Barra binte Samawal
Encyclopedia
Barra binte Samawal was the mother of a prominent figure in the life of Muhammad
and a member of an Arab Jew
ish tribe that interacted with Muhammad
.
, who was the chief
of the Banu al-Nadir—one of the biggest Jewish tribes of its time. Together, they had a daughter named Safiyya bint Huyayy
.
Safiyya was initially married to Ka'b ibn As'ad, the leader of the Banu Qurayza
, another prominent Jewish tribe. When the Banu Qurayza tribe surrendered, all its men were executed by the Muslim
s, at which point she became a prisoner of war
(Ma malakat aymanukum
). Actually, she was married to Kinana ibn al-Rabi
ibn Abu al-Huqayq who was tortured and killed for refusing to turn over his tribe's treasure after the battle of Khaybar
. However, Muhammad took another young Jewish woman, Raihana of Banu Qyrayza who refused to convert, as a concubine.
Safiyya's prisoner of war status ended with her marriage to the Islamic prophet Muhammad
. Thus Barra binte Samawal became what is known today as a "mother-in-law" to Muhammad.
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
and a member of an Arab Jew
Mizrahi Jews
Mizrahi Jews or Mizrahiyim, , also referred to as Adot HaMizrach are Jews descended from the Jewish communities of the Middle East, North Africa and the Caucasus...
ish tribe that interacted with Muhammad
Arabian tribes that interacted with Muhammad
-Introduction:The most prominent of such Arabian tribes were the Banu Quraish which were in turn divided into several sub-clans. The Qur'aish sub-clan of Banu Hashim was the clan of Muhammad, while their sister sub-clan, the Banu Abd-Shams became known as his most staunch enemies...
.
Biography
Barra came from a very distinguished family from among the Jews of Arabia. Her father was the poet al Samaw'al ibn Adiya known as "Samuel the faithful" whose son was caught outside the castle and slaughtered when he refused to turn over the treasure entrusted to him. She was married to Huyayy ibn AkhtabHuyayy ibn Akhtab
Huyayy ibn Akhtab was a chief of the Banu al-Nadir, a Jewish tribe of pre-Islamic Arabia.-Family:Huyayy ibn Akhtab had a daughter with Barra bint Samawal: Safiyya bint Huyayy. Barra bint Samawal was from distinguished Arabian Jewish family...
, who was the chief
Tribal chief
A tribal chief is the leader of a tribal society or chiefdom. Tribal societies with social stratification under a single leader emerged in the Neolithic period out of earlier tribal structures with little stratification, and they remained prevalent throughout the Iron Age.In the case of ...
of the Banu al-Nadir—one of the biggest Jewish tribes of its time. Together, they had a daughter named Safiyya bint Huyayy
Safiyya bint Huyayy
Safiyya bint Huyayy was a Jewish woman captured from the Banu Nadir tribe at age 17, who became Muhammad's wife. She was, along with all other wives of Muhammad, titled Umm-ul-Mo'mineen or the "Mother of Believers"....
.
Safiyya was initially married to Ka'b ibn As'ad, the leader of the Banu Qurayza
Banu Qurayza
The Banu Qurayza were a Jewish tribe which lived in northern Arabia, at the oasis of Yathrib , until the 7th century, when their conflict with Muhammad led to their demise, after the Invasion of Banu Qurayza, took place in the Dhul Qa‘dah, 5 A.H i.e. in February/March, 627 AD...
, another prominent Jewish tribe. When the Banu Qurayza tribe surrendered, all its men were executed by the Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
s, at which point she became a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
(Ma malakat aymanukum
Ma malakat aymanukum
Ma malakat aymanukum is a reference in the Qur'an to slaves.-Overview:The term itself is normally considered to refer to prisoners of war, or more broadly to slaves in general, according to the classic tafsirs...
). Actually, she was married to Kinana ibn al-Rabi
Kinana ibn al-Rabi
Kinana ibn al-Rabi was a Jewish leader of seventh-century Arabia and an opponent of Muhammad; son of the poet al-Rabi ibn Abu al-Huqayq. Ibn al-Rabi' was killed during early Muslim clashes with the Banu Nadir.-Biography:...
ibn Abu al-Huqayq who was tortured and killed for refusing to turn over his tribe's treasure after the battle of Khaybar
Battle of Khaybar
The Battle of Khaybar was fought in the year 629 between Muhammad and his followers against the Jews living in the oasis of Khaybar, located from Medina in the north-western part of the Arabian peninsula, in modern-day Saudi Arabia....
. However, Muhammad took another young Jewish woman, Raihana of Banu Qyrayza who refused to convert, as a concubine.
Safiyya's prisoner of war status ended with her marriage to the Islamic prophet Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
. Thus Barra binte Samawal became what is known today as a "mother-in-law" to Muhammad.