*uwayriyah bint al-Harith: From a war captive to mother of the believers

Juwayriyah bint al-Harith (RA) was born with high status among the Banu al-Mustaliq. She was a daughter of Al-Harith ibn Abu Dhirar, a tribal head of the Banu al-Mustaliq. The Banu al-Mustaliq were allies of the pagan Quraysh of Makkah.In 626 AD (6AH), the Banu al-Mustaliq planned an attack on the Muslims, and when the news reached the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), he assembled the Muslim army for the battle.The two armies eventually met at a watering place called al-Muraysi. The Banu al-Mustaliq suffered defeat at the hands of the Muslims. Many of their warriors, including Al-Harith, their chief, and Juwayriyah, his daughter, were taken captive.This defeat of her tribe drastically changed how Juwayriyah (RA) saw her life going. She was given as a slave to Thaabit ibn Qays, but given the status she enjoyed as a princess among the Banu al-Mustaliq, this was an unacceptable fate to her.She did not shrink from the challenge before her. She approached Thaabit ibn Qays to negotiate for her release.She agreed on a sum for her freedom but did not know how she, once a chief’s daughter and now a penniless slave, could attain such wealth.Still, she did not buckle under the weight of her perceived fate. She petitioned and insisted on seeing the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). When she went to the Prophet (PBUH) she pleaded her case.

This led to her conversion to Islam and then to her marriage with the Prophet.Aisha, the Prophet’s wife, narrated that:“When the news of this marriage came to the people, they began saying, “Will the Prophet’s in-laws be held as captives?”Then the people freed all the captives that were with them from the tribe of Banu al-Mustaliq, and the number of those who were freed reached one hundred households because of the Prophet’s marriage to Juwayriyah.” It is no surprise that the same woman who demanded her freedom and, in doing so, attained the freedom and property of her people would be the same woman to tell Umar bin Khattab to deal with her justly.After the demise of the Prophet (PBUH) both Abu Bakar Siddiq (RA) and Umar—the first and second caliphs, respectively—granted all the Prophet’s wives 12,000 dirhams as a pension. It is reported that Umar had wanted to give Juwairiyah and Safiyah 6,000 dirhams each, but they refused, demanding to be treated like the other wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Umar ultimately granted them the 12,000 dirhams pension.Juwayriyya spent most of her time in worship and remembrance of Allah. It was narrated that, “early one morning the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) left her room while she was doing the dawn prayer. He returned later that morning and she was still sitting in the same place. Juwayriyah was a woman of strength who knew her own worth. She spoke her mind, stood up for her people, and refused to be treated with inequality.