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 “I do not know a woman who was a greater blessing to her people than she.” Aisha speaking of Juwayriyah.
The fifth year of Hijrah was a year rich in major events. During its second half, the Muslims were busy fighting the parties that rallied against them.
They dug the Trench to defend Madinah from the enemies in the outside. But a greater danger was facing them from the inside, that of the Jewish tribes who breached the peace treaty. After defeating the Parties, the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, rallied the Muslims against the Jewish tribe of Banu Nadheer. They blockaded their fortress for twenty-five days, until they all surrendered. Then the Muslims set off towards the tribe of Bani al Mustaliq who were gathering forces to fight them. The two armies met at a watering well called Al-Muraysee.’ A fierce battle took place which ended by a heavy defeat of the Jews. Most of their men were slain and their women were taken captives. Their leader, al-Harith escaped, but his daughter, Barrah, fell to the hands of the Muslims.
The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, distributed the captives among the Muslims. The daughter of al-Harith fell to the lot of Thabit Ibnu Qays. Aisha, radhiallahu anha, who accompanied the Prophet on this expedition related: “When the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, distributed the captives of Banu al-Mustaliq, she (Barrah) fell to the lot of Thabit ibnu Qays. She was married to her cousin, who was killed during the battle. She gave Thabit a deed, agreeing to pay him nine okes of gold for her freedom. She was a very beautiful woman. She captivated every man who her. She came to the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, to ask for his help in the matter, As soon as Iher at the door of my room, I took a dislike to her, for I knew that he would see her as Iher. She went in and told him who she was, the daughter, of al-Harith ibn Dhirar, the chief of his people, She said: “You can see the state to which I have been brought. I have fallen to the lot of Thabit, and have given him a deed for my ransom, and I have come to ask your help in the matter”. He said: “Would you like something better than that? I will discharge your debt, and marry you”. She said: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah!” ‘Then it is done’. He replied”.
This was the event that turned Barrah’s (named Juwayriyah from then on) life around. For not only did she accept Islam, thus saving herself from Hellfire, but by accepting the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, for her husband she became Umm Al-Mu’mineen (mother of the Believers).
The news that the Prophet had married Juwayriyah was blazed abroad, and now that Banu al-Mustaliq were the Prophet’s relatives by marriage, the Muslims found it hard to keep them as their captives. “The relatives of Allah’s Messenger!” They exclaimed. They set them free. A hundred families were released from captivity because of this blessed marriage. “I do not know a woman who was a greater blessing to her people than she.” Said Aisha, radhiallahu anha. Juwayriyah was a woman of exceptional beauty, and because she belonged to the highest class of her society, she acquired the best upbringing and education that was available during her time. She was twenty years old when the Prophet married her. No doubt she was the object of jealousy of his other wives, but this did not prevent them from appreciating her good character and companionship.
It was the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, who changed her name to Juwayriyah, for he hated that it would be said, when he would come out from her room: “He came out from Barrah (pious).
It is said that when the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, departed from the raid with Juwayriyah and was at Thatul-Jaysh, he entrusted her to one of the Ansar and went forward to Madinah. Her father, al-Harith, discovered that she was held captive and went back to Madinah, bringing his daughter’s ransom. When he reached al-Aqiq, he looked at the camels he had brought as her ransom and admired the two of them greatly, so he hid them in one of the passes of al-Aqiq. Then he came to the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, dragging the camels behind him, and told him: “My daughter is too noble to be taken as captive. Set her free by this ransom.” That is fair enough,” said al-Harith. He came to his daughter and said: “this man is letting you chose so do not dishonor us!” “I choose Allah’s Messenger,” she replied calmly. “What a disgrace!” he exclaimed.
The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said: “Where are the two camels which you have hidden in al-Aqiq in such-and-such a pass?” Al-Harith exclaimed: “ I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, and that you Muhammad are the Messenger of Allah! For none could have known of this but Allah.” He and his two sons who were with him and some of his men accepted Islam. The Prophet asked him again for his daughter’s hand and he accepted, and the Prophet gave his new bride four hundred Dirhams as her mahr (dowry).
Juwayriyah accepted Islam wholeheartedly, and followed the excellent example of her husband in the worship of her Lord, trying to even compete with him at times. He left her room once for Fajr (prayer) and came back after Dhuha: “I spent all the time you were absent praying,” she told him. He said: “Shall I tell you few words, if you say them they will be heavier in the scale than what you have done? You say; ‘Subhaana Allahe ‘adada khalqihih, subhana Allahe ridhaa nafsehe, subhana Allahe zinata ‘arshehe, subhana Allahe midaada kalimaatihi.” (Praise Allah as many times as the number of His creatures, and as much as pleases Him, and as much as the weight of His Throne, and as much as the ink for His Words).
Juwayriyah spent her life in seclusion after the Prophet passed away. The Khalifah would provide for her maintenance, but she would spend it all for the sake of Allah. She performed Hajj many times, and was known for her passionate worship. She kept away from all the trials that raged later during her life. She died during the rule of Khalifah of Mu’awayah at the age of sixty.  and grant her a place in the highest Paradise.
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