Barrah bint Abd al-Muttalib "Aunt of the Prophet"
Barrah bint Abd al-Muttalib Lineage
Barrah bint Abdul Muttalib ibn Hashim ibn Abd Manaf was a noblewoman of the Quraysh tribe and a member of the Banu Hashim clan. She was one of the paternal aunts of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the sister of his father, Abdullah ibn Abdul Muttalib. She was born in Mecca.
Her father: Abdul Muttalib ibn Hashim, the leader of Quraysh.
Her mother: Fatimah bint Amr ibn Aidh ibn Imran ibn Makhzum, from the Banu Makhzum clan.
Barrah bint Abd al-Muttalib Siblings
Barrah had several brothers and sisters from her father, Abdul Muttalib. Some shared the same mother; others had different mothers. Notable among her siblings:
- Abdullah ibn Abdul Muttalib (father of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)
- Abu Talib ibn Abdul Muttalib
- Al-Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib
- Az-Zubayr ibn Abdul Muttalib
- Al-Harith ibn Abdul Muttalib
- Hamzah ibn Abdul Muttalib
- Abu Lahab (Abd al-Uzza) ibn Abdul Muttalib
- Safiyyah bint Abdul Muttalib
Barrah bint Abd al-Muttalib Husband and Children
Barrah married Abu Umayyah ibn al-Mughira al-Makhzumi, a nobleman of the Banu Makhzum clan. From this marriage, she had:
- Umm Salamah (Hind bint Abu Umayyah) — One of the respected female companions and later one of the Prophet Muhammad wives, thus one of the Mothers of the Believers.
Barrah bint Abd al-Muttalib Life
Barrah lived in Mecca and was part of a prominent and respected family. Although not much is detailed about her daily life, she is notable for her noble lineage, being the aunt of the Prophet and the mother of one of his wives. Her life reflects the interconnectedness of key Quraysh families during the time leading up to Islam.
Barrah bint Abd al-Muttalib Legacy
Barrah’s legacy lies in her lineage and the role her daughter Umm Salamah played in early Islamic history. Umm Salamah was a narrator of many hadiths of the Prophet and took part in significant events like the migration to Abyssinia and the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah.
As the aunt of the Prophet and mother of a Mother of the Believers, Barrah holds a place of respect in Islamic heritage, even if she herself did not actively participate in the Islamic movement.
Barrah bint Abd al-Muttalib Death
There is no confirmed date or detailed account of Barrah’s death. It is likely she passed away before the Prophet's migration to Medina, possibly while still in Mecca. It is also believed she died before accepting Islam, although there is no definitive record of her faith.
