Safiyya bint Huyayy

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Part of a series on Islam:
The Wives of Muhammad

Khadijah bint Khuwaylid

Sawda bint Zama*

Aisha bint Abi Bakr*

Hafsa bint Umar

Zaynab bint Khuzayma

Umm Salama Hind bint Abi Umayya

Zaynab bint Jahsh

Juwayriya bint al-Harith

Ramlah bint Abi-Sufyan

Rayhana bint Amr ibn Khunafa**

Safiyya bint Huyayy

Maymuna bint al-Harith

Maria al-Qibtiyya**

*succession disputed

** status as wife or concubine is disputed

Safiyya bint Huyayy (Arabic: صفية بنت حيي, c. 610 - c. 670) was a Jewish woman captured from the Banu Nadir tribe at age 17,[1] who became Muhammad's 11th wife. She was titled the "Mother of Believers".[2]

After Muhammad's death, she became involved in the power politics of the early Muslim community, and acquired substantial influence by the time of her death.[3]

Contents

[edit] Early life

Safiyya was born in Medina to Huyayy ibn Akhtab, the chief of the Jewish tribe Banu Nadir. Her mother, Barra bint Samawal, was from the Banu Qurayza tribe. According to a source, she was married off to Sallam b. Mishkam, who later divorced her.[3]

When the Banu Nadir were expelled from Medina in 625, her family settled in Khaybar, an oasis near Medina.[3] Her father and brother went from Khaybar to join the Meccan and Bedouin forces besieging Muhammad in Medina during the Battle of the Trench. When the Meccans withdrew Muhammad besieged the Banu Qurayza. In the ensuing massacre both Huyayy and his son were killed by Muhammad's followers, together with all the men of the Banu Qurayza.[4]

In 627 or early in 628, Safiyya married Kinana ibn al-Rabi, treasurer of the Banu Nadir; she was about 17 years old at that time.[3] Saffiya informed Kinana of a dream she had in which the moon had fallen from the heavens into her lap. Kinana interpreted it as a desire to marry Muhammad and struck her, leaving a mark which was still visible when she first had contact with Muhammad.[2][5]

[edit] Battle of Khaybar

Main article: Battle of Khaybar

In May 629 Muslims defeated several Jewish tribes (including the Banu Nadir) at the Battle of Khaybar. Although the Jews put up fierce resistance, the lack of central command and their unpreparedness for an extended siege resulted in a Muslim victory. The Jews surrendered, and were allowed to remain in Khaybar on the provision that they give half of their annual produce to the Muslims. The land itself became the property of the Muslim state.[6] This agreement, Stillman says, did not extend to the Banu Nadir tribe, who were given no quarter.[7]

Ibn Hisham writes about Kinana ibn al-Rabi, Safiyya's former husband:[8]

Kinana al-Rabi, who had the custody of the treasure of Banu Nadir, was brought to the apostle who asked him about it. He denied that he knew where it was. A Jew came (Tabari says "was brought"), to the apostle and said that he had seen Kinana going round a certain ruin every morning early. When the apostle said to Kinana, "Do you know that if we find you have it I shall kill you?" He said "Yes". The apostle gave orders that the ruin was to be excavated and some of the treasure was found. When he asked him about the rest he refused to produce it, so the apostle gave orders to al-Zubayr Al-Awwam, "Torture him until you extract what he has." So he kindled a fire with flint and steel on his chest until he was nearly dead. Then the apostle delivered him to Muhammad b. Maslama and he struck off his head, in revenge for his brother Mahmud

In the aftermath, the female captives were divided amongst Muhammad and his followers.[6] Safiyya was assigned to Dihya ibn Khalifa, but Muhammad selected her while compensating Dihya with two of her cousins,[9] or, according to other sources, seven head of cattle,[3] and according to a differing source, seven female slaves.[10] She then converted to Islam, thereby becoming Muhammad's wife; her dowry being her emancipation.[11] On the way back from Khaybar, the Muslims camped at a place called Sadd al-Rauha. By now, Safiyya was clean from her menstrual period, and the marriage was thus consummated. Thereafter, Muhammad held a banquet of dates and butter in celebration of the marriage, and then returned to Medina.[12]

[edit] Marriage to Muhammad

According to Muhammad al-Bukhari, Muhammad stayed for three days between Khaybar and Medina, where he consummated his marriage to Safiyya. His companions wondered if she was to be considered a captive (Arabic: ma malakat aymanukum) or a wife. The former speculated that they would consider Safiyya as Muhammad's wife, and thus "Mothers of the Believers", if Muhammad ordered her to veil herself, else she would be his slave-girl.[13]

Some modern scholars opine that Muhammad chose to marry Safiyya, the only surviving member of Banu Nadir's ruling family, as part of reconciliation with the Jewish tribe.[14][15] Maxime Rodinson, however, claims that Muhammad was "violently attracted" to her.[16]

Muhammad suggested that Safiyya convert to Islam, which she did, and thus she become Muhammad's wife, instead of his maid.[17] Safiya did not bear any children to Muhammad.[18]

Despite her conversion, Muhammad's other wives annoyed Safiyya for her Jewish origin. Doubts about Safiyya's commitment to Islam and the suspicion that she would avenge her slain kin are themes in the Sira (biographies of Muhammad).[19] In these stories, Muhammad or Umar express great displeasure at such acts and reaffirm her loyalty.[3] [2]

