Safiyyah bint Huyayy

Safiyyah was the daughter of Huyayy ibn Akhtab, the chief of Banu an-Nadir, and traced her lineage back to the Prophet Harun (Aaron), brother of Musa (Moses). She was of the most noble Jewish lineage. After the conquest of Khaybar, she was among those taken. The Prophet freed her and offered her a choice: return to her people or accept Islam and marry him. She chose Islam and marriage. On the journey back from Khaybar, the Prophet would kneel so she could use his knee as a step to mount her camel. She sometimes faced harsh words from other wives regarding her Jewish origins. On one occasion, she came to the Prophet weeping about this. He comforted her and told her to respond: 'My father is Harun, my uncle is Musa, and my husband is Muhammad — so what do you have over me?' She was known for her intelligence, generosity, and patience. She donated her entire estate to charity upon her death.