Sayyidatina Umme Aimaan (Radiyallahu Anha), who was from the beautiful mountany land of Ethiopia. A land of rugged mountains, rivers and lakes. Sayyidatina Umme Aimaan (Radiyallahu Anha) was blessed with strong mentality like the mountains and beautiful and clean heart like the river water, she was a rare and amazing flower, about whom our beloved Prophet (S.W) said,

“ Umme Aiman is my Mother”.

She was a Sahabiyyaah (Radiyallahu Anha) who was the first person to hold our beloved Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam) in her lap after His birth. A person who witnessed our beloved Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam’s) marriage, prophet hood, and the demise of our Habeeb (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) from this world. She was like a mother for Him, a supporter for Him in distress, a helper for Him throughout His life, she was such a women when she desired something, the prophet (Sallallahu Alahi Wa Sallam) would hesitate to deny. A women who was given the glad tidings of Jannah while living in this very world.

Umme Aimaan (Radiyallahu Anha’s) real name was Barakah, Umme Aimaan was her Kuniyah (A title, the Arab people usually take by the name of their oldest child).

This great Sahabiyyah (Radiyallahu Anha’s) life didn’t started with ease, in fact all the people near to Allah SWT went through hardships upon hardships. When we look back in the history, we can see them, went through great hardships and sacrifices before reaching to a stage Allah SWT wanted them to be. Umme Aimaan (Radiyallhu Anha) was not different too.

That was the time of Pre-Islamic period, a time when slavery was common everywhere, people used to bring slaves from the poor countries and sell with big prices in the Market of Makkah. Most of the slaves was from Africa. in those times, because of not having Imaan, the slaves were treated with cruelty by their Masters, they had no say or nothing to wish, their only one purpose of life was pleasing their Masters.

Umme Aimaan (Radiyallahu Anha) was an Abyssinian (Ethiopian) girl, when she was very young, some merchant brought her away from her homeland to sell in the market of Makkah. But Allah SWT destined a very special life for her, when she was put in the Market for sell, She was bought by a very Noble and polite person named Abdullah. He was the son of another very Noble person named Abdul Muttalib, the chief of Banu Hashim ( They were the guardian of Kaaba in Pre-Islamic period ), This was the family of our Beloved Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam)

Umme Aimaan (Radiyallahu Anha) was lucky enough to become the part of this family as their slave, they used to love her and was very kind to her, after few days, Abdullah Married to a very pious girl, who was called by Aaminah, The Respected mother of our beloved prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam). But soon after their marriage Abdullah went to participate in a battle and passed away there, Aaminah was expecting their child, Umme Aimaan could understand how hard it was for this young girl, who just got married and lost her husband while having a child at the same time. In those hard times, she was there for Aaminah to console her, say her the words of comfort. we can easily understand, Who could knew more words of peace than her at that moment? She had seen hardships from childhood, she knew the pain more than anybody else. It was the plan of Allah SWT to bring her in this family so that she can sooth the hearts of Allah SWT’s beloveds.

After some days Aaminah gave birth to the Rahmah of the entire universe, the Habeeb of Allah (Sallallahu Alahi wa Sallam), Umme Aaiman (Radiyallahu Anha) was that fortunate lady, who hold our beloved Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam) at first. After that she was there for him to look after him from his childhood like a mother.

When Halimah Sayeedah (Radiallahu Anha) gave back the prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam) to His mother Aaminah, she decided to visit the maternal family of the prophet (Sallalahu Alaihi wa Sallam) lives in Yathrib (Now Madinah), Umme Aimaan (Radiyallahu Anha) was also with them in that journey. . During their return when they reached to a place named Al-Abwaa (A village near Madinah), Aaminah fell ill which took her near to deathbed. When Aminah was about to pass away, we can feel as mothers, how was a feeling of a mother, when she knew the little boy (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Allam) lost His father before His birth, now He is about to lose His mother too, there will remain nobody for Him to give him the parental love and care, before passing away Aaminah gave the responsibility to look after her beloved child to Umme Aimaan (Radiyallahu Anha) to take care of Him like a mother.

