In the Name of Allāh.

The slave trade was customary at that time. Many boys and girls were captured and taken to the slave market for the rich to buy. Some ended up in bad hands, while a few others, fortunately, ended up in the hands of caring people. One such person was an Abyssinian girl named Barakah Bint Tha’alaba Ibn ‘Amr (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anha) known as Umm Ayman.

Barakah served in the household of the Prophet’s father (‘Abdullāh Ibn AbdulMuṭṭalib). She especially looked after the affairs of his wife (‘Āminah Bint Wahb), during and after pregnancy. After their demise, Barakah raised their only son (Muḥammad) and kept serving him even after he married Khadījah Bint Khuwaylid (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anha).
It was reported he (ﷺ) said: “This is my mother after my (own) mother. She is the rest of my family.”

Barakah was one of the first people who accepted Islām and became so dedicated to the Prophet’s mission. She had an unshakable devotion to Islām. Like others, she fearlessly faced the persecutions meted on the early Muslims by the disbelievers. It was also reported the Prophet (ﷺ) gave her glad tiding of Paradise.

With the Prophet’s care for Barakah, he advised her to marry Ubayd Ibn Zayd (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anhu) from the Khazraj tribe in Madīnah, who sought her hand in marriage. She married him and they had a son named Ayman. Soon after, Ubayd died.

With the Prophet’s request to his male companions who would marry Umm Ayman, Zayd Ibn Harithah (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anhu), who was once the adopted son of the Prophet (ﷺ), married her, and they had a son named Usāmah. The Prophet (ﷺ) loved Usāmah so much as he loved his father. The Muslims used to call him; “The beloved, son of the beloved.”

The blessed family of Barakah also made Hijrah to Madīnah and they strongly supported the Prophet (ﷺ) by partaking in some expeditions. Barakah productively lived and eventually died during the reign of ‘Uthmān Ibn Affān (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anhu).

I beseech Allah to be Especially Merciful to Barakah Umm Ayman. (Aameen)