Juwayriya bint al Harith, The Prophet's Wife

Juwayriya bint al-Harith (RA) was a noblewoman from the Banu Mustaliq tribe and later became one of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Her birth name was Barrah, which the Prophet (ﷺ) later changed to Juwayriya, meaning “little girl” or “young woman.” She was the daughter of al-Harith ibn Abi Dirar, the chief of the Banu Mustaliq tribe. In 5 AH (627 CE), during the expedition against Banu Mustaliq, her tribe was defeated by the Muslims, and Juwayriya (RA) was taken captive. She fell into the share of Thabit ibn Qays, a companion of the Prophet (ﷺ). Desiring freedom, Juwayriya (RA) negotiated a mukataba (contract of emancipation) with Thabit. She then approached the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) to help her fulfill it. The Prophet (ﷺ) not only agreed to help her but also offered to marry her, to which she consented. Upon their marriage, the companions of the Prophet (ﷺ), out of respect for the new marital bond, freed around 100 of her tribespeople, saying, “These are the in-laws of the Messenger of Allah.” This act led to a great reconciliation between her tribe and the Muslims. Juwayriya (RA) was known for her devotion to worship and piety. One authentic hadith mentions that the Prophet (ﷺ) found her engaged in dhikr (remembrance of Allah) from after Fajr until mid-morning, highlighting her spiritual commitment. (Sahih Muslim 2726) She remained married to the Prophet (ﷺ) until his passing and lived on for many years afterward. According to Sunni sources, she passed away around 50 AH (670 CE) during the caliphate of Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan, and she was buried in Al-Baqi’ cemetery in Medina.