Safiyya bint Huyayy
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Umm Salama Hind bint Abi Umayya Safiyya bint Huyayy *succession disputed **disputed |
Safiyya bint Huyayy (Arabic: صفية بنت حيي, c. 610 - c. 670) was a Jewish woman from the Banu Nadir tribe, who became Muhammad's, the prophet of Islam, eleventh wife and hence titled Mother of the Believers according to the Qur'an. After Muhammad's death, she became involved in the power politics of the early Muslim community and had acquired substantial wealth by the time of her death.[1]
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[edit] Early life
Safiyya was born in Medina and belonged to the Jewish tribe of Banu Nadir. Her father, Huyayy ibn Akhtab was the chief of the Banu Nadir, and her mother, Barra bint Samawal, belonged to the Banu Qurayza tribe. When Banu Nadir was expelled from Medina in 625, her family settled in Khaybar, an oasis near Medina.[1] Her father and brother went from Khaybar to join the Meccan and Bedouin forces besieging Muhammad in Medina during the Battle of the Trench. Both fought alongside the Banu Qurayza and were killed, together with all the men of the Banu Qurayza, by Muhammad's followers.[2] 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.[1]
[edit] Capture and marriage to Muhammad
In 628, Safiyya was captured, together with two of her cousins, after Muhammad's victory over Jews in the Battle of Khaybar. After Muhammad's followers killed all the men of the Banu Nadir, they began to divide the women of the tribe among themselves. Muhammad and his followers tortured Safiyya's husband so that he would give up the treasure of the Banu Nadir and killed him when he refused to do so. Safiyya was assigned to Dihya ibn Khalifa, but Muhammad, struck with her beauty, threw his mantle over her as a sign that he had chosen her for himself. In exchange, Muhammad gave Dihya Safiyya's two cousins[3] or, according to other sources, seven head of cattle.[1]
Muhammad gave Safiyya the option of embracing Islam, which she chose to do, and thus she could become Muhammad's wife rather than remain a slave girl. Despite her conversion, Muhammad's other wives ostracized her for her Jewish origin. Doubts about Safiyya's commitment to Islam and the suspicion that she would avenge her slain kin are recurring themes in the numerous Muslim biographies of her. In these stories, Muhammad or Umar admonish the doubters and reaffirm the quality of her Islam.[1]
[edit] Political involvement and estate
In 656, Safiyya sided with caliph Uthman. She defended him during his last meeting with Ali, Aisha, and al-Zubayr, and when Uthman was besieged in his house Safiyya made an unsuccessful attempt to reach him, and brought him food and water by means of a plank placed between her dwelling and his.[1]
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 Muawiyya, who was a caliph at that time, for 180,000 dirhams.[1]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g 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.
- ^ Stillman, Norman (1979). The Jews of Arab Lands: A History and Source Book. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America. ISBN 082760198., p.17
- ^ 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 082760198., pp.145–146
