Background
No precise information is available as to how this young Abyssinian girl ended up for sale in Mecca. Neither do we have any substantial record regarding her antecedents. There were many like her, boys and girls, Arabs and non-Arabs, who were captured and brought to be sold in the slave market of the city. A formidable fate awaited some that ended up in the hands of merciless masters or mistresses who exploited their labour to the full and treated them with unlimited callousness and brutality. A few in that inhuman environment were rather more fortunate. They were taken into the homes of more gentle and caring people. Barakah, the young Abyssinian girl of only 10 or 13 years of age being neither attractive nor beautiful, was the most fortunate one as the generous and kind hearted Hazrat Abdullah, the son of Abdul Muttalib, saved her. She became the only servant in his household and when he was married, to Hazrat Aminah, she looked after her affairs as well.
Life with Hazrat Aminah
According to Barakah, Hazrat Abdullah married a young and a beautiful girl Aminah bint Wahib who was only 17 years and according to few other writers was 18 years old. Shortly after the couple was married Hazrat Abdullah’s father came to their house and instructed his son to go with a trading caravan that was leaving for Syria. Hazrat Aminah a shy, tender and soft-spoken wife was deeply distressed and cried, “How can my husband go on a trading journey to Syria while I am yet a bride and the traces of henna are still on my hands”. Never had I seen such grief as I saw at that moment in Hazrat Aminah’s eyes. Her distress knew no bounds and her heart cried out at this unfair decision. She fainted with anguish and sadness at her husband’s departure and my young heart bled for her. I shouted with distress for never in my so short years of life had I seen so much love and emotions encompassed in a woman.
She remained bed ridden for a long time; she spoke to no one except her husband’s father who worried greatly about her. Two months after Hazrat Abdullah’s departure, one day I heard Hazrat Aminah calling me in a happy tone. I rushed to her side only to stop with stunned surprise at her appearance for I saw such life in her at that moment it was as if someone had breathed life into her and I felt as if my old mistress was back. There was such ecstasy on her face that it actually glowed with the beauty of it. And then she told me of a dream in which she saw lights coming from her abdomen and lighting up the mountains, the hills and the valleys around Mecca. Hesitantly and with fear that she would take offence I asked her that if she was pregnant to which far from being offended at the audacity of a slave she had joyously nodded and her beautiful face had shined with the knowledge. I told her that perhaps the dream meant that she would be blessed with a child who would bring benevolence and kindness. However the news of her pregnancy did not cause the glow and happiness to remain for long.
As long as Hazrat Abdullah was away, Hazrat Aminah remained sad and melancholic. I stayed at her side trying to ease and comfort her and make her cheerful by talking to her and relating stories. But the loneliness of her heart could not diminish and deep in my heart I suppose I too realized the futility of my efforts but the young heart refused to acclaim defeat and I trudged on and on. However she kept on longing desperately to see her husband.
Hazrat Aminah became even more distressed when Abd al-Muttalib came and told her that she had to leave her home and go to the mountains as other Meccans had done because of an impending attack on the city by the ruler of Yemen, Abrahah. Hazrat Aminah told him that she was too grief-stricken and weak to leave for the mountains and she insisted that Abrahah could never enter Mecca and destroy the Ka’bah because the Lord protected it. Abdul Muttalib became very agitated but there was no sign of fear on Hazrat Aminah’s face. Her confidence that the Ka’bah would not be harmed was well founded. Abrahah’s army with an elephant in the vanguard was destroyed before it could even enter Mecca.
I stayed day and night with her and slept at the foot of her bed. Nothing held any value to me, my life had just one mission and that was to keep this gentle lady safe and although I did not in any way compensate for her husband I tried to provide her with all the love and affection that I was capable of.
Demise of Hazrat Abdullah
The first part of the caravan from Syria returned and was joyously welcomed by the trading families of Mecca. Barakah went secretly to the house of Abdul Muttalib to find out about Hazrat Abdullah. There she came to know that Hazrat Abdullah was seriously ill and being looked after by the members of Banu Najjar tribe in Medinah. The father being deeply in love with his youngest son immediately sent his son Harithah and according to few other writers it was Zubair to Medinah. She went back to Hazrat Aminah but did not tell her what she had seen or heard in order not to distress her. Later, Barakah was at Abdul Muttalib’s house when the news came from Yathrib (Medinah) that Hazrat Abdullah had died. She could not control her emotions and started to cry. She ran towards Hazrat Aminah’s house shouting, lamenting for the absent one who would never return, grieving for the beloved one for whom Hazrat Aminah waited so long, weeping for the most beautiful youth of Mecca, for Hazrat Abdullah, the pride of the Quraish. When the news regarding the death of her beloved husband reached Hazrat Aminah, she could not bear the unrecoverable loss and fainted. Barakah stayed by her bedside while she was in a state between life and death. She nursed her and looked after her during the day and through the long nights until she gave birth to her child, “Muhammad”, on a night in which the heavens were resplendent with the light of God.
