THE WOMAN WARRIOR AND A GREAT MODEL: UMM ‘IMAARAH(NUSAYBAH BINT KA’AB)

She was Nusaybah bint Ka’ab from the Ansaars. she was a great personality and model for our women and daughters today. She was married to Zaid ibn `Asim before Islam and has given birth to her sons Habeeb and `Abdullah. Later, she married Ghuzayyah ibn `Amr who fathered Tamim and Khawlah.

She was among the few women who pledge allegiance to Islam at Al-’Aqabah. Umm `Imarah has been mentally, emotionally, and physically filled with the spirit of faith and Islam since the day the first ambassador, Mus`ab ibn `Umayr started propagating Islam in Yathrib (later known as Madinah)

She was one of the few women who were always eager to fight for the cause of Allah. She participated in the battles of Uhud, Hudaybiyah, and Khaybar. She also witnessed the victory of Makkah and participated in the battles of Hunayn and Yamamah.

At the start of the battle of Uhud, she was treating the wounded Muslims but when the tides turned against the Muslims, she picked up her sword and showed her skills also at fighting. Umm Sa`d bint Sa`d ibn Ar-Rabi` reported regarding Umm Imaarah regarding the battle of Uhud: “And I saw a deep and hollow injury in her shoulder.” This deep injury was caused by the enemy of Allah, Ibn Qami’ah who tried to kill the Prophet, but Umm`Imarah defended the Prophet and received a heavy strike by the sword, then she attacked Ibn Qami’ah by striking him by sword repeatedly. In addition to thirteen other wounds, she suffered this deep wound which she continued to nurse for the rest of her life until she died.

Commenting on her bravery and sacrifice `Umar ibn Al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates to us from the Messenger of Allah, his noble saying, “Whenever I turned left or right on the Day of Uhud, I could always see her (Umm `Imarah) fighting in my defense.”

Umm `Imarah experienced severe ordeals concerning her family. Her younger son, Habeeb was sent to Musaylamah to deliver the prophet’s message. Musaylamah asked him if he believed that Muhammad is the prophet which he affirmed. He asked him again if Habeeb believed in his prophethood, which Habbeb disbelieved, this made Musaylamah angry he commanded that Habeeb be severely tortured. He was tied up and his limbs were cut piece by piece till he died. The Messenger of Allah came to her in the company of Abu Bakr and `Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, to console her to this great calamity concerning her beloved son.

She vowed that she would witness and take part in the killing of Musailamah, the Liar, as a way of fulfilling the obligation she owed to Allah and His Messenger, and as a way of avenging the death of her son.

After the death of the prophet, the war of apostasy broke out against the false prophet. Umm Immaarah saw her chance to avenge her son here of which the Caliph, Abubakr could not dissuade her from participating. Then, Umm `Imarah, may Allah be pleased with her, was already aging and she had become feeble. Although her hair was already covered with grey, her heart was still exuberating with faith.

She set out with the Muslim army to fight against Musaylamah, the Liar. As the battle was raging, Umm `Imarah with her son `Abdullah by her side was pushing their way into the rows of fighters looking for Musaylamah. She received about twelve wounds from the swords of the enemy but she did not give up, even though one of her arms was cut off. She did not give up until she got to where Musaylamah was lying on the floor, she then dealt him the final blow.

Umm Imaarah(Nusaybah bint ka’ab) was a pious and devoted woman, she was also a narrator of the hadith. She used to perform prayers in the Mosque and attend religious lessons. At-Tirmidhi narrated that she came to the Prophet, peace, and blessings be upon him, and said: “I see that everything is directed to men and that women are not mentioned at all” so, the verse(For Muslim men and women, for believing men and women…) (Al-Ahzab 33:35) was revealed.

What a blessed life she lived. A life filled with Iman, forbearance, and servitude to the cause of Allah.

May Allah bless and grant the highest place of Aljannah to this woman and make her a model for our sisters, wives, and daughters.