Nusayba, the daughter of al-Harith
Nusayba, the daughter of al-Harith
Nusayba bint al-Harith al-Ansaria, better known to us as Ummu Atiya, is one of the worthiest female companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his assistants in spreading the religion of the Most-High.
She left a bright mark on history with her sincerity and good deeds in completely different areas, be it jihad (battle in the path of Allah ﷻ), the study of religious sciences or the transmission of the hadiths of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Nusayba was one of the first women in Medina to convert to Islam. When the Messenger of God ﷺ moved there, the inhabitants of the city gathered to swear allegiance to him. The men took the vow first. Then the Prophet ﷺ gathered the women in one house and sent Umar bin al-Khattab to them to take their oath. Stopping near the door, he greeted those gathered. They responded to his greeting, and then Umar said, “I have come to you from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.” “We greet the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his messenger,” they replied. “Swear that you will not betray that there is a partner to Almighty Allah and that you will not steal, commit adultery, kill your children and slander and that you will not disobey in approved matters.” And all the women said, “Yes.” Then he said, “O Allah ﷻ, I have testified.” This is how their oath of allegiance to the religion of Allah ﷻ and His Messenger ﷺ took place. The promise they made was peace in their hearts and the reward for their patience and keeping the vow was eternal Paradise.
The participation of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in battles (ghazawat) did not leave anyone aside. Women were also eager to provide all possible assistance in this matter. The Messenger of God ﷺ allowed them to help on the battlefield. Ummu Atiya, among these women, carried water and drink to the soldiers, treated the wounded, bandaged them and looked after the sick. Nusayba talked about it like this, “I participated with the Prophet ﷺ in seven military campaigns. I stayed to guard things, cook food, treat the wounded and care for the sick.”
It is also known that in the Battle of Khaybar, Ummu Atiya was among the twenty women who went out with the Messenger of God ﷺ, wanting to receive reward and pleasure from the Almighty.
Umm Atiya was on good terms with the wives of the Prophet ﷺ, while wanting to get closer to the Messenger of God ﷺ in every possible way and be useful to him. She was especially friends with Aisha, knowing her degree and the love of the Messenger of God ﷺ for her. One day the Prophet ﷺ came to Aisha and asked, “Do we have anything?’ Aisha replied, “No, except that Nusayba Umm Atiya sent us some of the lamb that was given to her as sadaqa.” And he then said, “It has reached its destination.”
Nusayba was also strongly associated with the daughters of the Prophet ﷺ. She was entrusted with washing Zainab, the daughter of the Messenger of God ﷺ.
It is narrated from Ummu Atiya that, “When the daughter of the Messenger of God ﷺ Zainab died, he told me: ‘Wash her an odd number of times: three or five, and the last time add a little camphor. And when you are done, tell me.’ When we washed her, he gave us the cloth he had taken off, with which he covered the bottom of his belt, and said: ‘Dress her in this.’”
Ummu Atiya understood Islamic law and had a good memory. Imam an-Nawawi mentions that she transmitted forty hadiths, six of which are given in both Sahihs (al-Bukhari and Muslim), one only in al-Bukhari and one only in Muslim. In addition, other authoritative hadith scholars also cite hadiths from her in their collections and works.
Some religious decisions were taken precisely on the basis of hadiths transmitted from her. For example, about the washing of deceased women, about the period of idda after the death of a husband or about the prohibition of lamentation over the deceased.
Towards the end of her life, Ummu Atiya moved to Basra, Iraq. There she gained immense fame and respect due to her knowledge and understanding of religion. Famous scientists of that time received knowledge from her.
Ummu Atiya left this world at the age of seventy, completely dedicating her life to the study and spread of the religion of Almighty Allah.
May Allah ﷻ be pleased with her and may He not deprive us of her grace. Amin!