Birth of Muhammad-The Holy Prophet
When The Holy Prophet was born in the year 570 or 571, Barakah was the first to hold him in her arms. His grandfather came, took him to the Ka’bah, and with all Mecca, celebrated his birth. Barakah stayed with Hazrat Aminah while the young child was sent to the badiyah with Halimah who looked after him in the bracing atmosphere of the open desert. At the end of five and according to some writers six years, he was brought back to Mecca, Hazrat Aminah received him with tenderness and love and Barakah welcomed him with joy, longing and admiration.
Hazrat Aminah Joins The Eternal Life
When The Holy Prophet was six years old, his mother decided to visit the grave of her husband, Hazrat Abdullah, in Yathrib. Both Barakah and Abd al-Muttalib tried to dissuade her but Hazrat Aminah was adamant and determined to go. So in the year 577 AD one morning the three of them set off – Hazrat Aminah, the young child and Barakah in a small hawdaj mounted on a camel, which was part of a large caravan that was departing for Syria. In order to shield the tender child from any pain and worry, Hazrat Aminah did not tell the young child that she was going to visit the grave of his father. Though the caravan was moving at a brisk pace, but Hazrat Aminah’s heart desired to reach as soon as possible and with every hour that brought her close to Yathrib, her heart ached and her eyes became wet. It was only Barakah who tried to console her and asked her to hide her feelings and the wetness of her eyes for her son’s sake. During the entire journey where Hazrat Aminah was lost in her own thoughts it was Barakah who was nursing the young child.
After a tiresome journey of ten days they reached the destination. The Holy Prophet was left with his maternal uncle of the Banu Najjar while Hazrat Aminah went to visit the grave of Hazrat Abdullah. Each day for a few weeks she stayed at the grave crying and remembering the few days that she had with her husband, which had seemed like an eternity. Deep down she felt marooned and the pain and grief did not let her recover. Thus on her way back to Mecca, she became seriously ill. On a pitch-dark night when the caravan was halfway between Yathrib (Medinah) and Mecca, at a place called Al-Abwa, Hazrat Aminah’s health started to deteriorate rapidly. She was running a very high temperature and in that state she called out to Barakah in a choking voice: “She whispered in my ear: ‘O Barakah, I shall depart from this world shortly. I commend my son Muhammad to your care. He lost his father while he was in my womb. Here he is now, losing his mother under his very eyes. Be a mother to him, Barakah. And don’t ever leave him. My heart was shattered and I began to sob and wail. The child was distressed by my wailing and began to weep. He threw himself into his mother’s arms and held tightly onto her neck. She gave one last moan and then was silent forever. Barakah wept bitterly and with her own hands she dug a grave in the sand and buried Hazrat Aminah, moistening the grave with whatever tears were left in her heart.
Life with The Holy Prophet
Barakah returned with the orphan child to Mecca and placed him in the care of his grandfather. She stayed at his house to look after him. Two years later when Abd al-Muttalib died she went with the child to the house of his uncle Abu Talib and continued to look after his needs until he grew and married Hazrat Khadijah. Barakah then stayed with the Prophet and Hazrat Khadijah.
One day the Prophet may Allah bless him and grant him peace, called out to her and said: “Ya Ummah!” (He always called her “Mother”.) “Now I am a married man, and you are still unmarried. What do you think if someone should come now and ask to marry you?” Barakah looked at the Prophet and said: “I shall never leave you. Does a mother abandon her son?” The Holy Prophet smiled and kissed her head. He looked at his wife Hazrat Khadijah and said to her: “This is Barakah. This is my mother after my own mother. She is the rest of my family.” Then Hazrat Khadijah said to her: “Barakah, you have sacrificed your youth for the sake of the Prophet. Now he wants to pay back some of his obligations to you. For my sake and his, agree to be married before old age overtakes you.” Whom shall I marry, my lady?” asked Barakah. “Ubayd ibn Zayd from the Khazraj tribe of Yathrib has come to us seeking your hand in marriage. For my sake, don’t refuse.”
First Marriage
Barakah agreed to be wed to Ubayd ibn Zayd and went with him to Yathrib. There she gave birth to a son whom she called Ayman and from that time onwards people called her “Umm Ayman” the mother of Ayman. Her marriage however did not last very long. Her husband died and she returned once more to Mecca to live with her “son” Muhammad in the house of Hazrat Khadijah.
