The Al-Fateh Mosque (Bahrain)

A Prominent Sahabiya

(Female Companion of the Prophet Mohammad (SAW)

Hazrat Um Immarah Nusaybah, the Brave Worrier

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Her name is Ummu ‘Immarah Nusaybah bint ka’ab ibn ‘Amr al-Ansaariyyah, who was known as Umm `Immarah. She was married to Zaid ibn `Asim before Islam and has given birth to her sons Habib and `Abdullah. Later, she was married to the believing Mujahid Ghuzayyah ibn `Amr who fathered Tamim and Khawlah.

With distinct achievements attributed to her name, She is known for participating in significant events surrounding the Muslims at that time, including the battle of Uhud where she used herself as a human shield in protection of the Prophets, (RA) life. Her life boasts, with Allah’s grace, of Iman, courage and heroism, making her a fine example and role model for her sisters in Islam to follow for generations to come.

Ibn Hajar, (RA), says: She (Umm `Imarah) witnessed the pledge of `Aqabah and she also pledged allegiance. She participated in the battles of Uhud, Hudaybiyah and Khyber and participated in `Umrah Al-
Qadaa`. She also witnessed the victory of Makkah and participated in the battles of Hunayn and Yamamah.
Known as the second Aqabah pledge, Nusaybah bint Ka’ab, (RA), was only one of two women, who joined a group of 73 men to travel to Makkah and pledge allegiance to the Prophet, peace be upon him, to believe in Allah alone and not to associate other with Him, they also pledged themselves to jihad in complete obedience to the Prophet in ease, hardship and harsh circumstances.

The following narration gives an insight of the true responsibility of this pledge and how this woman, along with her fellow companions, fulfilled and shouldered the responsibility that this pledge required. The uncle of the Prophet, al-‘Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib was first to speak at the historic meeting which changed the whole course of the struggle between Islam and paganism. He said: “ O you people of the Khazraj [...] all of you know the position that Muhammad holds among us. We have protected him from our people as much as we could. He is honoured and
respected among his people. He refuses to join any part except you. So, if you think you can carry out what our promise while inviting him to your town, and if you can defend him against the enemies, then assume the burden that you have taken. But if you are going to surrender him and betray him after having him away with you, you had better leave him now because he is respected and well defended in his own place.”

Ka’ab (the narrator of the hadith) replied “We have heard your words and now, O messenger of Allah, it is for you to speak and take from us any pledge that you want regarding your Lord and yourself.” Imam Ahmad recorded from Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated: “We said ‘O Messenger of Allah! To what shall we pledge?’ The Prophet, peace be upon him, answered:

1. To listen and obey in all difficulty and ease.
2. To spend in plenty as well as in scarcity
3. To enjoin good and forbid evil
4. In Allah’s service, you will fear the censure of none.
5. To aid me when I come to you, and protect me from anything you protect yourself, your spouses and children from, then paradise is install for you.’”

It was a definite response showing full determination, courage and deep faith to shoulder the great and fearsome responsibility and bear it series consequences.

 Allah’s messenger, peace be upon him then preached the faith and the pledge was taken.

Nusaybah bint Ka’ab, may Allah be pleased with her, proved truthful to her pledge on more than one occasion the most outstanding, being the event at Uhud where true heroism shined through, for she shielded the Prophet, peace be upon him, with her own body in a moment of mishap on part of the Muslim army. Nusyabah, may Allah be pleased with her, went out carrying water, offering medical aid to the wounded and tendering to their needs. But as the battle raged, and the Muslims, who initially had the upper hand suddenly found themselves in a vulnerable position due to a hasty mistake they made, found themselves suddenly weakened. Chaos thus broke out, leaving the Messenger, peace be upon him, unprotected and his life consequently at stake. In attempt to make the Muslim army regroup and work their way through the hills of Uhud, towards the encompassed army, The Messenger raised his noble voice calling unto his companions “O servants of Allah.” He did that knowing that it would reach the idolaters before his companions, risking his life in this delicate situation. The idolater heard his voice and taking advantage of his vulnerable position; they concentrated their attack on the Prophet and looked forward to killing him with
all their power before any of his companions ran to his aid.

As soon as the companion’s did arrive, they encircled the messenger with their bodies and weapons and were alert enough to prevent the enemies from reaching him, among them, Nusaybah bint Ka’ab. Her heroism on this day a plan example to those, both men and women, who wish to emulate her, for when she saw the Messenger, peace be upon him, in trouble, whose molar teeth was broken and he was injured in the face, she, along with a group of other companions, helped to form a human shield around the Messenger.

Umm `Imarah narrated what happened in Uhud saying, "I went out in the forenoon with a water vessel in my hand. I came to the Messenger of Allah, while he was with his Companions and the Muslims were about to win the war. But
when Muslims were later defeated, I moved to the side of the Messenger of Allah (whose molar teeth was broken and he was injured in the face). I engaged in fighting and started protecting the Messenger of Allah, with the sword while shooting arrows until I was wounded."

