Introduction
Juwayriyyah was the daughter of al-Harith, chief of the Banu al-Mustaliq. After her tribe was defeated in the campaign of al-Muraysi', she came to the Prophet and asked for his help in buying her freedom. He offered to pay the price and marry her, and she accepted. Her name had been Barrah, and the Prophet changed it, disliking that it sounded as if he was leaving goodness behind.
Aisha said that she knew of no woman who was a greater blessing to her people, since on hearing of the marriage the Muslims freed the captives from her tribe as relatives of the Prophet by marriage, around a hundred families in all.
She is best remembered as a woman of devotion. The Prophet passed her one morning as she sat in her place of prayer after Fajr and, when he returned later in the morning, found her still there; he taught her a short phrase of glorification that outweighs long recitation. She also narrated that he visited her once on a Friday when she was fasting.
The story
5 or 6 AH
The Prophet's campaign against Banu al-Mustaliq; captives were taken.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 2541Sahih Arabic text
… الْحَسَنِ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ عَوْنٍ، قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى نَافِعٍ فَكَتَبَ إِلَىَّ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَغَارَ عَلَى بَنِي الْمُصْطَلِقِ وَهُمْ غَارُّونَ وَأَنْعَامُهُمْ تُسْقَى عَلَى الْمَاءِ، فَقَتَلَ مُقَاتِلَتَهُمْ، وَسَبَى ذَرَارِيَّهُمْ، وَأَصَابَ يَوْمَئِذٍ جُوَيْرِيَةَ. حَدَّثَنِي بِهِ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ، وَكَانَ فِي ذَلِكَ …
“the Prophet had suddenly attacked Bani Mustaliq without warning”
5 or 6 AH
Went to the Prophet seeking help with her freedom; he paid the price and married her, and a hundred families of her tribe were freed.
Read the wording
Sunan Abi Dawud 3931Hasan Arabic text
… صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدْ تَزَوَّجَ جُوَيْرِيَةَ فَأَرْسَلُوا مَا فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ مِنَ السَّبْىِ فَأَعْتَقُوهُمْ وَقَالُوا أَصْهَارُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَمَا رَأَيْنَا امْرَأَةً كَانَتْ أَعْظَمَ بَرَكَةً عَلَى قَوْمِهَا مِنْهَا أُعْتِقَ فِي سَبَبِهَا مِائَةُ أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ مِنْ بَنِي الْمُصْطَلِقِ. قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ هَذَا حُجَّةٌ فِي أَنَّ الْوَلِيَّ هُوَ يُزَوِّجُ …
“One hundred families of Banu al-Mustaliq were set free on account of her”
After marriage
The Prophet changed her name from Barrah to Juwayriyyah.
Read the wording
Sahih Muslim 2140Sahih Arabic text
قَالَ كَانَتْ جُوَيْرِيَةُ اسْمُهَا بَرَّةَ فَحَوَّلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم اسْمَهَا جُوَيْرِيَةَ وَكَانَ يَكْرَهُ أَنْ يُقَالَ خَرَجَ مِنْ عِنْدِ بَرَّةَ. وَفِي حَدِيثِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَرَ عَنْ كُرَيْبٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ.
“the name of Juwairiya (the wife of the Holy Prophet) was Barra”
c. 50 AH
Died in Madinah and was buried in al-Baqi'.
A day in their footsteps
5 small, repeatable practices from Juwayriyyah bint al-Harith's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.
Sitting in dhikr after Fajr until the day is bright
After praying Fajr, she stayed in her place of worship for hours. When the Prophet returned later in the morning, she was still sitting there. He told her he had said four phrases three times, which would outweigh everything she had recited.
Try this today
Give the first hour after Fajr to remembering Allah before the day takes over.
Sit with this
Could the first minutes after Fajr belong to remembrance?
Sources
Sahih Muslim 2726Sahih … ثُمَّ رَجَعَ بَعْدَ أَنْ أَضْحَى وَهِيَ جَالِسَةٌ فَقَالَ" مَا زِلْتِ عَلَى الْحَالِ الَّتِي فَارَقْتُكِ عَلَيْهَا". قَالَتْ نَعَمْ. قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم" لَقَدْ قُلْتُ بَعْدَكِ أَرْبَعَ كَلِمَاتٍ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ لَوْ وُزِنَتْ بِمَا قُلْتِ مُنْذُ الْيَوْمِ لَوَزَنَتْهُنَّ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ وَرِضَا نَفْسِهِ وَزِنَةَ عَرْشِهِ وَمِدَادَ …
“You have been in the same seat since I left you. She said: Yes.”
