Rubayyi' was the daughter of Mu'awwidh Ibn 'Afra' al-Ansari. Her mother was Umm Yazid Bint Qays Ibn... Ibn 'Adi Ibn Najjar. She married Iyas Ibn Bukayr from the people of Layth and gave birth to Muhammad Ibn Iyas. Her name is Rubayyi', even though some of the books about the transmitters of traditions have written Rabi'ah. Rubayyi' passed away in the year 45 A.H. approximately.1

Her Merits

Rubayyi' accepted Islam and pledged allegiance with the Messenger of God (S). She was one of those who pledged allegiance under the tree of Ridwan.2 She visited with the Messenger of God (S); and, the people of al-Madinah quoted from her. During the wars in which the Prophet participated, she accompanied the Prophet (S) to attend to the wounded and helped to return those who were killed to al-Madinah. Her father killed Abu Jahl. He was asked to describe the Messenger of God (S) and he said, "If you see him, it is as if you are looking at the sun."3

Shaykh al-Tusi calls her by the name of Rabi'ah Bint Mas'ud (and in some copies Mu'awwadh). Mirza Astarabadi and Ahmad Ibn Hanbal use the name of Rubayyi' Bint Mu'awwadh for her in listing her among the transmitters of traditions and companions of the Messenger of God (S).4

Ibn Mandah, Abu­Nua'ym, Ibn 'Abd al-Barr, Ibn al-Athir, and Ibn Hajar consider her to be one of the companions of the Messenger of God (S).5 Sayyid Muhsin al-Amin has listed her among the Shi'ah.6 Mamqani says, "She is a good and fine person."7 'Umar Ridha Kahhalah writes, "She was a great and distinguished woman."8

She has related traditions from the Messenger of God (S). Khalid Ibn Dhakwan, Sulayman Ibn Yasar, Muhammad Ibn 'Abd al-Rahman Ibn Thawban, Abu­Salamah Ibn 'Abd al-Rahman, Nafi' the servant of Ibn 'Umar, Abu 'Ubadah Ibn Muhammad Ibn 'Umar Ibn Yasir, 'Ubadah Ibn al-Walid Ibn 'Ubadah, and 'Abdullah Ibn Muhammad Ibn 'Aqil have related traditions from her.

Al-Tabarani has related 21 traditions in different ways from 'Abdullah Ibn Muhammad Ibn 'Aqil from Rubayyi' Bint Mua'wwidh about the Prophet (S) taking the minor ablution (wudu').9

Al-Tabarani based on his documents relates from Khalid Ibn Dhakwan from Rubayyi' Bint Mu'awwidh as saying, "On the morning of 'Ashura' the Messenger of God (S) sent a messenger to the Ansar who were living in the outskirts of al-Madinah saying, 'Whoever is fasting in the morning, finish the day with fasting. If they awaken and aren't fasting, fast the rest of the day.' We fasted this day and even kept our small children in a state of fasting. We kept them busy playing, made toys out of wool for them, and took them to gardens. If a child cried from hunger, we would give them that toy until the time for breaking the fast."10

Al-Tabarani based on his documents relates from Khalid Ibn Dhakwan from Rubayyi' Bint Mu'awwidh as saying, "We went with the Prophet (S) to war. We (women) didn't fight; but we gave water (to the soldiers and cared for the sick and injured).”11

Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, al-Tirmidhi, and al-Nassa'i related traditions from Rubayyi'.12

• 1. A'lam al-Nisa', vol. 1, p. 443.
• 2. The Ridwan Pledge of Allegiance (bay'at al-Ridwan) is also known as the Tree Pledge of Allegiance (bay'at al-shajarah) or the Hudaybiyah Pledge of Allegiance. The Muslims pledged allegiance to the Holy Prophet (S) under an old gnarled tree at a place called al-Hudaybiyah to help him against his enemies. (Persian Encyclopedia).
• 3. Usd al-Ghabah, vol. 5, p. 452; al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, vol. 24, p. 274.
• 4. Rijal al-Tusi, p. 33; Manhaj al-Maqal, p. 400; al-Jami' fi'l-'Ilal.... p. 245.
• 5. Al-Isti’ab, vol. 4, p. 1837; Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 78; Usd al-Ghabah, vol. 5, p. 452; Al-Isabah, p. 293.
• 6. A'yan al-Shi'ah, vol. 6, p. 459.
• 7. Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 78.
• 8. A'lam al-Nisa', vol. 1, p. 442.
• 9. Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, vol. 24, p. 275.
• 10. Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, vol. 24, p.275.
• 11. Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, vol. 24, p. 276.
• 12. Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 12, p. 418.