Halima al-Sa’diyyah
The Lineage of Halima al-Sa’diyyah
Halima was the daughter of Abu Dhu’ayb, whose name was Abdullah ibn al-Harith ibn Shijna ibn Rizam ibn Nadhira ibn Sa’d ibn Bakr ibn Hawazin. The tribe of Banu Sa’d, where Halima al-Sa’diyyah was from, is located about 70 kilometers south of the city of Ta’if. Some sources also mention that it is located east of Mecca.
The Islam of Halima al-Sa’diyyah
Scholars have largely agreed that Halima al-Sa’diyyah embraced Islam, a view supported by the majority of scholars. They stated that she and her husband converted to Islam and were considered among the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Abu al-Qasim al-Tabarani mentioned her in his collection among the women who narrated hadiths from the Prophet (peace be upon him). Hafiz Ibn al-Jawzi also mentioned her in his books about the female Companions.
In his book Al-Hada’iq, Ibn al-Jawzi wrote:
"Halima, the daughter of al-Harith, came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) after he married Khadijah and complained to him about the drought in their land. He spoke to Khadijah, who then gave her forty sheep and a camel. Later, she came to him again after his prophethood, embraced Islam, pledged allegiance, and her husband al-Harith also accepted Islam".
She was also mentioned in Al-Isabah and other books on the Companions by Abu Nu’aym, Ibn Mandah, and others.
Halima al-Sa’diyyah’s Story with the Prophet
Halima Takes the Prophet to Nurse Him
Halima al-Sa’diyyah narrates the story of how she began caring for the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). She traveled to Mecca, but before her arrival, other wet nurses had already come before her. These wet nurses preferred to take children whose fathers were alive so they would be well-rewarded. Whenever a wet nurse approached Muhammad (peace be upon him) and found out that he was an orphan, they would lose interest in taking him.
When Halima and her husband arrived in Mecca, they were exhausted and hungry, with nothing to sustain them. She could not find any other child to take, so she did not want to leave Muhammad (peace be upon him) alone due to his orphanhood. She took him from his mother, Amina, and set off back to their home.
It was not long before, as Halima narrates, the udders of their livestock filled with milk. The milk in her breasts also began flowing, and Muhammad (peace be upon him) drank until he was full. She also nursed her own son, and that night, they slept full and satisfied, experiencing the blessings of having the Prophet (peace be upon him) with them.
The Prophet’s Upbringing in Halima’s Household
The Prophet (peace be upon him) spent his early years in the desert of Banu Sa’d, where Halima nursed him. He grew up strong, eloquent in speech, and healthy.
At the age of four, something extraordinary happened while he was tending sheep and playing with his peers. Two men approached him, split open his chest, and removed his heart. They then washed it with cold water, ice, and hail. These men were the angels Jibril and Mika’il (peace be upon them), who washed and purified his heart with Zamzam water. They then sealed his back with the Seal of Prophethood and stitched him up by the will of Allah.
Halima al-Sa’diyyah became extremely frightened for Muhammad (peace be upon him). The boys who were with him ran to tell her what had happened. She feared that something terrible had occurred to him, so she hurriedly returned him to his mother, Amina. However, Amina was not distressed or afraid upon hearing the story. She was at peace, believing that her son was destined for something great, especially after the vision she had on the night of his birth.
The Prophet’s Loyalty to Halima al-Sa’diyyah
The Prophet (peace be upon him) remained deeply grateful and loyal to Halima al-Sa’diyyah. He held a special place in his heart for her. A testament to this loyalty is when Halima’s sister came to him on the day of the Conquest of Mecca.
He asked her about Halima, and she informed him that she had passed away. His eyes filled with tears, and he ordered that she be given new clothing and 200 dirhams. As she left, she said, "What an excellent ward you were, both as a child and as an adult".
The Prophet’s Loyalty to Halima’s Children
One of the Prophet’s acts of loyalty was when the Muslims obtained the spoils of war after their victory over the Hawazin tribe at the Battle of Hunayn. Among those captured was al-Shayma’, the daughter of al-Harith, who was the daughter of Halima al-Sa’diyyah. She was brought before the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who welcomed her warmly and seated her on his cloak.
He then gave her the choice between staying with him and being honored or returning to her people. She chose to return to her people, embraced Islam, and was honored by the Prophet (peace be upon him).
