Safiyyah was the daughter of 'Abd al-Muttalib Ibn Hashim al-Qurayshi al­Hashimi and her mother was Halah Bint Wuhayb Ibn 'Abd-Manaf. She was also the maternal sister of Hamzah and the paternal aunt of the Messenger of God (S). During the Era of Ignorance before Islam she married Harith Ibn Harb Ibn Umayyah, and after him she married al-'Awwam Ibn Khuwaylid Ibn Asad (Khadijah's brother). Together they had al-Zubayr,1 al-Sa'ib,2 and 'Abd al­Ka'bah. She passed away in the year 20 A.H. during the rule of 'Umar Ibn al­ Khattab at the age of 73 and was buried in the Baqi' cemetery.3

Her Merits

Safiyyah became Muslim during the beginning of the Prophet's invitation to Islam. She pledged allegiance with him and later migrated to al-Madinah. Safiyyah was among the first relatives of the Messenger of God (S) to accept Islam. She was his only paternal aunt to become Muslim. She migrated with 'Ali ('a) and the ladies of Banu-Hashim (known as al-fawatim) to al-Madinah. She has related traditions from the Prophet (S).

She participated in the battles of Uhud, al-Khandaq, and Khaybar. After the battle at Khaybar the Prophet (S) bestowed 40 wasaq of food upon her. This report proves her presence at the battle of Khaybar. Safiyyah was a very patient and brave woman, and she showed this at the time of her brother's (Hamzah) martyrdom. She was one of the excellent Arab poets of her time, and wrote poems in memory of the tragedy of the loss of her father ('Abd al-Muttalib), her brother (Hamzah), and the Messenger of God (S).4

Ibn Sa'd relates based on his documents, "When the Messenger of God (S) left al-Madinah for battles with the enemies he left his wives and the women under the protection of Hassan Ibn Thabit. A Jewish man (spy) came towards their area. Safiyyah told Hassan, 'Kill this Jew. Apparently, Hassan was afraid to do so. Therefore, Safiyyah picked up an iron bar and came down from the encampment. She slowly opened the door of the fortress, attacked this man, and killed him with the iron bar."

It has also been related that Safiyyah entered the battlefield on the day of the battle of Uhud and the men scattered. She had a sword in her hand and swung at them to scatter them while saying, "I disperse you from around the Messenger of God (S)." When the Prophet (S) saw her he said, "Zubayr, go help your mother."5

Al-Barqi has listed her among the transmitters of traditions from the Messenger of God (S).6

Sayyid Muhsin al-Amin in addition to listing her among the nobles of the Shi'ah has said, "She was a wise woman and eloquent poet. 'Abd al­Muttalib had six daughters and all of them were eloquent, poetic, and literary."7

Shaykh Mahallati has written, '"Abd al-Muttalib had six daughters, and Safiyyah was the best of them."8

Mamqani has listed her among the transmitters of traditions and described her marriage.9

She has related traditions from the Messenger of God (S), while Asma' Bint Abi­Bakr and Ja' far Ibn al-Zubayr (her grandson) have related traditions from her.

Shaykh al-Saduq based on his documents relates from Asma' Bint Abi Bakr from Safiyyah Bint 'Abd al-Muttalib as saying, "When Imam al-Husayn was born I was responsible for helping (Fatimah). The Prophet (S) said, 'Aunt, give him to me.'

I said, 'O Prophet of God, I haven't cleaned him yet.'

He questioned, 'Aunt, you want to clean him? God has already cleaned and purified him.'"10

And, from the same chain of transmitters it has been related from Safiyyah that she said, "I handed Imam al-Husayn ('a) to the Prophet (S) when he was born... He put al-Husayn between his two eyes, then handed him back to me, cried, and repeated three times, 'My son, may Allah curse the people who are your murderers.'"

Then Safiyyah says she responded, "May my mother and father be sacrificed for you. Who will kill him?"

And, the Prophet (S) answered, "A rebellious group of people from the tribe of Banu-Umayya. May Allah damn them."11

Al-Tabarani based on his documents relates from Ishaq Ibn Hashimi from Safiyyah that she said, "The Messenger of God (S) came to me. I had prepared a lamb's shoulder. (I had removed its meat and cooked it.) I brought it for him; he ate it and stood for the ritual prayer. (This tradition is about eating cooked food and the fact that it doesn't nullify the ablution for prayer. In the beginning of Islam the Muslims believed eating cooked food nullified the ablution for prayer)”12

• 1. Al-Zubayr Ibn al-'Awwam has been called one of the companions of the Prophet (S) by Shaykh al-Tusi. Sayyid al-Amini says, "al-Zubayr defended Imam 'Ali ('a) on the day of al-Saqifah, and was with Banu-Hashim in the house of Lady Fatimah ('a). And, on the day of the counsel he gave the right to leadership to Imam 'Ali ('a). Then, during the Battle of the Camel he sided with 'A'ishah. However, due to what Imam 'Ali ('a) said he gave up the battle and left." (A'yan al-Shi'ah, vol. 7, p. 44).
• 2. Al-Sa'ib was with the Prophet (S) during the Battles of Uhud and al-Khandaq. After the Prophet passed away, he was martyred in the Battle of al-Yamama. (Rayahin al­Shari'ah, vol. 4, p. 367).
• 3. A'lam al-Nisa', vol. 2, p. 345; al-A'lam by al-Zarkali, vol. 3, p. 206.
• 4. A'yan al-Shi'ah, vol. 7, p. 390; A'lam al-Nisa', vol. 2, pp. 343- 345.
• 5. Al-Tabaqal al-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 41.
• 6. Rijal al-Barqi, p. 61; Mu'jam Rijal al-Hadith, vol. 23, p. 194.
• 7. A'yan al-Shi'ah, vol. 7, p. 39.
• 8. Rayahin al-Shari'ah, vol. 4, p. 365.
• 9. Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 81.
• 10. Al-Amali by Shaykh al-Saduq, p. 136; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 43, p. 243.
• 11. Al-Amali by Shaykh al-Saduq, p.136; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 43, p. 243 & 256.
• 12. Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, vol. 24, p. 321. (al-Tabarani has said the transmitter of this tradition is very reliable).