Umm Ayman (RA) : The Second Mother Of Prophet ﷺ

Umm Ayman (RA), whose real name was Barakah bint Thaʿlabah al-Ḥabashiyyah, was among the earliest believers in Islam and one of the few who served the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ from his birth until his death. Known for her loyalty, faith, and courage, she occupies a special place among the women of Islam and was counted among the Prophet’s family by affection and devotion.

Early Life and Service to the Prophet ﷺ

Umm Ayman was originally from Abyssinia (modern-day Ethiopia). She was a young girl when she was brought to Makkah as a slave and came into the household of ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib, the father of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. After ʿAbdullāh’s death, she remained in the service of Āminah bint Wahb, the Prophet’s mother.

When the Prophet ﷺ was born, Umm Ayman cared for him like a mother. After Āminah’s death at al-Abwāʾ (on the way back from Madinah), it was Umm Ayman who comforted the young orphaned Muhammad ﷺ and safely brought him back to his grandfather, ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib, in Makkah.

The Prophet ﷺ often said later in life:

“She is my mother after my own mother. She is the rest of my family.”
(Ibn Saʿd, al-Ṭabaqāt al-Kubrā, vol. 8, p. 222)

This affection and honor continued throughout his life — he treated her as family and visited her frequently.

Embracing Islam and Marriage

When the Prophet ﷺ was chosen as the Messenger of Allah, Umm Ayman was among the first women to believe in him. She embraced Islam without hesitation, demonstrating her unshakable faith and insight.

The Prophet ﷺ later freed her and arranged her marriage to ʿUbayd ibn Zayd (RA), from the Khazraj tribe of Madinah. From this marriage, she bore a son named Ayman, after whom she became known as Umm Ayman (“Mother of Ayman”). Ayman later grew up to become one of the early Muslims and was martyred in the Battle of Ḥunayn.

After her first husband’s death, the Prophet ﷺ encouraged Zayd ibn Ḥārithah (RA) — his freed servant and beloved companion — to marry her. They had a son, Usāmah ibn Zayd (RA), who became one of the youngest commanders in Islamic history and was dearly loved by the Prophet ﷺ.

Thus, Umm Ayman became connected to the Prophet’s household through deep bonds of faith, affection, and family ties.

Courage and Faith in Adversity

Umm Ayman’s life was marked by courage and devotion. During the Hijrah (Migration) from Makkah to Madinah, she undertook the perilous journey alone, enduring thirst, heat, and exhaustion. It is narrated that when she became faint from thirst in the desert, Allah blessed her with a miraculous provision of water from a heavenly source. She later told the Prophet ﷺ about this, and he confirmed that it was a divine blessing for her steadfastness.
(Ibn Hishām, As-Sīrah an-Nabawiyyah, vol. 2)

She also participated in the Battle of Uḥud, carrying water to the wounded and tending to the injured. Despite her age, she remained steadfast beside the Prophet ﷺ, embodying the resilience of Muslim women in the early community.

Her Close Relationship with the Prophet ﷺ

Umm Ayman was treated by the Prophet ﷺ with exceptional kindness. He used to visit her frequently and address her as “Yā Ummī” (O my mother). After his marriage to Khadījah (RA), he continued to hold Umm Ayman in high regard and included her in his household circle.

When the Prophet ﷺ passed away, both Abū Bakr (RA) and ʿUmar (RA) would visit her, saying,

“Let us go visit Umm Ayman, as the Messenger of Allah used to visit her.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 2452)

When they visited her after the Prophet’s death, she wept. They asked, “Why do you weep, when what is with Allah is better for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?” She replied, “I know that, but I weep because the revelation from heaven has ceased.” Her words moved them to tears as well.
(Ibn Saʿd, Ṭabaqāt, vol. 8, p. 223)

Her Death and Legacy

Umm Ayman (RA) lived until the caliphate of ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān (RA), though exact reports of her death vary. She was among those rare individuals who personally witnessed all key stages of the Prophet’s life — his birth, prophethood, migration, and death.

Her piety, loyalty, and closeness to the Prophet ﷺ made her one of the most respected women among the Companions. Through her son Usāmah ibn Zayd (RA), her legacy continued as a symbol of service, sincerity, and unwavering faith

Umm Ayman (RA) was more than a servant in the Prophet’s household—she was part of his family, a woman of Paradise, and a symbol of loyalty and sacrifice. From caring for the Prophet ﷺ in his childhood, to migrating for the sake of Allah, to serving on the battlefield, and to being a link of love and remembrance for Abū Bakr and ʿUmar (RA), she embodied the virtues of faith and service.

The Prophet ﷺ’s testimony of her being from the people of Paradise is her eternal honor. (al-Ṭabaqāt 8/224).