Rayhana bint Zayd

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Part of a series on the Islamic prophet Muhammad

Family tree Before Medina In Medina After the conquest Succession As a diplomat As a general As a husband As a reformer Towards animals Islamic view Mawlid In poetry Non-Islamic view Regarding historicity Criticism Depictions This box: view • talk • edit

Rayhana Bint Zayd, also known as 'Raihanah Zaid' in some historical accounts was a Jewish woman who became one of Muhammad 's concubines after his triumphant battle in the battle of Hunayn. ^[1].

Muslim biographers of Muhammad tell of a number of Jewish concubines from his conquests. Rayhana Bint Zayd was from the Banu Qurayza tribe. She attempted to poison Muhammad to avenge her slain relatives and according to some Muslim texts this resulted in his death after three years ^[2]. She poisoned a piece of lamb that she cooked for Muhammad and his companion, putting a particularly high amount into the shoulder — Muhammad's favorite part. The attempt on Muhammad's life failed because he reportedly spit out the meat, feeling that it was poisoned, while his companion ate the meat and died. Muhammad's companions then reported that on his deathbed he said that his illness was the result of that poison.^[3]

[edit] See also

• Muhammad's marriages
• Safiyya bint Huyayy
• Death of Muhammad

[edit] Further reading

• Awde, Nicholas Women in Islam: An Anthology from the Qur'an and Hadits, Routledge (UK) 2000, ISBN 0-700-71012-4
• Hekmat, Anwar, Women and the Koran The Status of Women in Islam, Prometheus Books, 1997, ISBN 1-573-92162-9

[edit] References

1. ^ Ibn Saad, al-Tabaqat, pp. 120-123
2. ^ Ibn Sa'd pages 251, 252
3. ^ Ibn Hisham (1955). English translation in Stillman (1979), pp. 148–149