السيدة ميمونة بنت الحارث The Lady Maimuna bint al-Harith

أمهات المؤمنين The Mothers of the Believers 

الإسم

كان اسمهما برة فسماها الرسول صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم ميمونة

نسبها

‌‌ميمونة بنت الحارث بن حزن بن بجير ابن الهزم بن رويبة بن عبد اللّٰه بن هلال بن عامر بن صعصعة بن معاوية بن بكر بن هوازن بن منصور بن عكرمة بن حفصة بن قيس عيلان بن مضر، وأمها هند بنت عوف بن زهير بن الحارث بن حماطة من حمير، أختها لبابة الكبرى زوجة العباس بن عبد المطلب 

وأخوات ميمونة لأمها 

أسماء بنت عميس امرأة جعفر بن أبي طالب 

 و سلمى بنت عميس الخثعمية زوجة حمزة بن عبد المطلب 

 و سلامة بنت عميس زوجة عبد الله بن كعب بن منبّه الخثعمي 

 ولذلك كان النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - يقول : ( أخوات مؤمنات : ميمونة بنت الحارث ، وأم الفضل بنت الحارث ، وسلمى امرأة حمزة ، وأسماء بنت عميس ( رواه النسائي في سننه الكبرى)

الألقاب

أم المؤمنين

لأنها كانت إحدى أزوج النبي صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم

زيجاتها  قبل الزواج برسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم 

زواجها الأول – قبل الزواج برسول الله – صلي الله عليه وسلم-) 

كانت تحت مسعود بن عمرو بن عمير الثقفي، تزوج بميمونة في الجاهلية، ثم فارقها

زواجها الثاني قبل الزواج برسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم 

تزوجت بعد طلاقها من الزوج الأول بــ أبو رهم بن عبد العزى بن أبي قيس من بني مالك بن حسل بن عامر بن لؤي، فتوفي عنها

زواجها المبارك من رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم 

 ثم تزوجها رسول اللّٰه صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم، زوجه إياها العباس بن عبد المطلب وكان يلي أمرها، وهي أخت أم الفضل بنت الحارث الهلالية لأبيها وأمها، وتزوجها رسول اللّٰه بسرف على عشرة أميال من مكة، وكانت آخر امرأة تزوجها رسول اللّٰه صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم، وذلك سنة سبع في عمرة القضية.

سبب ووقت الزيجة 

في عمرة القضاء – السنة - علي الأرجح: أنها من وهبت نفسها للنبي الذي نزل بها قرآن يتلي 

إن النبي صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم عام سابع من الهجرة تأهب أهبة السفر من المدينة المنورة مع أصحابه نحو ألفي رجل، بنية عمرة القضاء إلى مكة المكرمة، فخرج مشركو مكة في هذه المناسبة إلى أطراف مكة المجاورة؛ وفاءً بما وعدوا النبي صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم، فاعتمر النبي صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم وأصحابه على أحسن وجه بكل طمأنية. كما كان هناك ناس ممن أسلموا في مكة يريدون لقاء وزيارة النبي صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم، ومنهم برة بنت الحارث، أي: أم المؤمنين ميمونة رضي اللّٰه عنها أيضا، فتزوجها النبي صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم وهو محرم، يقول ابن عباس رضي اللّٰه عنهما: إن رسول اللّٰه صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم ‌تزوج ‌ميمونة ‌بنت ‌الحارث ‌في ‌سفره ‌ذلك وهو حرام، وكان الذي زوجه إياها العباس بن عبد المطلب. قال ابن هشام: وكانت جعلت أمرها إلى أختها أم الفضل، وكانت أم الفضل تحت العباس، فجعلت أم الفضل أمرها إلى العباس، فزوجها رسول اللّٰه صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم بمكة. 

 وفي رواية

 أنها وهبت نفسها للنبي صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم وفيها نزلت الآية: ...وَامْرَأَةً مُؤْمِنَةً إِنْ وَهَبَتْ نَفْسَهَا لِلنَّبِيِّ إِنْ أَرَادَ النَّبِيُّ أَنْ يَسْتَنْكِحَهَا خَالِصَةً لَكَ مِنْ دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ... 508 

كما ذهب إليه أهل التفسير وأهل السير

يزعمون أنها نزلت في ميمونة بنت الحارث أنها التي وهبت نفسها للنبي صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم رغم ذلك أصدقها رسول اللّٰه صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم أربعمائة درهم. 

