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Safiyah: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Banunadirsubmit.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Mohammed receiving the submission of the Banu Nadir]] | |||
'''Safiyah bint Huyayy''' (صفية بنت حيي, c. 610 - c. 670) (also spelled Saffiya, Safiyya, Safiya bint Huyai) was the bride of [[Kinana]] and the chief mistress of the Jewish tribes of [[Banu Qurayza|Quraizah]] and An-Nadhir. According to the [[sira|sira,]] Muhammad captured and married her after killing her husband. She is considered an أم المؤمنين or "mother of the believers". She and her husband were both captured after the victorious conclusion of Muhammad's [[conquest of Khaybar]]. The narrations agree that Muhammad chose her due to her exceeding beauty, as had been his custom in other engagements where the believers took slave women as booty, such as the conquest of the [[Banu Qurayzah]]. There was apparently some concern for his safety the night of their wedding on the part of his followers, as he had just that day murdered her husband after taking him as a prisoner of war, going so far as to torture him in order to ascertain the location of his treasure, and had earlier killed her father after the siege of the [[Banu Qurayzah]]. Modern Muslims have found the story embarrassing from the modern, liberal point of view, which supports the rights of people to not be slaves and to choose their own sexual and marriage partners. The story of Safiyah flies in the face of these norms, instead reflecting a world where powerful men like Muhammad take women as prizes in war and use them sexually to their own advantage with little regard to the women's emotional well being. Rather than admit this quite plain reading of source texts, many Muslim [[Dawah|duaah]] and apologists rather seek to use isolated narratives to recast Safiyah as a woman deeply in love with the man who had just killed her brother, husband (including torturing him in order to find his gold), and had earlier killed her father, and profoundly possessed by the conviction that he was a prophet of [[Allah (God)|Allah]]. | '''Safiyah bint Huyayy''' (صفية بنت حيي, c. 610 - c. 670) (also spelled Saffiya, Safiyya, Safiya bint Huyai) was the bride of [[Kinana]] and the chief mistress of the Jewish tribes of [[Banu Qurayza|Quraizah]] and An-Nadhir. According to the [[sira|sira,]] Muhammad captured and married her after killing her husband. She is considered an أم المؤمنين or "mother of the believers". She and her husband were both captured after the victorious conclusion of Muhammad's [[conquest of Khaybar]]. The narrations agree that Muhammad chose her due to her exceeding beauty, as had been his custom in other engagements where the believers took slave women as booty, such as the conquest of the [[Banu Qurayzah]]. There was apparently some concern for his safety the night of their wedding on the part of his followers, as he had just that day murdered her husband after taking him as a prisoner of war, going so far as to torture him in order to ascertain the location of his treasure, and had earlier killed her father after the siege of the [[Banu Qurayzah]]. Modern Muslims have found the story embarrassing from the modern, liberal point of view, which supports the rights of people to not be slaves and to choose their own sexual and marriage partners. The story of Safiyah flies in the face of these norms, instead reflecting a world where powerful men like Muhammad take women as prizes in war and use them sexually to their own advantage with little regard to the women's emotional well being. Rather than admit this quite plain reading of source texts, many Muslim [[Dawah|duaah]] and apologists rather seek to use isolated narratives to recast Safiyah as a woman deeply in love with the man who had just killed her brother, husband (including torturing him in order to find his gold), and had earlier killed her father, and profoundly possessed by the conviction that he was a prophet of [[Allah (God)|Allah]]. | ||
==Story of Her Capture and Marriage to Muhammad== | ==Story of Her Capture and Marriage to Muhammad== | ||
When the Muslims invaded and conquered [[Khaybar]], the fighting men were killed and Safiyah was taken captive (along with the rest of the women and children) and allotted as booty to Dihya Al-Kalbi, a Muslim.<ref>{{Bukhari| | When the Muslims invaded and conquered [[Khaybar]], the fighting men were killed and Safiyah was taken captive (along with the rest of the women and children) and allotted as booty to Dihya Al-Kalbi, a Muslim.<ref>{{Bukhari|||947|darussalam}}</ref> Kinana, her husband, was tortured and executed by the Muslims in order to discover the hiding places of treasure,<ref>Ishaq. I (Author), Guillaume. A (Translator). (2002). [http://www.amazon.com/Life-Muhammad-I-Ishaq/dp/0196360331/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252901691&sr=8-1#reader ''The Life of Muhammad'']. (p. 515). Oxford University Press</ref><ref>The History of Al-Tabari, State University of New York Press, vol. 8 translated by Michael Fishbein, p.123</ref><ref>Muir, Sir William. (1878). [http://books.google.com/books?id=5QMMAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_navlinks_s#v=onepage&q=&f=false ''The Life of Mahomet, New Edition'']. (pp. 390-391) London:Smith, Elder and Co.