Islamic Exemplary Stories

Umm Aiman: The son of the prophet and his nanny.

His name was Barakah bint Tsa’labah bin Amru bin Hishan bin Malik bin Salmah bin Amru bin Nu’man Al-Habasyiyah.

The Prophet Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam inherited this woman from his father, and Umm Aiman always took care of the Prophet until adulthood. When the Prophet Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam married Khadijah bint Khuwalid, he freed Umm Aiman who was then married by Ubaidullah bin Haris Al-Khazraji. It was from him that he gave birth to Aiman, who in turn emigrated and fought and was martyred even during the war of Hunayn.

Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam glorified Umm Aiman, she often visited him and called him by the word, “O Mother, ..” He said,

هَذِهِ بَقِيَةُ أَهْلِ بَيْتِى,وَيَقُوْلُ أّيْضًا:أُمُّ أّيْمنٍ أُمِّي بَعْدَ أُمِّي

“Health (Ummu Aiman) including expert baitku.” He also said, “Ummu Aiman is my mother after my mother.”

Umm Aiman always served the Prophet Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and was gentle with him. After the prophetic period, he said,

مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَتَزَوَّجَ امْرَ أَةً مِنْ أَهْلِ الْحَنَّةِ فَلْيَتَزَوًجْ أُمً أَيْمَنٍ

“Whosoever wishes to marry a heavenly woman should marry Umm Aiman.”

Finally, Zaid ibn Harithah married her on the night when she was sent by the Prophet Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. With him, finally Umm Aiman gave birth to Usamah bin Zaid, the son of the Prophet Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam.

When the Prophet allowed the Muslims to emigrate to Medina, Umm Aiman was among the first women to emigrate. Umm Aiman emigrated in the way of Allah by walking and without carrying provisions. On a very hot day, while he was fasting, he was very thirsty, suddenly there was a bucket on it that protruded from the sky with a white rope. Then Umm Aiman drank the water in it until it was full. Umm Aiman said, “I never felt thirst again after that. Really, I used to deal with thirst by fasting during the day, but then I did not feel thirsty again after drinking the water. Even though I fast during a hot day, I still do not feel thirsty.”

Allah's apostle Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam was gentle with him and sometimes asked him to joke because he was like his own mother. It has been said that once he said to the Prophet of Allah shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, “O Prophet, bring me (take) me ..” So Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, “I will take you on a camel child.” Umm Aiman said, “Camel's son will not be able to take me. Anyway, I don't like it.” Prophet said, “I will not take you except with a camel child.” This is the joke of Rasulullah shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam to Umm Aiman. Only, once he joked but did not say except the truth, for every camel is a child of a camel.

أُسْكُبِى يَا أُمَّ أَيْمَنٍ فَإِ نَّكِ عُسَرَاءُاللِّسَانِ

“Be quiet, O Umm Aiman, because you are someone who has a lisp.”

Once, Umm Aiman entered into the house of Nabi Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and said hello, “Salamun la alaikum (salvation is not upon you),” when it is meant is “assalamu ’alaikum“. However, he gave him rukhshah to say hello (salamun la alaikum).

In addition, Umm Aiman has commendable qualities, plus at his old age, he does not want to stay silent, he said, he wanted to accompany the heroes of Islam in destroying the enemies of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala to exalt His sentence. Therefore, he participated in the battle of Uhud and contributed with the ability he had, he gave drink to the Muslim troops and treated the wounded. He also participated in the Khaibar war with Rasulullah shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam.

When the Prophet of Allah Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam died, Abu Bakr said to Umar, “Go with us to meet Umm Aiman, we will visit him as Rasulullah shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam has visited him.” When they reached Umm Aiman's house, they said, “What makes you cry? Is not that which is with Allah better for His Messenger.

Umm Aiman replied, “I do not weep because I do not know that what is with Allah is better for His Messenger, only that I weep because of the severance of revelation from heaven.” It made Abu Bakr and Umar weep, so they both wept with Umm Aiman.

At the time of the killing of Umar bin Khaththab, Umm Aiman wept as he said, “Today, Islam became weak.”

Umm Aiman died during the caliphate of Uthman ibn Affan, exactly twenty days after the assassination of Umar.

May Allah have mercy on Umm Aiman, the nanny of the leader of Adam's children. She was a woman who fasted and endured hunger, migrated by walking, was given a drink of unknown origin, a drink from heaven as a healer for her.