When the mother passed away the prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam), who was only a 6 years old little boy, was holding the mother’s dead body tightly, His all urge was to say the mother not to leave him alone in this world for forever. we can feel how was the emotion of that little boy Our Habeeb (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam)at that moment, Umme Aaiman (Radiyallahu Anha) was the one who made Him understand with love and kindness and brought Him back from there to Makkah, She was that women figure who looked after Him after the death of Aaminah, with motherly love, took care of the Little orphan boy who was facing tragedy upon tragedy. After few days the grandfather also passed away, Umme Ayman (Radiyallahu Anha) was there for him for support and kindness. How was those times for our Habeeb (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) when his entire support was broken, He became a helpless little child, Aha…how great lady was Umme Aimaan (Radiyallahu Anha) who supported with kindness to our Habeeb (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam)!

When the prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam) married to Khadijah (Radiyallahu Anha), only after that when she understood the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam) is now blessed with the great support of Khadijah (Radiyallahu Anha), she asked the permission to the prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam) to get married, then she married to Obaid bin Zaid. From this marriage she was blessed with a son, Named Aimaan. She was popularly known as Umme Aiman (Mother of Aimaan) after her sons birth.

When she was nearly 50, her husband passed away, the prophet (SW announced,

“Should one of you wish to marry a woman of Jannah, let him marry Umme Aimaan (Radiyallahu Anha).”

Hearing this Sayyidina Zaid bin Harithah (Radiyallahu Anhu) came forward, he was in his 20’s, a young boy, but Sahaba (Radiyallahu Anhu’s) desire for Akhirah was such that, he became ready to marry this great women, Sayyidatina Umme Aimaan (Radiyallahu Anha).

When the prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam) received prophet-hood from Allah SWT, Sayyidatina Umme Aimaan (Radiyallahu Anha) was among those sahaba ikram (Radiyallahu Anhum) who embraced Islam first. She was among the poor Muslimeen. She had to accept the cruelty from the Quraish. Then Finally she had to emigrate to Abyssinia with her husband Zaid bin Haritha (Radiyallahu Anhu). From there she again emigrated to Madinah when Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam) migrated to Madinah.

During the Battle of Uhud, Sayyidatina Umme Aimaan (Radiyallahu Anha) was among those strong ladies who participated in the battle of Uhud to help and nurse the wounded Mujahideen. She was giving water to the thirsty Mujahideen like a kind and loving mother. we shouldn’t forget she was a very old lady at that time, still she did that hardship to help the Deen of Allah. Not only in Uhud but also she joined in the battle of Khaibar, battle of Hunayn to help the Mujahideen. Whenever anybody would fall in the battle field among the Mujahideen, she would encourage them to go again in the battle field with more velour .

Because of her love for the prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam) and sacrifice for Islam once the prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam) gave her the assurance that indeed her place is in paradise.

When the prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam) left this world towards Allah SWT, Umme Aimaan (Radiyallahu Anha) was crying so bitterly, everybody could understand, how was her feeling, the one who hold the Habeeb of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam) at first, witnessed all His tragedy and happiness throughout life, who looked Him after like a mother, how was her feeling to lose her beloved son and beloved prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam). To solace her , to sooth her heart, the eminent Sahaba Ikram (Radiyallahu anhum) like Abu Bakr (Radiyallahu Anhu) and Umar (Radiyallahu Anhu) came to her house. But even after that she was keeping crying bitterly and profusely. To solace her when they said,

“ To Allah SWT there is a better place for the holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam)”.

But her answer astonished everyone present there,

“ I know this very well too, but the reason I’m weeping for, from now Jibrail (Alahissalam) will not come down with the revelation of Allah.”

The person whose entire life was to help and support the Deen of Allah, in that emotional and mournful moment also, she was careful why she is mourning for, her mourn was for the concern of Deen. Upon her reply even Sayyidina Abu Bakr and Sayyidina Umar (Radiyallahu Anhuma) Started weeping.

When Umar (Radiyallahu Anhu) passed away, she was again wept bitterly saying,

“I weep because Islam lost its strength”.

It was the Sahabiyyah (Radiyallahu Anhunna), making Islam the most strongest thing in this world was their Fikr, A lady who was an Abyssinian slave girl, her sacrifice for Islam became such that she got the good news of Jannah while living in this earth. Became the guiding star for the people coming until Qiyamah. She is the example of steadfastness for us ladies, who did all the great duties of her life so successfully and left for us a golden path until Qiyamah to follow. May Allah accept us all to follow the path of Sahaba- Sahabiyyah (Ridwanullahi Ta’ala Anhum). Ameen.

Dandenong Madrasa