Juwairiyah bint Al-Harith
Juwairiyah as a Captive:
Juwairiyah bint Al-Harith was one of the captives that was taken by the Muslim army during the Battle of Banu Al-Mustaliq in the fifth year AH.
The tribe of Banu Al-Mustaliq was led by Juwairiyah’s father, Al-Harith ibn Abu Dirar.
When the spoils of war were being counted by the Muslims, Juwairiyah became a slave to a companion of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Thabit ibn Qays.
Juwairyah was also known as Barrah bint Al-Harith.
Marriage to the Prophet:
Juwairiyah bint Al-Harith tried to save herself from being a slave and she made an agreement with Thabit ibn Qays to buy her freedom.
Juwairiyah then approached the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and said: O Messenger of Allah! I am Barrah bint Al-Harith bin Abu Dirar, who is the leader of his people and I have been seized by the calamity of which you are aware. I have made an agreement to purchase my freedom, so please help me meet the terms of the agreement.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ replied: Shall I tell you of a better plan than this? Juwairiyah replied: What is it?
The Prophet said: I will pay the price of your freedom and I will marry you.
Juwairiyah bint Al-Harith agreed to this and she became one of the ‘Mothers of the Believers’.
After the marriage was completed, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ gave her the name Juwairiyah.
Reaction to the Marriage:
When the companions received news that the Prophet had married Juwairiyah, all of the captives from the tribe of Banu Al-Mustaliq were set free as they had become the in-laws of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Aisha bint Abi Bakr said about this: Through her (Juwairiyah), Allah freed a hundred people from the family of Banu Al-Mustaliq and I do not know of any woman who was a greater blessing to her people than she was.
Juwairiyah’s Faith:
Juwairiyah bint Al-Harith was well-renowned for her devotion to Islam, her frequent fasting and spending her nights in prayer.
Example of Her Devotion:
On one occasion, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ passed by her after the Fajr prayer, then he passed by again around midway through the morning, and Juwairiyah was still in her place of prayer.
The Prophet asked her: You are still in the place I left you? Juwairiyah replied: Yes.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ then said: I recited four words three times after I left you, and if these are to be weighed against what you have recited since morning, these would outweigh them. They are: Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi, ‘adada khalqihi, wa rida nafishi, wa zinata ‘arshihi, wa middada kalimatihi.
The Meaning of These Words:
Glorified be Allah and praise be to Him as many times as the number of His creatures and according to the Pleasure of His Self and according to the weight of His Throne, and according to the ink (used in recording) the words (used in praising Him). (Muslim)
Incident With Her Father:
After Juwairiyah was taken as a prisoner, her father approached the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, saying: There is no captive like my daughter and I am too eminent and distinguished to allow that.
The Prophet replied: What do you think if we let her decide, is that not fair?
Juwairiyah’s father agreed with this and he went to his daughter, informing her that the Prophet ﷺ had given her a choice of remaining with him, or to go back with her father.
Juwairiyah replied: I have chosen Allah and His Messenger.
Juwairiyah’s Death:
Juwairiyah bint Al-Harith passed away in the year 56 AH, at the age of 65 years old.
She was buried in the Al-Baqi graveyard, with the other ‘Mothers of the Believers’.