ثم مكث النبي صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم بمكة ثلاثة أيام بعد عمرة القضاء 

 فبعث إليه حويطب بن عبد العزى وقال: إن أجلك قد مضى، وانقضى الشرط، فاخرج من بلدنا. فقال له سعيد بن زيد بن عمرو بن نفيل: كذبت، البلد بلد رسول اللّٰه صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم وآبائه. فقال رسول اللّٰه صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم: مهلا يا سعيد فقال حويطب: أقسمت عليك لما خرجت. فخرج النبي صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم، وخلف أبا رافع، وقال: الحقني بميمونة فحملها على قلوص، فجعل أهل مكة ينفرون بها، ويقولون: لا بارك اللّٰه لك. فوافى رسول اللّٰه صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم بميمونة بسرف – مكان بجانب مكة - ، فكان دخول رسول اللّٰه صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم بها بسرف، وهو على أميال من مكة. 

هل تزوجها رسول الله وهو محرم بعمرة؟ وذلك محرم علي المحرمين بحج أو عمرة؟!

أرجح الأقوال أنه صلي الله عليه وسلم تزوجها بعدة أميال متأخرة من مكة المكرمة يدعي - سرف - 

وهنا تُثار قضية بين علماء التراجم والسير ، وهي خلافهم في الحال التي تزوّج فيها النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - بميمونة وهل كان زواجه بها حال إحلاله أم حال إحرامه ، فابن عباس رضي الله عنه كان يرى أنه تزوّجها وهو محرم ، بينما تروي لنا ميمونة نفسها أن رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - تزوجها وهي حلال - كما روى ذلك الإمام مسلم - ، وقد رجّح العلماء روايتها لعدّة اعتبارات ليس هذا موطن بسطها 

رفضت قريش حضور وليمة زواج ميمونة بنت الحارث، وأبوا إلا ان يرجع رسول الله للمدينة 

وبعد أن أنهى النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - عمرته أراد أن يعمل وليمة عرسه في مكّة ، وإنما أراد تأليف قريشٍ بذلك ، فأبوا عليه ، وبعثوا إليه حويطب بن عبد العزى بعد مضي أربعة أيام يقول له : " إنه قد انقضى أجلك فاخرج عنا " ، فأمر النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - أبا رافع فنادى بالرحيل ، فخرج إلى "سرف"، - وهو موضع قرب التنعيم يبعد عن مكة عشرة أميال – وبنى بها ، وكان عمرها عندئذٍ 26سنة ، وعمره - صلى الله عليه وسلم - 59سنة ، وقد أولم عليها بأكثر من شاة ، وأصدقها أربعمائة درهم ، وقيل بخمسمائة درهم

شرفها وفضلها - رضي الله عنها وأرضاها - 

كانت ميمونة رضي اللّٰه عنها آخر امرأة تزوجها رسول اللّٰه صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم، يعني ممن دخل بها. فأصبحت للنبي صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم زوجة وفية مخلصة، تحبه ويحبها حبا جما، ولها منزلة رفيعة عند النبي صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم، ولذلك روت عنه صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم ثلاثة عشر حديثا-  منها صفة غسله عليه الصلاة والسلام .وكانت تُربي يتيما في حجرها هو (عبيد الله الخولاني) 

مواقف في بيت النبوة 

كان ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما يبيت عندها أحياناً 

في بيت رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - ، فيكسب علماً، وأدباً ، وخلقاً ، ويبثّه بين المسلمين ، من ذلك قوله رضي الله عنهما: ( بتُّ ليلةً عند ميمونة بنت الحارث خالتي ، وكان رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - عندها في ليلتها ، فقام رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - يصلي من الليل ، فقمت عن يساره ، فأخذ بشعري ، فجعلني عن يمينه ، فكنت إذا أغفيت يأخذ بشحمة أذني ، فصلى إحدى عشرة ركعة ، ثم احتبي حتى إني لأسمع نفَسه راقداً ، فلما تبين له الفجر صلى ركعتين خفيفتين ) رواه البخاري ومسلم .

