Juwayriyya bint al-Harith

Juwayriyya bint al-Harith (Arabic: جويرية بنت الحارث‎ juwayriyya bint al-ḥārith, born c. 608) was a wife of Muhammad and a Mother of the Believers.

She married the Islamic prophet Muhammad when he was 58 years old and she was 20, thus placing the marriage in 627/8.

Family background

She was the daughter of al-Hārith ibn Abi Dirar, the chief of Banu Mustaliq, who was defeated with his tribe in a battle.

Conflict between Muslims and Banu Mustaliq

Main article: Invasion of Banu Mustaliq

Two months after Muḥammad returned from the Expedition of Dhū Qarad, he began to hear rumours that the Banū al-Muṣṭaliq were preparing to attack him, so he sent a spy, Buraydah ibn Al-Ḥasīb Al-Aslamī, to confirm this. The Banū al-Muṣṭaliq also believed that Muḥammad was preparing to attack them. So they in turn sent a spy reconnoiter to explore the positions of the Muslims, but he was captured and killed by them.

The two armies were stationed at a well called Al-Muraysī', near the sea, a short distance from Mecca. They fought with bows and arrows for an hour, and then the Muslims advanced rapidly, they surrounded the al-Muṣṭaliq and took the entire tribe as prisoners, with their families, herds and flock. The battle ended in full victory for the Muslims. Two hundred families were taken as captives, two hundred camels, five thousand sheep, goats, as well as a huge quantity of household goods which were captured as booty. The household goods were sold in an auction to the highest bidder.