</ref> and one source relates that he and Safiyah had been married for only one day.<ref>Muir, Sir William. (1878). [http://books.google.com/books?id=5QMMAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_navlinks_s#v=onepage&q=&f=false ''The Life of Mahomet, New Edition'']. (pp. 392) London:Smith, Elder and Co.</ref> She was so [[Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Beauty and Makeup|beautiful]], that the Muslims began praising her in the presence of [[Muhammad]],<ref>{{Muslim||1365f|reference}}</ref> and so the prophet commanded that Dihya be brought before him along with Safiyah.{{Quote|{{Muslim||1365e|reference}}|Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Khaibar is ruined. Verily when we get down in the valley of a people, evil is the morning of the warned ones (al-Qur'an, xxxvii. 177). Allah, the Majestic and the Glorious, defeated them (the inhabitants of Khaibar), and there fell to the lot of Dihya a beautiful girl, and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) got her in exchange of seven heads, and then entrusted her to Umm Sulaim so that she might embellish her and prepare her (for marriage) with him. }} | ||
Upon seeing her, Muhammad said, "Take any slave girl other than her from the captives"<ref>{{Bukhari| | Upon seeing her, Muhammad said, "Take any slave girl other than her from the captives"<ref>{{Bukhari|||371|darussalam}}</ref> and he selected her for himself (as was his custom, he had done similarly with Rayhana after [[The Massacre of the Banu Qurayza]]):<ref>Ibn Sa'd, Dar Al-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, vol.2 p.58</ref> {{Quote|2={{right|لما فتح رسول الله ص الْقَمُوصَ، حِصْنَ ابْنِ أَبِي الْحُقَيْقِ، أُتِيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ بِصَفِيَّةَ بِنْتِ حُيَيِّ بْنِ أَخْطَبَ، وَبِأُخْرَى مَعَهَا، فَمَرَّ بِهِمَا بِلالٌ- وَهُوَ الَّذِي جَاءَ بِهِمَا- عَلَى قَتْلَى مِنْ قَتْلَى يَهُودَ، فَلَمَّا رَأَتْهُمُ الَّتِي مَعَ صَفِيَّةَ صَاحَتْ وَصَكَّتْ وَجْهَهَا، وَحَثَتِ التُّرَابَ عَلَى رَأْسِهَا، فَلَمَّا رَآهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ قَالَ: أَغْرِبُوا عَنِّي هَذِهِ الشَّيْطَانَةَ، وَأَمَرَ بِصَفِيَّةَ فَحِيزَتْ خَلْفَهُ، وَأُلْقِيَ عَلَيْهَا رِدَاؤُهُ، فَعَرَفَ المسلمون ان رسول الله ص قد اصطفاها لنفسه، فقال رسول الله ص لِبِلالٍ- فِيمَا بَلَغَنِي- حِينَ رَأَى مِنْ تِلْكَ الْيَهُودِيَّةِ مَا رَأَى أَنُزِعَتْ مِنْكَ الرَّحْمَةُ يَا بِلالُ، حَيْثُ تَمُرُّ بِامْرَأَتَيْنِ عَلَى قَتْلَى رِجَالِهِمَا | ||
[https://shamela.ws/book/23833/1073#p2 كتاب سيرة ابن هشام ت السقا ج 2 ص 336] | [https://shamela.ws/book/23833/1073#p2 كتاب سيرة ابن هشام ت السقا ج 2 ص 336] | ||
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In the above passage, one might surmise that Kinana was killed in battle, but in the next passage ibn Ishaq himself confirms that he was murdered by the Muslims by torture in order to find his treasure. | In the above passage, one might surmise that Kinana was killed in battle, but in the next passage ibn Ishaq himself confirms that he was murdered by the Muslims by torture in order to find his treasure. | ||
The Muslims left Khaybar to return to Medina and on the way they stopped at a place called Sadd Al-Sahba; it was at this time Safiyah became clean from her menses.<ref>{{Bukhari| | The Muslims left Khaybar to return to Medina and on the way they stopped at a place called Sadd Al-Sahba; it was at this time Safiyah became clean from her menses.<ref>{{Bukhari|||4211|darussalam}}</ref> {{Quote|{{Bukhari|||2893|darussalam}}|Then we reached Khaibar; and when Allah enabled him to conquer the Fort (of Khaibar), the beauty of Safiya bint Huyai bin Akhtab was described to him. Her husband had been killed while she was a bride. So Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) selected her for himself and took her along with him till we reached a place called Sa`d-AsSahba,' where her menses were over and he took her for his wife. Haris (a kind of dish) was served on a small leather sheet. Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) told me to call those who were around me. So, that was the marriage banquet of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and Safiya.}} | ||
The prophet decided to marry her, and he considered her manumission to be an adequate [[Mahr (Marital Price)|mahr]] (dowry).<ref>{{Bukhari| | The prophet decided to marry her, and he considered her manumission to be an adequate [[Mahr (Marital Price)|mahr]] (dowry).<ref>{{Bukhari|||4200|darussalam}}</ref> The "marriage banquet" consisted of Hays (a dish made of dates and butter) served on a small leather sheet and a gathering of those who were conveniently nearby.<ref>{{Bukhari|||2893|darussalam}}</ref> Another narrator describes the banquet in this way: "...there was neither meat nor bread in that banquet, but the Prophet ordered Bilal to spread the leather mats on which dates, dried yogurt and butter were put."<ref>{{Bukhari|||4213|darussalam}}</ref> Muhammad stayed three nights there and consummated his marriage with Safiyah.<ref>{{Bukhari|||4213|darussalam}}</ref> According to Tabari, there was apparently some fear amongst the believers that she would kill him in revenge for her husband and father:{{Quote|The History of Al-Tabari, State University of New York Press, vol.39 translated by Ella Landau-Tasseron, p.185 | ||
