Biography of JUWAYRIYAH BINT AL-HARITH (رضي الله عنها)

JUWAYRIYAH BINT AL-HARITH (رضي الله عنها) 

Juwayriyah bint al-Harith bin Abi Dirar al-Mustaliqiyyah. 

Juwayriyah bint al-Harith was previously known as Barrah before her name was changed when she became Muslim. 

A'ishah said about Juwayriyah: 

وَكَانَتْ امْرَأَةٌ حُلْوَةٌ مُلاحَةً، لَا يَرَاهَا أَحَدٌ إِلَّا أَخَذَتْ بِنَفْسِهِ. 

She was a sweet woman with extreme beauty, no one would look at her except that he would be captivated.

Her tribe Banul Mustaliq: 

Juwayriyah belonged to the tribe of Banul-Mustaliq, and her father al-Harith was the leader of the tribe, a noble man obeyed by his people.

At that time, the tribe of Banul-Mustaliq was pagan.

Al-Harith intended to attack the Muslims in 5 AH, this became known as the Battle of al-Muraysï'.

During this battle, the Muslims were victorious, only losing one man.

The tribe of Banul-Mustaliq was defeated and their women were taken captive. 

Abu Qilabah narrates:

"After their defeat, the leader of the tribe, Juwayriyah's father al-Harith came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, The like of my daughter is not taken captive, I am too honorable for this to happen."

The Prophet ﷺ said to her father, 'What do you think if I were to choose her?'

Her father went to her and said,

"This man has chosen you, so do not disgrace us' (meaning, do not marry him).

She said to him, 'Verily, I choose Allah and His Messenger.'

Her father replied, 'By Allah, you have disgraced us.'"

Her Freedom: 

A'ishah said,

"Juwayriyah bint al-Harith al-Mustaliqiyyah fell to the lot of Thabit bin Qays bin Shammas.

She entered into an agreement to purchase her freedom.

She was a very beautiful woman, most attractive to the eye.

She then came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ asking him for the purchase of her freedom.

When she was standing at the door, I looked at her with disapproval.

I realized that the Messenger of Allah would look at her in the same way that I had looked. 

"She said, 'Messenger of Allah, I am Juwayriyah bint al-Harith, and something has happened to me which is not hidden from you.

I have fallen to the lot of Thabit bin Qays bin Shammas, and I have entered into an agreement to purchase my freedom.

I have come to you to seek assistance for the purchase of my freedom.' 

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

'Are you inclined to that which is better?'

She asked, 'What is that, Messenger of Allah?'

He replied, 'I shall pay the price of freedom on your behalf, and I shall marry you. 

"She said, 'I shall do this.'

The people then heard that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had married Juwayriyah.

They released the captives in their possession and set them free, saying, "They are the in-laws of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

We did not see any woman greater than Juwayriyah who brought blessings to her people.

One hundred families of Banul-Mustaliq were set free on account of her." 

Shu'bah said,

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ freed Juwayriyah, sought her hand in marriage, and made her dowry the freedom of all the captives of her people from the tribe of Banul-Muştaliq." 

Juwayriyah said,

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ married me when I was 20 years old."

Her Father, al-Harith bin Abi Dirar: 

Ibn Ishaq said in Al-Maghazi:

"The father of Juwayriyah came to Madinah after she had married the Prophet ﷺ, attempting to purchase her release from him by giving him camels in exchange for her.

Before reaching Madinah, he looked at two of his camels and desired to keep those two for himself, so he hid them in the valley of 'Aqiq.

When he reached the Prophet ﷺ he said,

'O Muhammad, this is payment to release my daughter.'

The Prophet ﷺ responded,

'Where are the other two camels you hid in 'Aqiq?'

Al-Harith said, 'I bear witness that nothing has the right to be worshiped except Allah and you are the Messenger of Allah!

I swear by Allah, no one saw me hide them except Allah.'

Thus, he entered Islam along with his two sons and a large contingent from among his people."

Her Death:

The Mother of the Believers Juwayriyah bint al-Harith died in 50 AH, this would put her age at 70 at the time of her death.

Others say she died in 56 AH, this would put her age at 75 at the time of her death. 

She narrated seven ahadith and she was known as a devout worshiper, she prayed, fasted, and remembered Allah much. 

Some of Her Well-Known Narrations:

Juwayriyah narrated: 

The Prophet ﷺ visited her (Juwayriyah) on a Friday and she was fasting.

He asked her, "Did you fast yesterday?"

She said, "No."

He said, "Do you intend to fast tomorrow?"

She said, "No."

He said, "Then break your fast." 

Juwayriyah bint al-Harith narrated:

The Prophet ﷺ left her house one morning while she was in her prayer place, supplicating.

He came back close to midday, and she was still sitting there.

He said, "Are you still as you were when I left you?"

She said, "Yes."

The Prophet ﷺ said, "I said four sentences three times, if weighed against what you said today, they would outweigh it.

'Allah is free from all imperfection as much as the number of His creation, as much as pleases Him, as much as the weight of His Throne, and as much as the ink of His words.' 

End.

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