there is more to it than said

Submitted by najeeb (United Arab Emirates), Sep 15, 2009 at 08:14

Know that Umm al-Mumineen Safiyyah daughter of Huyay (Radiya Allahu Anha) was married to Salaam bin Mushkam and then Kananah bin al-Rabee bin Abu al-Haqaiqh married her. Her father Huyay had been killed in the battle of Quraizah for breaching the covenant, he was not killed in the battle of Khaibar.
The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) made peace with the people of Khaibar after beseiging them. After that agreement no one was killed except two persons: two sons of Abu al-Haqeeq for breaching the agreement. According to the agreement no one should hide his property nevertheless the two sons of Abu al-Haqeeq who hid the property of Huyay bin Akhtab . So, they were killed as a punishment.
The general rule is that the women of warriors become captives. Dihyah a companion of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) asked the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) to give him a slave woman; he permitted him to take one of the captives. So, he took Safiyah . Then, The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) was told that she is the first lady among Quraizah and al-Nadheer (two Jewish tribes) and it is not suitable to make her marry anybody except him. Then the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) presented Islam to her, she accepted it willingly, then the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) manumitted her and married her and her Mahr was her manumission. She accepted Islam with her own free will, although it was very possible for her to remain on her religion. In fact, her manumission was an honour for her granted by the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam). Indeed, her marriage with the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) was a blessing of Allah who honoured her by this marriage; due to this marriage she became the mother of all believers. All Muslims ask Allah's blessings for her till the Day of Judgement.
Let's assume that the honour and dignity came to her after the calamity and trials, many times the favours come after a calamity as Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {… and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you …} [2: 216].
In addition, there are many narrations proving that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) brought peace and happiness to her and made her to feel comfortable. He also clarified the reasons for what had happened to her people. Thereupon she said: "I did not get up from my place until he was the most loving person to me" . Another narration reads that she said: "I never saw anyone who has a better character more than the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam)" .
She also said: "I saw him riding on his mount while I was feeling sleepy and my head was falling on the stick of the mount then he used to pat me with his hand saying: "take it easy, O daughter of Huyay bin Akhtab" . When they reached al-Sahabah he said to her: O Safiyya! I apologize for what I did to your people, certainly they accused me of so and so" .
In fact, Allah honoured His Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) by protecting him from marrying any woman who hates him or dislikes him.
On the other hand, Allah prepared her mentally for this marriage whereas she had seen in a dream that a full moon fell in her lap. When she narrated this dream to her husband Kinanah , he slapped her saying: 'do you like the king of Yathrib'? Afterwards, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) observed the greenness in her eyes due to that slap.
Very soon she knew that Allah made her dream to come true and honoured her by her marriage with His beloved Prophet.
She died during the caliphate of Mu'awiyah (Radiya Allahu Anhu) in 50 A.H. Indeed, she is the wife of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) in both this world and the Hereafter world.

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