Maymunah bint Al-Harith
Birth and Childhood:
Maymunah bint al-Harith was born six years before the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ received his prophethood.
Maymumah was interested in the religion of Islam from an early age and this interest grew even further when her sister, Lubaba bint al-Harith accepted Islam.
Lubaba was the first woman to believe in the Prophet, after his wife Khadijah bint Khuwaylid.
However, at this point, Maymunah kept her acceptance of Islam private, as she lived in a house of disbelief.
Marriage to Abu Ruhm:
Maymunah’s first husband was Abu Ruhm ibn Abdul Uzza, who was from the Quraysh.
Abu Ruhm was a non-Muslim and he passed away when Maymunah was 26 years old.
Desire to Marry The Prophet:
After her husband had passed away, Maymunah lived with her sister, Lubabah.
Maymunah told her sister about her willingness to marry the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Lubabah bint al-Harith, who was more known by her nickname of ‘Umm Al-Fadl’ told her husband, Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib about this.
Abbas then conveyed to his nephew, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Maymunah’s wish to marry him.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ returned a message back to Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib, agreeing to Maymunah’s request.
Lubabah bint al-Harith told her sister about the good news and Maymunah said: The camel and that which was upon it are for the Messenger of Allah.
Allah SWT then revealed in the Quran: ‘and a believing woman if she offers herself to the Prophet’ (Quran, 33:50)
Marriage to the Prophet:
Before the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ planned to go to Umrah, he sent Aws ibn al-Khawli and Abu Rafi to Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib, asking for Maymunah’s hand in marriage.
Maymunah accepted this proposal and when the Prophet arrived back in Makkah, he went to his uncle, where the marriage contract was finalised.
The Prophet and Maymunah in Sarif:
After making the marriage contract, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was forced to leave Makkah.
This was part of the agreement that the Prophet and the Quraysh agreed upon at Hudaybiyyah.
One of the stipulations that was made was when the Prophet was eventually allowed to perform Umrah, he would only be allowed to stay in Makkah for three days.
However, this three day period had now passed, and the Quraysh sent a message to the Prophet, reminding him of this.
When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ learned about this, he said: What would it matter to you if you left me to marry while I am among you and we would prepare food for you, and you would attend the celebration?
The Quraysh replied: We are not in need of your food, now leave us.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was then forced to leave Makkah without consummating his marriage to Maymunah.
Before leaving the city, the Prophet ﷺ left his slave, Abu Rafi to bring Maymunah to him.
Eventually, Abu Rafi brought her Sarif, an area approximately 20km north of Makkah, and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ consummated his marriage to Maymunah bint al-Harith.
Virtues of Maymunah:
Maymunah bint al-Harith is well-renowned as being a great role model for her piety and devotion to Allah SWT.
She spent most of her time standing in prayer at night and fasting.
Abdullah ibn Abbas narrated a Hadith where the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said after observing her worship: The sisters are believers: Maymunah, Umm Al-Fadl and Asma.
Aisha bint Abi Bakr said about Maymunah bint al-Harith: She was the most pious and fearful of us towards Allah and the best of us in maintaining ties of kinship.
Narrator of Hadith:
Maymunah bint al-Harith was one of the narrators of the Hadith, and she narrated 46 Hadiths from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Death of Maymunah:
Maymunah bint al-Harith passed away during the Caliphate of Yazid ibn Mu’awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan.
She passed away at Sarif, which as mentioned above, was the area where the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had consummated his marriage to her.
Abdullah ibn Abbas performed her funeral prayer.