Umm Sa`d bint Sa`d ibnAr-Rabi`who reported this speech said: "And I saw a deep and hollow injury in her shoulder."
This deep injury was caused by the enemy of Allah, Ibn Qami'ah who tried to kill the Prophet, but Umm`Imarah defended the Prophet and received a heavy strike by sword, then she attacked Ibn Qami'ah by striking him by sword repeatedly. In addition to thirteen other wounds, she suffered this deep wound which she continued to nurse for the rest of her life until she died.

She stood firm defending the Messenger of Allah, and he saw her around him defending him gloriously. She took a shield from an escapee, then some knight from the enemies was moving closer to her and hit her with his sword, but she used the shield cleverly then hit the hock of the horse and the knight fell down. At that time the Prophet called upon her son to help her until they both killed that knight. The compassionate Prophet said, "May Allah bless
this house hold! May Allah be merciful toward you!" He also said, "The stance of Nusaybah bint Ka`ab is better than so-and-so" Umm `Imarah received this call, not only with her ears, but with her entire being and feelings. She also felt it with all her senses and from within her love of faith that flourished in her heart. She then said: "O Messenger of Allah, invoke Allah to make us your companions in Paradise."That was the goal she was aspiring for in this world and in the Hereafter.

Therein, the Prophet, supplicated for her saying, "O Allah, make them (Umm `Imarah and her family) my companions in Paradise. "Umm `Imarah said: "After this supplication, I do not care about whatever happens." Commenting on her bravery and sacrifice `Umar ibn Al-Khattaab (RA) narrates to us from the Messenger of Allah, his noble saying, "Whenever I turned left or right on the Day of Uhud, I could always see her (Umm `Imarah) fighting in my defense."

The supplication of the Prophet actualized on the entire household of Umm `Imarah. Her sons `Abdullah and Habeeb were martyred in the way of Allah. She also had an invocation directly from the Messenger of Allah, and from his noble heart, that served as a provision for her in the remaining years of her life and as a light throughout the darkness of nights and days and with which she dispelled the darkness of events, making her a radiating model. Besides the medal that Umm `Imarah carried since the battle of Uhud and the invocation that the Prophet made for her, Such determined also extended to after the death of the prophet, During the time of Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq’s (RA) Khalifat Where she went to seek permission to join the expedition of Khalid bin Walid against Musallamah al-Kadhdhaab (The Liar), who claimed to be a Prophet in the battle of Yamamah.

Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) said, ‘We know your worth in war, so go out in the name of Allah.’ She was wounded in eleven different places and had her hand cut off. Her son Habeeb was also tortured at the hands of Musallamah and was martyred at that expedition.

After the battle was over it was Khalid ibn Waleed who came to treat her hand with hot oil to seal the wound and stop her bleeding. The hot oil was even more painful than having her hand cut off. The scholarly aspect of Umm `Imarah 's life also had its place and importance. She was a narrator of Hadith with excellent memory. Some of her narrations contained Islamic jurisprudence. For example, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah reported in their Sunan on the authority of Umm `Imarah that the Messenger of Allah, visited her and she presented some food to him. The Prophet told her, "Eat" She said: "I am fasting." The Prophet then said: "If food is eaten in the house of a fasting person, the angels will invoke blessing on him."

Al-Waqidi reported that Umm `Imarah said: "Men were shaking the hands of the Messenger of Allah, in the night of (the pledge of) `Aqabah while Al-`Abbas (his uncle) was holding the Prophet's hand. When it was only me and Umm Manee`, my husband, Ghuzayyah ibn `Amr, said: “O Messenger of Allah, these are two women who came with us to pledge their allegiance to you.” The Prophet said: “I have accepted their pledge to what I accepted your pledge to, for I do not shake women's hands. ’”

At-Tirmidhi narrated that she came to the Prophet (SAW) and said: "I see that everything is directed to men, and that women are not mentioned at all" so, the verse (For Muslim men and women, for believing men and women…) (Al-Ahzab 33:35) was revealed.

Hazrat Umm ‘Immarah (RA) also witnessed and participated in Hudaybiyah and Khyber and participated in `Umrah Al-Qadaa`. She also witnessed the victory of Makkah and participated in the battle of Hunayn. She was also tested through her son Habeeb who was tortured at the hands by Musailimah the Liar, after defyingly refusing to accept his claim of Prophet Hood. As a result Habeeb had his limbs cut piece by piece while he was tied up. He uttered nothing but a testimony to the Oneness of Allah and that Muhammad is Allah's Messenger. He remained in that state until he breathed his last.

May Allah be pleased with her!