Regarding Safiyya's Jewish descent, Muhammad once said to his Jewish wife,

Your father was the prophet Aaron and prophet Musa was your uncle.[2]

[edit] Legacy

In 656, Safiyya sided with caliph Uthman, and defended him at his last meeting with Ali, Aisha, and al-Zubayr. During the period when the caliph was besieged at his residence, Safiyya made an unsuccessful attempt to reach him, and supplied him with food and water via a plank placed between her dwelling and his.[3]

Safiyya died in 670 or 672, leaving an estate of 100,000 dirhams in land and goods, one-third of which she bequeathed to her sister's son, who followed Judaism. Her dwelling in Medina was bought by Caliph Muawiyya for 180,000 dirhams.[3]

Safiyya is said to have a dream which predicted her marriage with Muhammad, and she was beaten by her husband for desiring another man. Thus, the dream (interpreted as a miracle), her suffering, and her reputation to cry has won her a place in Sufi works. She appears in all major books of ahadith, and indice of transmitters.[3]

[edit] See also

[edit] References and footnotes

  1. ^ Safiyya bint Huyay,Fatima az-Zahra by Ahmad Thompson
  2. ^ a b c d Stowasser, Barbara. The Mothers of the Believers in the Hadith. The Muslim World, Volume 82, Issue 1-2: 1-36.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Vacca, V "Safiyya". Encyclopaedia of Islam Online. Ed. P.J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill Academic Publishers. ISSN 1573-3912. 
  4. ^ Stillman, Norman (1979). The Jews of Arab Lands: A History and Source Book. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America. ISBN 0-8276-0198-0. , p.17
  5. ^ "It is related that she bore the mark of a bruise upon her eye; when the Prophet asked her tenderly the cause, she told him that, being yet Kināna's bride, she saw in a dream as if the moon had fallen from the heavens into her lap; and that when she told it to Kināna, he struck her violently, saying: 'What is this thy dream but that thou covetest the new king of the Ḥijāz, the Prophet, for thy husband!' The mark of the blow was the same which Moḥammad saw." cf. Muir (1912) pp. 378-379
  6. ^ a b Veccia Vaglieri, L. "Khaybar". Encyclopaedia of Islam Online. Ed. P.J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill Academic Publishers. ISSN 1573-3912. 
  7. ^ Stillman (1979) p. 18
  8. ^ Ibn Hisham. Al-Sira al-Nabawiyya (The Life of The Prophet). English translation in Guillaume (1955), pp. 145–146
  9. ^ Ibn Hisham Al-Sira al-Nabawiyya (The Life of The Prophet), translated in Stillman, Norman (1979). The Jews of Arab Lands: A History and Source Book. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America. ISBN 0-8276-0198-0. , pp.145–146
  10. ^ Abu Dawud vol.2 no.2988 p.848; Abu Dawud vol.2 no.2985-2989 and footnote 2406 p.846-849
  11. ^ Watt (1964) p. 195
  12. ^ See:
    • Awde; Nicholas (2000) p. 85
    • Le Gassick (2000) p. 288
    • "Narrated Anas bin Malik: We arrived at Khaibar, and when Allah helped His Apostle to open the fort, the beauty of Safiya bint Huyai bin Akhtaq whose husband had been killed while she was a bride, was mentioned to Allah's Apostle. The Prophet selected her for himself, and set out with her, and when we reached a place called Sidd-as-Sahba,' Safiya became clean from her menses then Allah's Apostle married her. Hais (i.e. an 'Arabian dish) was prepared on a small leather mat. Then the Prophet said to me, "I invite the people around you." So that was the marriage banquet of the Prophet and Safiya. Then we proceeded towards Medina, and I saw the Prophet, making for her a kind of cushion with his cloak behind him (on his camel). He then sat beside his camel and put his knee for Safiya to put her foot on, in order to ride (on the camel)" Sahih Bukhari Vol 5 Bk 59 #522.
  13. ^ Al-Bukhari, Al-Sahih, vol. 7.1
  14. ^ Nomani, vol.II, pg. 171
  15. ^ Watt (1964) p. 195
  16. ^ Rodinson, page 254.
  17. ^ Ibn Saad, al-Tabaqat, pp.120-123
  18. ^ Peters, F. E., Muhammad and the Origins of Islam, State University of New York Press, 1994, pp.179, ISBN 0-7914-1876-6. "At Medina he also married Umar's daughter Hafsa, Hind, Zaynab daughter of Jahsh, 16 Umm Salama, Juwayriyya, Ramla or Umm Habiba, Safiyya, and Maymuna. None of them bore him children, however, though he had a son, Ibrahim, by his Coptic concubine Mary. Ibrahim too died an infant."
  19. ^ Abu Dawud vol.3 no.4588 p.1293

[edit] Further reading

  • Awde, Nicholas Women in Islam: An Anthology from the Qur'an and Hadits, Routledge (UK) 2000, ISBN 0-7007-1012-4
  • John Esposito and Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad, Islam, Gender, and Social Change, Oxford University Press, 1997, ISBN 0-195-11357-8
  • Leila Ahmed, Women and Gender in Islam: Historical roots of a modern debate, Yale University Press, 1992
  • Valentine Moghadam (ed), Gender and National Identity.
  • Karen Armstrong, “The Battle for God: Fundamentalism in Judaism, Christianity and Islam”, London, HarperCollins/Routledge, 2001

[edit] External links