Umm 'Atiyyah al-Ansariyyah's name was Nusaybah Bint al-Harith. And, some historians have said that she was Nasibah Bint Ka'b, but the epithet of Bint Ka'b was Umm 'Umarih.1 She is from al-Basrah.

Her Merits

Umm 'Atiyyah was one of the great women who were among the companions of the Holy Prophet (S). She transmitted many traditions from him, and often accompanied him to the battlefield. She used to treat the wounded and sick during the battles. She also helped with washing the body of Zaynab, the Holy Prophet's daughter, after her death. The tradition she narrated about the method of washing corpses (ghusl al-mayyit) has become a part of Islamic doctrine. A number of the scholars from the second generation after the prophet (Tabi'un or companions of the Holy Prophet's companions after he himself had passed away) in al-Basrah learned about how to wash a corpse from Umm 'Atiyyah.

Shaykh al-Tusi, Ibn 'Abd al-Barr, and Ibn al-Athir counted her among the transmitters of traditions from the Holy Prophet (S).2

Sayyid Muhsin al-Amin has written, "She satisfies the conditions,"3 meaning she was a Shi'ah. Because, it has been narrated that Umm Sharahil, Umm 'Atiyyah's servant, said, "'Ali Ibn Abi Talib used to take his noon nap at Umm 'Atiyyah's house…...4 Mamqani has written, "Since she washed the bodies of deceased Muslims and we can conclude that she was trustworthy and sincere.5

She related traditions from the Holy Prophet (S) and 'Umar Ibn al-Khattab. Hafsah Bint Sirin, 'Abd al-Malik Ibn 'Umayr, Isma'il Ibn 'Abd al-Rahman Ibn 'Atiyyah, Ali Ibn al-Aqmar, Umm Sharahil, Muhammad Ibn Sirin, and Anas Ibn Malik have related traditions from her.6

Ibn al-Athir transmits a tradition from Umm 'Atiyyah about the washing of the corpse with three different chains of documentation, while Ibn Sa'd transmits the same tradition with two chains of documentation. "Umm­'Atiyyah said, 'One of the daughters of the Prophet (S) had died. He said, 'Wash her three or five times, or more if you feel it is necessary with water mixed with cedar (Lotus) water. Then wash her with camphor the last time. Call me when you have finished.' When we had finished, we called him, and he handed us a piece of cloth. He said, 'Cover her with this."'7

Al-Tabarani, relying on his own sources, quotes Umm Sharahil as narrating that Umm 'Atiyyah said, "The Messenger of God sent 'Ali to a battle. After 'Ali had left, I saw he raised his hands (up to heaven) and said, 'O my Lord, do not let me die before you show me 'Ali again."'

Al-Tabarani transmits about 85 traditions from Umm 'Atiyyah. In the al-Sihah al-Sittah a number of traditions are related from her.8

• 1. Ibn Makula has written her name as Nusaybah which would be Umm-'Atiyyah al­Ansariya. And, the name Nusaybah is Umm-Ka'b. Usd al-Ghabah, vol. 5, p. 555; al­Isti'ab, vol. 4, p. 1919; Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 12, p. 455.
• 2. Rijal al-Tusi, p. 33; al-Jami' fi'l-'Ilal wa-Ma'rifat al-Rijal, p. 246; Al-Isti’ab, vol. 4, pp. 1919 and 1947; Usd al-Ghabah, vol. 5, pp. 554 & 603.
• 3. A'yan al-Shi'ah, vol. 3, p. 482.
• 4. Al-'Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 456.
• 5. Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 73, chapter on women.
• 6. Tahdhib al-Kamal, p. 316.
• 7. Usd al-Ghabah, vol. 5, p. 603; al-'Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 455.
• 8. Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, vol. 25, p. 44; al-'Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 455.