Second Marriage
Zayd was an Arab from the tribe of Kazah who was captured as a boy and brought to Mecca to be sold in the slave market. He was bought by Hazrat Khadijah’s nephew and put in her service. In Hazrat Khadijah’s household, Zayd became attached to the Prophet and devoted himself to his service. Their relationship was like that of a son to a father. Indeed when Zayd’s father came to Mecca in search of him, Zayd was given the choice by the Prophet of either going with his father or staying with him. Zayd’s reply to his father was: “I shall never leave this man. He has treated me nobly, as a father would treat his son. Not a single day have I felt that I am a slave. He has looked after me well. He is kind and loving towards me and strives for my enjoyment and happiness. He is the noblest of men and the greatest person in creation. How can I leave him and go with you? I shall never leave him.”
Later, in public the Prophet proclaimed the freedom of Zayd. However, Zayd continued to live with him as part of his household and devoted himself to his service. When he was blessed with Prophet-hood, Barakah and Zayd were among the first to believe in the message he proclaimed. They bore with the early Muslims the persecution, which the Quraish meted out to them.
One night the non-believers blocked off the roads leading to the house of al-Arqam where the Prophet gathered his companions regularly to instruct them in the teachings of Islam. Barakah had some urgent information from Hazrat Khadijah, which had to be conveyed to the Prophet. She risked her life trying to reach the house of al-Arqam. When she arrived and conveyed the message to the Prophet, he smiled and said to her: “You are blessed, Umm Ayman. Surely you have a place in Paradise.” When Umm Ayman left, the Prophet looked at his companions and asked: “Should one of you desire to marry a woman from the people of Paradise, let him marry Umm Ayman.” All the companions remained silent and did not utter a word. Umm Ayman was neither beautiful nor attractive. She was by now about fifty years old and looked rather frail. Zayd ibn al-Harithah however came forward and said: “Messenger of Allah, I shall marry Umm Ayman. By Allah, she is better than women who have grace and beauty.”
Children
Zayd and Umm Ayman were married and were blessed with a son whom they named Usama. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, loved Usama as his own son. Often he played with him, kissed him and fed him with his own hands. The Muslims would say: “He is the beloved son of the beloved.” From an early age Usama distinguished himself in the service of Islam, and was later given ample responsibilities by the Prophet.
Barakah Migrates to Madinah
When the Prophet migrated to Yathrib, henceforth to be known as Al-Madinah, he left Umm Ayman behind in Mecca to look after certain special affairs in his household. Eventually she migrated to Madinah on her own. She made the long and difficult journey through the desert and mountainous terrain on foot. The heat was killing and sandstorms obscured the way but she persisted, borne along by her deep love and attachment for Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace. When she reached Medinah, her feet were sore and swollen and her face was covered with sand and dust. “Ya Umm Ayman! Ya Ummi! (O Umm Ayman! O my mother!) Indeed for you is a place in Paradise!” exclaimed the Prophet when he saw her. He wiped her face and eyes, massaged her feet and rubbed her shoulders with his kind and gentle hands.
Barakah’s Services for Islam
In Mecca Barakah and Zayd performed invaluable services to the mission of the Prophet. They acted as part of an intelligence service exposing themselves to the persecution and punishment of the Quraish and risking their lives to gain information on the plans and conspiracies of the non-believers. At Medinah, Umm Ayman played her full part in the affairs of the Muslims. At Uhud she distributed water to the thirsty and nursed the wounded. She also accompanied the Prophet on few expeditions and among them Khaybar and Hunan are of great significance.
Her son Ayman from the first husband was a devoted companion of the Prophet was martyred at Hunan in the eighth year after the Hijrah. Barakah’s husband, Zayd, was killed at the Battle of Mutah in Syria after a lifetime of distinguished service to the Prophet and Islam. Barakah at this time was about seventy years old and spent much of her time at home. The Prophet, accompanied by Abu Bakr and Umar often visited her and asked: “Ya Ummi! Are you well?” and she would reply:” I am well, O Messenger of Allah so long as Islam is well.”
Joining the Life Hereafter
After the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had died, Barakah would often be found with tears in her eyes. She was once asked, “Why are you crying?” and she replied: “By Allah, I knew that the Messenger of Allah would die but I cry now because the coming of the revelation from Allah has come to an end for us”. Barakah was unique in that she was the only one who was so close to the Prophet throughout his life from birth till death. Her life was one of selfless service in the Prophet’s household. She remained deeply devoted to the person of the noble, gentle and caring Prophet. Above all, her devotion to the religion of Islam was strong and unshakeable. She died during the caliphate of Usman. Though her roots were unknown but her place in Paradise was assured.
