Ash-Shaymaa' … The Prophet's sister

17/03/2011| IslamWeb

She used to play with the Prophet, , and sing saying:

O our Lord keep Muhammad for us … till I see him grown up and prosperous

Then I see him becoming a leading master … and suppress his enemy and envier

And grant him an everlasting might and valor

 

Abu 'Urwah Al-Azdi used to chant these verses of poetry and say: " Allah Has responded to her supplication in the best manner"

 

Her name was Huthaafah bint Al-Haarith, known as Ash-Shaymaa', may Allah be pleased with her. She was the sister of the Prophet, , by suckling, as they both suckled from (her blood mother) Haleemah As-Sa'diyyah, may Allah be pleased with her.

 

Ash-Shaymaa', may Allah be pleased with her, loved her brother, , dearly and would follow up with his news step by step. When she, may Allah be pleased with her, heard about his mission and Prophethood, she immediately believed in him and supported him, , because she saw that his call calls for peace, love, security, tolerance and compassion between people.

 

When the Prophet, , attacked the tribe of Hawaazin (her tribe) and Bnu Sa'd were defeated, she was taken as one of the war captives and she had grown old and weak, and her feature changed.

 

As the Muslims took her in, she told the man who took her as captive: "I am the sister of your Companion (I.e. the Prophet, )"

 

When they presented her to the Prophet, , she said to him: "O Muhammad! I am your sister" and then she gave a sign by which he, , recognized her.

 

He , , welcomed her and was very hospitable to her and spread his garment for her to sit on. He, , said to her, as his eyes shed tears: "If you chose to go back to your tribe, I will send, and if you chose to stay with us, then you will live honored, loved and respected amongst us" she replied: "I prefer to go back" then she, may Allah be pleased with her, embraced Islam, and the Prophet, , gifted her a camel, a two servants (a male and a female) to show her respect and honor. (Seerat Ibn Hishaam).

 

When the Prophet, , died the tribe of Sa'd (her tribe, may Allah be pleased with her) apostated and she had a very courageous stance towards them in defense of Islam, until Allah pulled them out of this trial of apostasy and they went back to Islam.

 

She, may Allah be pleased with her, was a devout worshipper and was famous as a poet who supported and defended Islam and the messenger, , with her poetry, and she remained as such until she died, may Allah be pleased with her.