صفية بنت عبد المطلب
Saffiyya bint Abd al-Muttalib
The Poetess Aunt
Xidhiidhka uu la lahaa Nabiga ﷺ
She was the Prophet's paternal aunt, one of his most loyal protectors and supporters. He loved and respected her greatly, and she composed the most moving elegies for his uncle Hamza after the tragedy of Uhud.
Dhacdooyinka Muhiimka ah ee Nolosha
Born in Mecca as daughter of Abd al-Muttalib
Among the earliest women to accept Islam in Mecca
Stood firm at Uhud and struck a fleeing soldier with a spear
Killed a Jewish spy during the siege of Khandaq with a tent pole
Passed away in Medina
Taariikh Nololeed Dhamaystiran
Saffiyya bint Abd al-Muttalib was the paternal aunt of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and one of the earliest women to embrace Islam. She was the daughter of Abd al-Muttalib, the chieftain of the Quraysh and the Prophet's grandfather, making her one of the most senior women in early Meccan society. She was married to al-Awwam ibn Khuwaylid, the brother of Khadijah, and was the mother of al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam, one of the ten Companions given the glad tidings of Paradise. Saffiyya was known for her fierce determination and physical courage. During the Battle of Uhud in 625 CE, when Muslim lines broke and soldiers began to flee, she stood firm and struck a fleeing Muslim soldier with a spear to shame him back into battle, refusing to accept defeat. At the Battle of Khandaq in 627 CE, she was stationed in the Banu Haritha fortress with other women and children. When a Jewish man from Banu Qurayza came to spy on the women's position, she alerted Hassan ibn Thabit, who was present but declined to act. She did not hesitate. She descended from the fortress, killed the spy herself with a tent pole, and returned. This decisive act under siege conditions became one of the most celebrated stories of her life. She was also a gifted poet whose elegies for her beloved brother Hamza, the Lion of Allah, who was martyred and mutilated at Uhud, are preserved in collections of early Arabic poetry. She died around 640 CE, approximately nine years after the Prophet ﷺ.
Hadallo Caan ah
"Is this a time to weep? This is a time to fight."
Casharro Noloshaada loogu talagalay
Decisive action in the moment of danger can protect an entire community
Poetry is a powerful weapon — words endure long after battles end
Family loyalty and deep faith are not in conflict but reinforce each other
Sida Loogu Eg Yahay Iyaga
Ma rabtaa inaad raacdo tallaabooyinkii Saffiyya bint Abd al-Muttalib? Ku bilow tallaabooyinkan la dhaqan-gelin karo ee laga soo qaaday noloshooda.
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Decisive action in the moment of danger can protect an entire community
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Poetry is a powerful weapon — words endure long after battles end
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Family loyalty and deep faith are not in conflict but reinforce each other