Juwayriyya bint al-Harith
Juwayriyya was the daughter of the chieftain of the Banu Mustaliq. This tribe lived on the shores of the Red Sea and was an ally of Mecca. Her husband died in the fight against the Muslims and she became spoils of war and was therefore given to the enemy.
An attack by Muhammad on the tribe was not be entirely unexpected, but they apparently did not expect their shepherds and livestock to be attacked in the pasture. The cattle ranchers were easy prey for the Muslims. They surrounded the farmers and armed with bows and arrows the battle was a piece of cake. Muslims continue to celebrate this rather cowardly attack. After the battle, several dozen families were imprisoned. One of the men who died was Mustafa bin Safwan the father of Juwayriyya. As a prisoner of war, she was initially awarded to one of Muhammad’s companions. Naturally, she could not consent to this.
Juwayriyya felt that, as the daughter of the chief, her new master was too low rank. She complained to the prophet that she didn’t want to be treated like a slave. Aisha recounted the first meeting: “By Allah, the moment I saw her in the doorway, I hated her. I knew the prophet would admire her.” Aisha was apparently not charmed by yet another woman for her husband. She realised that Juwayriyyah was too good to pass by. She continues: “She came into my house to speak to the Prophet and said: ‘I am Juwayriyyah bint Al Haartih the daughter of the leader of these people. I am already a victim. I was granted as the spoils victory to Thabit bin Qays, a cousin of yours, and I presented him with a contract to release myself. I ask for your help in this matter.”
So she had decided to release herself, as far as that was possible of course. Muhammad proposed that he would redeem her from his cousin and marry her. She agreed. Women seemed resigned their fate after defeat in war. The fact that they were prey for the enemy was already the case in pre-Islamic times in Mecca. The winner got the single women.
Juwayriyya was 26 when she married the Prophet. The marriage lasted four years until the death of Muhammad , whom she survived by 44 years. She existed as an unmarried widow because the wives of the Prophet were not allowed to remarry after his death. Mohamed thus broke with the tradition that widows deserved protection. It is not clear why this was the case.
8. The wifes of the prophet: Juwayriyya