Barakah bint Tha'labah (Umm Ayman)

Barakah was an Abyssinian woman who had been a slave in the household of Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib, the Prophet's father. After Abdullah's death, she remained in the household and cared for the young Muhammad. When his mother Aminah passed away at al-Abwa', Barakah was the one who brought the six-year-old orphan back to Makkah. She thus became one of the most constant presences in his life from infancy. The Prophet freed Barakah and she married Ubayd ibn Zayd of the Khazraj, by whom she had her son Ayman — hence her kunya Umm Ayman. After Ubayd died, the Prophet said: 'Whoever wishes to marry a woman of the people of Paradise, let him marry Umm Ayman.' Zayd ibn Harithah married her, and they had a son, Usamah ibn Zayd, whom the Prophet loved dearly and whom he called 'the beloved son of the beloved.' Umm Ayman was among the early Muslims and migrated to Madinah. She was present at the Battle of Uhud, where she gave water to the wounded fighters. The Prophet used to visit her regularly and would say about her: 'She is my mother after my mother' and 'She is the remainder of my household.' After the Prophet's death, Abu Bakr and Umar visited her, following the Prophet's practice. When they arrived, she wept. They said: 'What makes you weep? What is with Allah is better for the Messenger of Allah.' She replied: 'I do not weep because I do not know that what is with Allah is better for him. Rather, I weep because revelation from the heavens has ceased.' This moved them both to tears.