Halima al-Sa'diyya: Difference between revisions

'''Halima al-Sa'diyya''' is the Prophet's (s) [[foster mother]]. She fed the Prophet (s) after [[Thuwayba]]. Soon after she started nursing the Prophet (s), many blessing showed up in her life. The Prophet (s) stayed in [[Bani Sa'd]] tribe until he was 4 or 5. Historians related the fabricated event of "Shaqq al-Sadr" to this period. The Prophet (s) respected Halima, and in several occasions helped her generously.

Her father was [[Abu Dhu'ayb b. Harith b. Shijna Sa'di]] from Sa'd b. Bakr b. Hawazin tribe.

Her husband was [[Harith b. ‘Abd al-‘Uzza]] who was nicknamed as Abu Kabsha.  Apparently this is one of the reasons [[Quraysh]] called the Prophet (s) as "Ibn Abi Kabsha".

Halima [[wet-nursed]] the Prophet (s) after Thuwayba ([[Abu Lahab]]'s handmaiden) fed him for a few days.

Because the Prophet (s) had spent his infancy and childhood in Bani Sa'd b, Bakr b, Hawazin tribe; he considered himself as the most eloquent Arab.

==Wet-nursing Muhammad==

Bani Sa'd suffered from a severe famine, so Halima and nine other women of the tribe headed to Mecca to make a living by wet-nursing children of wealthy tribes of Mecca. Due to poverty and famine her camel was very weak and skinny so she was left behind and consequently arrived late to Mecca. When she arrived the grandson of [[‘Abd al-Muttalib]] was the only child left, because he was an orphan and they were afraid not to receive an appropriate fee.

Immediately after she accepted wet-nursing of the Prophet (s) blessings showed up in her life. Her milk that was barely enough for her own child, due to poverty, now was easily fed the Prophet (s) and his son. Even her emaciated camel overflowed with milk and got so strong that she overtook other women on the way back. While other wet-nurses were wondering about the reason of these sudden changes in her life, Halima believed that they were because of the child of [[Bani Hashim]], and she repeated that several times. Halima wet-nursed Muhammad.

==Emphasizing on keeping Muhammad==

When [[Muhammad (s)]] was 2, she weaned him and took him to Mecca to his mother, [[Amina Bint Wahb]]. Since the child Muhammad caused Halima's herd of sheep to be more productive than any other's in Bani Sa'd, she preferred to keep the child with her. Eventually, at her insistence and also because of the outbreak of cholera in Mecca; Amina was convinced to let Halima take care of her baby again for a few more years.

It is said that when Muhammad was living with Halima, a strange incident happened to the child Muhammad (s), which is known as "Shaqq al-sadr" (split of the chest). Man-like angels dressed in white appeared, split his chest, took a dark clot out of his heart, washed it in a gold tub, put it back in his chest and then healed his chest. His [[foster brother]], who witnessed this in a valley near their house, informed Halima frantically.

The prophet Muhammad (s) was among Bani Sa'd tribe for 4 or 5 years and then Halima returned him to [[Amina bint Wahab|his mother]] and grandfather, [[‘Abd al-Muttalib]].

A few years after Muhammad (s) married [[Khadija]] (s), Halima went to him in Mecca complaining about the difficulties of life. The Prophet (s) talked with Khadija about her and Khadija gave her some sheep and camels. After emergence of [[Islam]], Halima and her husband came to the Prophet (s), converted to Islam and swore allegiance to him. Sometimes, when Halima visited the Prophet (s), he laid his cloak on the ground –as a sign of respect-, so that she would sit on it.

After [[Hawazin]] were defeated in [[the battle of Hunayn]], the Prophet (s) renounced all Bani Hashim and his shares of booties and slaves, due to his respect for Halima, his relation with that tribe and the request of her [[foster sister]], [[Shayma']]. Consequently, all the [[Companions]] did the same to have followed the Prophet (s).

According to one narration, Halima passed away before the [[conquest of Mecca]] by Muslims in [[Ramadan]] of [[8 A.H.]] (January of [[630]]). After the conquest of Mecca when Prophet (s) visited Shayma' –his foster sister- asked her about Halima and she told him that she has passed away. Prophet's (s) eyes filled with tears as he heard the news and then asked about her next of kin. Afterward Shayma' asked him a favor and the Prophet (s) fulfilled her request.

But another narration reports that after the battle of Hunayn in [[Shawwal]] 8 A.H. (February of 630), Halima came to the Prophet (s) in [[Ji'rana]] and he respected her.

There is also a narration which says that Halima experienced the caliphate period of [[Abu Bakr]] and [[‘Umar]] and they treated her with respect.