Sunan Abi Dawud 1503Sahih … جُوَيْرِيَةَ - وَكَانَ اسْمُهَا بَرَّةَ فَحَوَّلَ اسْمَهَا - فَخَرَجَ وَهِيَ فِي مُصَلاَّهَا وَرَجَعَ وَهِيَ فِي مُصَلاَّهَا فَقَالَ" لَمْ تَزَالِي فِي مُصَلاَّكِ هَذَا". قَالَتْ نَعَمْ. قَالَ" قَدْ قُلْتُ بَعْدَكِ أَرْبَعَ كَلِمَاتٍ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ لَوْ وُزِنَتْ بِمَا قُلْتِ لَوَزَنَتْهُنَّ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ وَرِضَا نَفْسِهِ وَزِنَةَ عَرْشِهِ وَمِدَادَ …
“Have you been in your place of worship continuously?”
The four phrases: glory to Allah by the number of His creation
The Prophet taught her to say glory to Allah by the number of His creation, by what pleases Him, by the weight of His Throne and by the ink of His words, as a short remembrance that surpasses long recitation.
Try this today
Even in a short moment you can say words that carry great weight.
Sit with this
Do you know the four phrases that outweigh a morning of dhikr?
Sources
Sahih Muslim 2726Sahih قَالَتْ مَرَّ بِهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ صَلَّى صَلاَةَ الْغَدَاةِ أَوْ بَعْدَ مَا صَلَّى الْغَدَاةَ. فَذَكَرَ نَحْوَهُ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ " سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ رِضَا نَفْسِهِ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ زِنَةَ عَرْشِهِ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ مِدَادَ كَلِمَاتِهِ".
“Hallowed be Allah according to the number of His creation, hallowed be Allah according to the pleasure of His Self”
Sunan an-Nasa'i 1352Sahih … صلى الله عليه وسلم مَرَّ عَلَيْهَا وَهِيَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ تَدْعُو ثُمَّ مَرَّ بِهَا قَرِيبًا مِنْ نِصْفِ النَّهَارِ فَقَالَ لَهَا" مَا زِلْتِ عَلَى حَالِكِ". قَالَتْ نَعَمْ. قَالَ" أَلاَ أُعَلِّمُكِ - يَعْنِي - كَلِمَاتٍ تَقُولِينَهُنَّ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ رِضَا نَفْسِهِ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ رِضَا …
“Shall I not teach you some words which you can say?”
Not singling out Friday for fasting
The Prophet visited her on Friday while she was fasting and asked if she had fasted the day before and meant to fast the next. She said no to both, and he told her to break her fast, since fasting Friday alone is discouraged.
Try this today
Learn the limits of voluntary worship and follow the sunnah rather than your own preference.
Sit with this
Do your voluntary acts follow the Sunnah, or your own preference?
Sources
Sahih al-Bukhari 1986Sahih أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَهْىَ صَائِمَةٌ فَقَالَ" أَصُمْتِ أَمْسِ". قَالَتْ لاَ. قَالَ" تُرِيدِينَ أَنْ تَصُومِي غَدًا". قَالَتْ لاَ. قَالَ" فَأَفْطِرِي". وَقَالَ حَمَّادُ بْنُ الْجَعْدِ سَمِعَ قَتَادَةَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو أَيُّوبَ أَنَّ جُوَيْرِيَةَ حَدَّثَتْهُ فَأَمَرَهَا فَأَفْطَرَتْ
“Did you fast yesterday?”
Sunan Abi Dawud 2422Sahih قَالَ حَفْصٌ الْعَتَكِيُّ - عَنْ جُوَيْرِيَةَ بِنْتِ الْحَارِثِ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَهِيَ صَائِمَةٌ فَقَالَ" أَصُمْتِ أَمْسِ". قَالَتْ لاَ. قَالَ" تُرِيدِينَ أَنْ تَصُومِي غَدًا". قَالَتْ لاَ. قَالَ" فَأَفْطِرِي".
“Do you intend to fast tomorrow ?”
Giving what little you have
When the Prophet asked her for something to eat, she told him the only food was a goat bone given as charity to her freed servant. He asked her to bring it, since charity had reached its place and was now lawful as a gift to him.
Try this today
Do not feel embarrassed to offer a small gift; your household's modest offering counts.
Sit with this
Is embarrassment stopping you from offering something small?
Source
Sahih Muslim 1073Sahih أَنَّ عُبَيْدَ بْنَ السَّبَّاقِ، قَالَ إِنَّ جُوَيْرِيَةَ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَخْبَرَتْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا فَقَالَ" هَلْ مِنْ طَعَامٍ". قَالَتْ لاَ وَاللَّهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا عِنْدَنَا طَعَامٌ إِلاَّ عَظْمٌ مِنْ شَاةٍ أُعْطِيَتْهُ مَوْلاَتِي مِنَ الصَّدَقَةِ. فَقَالَ" قَرِّبِيهِ فَقَدْ بَلَغَتْ مَحِلَّهَا".
