Shayma bint Al- Harith

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒚. Since Muhammad’sﷺ arrival years earlier their lives had changed for the better. And because he was so special his milk mother Halima (ra) told her daughter Shayma (ra) who was five, to take care of her little brothers; Abdullah and especially Muhammedﷺ her milk brother.

One day Halima (ra) stepped outside. The heat of the day had hit its peak; animals had left seeking shade. Yet just yonder she saw to her consternation the children. Shayma (ra) was sitting beside Muhammedﷺ as he lay on the open grass. Halima (ra) rushed forward, shouting at Shayma (ra), for they could all succumb to the heat. But Shayma (ra) replied she had been watchful. In fact, she told her mother about a cloud that was always above little Muhammadﷺ casting a shade over him. When he moved, it moved so she decided to sit with him to benefit the same shade for herself too.

Fast forward, to the battle of Hunayn where the Hawazin tribe faced the Muslims. An old woman was amongst the prisoners. She said: “Know that, by God, I am the milk-sister of your Prophet.”

So she was taken before him. The Prophetﷺ had not seen Shayma (ra) in years. She introduced herself to him and upon recognising her by a certain mark, he honoured her as he spread out his cloak and invited her to sit with great affection. Many years had passed, tears welled in his ﷺ eyes as they sat and he asked after her parents and recalled their childhood. Shayma (ra) used to sing to the Prophetﷺ as a child.

Soon Shayma (ra) accepted Islam. Wishing to go back to her people; the Prophetﷺ returned her with gifts. Like most tribes Hawazin struggled at first to accept Islam because of strong tribalism. 

There are times good people are sent into our lives for our own good. Yet by our own prejudice or ego we might struggle to see this or seek benefit by choosing to push them away instead. 

When talking of old days, Shayma (ra) was reminded of all the blessings the Prophet ﷺ had brought to her family and realised the truth. Being around the Prophetﷺ brought her freedom, in this life and the next.

𝑴𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 of 𝗦.𝗡.𝗝𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗹𝗶 ✍🏼 (𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 of 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗯𝗻 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, Islamic chapter books for kids📚)