وفاتها

توفيت ميمونة رضي اللّٰه عنها بسرف في الموضع الذي ابتنى بها فيه رسول اللّٰه صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم، وذلك سنة إحدى وخمسين. وقيل: توفيت بسرف سنة ست وستين. وقيل: توفيت سنة ثلاث وستين بسرف، وكان عمرها إذ ذاك ثمانين سنة. وصلى عليها ابن عباس، ودخل قبرها هو، ويزيد بن الأصم، وعبد اللّٰه بن شداد بن الهادي، وهم بنو أخواتها، وعبيد اللّٰه الخولاني، وكان يتيما في حجرها.

شهادة أمهات المؤمنين لها رضي الله عنها 

 تشهد أم المؤمنين عائشة رضي الله عنها على ذلك بقولها 

" أما أنها كانت من أتقانا لله وأوصلنا للرحم " 

Her Name

Their name was Barrah, but the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) renamed her Maymunah.

Her lineage

Maymunah bint al-Harith ibn Hazn ibn Bujayr ibn al-Hazm ibn Ruwaybah ibn Abdullah ibn Hilal ibn Amir ibn Sa'sa'ah ibn Mu'awiyah ibn Bakr ibn Hawazin ibn Mansur ibn 'Ikrimah ibn Hafsah ibn Qays 'Aylan ibn Mudar. Her mother was Hind bint 'Awf ibn Zuhayr ibn al-Harith ibn Hamatah from Himyar. Her sister was Lubabah al-Kubra, the wife of al-'Abbas ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib.

Maymunah's maternal half-sisters were

 Asma' bint 'Umays, the wife of Ja'far ibn Abi Talib; Salma bint 'Umays al-Khath'amiyyah, the wife of Hamzah ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib; and Salamah bint 'Umays, the wife of 'Abdullah ibn Ka'b ibn Munabbih al-Khath'ami. Therefore, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say: "Believing sisters: Maymunah bint al-Harith, Umm al-Fadl bint al-Harith, Salma, the wife of Hamzah, and Asma' bint 'Umays." (Narrated by al-Nasa'i in his book) His major Sunnah)

Her Titles

The Mother of the Believers

Because she was one of the wives of the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace.

Her marriages before marrying the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace

Her first marriage 

(before marrying the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace) She was married to Mas'ud ibn 'Amr ibn 'Umayr al-Thaqafi. He married Maymuna during the pre-Islamic era, then divorced her.

Her second marriage 

before marrying the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, after her divorce from her first husband, she married Abu Rahm ibn 'Abd al-'Uzza ibn Abi Qays from the tribe of Malik ibn Hasl ibn 'Amir ibn Lu'ayy. He passed away.

Her blessed marriage to the Messenger of God, may God blesses him and grant him peace

Then the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, married her. Al-'Abbas ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib gave her to him in marriage and was responsible for her affairs. She was the sister of Umm al-Fadl bint al-Harith al-Hilaliyya, sharing both her father and mother. The Messenger of God married her in Sarif, ten miles from Mecca. She was the last woman the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, married. And he surrendered, and that was in the seventh year during the Umrah of Qada.

Her Blessed Marriage to the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him

Then the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, married her. Al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib gave her in marriage to him and was responsible for her affairs. She was the sister of Umm al-Fadl bint al-Harith al-Hilaliyyah, from both her father and mother. The Messenger of God married her in Sarif, ten miles from Mecca. She was the last woman the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, married, and this took place in the seventh year of the Hijra, during the Lesser Pilgrimage (Umrah al-Qada').

The Reason and Time of the Marriage

During the Lesser Pilgrimage (Umrah al-Qada') – the most likely year: She was the one who offered herself to the Prophet, regarding whom a verse of the Quran was revealed.

In the seventh year of the Hijra, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, prepared to travel from Medina with his companions, approximately two thousand men, with the intention of performing the Lesser Pilgrimage (Umrah al-Qada') to Mecca. On this occasion, the polytheists of Mecca went out to the outskirts of Mecca, fulfilling their promise to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and his companions performed the pilgrimage in the best possible manner and with complete peace of mind. There were also people in Mecca who had embraced Islam and wished to meet and visit the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Among them was Barrah bint al-Harith, also known as Umm al-Mu'minin Maymunah (may God be pleased with her). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) married her while in a state of ihram. Ibn Abbas (may God be pleased with them both) said: "The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) married Maymunah bint al-Harith during that journey while in a state of ihram. It was al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib who gave her in marriage to him." Ibn Hisham said: "She had entrusted her affairs to her sister, Umm al-Fadl, who was married to al-Abbas. Umm al-Fadl entrusted her affairs to al-Abbas, and the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) gave her in marriage to him in Mecca."