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Ibn ‘Umar [al-Waqidi] – Kathir b. Zayd – al-Walid b. Rabah – Abu Hurayrah: While the Prophet was lying with Safiyah Abu Ayyub stayed the night at his door. When he saw the Prophet in the morning he said "God is the Greatest." He had a sword with him; he said to the Prophet, "O Messenger of God, this young woman had just been married, and you killed her father, her brother and her husband, so I did not trust her (not to harm) you." The Prophet laughed and said "Good".}} | Ibn ‘Umar [al-Waqidi] – Kathir b. Zayd – al-Walid b. Rabah – Abu Hurayrah: While the Prophet was lying with Safiyah Abu Ayyub stayed the night at his door. When he saw the Prophet in the morning he said "God is the Greatest." He had a sword with him; he said to the Prophet, "O Messenger of God, this young woman had just been married, and you killed her father, her brother and her husband, so I did not trust her (not to harm) you." The Prophet laughed and said "Good".}} | ||
Despite this banquet, and the nights he spent with her, the Muslims were still not sure whether she would be considered a wife or a right hand possession (i.e. a sex slave/concubine) until Muhammad set off and allowed her to wear a veil as she rode behind him on his camel (as slave women are not allowed to wear the [[hijab]] according to traditional [[Shari'ah (Islamic Law)|shari'ah (Islamic law)]]).<ref>{{Bukhari| | Despite this banquet, and the nights he spent with her, the Muslims were still not sure whether she would be considered a wife or a right hand possession (i.e. a sex slave/concubine) until Muhammad set off and allowed her to wear a veil as she rode behind him on his camel (as slave women are not allowed to wear the [[hijab]] according to traditional [[Shari'ah (Islamic Law)|shari'ah (Islamic law)]]).<ref>{{Bukhari|||4213|darussalam}}</ref> | ||
==Analysis== | ==Analysis== | ||
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This is however contradicted by numerous traditions that she was held captive up until the marriage, and when Muhammad decided that she would be a wife rather than a slave-girl, that is when he made known that her manumission was her Mahr (dowry).{{Quote|{{Muslim| | This is however contradicted by numerous traditions that she was held captive up until the marriage, and when Muhammad decided that she would be a wife rather than a slave-girl, that is when he made known that her manumission was her Mahr (dowry).{{Quote|{{Muslim||1365d|reference}}|أَنَّهُ أَعْتَقَ صَفِيَّةَ وَجَعَلَ عِتْقَهَا صَدَاقَهَا . وَفِي حَدِيثِ مُعَاذٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ تَزَوَّجَ صَفِيَّةَ وَأَصْدَقَهَا عِتْقَهَا. | ||
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Based on the sources, it seems that Muhammad took Safiyah based on her beauty. Her social status would not have mattered in this particular situation because Muhammad did not intend on maintaining amiable ties with the Jews of Khaybar, and in hand has subjected them by imposing the [[dhimma]] and [[jizyah]] upon them. In fact, he intended on forcing them into exile but was talked out of it by the Jews who agreed to cultivate the land and give half of its earnings to the Muslims.<ref>{{Bukhari| | Based on the sources, it seems that Muhammad took Safiyah based on her beauty. Her social status would not have mattered in this particular situation because Muhammad did not intend on maintaining amiable ties with the Jews of Khaybar, and in hand has subjected them by imposing the [[dhimma]] and [[jizyah]] upon them. In fact, he intended on forcing them into exile but was talked out of it by the Jews who agreed to cultivate the land and give half of its earnings to the Muslims.<ref>{{Bukhari|||2338|darussalam}}</ref> | ||
