Juwayriyyah bint al-Harith

Juwayriyyah was the daughter of al-Harith ibn Abi Dirar, the chief of Banu al-Mustaliq. After the expedition against Banu al-Mustaliq (the Ghazwah of al-Muraysi, 5 AH / 627 CE), she came to the Prophet seeking a contract of manumission (kitabah) to free herself, as she had fallen to the lot of Thabit ibn Qays. She said: 'I am Juwayriyyah bint al-Harith, the chief of his people. You can see the situation I have fallen into.' The Prophet offered to pay her ransom and marry her, and she accepted. When the news of the marriage reached the Companions, they said: 'These are now the in-laws of the Messenger of Allah,' and they released all the captives of Banu al-Mustaliq who were in their possession. Aisha said of her: 'I do not know of a woman who was a greater blessing to her people than Juwayriyyah. Through her marriage, a hundred households of Banu al-Mustaliq were set free.' She was known for her devotion to worship and remembrance of Allah. The Prophet once left her room in the morning for Fajr prayer while she was sitting in her place of prayer. He returned after the sun had risen and she was still sitting there in dhikr. He said: 'You have been in the same position since I left you?' She said yes. He then taught her a brief supplication, saying: 'I have said four phrases three times since leaving you, and if they were weighed against all that you have said today, they would outweigh them' — referring to the well-known dhikr: 'SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi, adada khalqihi, wa rida nafsihi, wa zinata arshihi, wa midada kalimatihi.' She passed away in 50 AH (670 CE) and was buried in al-Baqi.