And in another narration

She offered herself to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and concerning her the verse was revealed: “...and a believing woman, if she offers herself to the Prophet, if the Prophet wishes to marry her, this is exclusively for you, not for the believers...” (3:158)

As the scholars of exegesis and biography have concluded,

they claim that it was revealed concerning Maymuna bint al-Harith, who offered herself to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Despite this, the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, gave her a dowry of four hundred dirhams.

Then the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, stayed in Mecca for three days after the Lesser Pilgrimage (Umrah) of Qada'

Then Huwaytib ibn 'Abd al-'Uzza sent word to him, saying: “Your term has passed, and the condition has expired, so leave our land.” Sa'id ibn Zayd ibn 'Amr ibn Nufayl said to him, "You lie! This is the land of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his forefathers." The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Wait, Sa'id." Huwaytib said, "I adjure you to leave." So, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) left, leaving Abu Rafi' behind, and said, "Bring me Maymuna." He put her on a camel, and the people of Mecca began to harass her, saying, "May Allah Don't bless you!" The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived with Maymuna at Sarif—a place near Mecca—and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) entered Mecca with her at Sarif, which is a few miles from Mecca.

Did the Messenger of God marry her while he was in a state of ihram for Umrah? Is that forbidden for those in ihram for Hajj or Umrah?

The most likely account is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) married her several miles from Mecca, in a place called Sarf.

Here, a point of contention arises among biographers and historians: their disagreement regarding the circumstances of the Prophet's marriage to Maymuna. Was it while he was in a state of ihram (ritual consecration) or not? Ibn Abbas (may God be pleased with him) believed he married her while in ihram, while Maymuna herself narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) married her while she was not in ihram, as narrated by Imam Muslim. Scholars have favored her narration for several reasons, which are beyond the scope of this discussion.

The Quraysh refused to attend Maymuna bint al-Harith's wedding feast and insisted that the Prophet return to Medina.

After completing his Umrah, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) intended to hold his wedding feast in Mecca, hoping to win over the Quraysh. However, they refused and sent Huwaytib ibn Abd al-Uzza to him four days later, saying, "Your time is up, so leave us." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) then instructed Abu Rafi' to announce the departure. He set out for Sarf, a place near Al-Tan'im, about ten miles from Mecca, and consummated the marriage with her. She was 26 years old at the time, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) was 59. He held a wedding feast with more than one sheep and gave her a dowry of four hundred dirhams, or, as some say, five hundred dirhams.

Her Honor and Virtue (may God be pleased with her)

Maymuna (may God be pleased with her) was the last woman the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) married, meaning the last woman with whom he consummated the marriage. She became a loyal and devoted wife to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), loving him deeply and being loved by him in return. She held a high position with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and for this reason, she narrated thirteen hadiths from him (peace and blessings be upon him), including the description of his ablution (after death). She also raised an orphan named Ubaydullah al-Khawlani.

Some Incidents in the Prophet's Household

Ibn Abbas (may God be pleased with him) would sometimes stay overnight at her house.

He would spend the night in the house of the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him), gaining knowledge, refinement, and good character, which he would then share with the Muslims. Among his accounts is the following: “I spent a night at the house of Maymuna bint al-Harith, my maternal aunt. The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) was with her that night. He got up to pray during the night, and I stood to his left. He took hold of my hair and moved me to his right. Whenever I dozed off, he would take hold of my earlobe. He prayed eleven rak'ahs, then sat with his knees drawn up to his chest, so that I could hear his breathing as he slept. When dawn broke, he prayed two short rak'ahs.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Her Death

Maymuna (may God be pleased with her) passed away in Sarif, in the very place where the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) had consummated his marriage with her, in the year fifty-one. It was said that she died in Sarf in the year 66 AH. It was also said that she died in the year 63 AH in Sarf, and she was eighty years old at that time. Ibn Abbas led the funeral prayer for her, and he, Yazid ibn al-Asamm, Abdullah ibn Shaddad ibn al-Hadi (who were her nephews), and Ubaydullah al-Khawlani (who was an orphan under her care) entered her grave.

The Testimony of the Mothers of the Believers (may God be pleased with her)

The Mother of the Believers, Aisha (may God be pleased with her), testified to this, saying:

"Indeed, she was among the most God-fearing of us and the most devoted to maintaining kinship ties."