In later, non-sahih accounts, there are reports that Safiyah desired to become a Muslim; however, there is no evidence of this in sahih accounts. She was the Jewish chief mistress of two tribes who had rebelled against ''Allah and his Apostle'', so her religious piety would not have been a considering factor for Muhammad. Her wealth had been confiscated as war booty, so her wealth would not have been a considering factor either. Muhammad knew nothing about Safiyah until her capture and distribution as booty; his interest seems only to have been sparked when he heard about her beauty. | In later, non-sahih accounts, there are reports that Safiyah desired to become a Muslim; however, there is no evidence of this in sahih accounts. She was the Jewish chief mistress of two tribes who had rebelled against ''Allah and his Apostle'', so her religious piety would not have been a considering factor for Muhammad. Her wealth had been confiscated as war booty, so her wealth would not have been a considering factor either. Muhammad knew nothing about Safiyah until her capture and distribution as booty; his interest seems only to have been sparked when he heard about her beauty. | ||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari| | {{Quote|{{Bukhari|||2893|darussalam}}|Then we reached Khaibar; and when Allah enabled him to conquer the Fort (of Khaibar), the beauty of Safiya bint Huyai bin Akhtab was described to him. Her husband had been killed while she was a bride. So Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) selected her for himself and took her along with him till we reached a place called Sa`d-AsSahba,' where her menses were over and he took her for his wife. | ||
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As such, Muhammad theoretically should have waited the allotted waiting period to marry her. The hadith narrations, though, seem to indicate that he married her soon after taking her as a slave, waiting only a few days for her to pass her first menstrual period. | As such, Muhammad theoretically should have waited the allotted waiting period to marry her. The hadith narrations, though, seem to indicate that he married her soon after taking her as a slave, waiting only a few days for her to pass her first menstrual period. | ||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari| | {{Quote|{{Bukhari|||4211|darussalam}}|Narrated Anas bin Malik: | ||
We arrived at Khaibar, and when Allah helped His Apostle to open the fort, the beauty of Safiya bint Huyai bin Akhtaq whose husband had been killed while she was a bride, was mentioned to Allah's Apostle. The Prophet selected her for himself, and set out with her, and when we reached a place called Sidd-as-Sahba, Safiya became clean from her menses then Allah’s Apostle married her. Hais (i.e. an ‘Arabian dish) was prepared on a small leather mat. Then the Prophet said to me, "I invite the people around you." So that was the marriage banquet of the Prophet and Safiya. Then we proceeded towards Medina, and I saw the Prophet, making for her a kind of cushion with his cloak behind him (on his camel). He then sat beside his camel and put his knee for Safiya to put her foot on, in order to ride (on the camel).}} | We arrived at Khaibar, and when Allah helped His Apostle to open the fort, the beauty of Safiya bint Huyai bin Akhtaq whose husband had been killed while she was a bride, was mentioned to Allah's Apostle. The Prophet selected her for himself, and set out with her, and when we reached a place called Sidd-as-Sahba, Safiya became clean from her menses then Allah’s Apostle married her. Hais (i.e. an ‘Arabian dish) was prepared on a small leather mat. Then the Prophet said to me, "I invite the people around you." So that was the marriage banquet of the Prophet and Safiya. Then we proceeded towards Medina, and I saw the Prophet, making for her a kind of cushion with his cloak behind him (on his camel). He then sat beside his camel and put his knee for Safiya to put her foot on, in order to ride (on the camel).}} | ||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari| | {{Quote|{{Bukhari|||4213|darussalam}}|arrated Anas: | ||
The Prophet stayed for three nights between Khaibar and Medina and was married to Safiya. I invited the Muslims to his marriage banquet and there was neither meat nor bread in that banquet but the Prophet ordered Bilal to spread the leather mats on which dates, dried yogurt and butter were put. The Muslims said amongst themselves, "Will she (i.e. Safiya) be one of the mothers of the believers, (i.e. one of the wives of the Prophet) or just (a lady captive) of what his right-hand possesses?" Some of them said, "If the Prophet makes her observe the veil, then she will be one of the mothers of the believers (i.e. one of the Prophet's wives), and if he does not make her observe the veil, then she will be his lady slave." So when he departed, he made a place for her behind him (on his camel) and made her observe the veil.}} | The Prophet stayed for three nights between Khaibar and Medina and was married to Safiya. I invited the Muslims to his marriage banquet and there was neither meat nor bread in that banquet but the Prophet ordered Bilal to spread the leather mats on which dates, dried yogurt and butter were put. The Muslims said amongst themselves, "Will she (i.e. Safiya) be one of the mothers of the believers, (i.e. one of the wives of the Prophet) or just (a lady captive) of what his right-hand possesses?" Some of them said, "If the Prophet makes her observe the veil, then she will be one of the mothers of the believers (i.e. one of the Prophet's wives), and if he does not make her observe the veil, then she will be his lady slave." So when he departed, he made a place for her behind him (on his camel) and made her observe the veil.}} | ||