She is also the wife of Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. She was brought as a prisoner after a war with the kuffar in a battle popularly know as Bani Mustaliq. She had fallen in the share of a Sahabi by the name of Thabit bin Qays or his cousin. She said to her master: “I will give you a certain amount of money and you must free me.” He agreed to this so she went to Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and asked him to help her with some money. Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam felt sorry for her after seeing her piety and poverty. He said to her: “If you agree, I will pay for your entire freedom and take you into my marriage.” She readily accepted this offer and the nikah took place. When the people heard about this marriage, especially all the prisoners that belonged to her tribe who were under the Muslims, then most of these Muslims freed these slaves saying that now that they have a relationship with Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam because of this marriage, it is disrespectful to keep them as slaves. ‘A’ishah radiyallahu ‘anha is reported to have said: “We do not know of any woman who has been of so much benefit to her tribe (or family).” Her previous husband’s name was Musafi’ bin Safwan.
Lesson: Piety is a great virtue. Despite her being a slave-girl, she was able to enter into the marriage of Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. O women! There isn’t anyone more honourable than Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. If he did not consider it to be a blemish to marry a slave-girl, do not consider it to be disgraceful or undignified if anyone marries a person of a lower social standing because of some reason or brings someone from a foreign place;. This is an evil sickness and also a sin. Look at how the Sahabah radiyallahu ‘anhum honoured her in that they did not even allow themselves to disgrace her relatives and fellow tribes-men. How ignorant we are today in that we do not honour such a woman irrespective of how pious and religious-minded she may be. As for honouring her family, there is no hope whatsoever in this regard.
