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Zunairah al-Rumiya

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Zunaira al-Rumiya
زنيرة الرومية
Born
Harithah bint al-Muammil[1]
Died
NationalityMiddle East, originally from Europe
Other namesHarithah bint al-Muammil
Known forCompanion (Sahabiyyah) of Muhammad
RelativesUmm Ubays (sister)

Zinira al-Rumiya (Arabic: زنيرة الرومية, Zinira the Roman) (correct pronunciation is Zinira or Zinnirah, as specified in the الرحیق المختوم - The common pronunciation Zunaira, is also correct), was a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. She was among the slaves freed by Abu Bakr.

Biography

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Zunairah was a concubine of the Banu Makhzum[2] and a slave of Umar ibn al-Hashim.

She was amongst the first to embrace Islam in Mecca.[3] After her conversion, she was asked to renounce her new religion but remained steadfast.[4] When Abu Jahl knew of her conversion, he beat her.[2]

After being manumitted, Zunairah lost her eyesight. The Quraysh claimed, "Al-lāt and Al-‘Uzzá are the ones that have taken away her sight."[5][3] But she replied, "No, by the house of Allah, you are lying. Al-Lat and Al-Uzza can neither harm nor heal and they have not afflicted me. This is from Allah."[3][5]

Later she recovered her eyesight, a healing that the Muslims attributed to Allah.[3][5] However, the Quraysh then said, "This is some of Muhammad's magic."[3] When Abu Bakr saw she was being tortured, he bought and freed her, along with her companion in slavery Lubaynah.[3] Her date of death is unknown, but she died after the Migration to Madina.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Zunaira, Haritha bint Al-Muammil". www.eslam.de (in German). Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  2. ^ a b "The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets(saw) – Part 9". 17 August 2011. .
  3. ^ a b c d e f Muhammad ibn Saad. Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir vol. 8. Translated by Bewley, A. (1995). The Women of Madina, pp. 180-181. London: Ta-Ha Publishers.
  4. ^ "Khalifa Abu Bakr - Witness to Truth".,
  5. ^ a b c Muhammad ibn Ishaq. Sirat Rasul Allah. Translated by Guillaume, A. (1955). The Life of Muhammad, p. 144. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  6. ^ Ibn al-Athir al-Jazari, Usd al-ghabah fi marifat al-Saḥabah ,Archived, vol. 7, p. 124
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