A life of love and service

BY SUMAYYAH MEEHAN  

Prophet Muhammad, (peace be upon him), was blessed in having Companions who loved and adored him. Quite often, the Prophet's companions were the only ones he could rely upon when he began delivering Allah's Final Message to the world. 

His own people turned their backs on him, blasphemed(Speak of in an impious manner) against Islam whenever they could and tried, yet failed, to assassinate him more than once. However, the Companions were always there to weather the storm or lay down their lives for Allah's cause. 

Once such Companion was named Barakah. She was actually the Prophet's first companion as she was the very first person to hold him right after he was born. Barakah was an Abyssinian slave and had been purchased when she was a young girl by the Prophet's father Abdullah. She faithfully served Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) mother Aminah when her newlywed husband Abdullah left on a trade caravan and died during the journey. 

Little did anyone know that Aminah would also die when the Prophet was only six years old. Before she succumbed to death, Aminah asked Barakah to be a mother to the young boy. Barakah agreed and both she and Muhammad (peace be upon him) buried Aminah with their own hands. 

The Prophet, now an orphan, went to live with his grandfather Abd Al-Muttalib. Barakah went with him and continued to take care of the boy. Within two years Abd Al-Muttalib also died. Again, the Prophet was orphaned. However, he found safe haven with his Uncle Abu Talib and Muhammad(PBUH) grew into a fine man under his uncle's watchful eye. All the while, Barakah was there ensuring that the Prophet was well-cared for. 

Even when the Prophet married his first wife Khadijah, Barakah continued to care for him and his family. One day the Prophet called out to Barakah, "Ya Ummah," which means 'mother' in Arabic. He always referred to her as his second mother as he once told his wife Khadijah, "This is Barakah. This is my mother after my own mother. She is the rest of my family."  Barakah came and Muhammad (peace be upon him) informed her that someone was asking for her hand in marriage. 

She did not want to leave her son, but agreed to marry because it would make him happy for her to have a life of her own. After her marriage, Barakah moved to Yathrib where she lived with her husband and eventually gave birth to a son named Ayman. However, her marriage was short-lived, as her husband died 2 years later. Barakah and her son returned to Makkah to live with the Prophet. She did remarry in Makkah and had another son named Usamah. And when the Prophet migrated to Madinah she followed him soon thereafter, on foot, with only the love in her heart as sustenance for the long journey. 

Not only was Barakah a mother to the Prophet but she was also one of the first people to embrace Islam. She often put her own life in danger by delivering the Prophet's messages.  Barakah also gathered intelligence regarding the plotting of the pagan Arabs against Islam and the Prophet. 

During battles, she took care of the wounded Muslim soldiers by bandaging wounds and delivering water. Barakah, as well as other early converts to Islam, made it possible for Islam to grow without hindrance and for all Muslims to be able to worship freely without persecution. Barakah was with the Prophet when he was born and she continued to love him even after he died. She lived to be an old woman and was often seen crying. She missed her Prophet son immensely and she was also sad because Allah's revelations ceased when the Last Messenger passed away. 

Only Allah Almighty can raise our status in this world. In the story of Barakah, a slave girl was raised to such a high status as being the 'mother' to a Prophet. For her good deeds and striving to please Allah, the Prophet told Barakah that there was a place for her in Paradise where she undoubtedly belongs. 

Sumayyah Meehan is a Kuwait-based American writer who embraced Islam. She can be reached at  abidhjs@msn.com