effects of what became his final illness and he asked the permission of his wives to stay in ‘Aishah’s room while it lasted.

It is also related by Ibn ‘Abbas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma) that he once stayed the night as a guest of Maimoonah, who was his aunt, and the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam). They slept on their blanket lengthways and he slept at the end, crossways. After they had all slept for a while, the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) rose in the middle of the night to pray the Tahajjud prayer, and Ibn ‘Abbas joined him. They both performed Wudu’, and he prayed eleven Rak’at with the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam). Then they both went back to sleep again until dawn. Bilal called the Adhaan, and the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) did another two short Rak’at before going into the mosque to lead the dawn prayer. Ibn ‘Abbas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma)  said that one of the Du’aa that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) made during this night was: “O Allaah, place light in my heart, light in my tongue, light in my hearing, light in my sight, light behind me, light in front of me, light on my right, light on my left, light above me and light below me; place light in my nerves, in my flesh, in my blood, in my hair and in my skin; place light in my soul and make light abundant for me; make me light and grant me light.”

It is commonly agreed that it was after the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) had married Maimoonah giving him nine wives (‘Aishah, Sawdah, Hafsah, Umm Salamah, Zainab bint Jahsh, Juwayriyya, Umm Habibah, Safiyyah and Maimoonah), that the following Ayat was revealed:

“It is not lawful for you (O Muhammad, to marry more) women after this, nor to exchange them for other wives, even though their beauty is pleasing to you, except those whom your right hand possesses (slaves); and Allaah is always watching over everything.” [Surat al-Ahzab 33:52]

Her Virtues

The Mother of the Believers, Maimoonah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) is considered to be an excellent example and role model, exemplifying true faith; she was known for her piety, purity, devotion (to worship) and her asceticism. She devoted most of her time to her Lord, praying, standing in prayer at night and fasting. The Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) observed her earnestness and sincerity in worship and he testified to the faith of her and her sisters, saying: “The sisters are believers: Maimoonah, Umm al-Fadl and Asma.’”

‘Aishah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) also observed her virtuous deeds and her zeal for them, causing her to testify on her behalf, saying: “She was the most pious and fearful of us towards Allaah and the best of us in maintaining ties of kinship.” [Reported by al-Hakim in al-Mustadrak 4/32]

She (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) did not allow fear of those who would rebuke her to prevent her from speaking the truth, nor would she soften it – regardless of whether she was speaking to a stranger or to her close kin.

What confirms her spending in the Cause of Allaah is the narration which states that the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) asked Maimoonah about a slave girl belonging to him, and she said: “I manumitted her.” He (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “She was steadfast and persevering; if you had kept her with you, it would have been better.”

She was zealous in following the Sunnah of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) due to which, whenever she was free from her housework or her devotions, she would occupy it by using the Miswak (a stick from the root of the Arak tree used as a toothbrush). Yazeed ibn al-Asamm (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) spoke of this, saying: “The Miswak of Maimoonah, the wife of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) was soaked in water, so if her work or prayer kept her occupied (she would leave it there), but if not she would take it and brush her teeth with it.”

She always kept in mind the fact that Allaah was watching her in all her deeds, both big and small. On one occasion, she saw a pomegranate seed on the ground and she picked it up and said: “Verily, Allaah likes not corruption.”

Her Narration of Hadeeth

Maimoonah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) is considered to be one of the narrators of Hadeeth, for she narrated forty-six traditions from the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and her narrations are to be found in the books of authentic Hadeeth and in the Sunan. There is no doubt that her Ahadeeth demonstrated a great number of Islamic rulings because she lived in the Prophetic household. Among these Ahadeeth are: “He (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) used to pray on a Khumrah (a mat made from date-palm leaves).” [Reported by Muslim and Ahmad]

And: “The Prophet was praying while I was sleeping at his side, then when he prostrated, his garment touched me and I was in my menstrual period.” [Reported by al-Bukhaari]

And: It is reported on the authority of Maimoonah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) that she said: “I and the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) became Junub (a state of ritual impurity following intimate relations, nocturnal emission, etc.) and so I washed from a large bowl and there was a surplus of water. Then the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) came to wash from it and I said: “I have already washed from it.” But he replied: “There is no impurity on it” (or he said: “nothing will defile it”, then he washed himself with it.” [Reported by Ahmad]

Her Death

Maimoonah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) devoted her whole life to Allaah, the Most High and she was pious, God-fearing, pure, persevering in her devotions, standing at night in prayer and fasting. She was humble, spending in Allaah’s Cause.

After the Prophet’s (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) death, Maimoonah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) continued to live in Madinah for another forty years, dying at the age of eighty, in 51 A.H. during the Caliphate of Yazeed ibn Mu’awiyyah ibn Abi Sufyan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma); she being the last of the Prophet’s wives to die.

She asked to be buried where she had married the Prophet at Saarif and her request was carried out. It is related that at the funeral of Maimoonah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha), Ibn ‘Abbas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma) said: “This is the wife of Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), so when you lift her bier, do not shake her or disturb her, but be gentle.” Ibn ‘Abbas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma) offered the funeral prayer over her and he and Yazeed ibn al-Asamm (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma) and ‘Abdullah ibn Shaddad ibn Had (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma) – who were her nephews – entered her grave, along with ‘Abdullah ibn al-Khawlani, who was an orphan in her house.