“there is no food with us except a bone of goat which my freed maid-servant was given as sadaqa”
Seeking help to gain freedom with dignity
Facing a contract to buy her own freedom, she went directly to the Prophet and explained her situation honestly. He offered something better than she had asked for.
Try this today
Ask openly for what you need, and trust that the best answer may be more than you expected.
Sit with this
What do you need that you have not yet asked for openly?
Source
Sunan Abi Dawud 3931Hasan … بْنِ قَيْسِ بْنِ شَمَّاسٍ وَإِنِّي كَاتَبْتُ عَلَى نَفْسِي فَجِئْتُكَ أَسْأَلُكَ فِي كِتَابَتِي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم" فَهَلْ لَكِ إِلَى مَا هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنْهُ". قَالَتْ وَمَا هُوَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ" أُؤَدِّي عَنْكِ كِتَابَتَكِ وَأَتَزَوَّجُكِ". قَالَتْ قَدْ فَعَلْتُ قَالَتْ فَتَسَامَعَ - تَعْنِي النَّاسَ - أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدْ …
“I have come to you to seek assistance for the purchase of my freedom”
Virtues
Aisha said that she had not seen a woman who was a greater blessing to her people than Juwayriyyah.
“We did not see any woman greater than Juwayriyyah who brought blessings to her people”
Arabic text
… صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدْ تَزَوَّجَ جُوَيْرِيَةَ فَأَرْسَلُوا مَا فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ مِنَ السَّبْىِ فَأَعْتَقُوهُمْ وَقَالُوا أَصْهَارُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَمَا رَأَيْنَا امْرَأَةً كَانَتْ أَعْظَمَ بَرَكَةً عَلَى قَوْمِهَا مِنْهَا أُعْتِقَ فِي سَبَبِهَا مِائَةُ أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ مِنْ بَنِي الْمُصْطَلِقِ. قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ هَذَا حُجَّةٌ فِي أَنَّ الْوَلِيَّ هُوَ يُزَوِّجُ …
Sunan Abi Dawud 3931Hasan
Her brother Amr narrated that when the Prophet died he left no money, slave or anything except his white mule, his weapons and land he had given in charity.
“he did not leave any Dirham or Dinar (i.e. money), a slave or a slave woman or anything else except his white mule”
Arabic text
… حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ الْجُعْفِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، خَتَنِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَخِي جُوَيْرِيَةَ بِنْتِ الْحَارِثِ قَالَ مَا تَرَكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ دِرْهَمًا وَلاَ دِينَارًا وَلاَ عَبْدًا وَلاَ أَمَةً وَلاَ شَيْئًا، إِلاَّ بَغْلَتَهُ الْبَيْضَاءَ وَسِلاَحَهُ وَأَرْضًا جَعَلَهَا …
Sahih al-Bukhari 2739Sahih
Words on this page
- Dhikrذكر
- Remembrance of Allah, especially by repeating short phrases of praise and glorification.
- Fajrالفجر
- The dawn prayer, prayed between first light and sunrise. It is preceded by two short voluntary rak'ahs.
- Madinahالمدينة
- The city, formerly Yathrib, to which the Prophet ﷺ migrated and where the first Muslim community was built.
- Sunnahالسنة
- The way of the Prophet ﷺ: his words, actions and approvals. Also used for a recommended act.
Related companions
- عائشة بنت أبي بكرAisha bint Abi BakrWife of the Prophet and daughter of Abu Bakr, a leading scholar of the first generation who asked, learned an…
- أم حبيبة رملة بنت أبي سفيانUmm Habibah bint Abi SufyanDaughter of Abu Sufyan who emigrated to Abyssinia, stayed firm in Islam against her father's opposition, and…
- صفية بنت حييSafiyyah bint HuyayyA noblewoman of Banu al-Nadir who accepted Islam after Khaybar, was freed and married by the Prophet, and bec…
- خديجة بنت خويلدKhadijah bint KhuwaylidKhadijah bint Khuwaylid, the first Mother of the Believers: her steadying support of the Prophet and her loya…
Sources and review
- Juwayriyya bint al-Harith (Wikipedia, dates only) (opens in a new tab)
- Hadith texts and grades checked via the sunnah.com-numbered Hadith API (fawazahmed0/hadith-api) (opens in a new tab)
Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com. Each report links to sunnah.com, and, where the numbering matches, to al-Hadees or HadithUnlocked as well. Quran verses link to quran.com, Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Tanzil. The Arabic is taken from the hadith editions and trimmed around the quoted words, so read the full report at the source before relying on it. Grades are the ones those editions give.
This page is pending scholar review. It was compiled from public sources, and its citations were last checked on 7 October 2026. If you notice a mistake or a missing source, please tell us.