Nusaybah bint Ka'ab
Nusseibeh bint Ka’ab (Arabic: نسيبة بنت كعب; also ʾUmm ʿAmmarah[1]) was an early convert to Islam.
Life
A member of the Banu Najjar tribe living in Medina, Nusaybah was the sister of Abdullah bin K'ab, and the mother of Abdullah and Habib ibn Zayd al-Ansari.[1]
When 74 leaders, warriors, and statesmen of Medina descended on al-Aqabah to swear an oath of allegiance to Islam following the teaching of the new religion by Mus`ab ibn `Umair in the city, Nusaybah and Umm Munee Asma bint ʿAmr bin 'Adi were the only two women to personally pledge directly to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The latter's husband, Ghazyah bin ʿAmr, informed Muhammad that the women also wanted to give their bayah in person, and he agreed.[1] She returned to Medina and began teaching Islam to the women of the city. This bayah or pledge was the de facto handing over of power to Muhammad over the city, by its key figures.
Her two sons, both later killed in battle, were from her first marriage to Zaid bin ʿAsim Mazni. She later married bin ʿAmr, and had another son Tameem and a daughter Khawlah.[1]
Battle of Uhud
Initially, Nusaybah was attending the Battle of Uhud like other women, and her intention was to bring water to the soldiers, while her husband and two sons fought.but after the Muslim archers disobeyed their orders and began deserting their high ground believing victory was at hand, the tide of the battle changed, and it appeared that defeat was imminent. When this occurred, Nusaybah entered the battle, carrying a sword and shield.[1]