Umm Ayman: Difference between revisions

Umm Ayman (امّ ایمن) is the [[kuniya]] of Barakat bt. Tha’labat b. ‘Amr, was one of the companions of [[the Prophet]] (s). She was freed by the Prophet (s) and was the mother of [[Usamat b. Zayd]].

After the demise of the Prophet (s) and confiscation of [[Fadak]] by [[Abu Bakr]], she was the only person who bore witness with [[Imam Ali]] (a) that the Prophet (s) has given Fadak to [[Fatima]] (s).

Baraka bint Tha’labi b. ‘Amr, known as Umm Ayman, was the [[Abyssinian]] female servant of [[‘Abd Allah b. ‘Abd al-Muttalib]] (the father of the Prophet (s)) or his wife, [[Amina]]. After the demise of ‘Abd Allah and Amina, [[the Prophet (s)]] inherited her from his parents.

After that Amina passed away in [[Abwa’]], Umm Ayman looked after [[Muhammad]] (s) until he arrived in [[Mecca]]. She also took care of him for years until he grew up. ‘Abd al-Muttalib told Umm Ayman to take care of his grandson (Muhammad), because the [[Followers of the Books]] (Jews and Christians) think that my grandson will be the prophet of this nation.

When the Prophet (s) want to marry [[Khadija]], he liberated Umm Ayman and she married [[‘Ubayd b. Zayd al-Khazraji]] and she gave birth to [[Ayman]]. That is why she is called “Umm Ayman” (mother of Ayman). After a while ‘Ubayd passed away; she married [[Zayd b. Haritha]], who was liberated and then adopted by the Prophet (s) as his son. It was after this marriage that she gave birth to [[Usamat b. Zayd]].

The Prophet (s) like her very much. It is said that he sometimes called her “mother”. There are some narrations about her elite status in the Prophet’s eyes. The Prophet (s) went to her house to visit her. Also, [[Abu Bakr]] and [[‘Umar]] -following the Prophet (s)- did this. In some hadith sources, there is a chapter about Umm Ayman’s virtues. In some Shi’a sources, she was mentioned with honour and respect. The Prophet (s) introduced her as one of the Heavenly women. After the demise of the Prophet and confiscation of [[Fadak]] by [[Abu Bakr]], she was the only person who bore witness with [[Imam Ali]] (a) that the Prophet (s) has given Fadak to [[Fatima]] (s).

She has narrated some [[Hadith]]s and narrators such as, [[Anas b. Malik]], [[Abu Yazid al-Madani]] and [[Hansh b. ‘Abd Allah al-San’ani]] have narrated hadiths from her.

The exact date of Umm Ayman’s demise is unknown. Some said that she passed away about 5 months after the demise of the Prophet (s). But according to [[Ibn Sa’d]]’s report, she was alive until the beginning of the [[Caliphate]] of [[‘Uthman]] (23/644).