Nusaybah bint Ka'b (Umm Ammarah)

Introduction

Nusaybah belonged to the Banu al-Najjar of Madinah and was one of the two women present at the second Pledge of Aqabah.

She is remembered for fighting beside the Prophet at Uhud, and for later joining campaigns including Yamamah.

Hadith reports preserve her asking the Prophet why women were not mentioned in the Quran, which prompted a verse naming them alongside men. She also narrated how the Prophet performed wudu.

The story

1. 622 CE

   One of two women to pledge at Aqabah (per biographical sources).

2. 3 AH / 625 CE

   Defended the Prophet at Uhud (per biographical sources).

3. 12 AH / 633 CE

   Took part in the battle of Yamamah (per biographical sources).

4. 13 AH / c. 634 CE

   Died (per Wikipedia; sources vary).

A day in their footsteps

2 small, repeatable practices from Nusaybah bint Ka'b (Umm Ammarah)'s life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.

1. 1

   Asking about women's place in the revelation

   • Knowledge
   • The Quran
   • Courage

   She came to the Prophet and said everything seemed addressed to men and women were not mentioned. The verse that named Muslim and believing women alongside men was then revealed.

   Try this today

   Ask honest questions about your faith.

   Sit with this

   What honest question about your faith have you been holding back?

   Source

   أَنَّهَا أَتَتِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَتْ مَا أَرَى كُلَّ شَيْءٍ إِلاَّ لِلرِّجَالِ وَمَا أَرَى النِّسَاءَ يُذْكَرْنَ بِشَيْءٍ فَنَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ:(إن الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ) الآيَةَ. قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ وَإِنَّمَا يُعْرَفُ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ.

   “I do not see but that everything is for the men, and I do”

   Grade: Sahih Isnaad (al-Albani)

   • Read on sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
   • Read on HadithUnlocked (opens in a new tab)

2. 2

   Observing and passing on the Prophet's wudu

   • Prayer
   • Following the Sunnah

   She reported that the Prophet made wudu with a small vessel of water, about two-thirds of a mudd, showing how little water is needed.

   Try this today

   Be economical with water when making wudu.

   Sit with this

   How much water does your wudu actually need?

   Sources

   قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبَّادَ بْنَ تَمِيمٍ، عَنْ جَدَّتِهِ، وَهِيَ أُمُّ عُمَارَةَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم تَوَضَّأَ فَأُتِيَ بِإِنَاءٍ فِيهِ مَاءٌ قَدْرُ ثُلُثَىِ الْمُدِّ.

   “The Prophet (ﷺ) wanted to perform ablution. A vessel containing 2/3 mudd of water was brought to him”

   Grade: Sahih (al-Albani)

   • Read on sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
   • Read on HadithUnlocked (opens in a new tab)

   قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبَّادَ بْنَ تَمِيمٍ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ جَدَّتِي، وَهِيَ أُمُّ عُمَارَةَ بِنْتُ كَعْبٍ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم تَوَضَّأَ فَأُتِيَ بِمَاءٍ فِي إِنَاءٍ قَدْرَ ثُلُثَىِ الْمُدِّ. قَالَ شُعْبَةُ فَأَحْفَظُ أَنَّهُ غَسَلَ ذِرَاعَيْهِ وَجَعَلَ يَدْلُكُهُمَا وَيَمْسَحُ أُذُنَيْهِ بَاطِنَهُمَا وَلاَ أَحْفَظُ أَنَّهُ مَسَحَ ظَاهِرَهُمَا.

   “the Prophet (ﷺ) performed Wudu', and he was brought a vessel in which there were two-thirds of a Mudd." Shu'bah”

   Grade: Sahih (al-Albani)

   • Read on sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
   • Read on HadithUnlocked (opens in a new tab)

Virtues

• A verse was revealed naming believing women with believing men after her question.

  “I do not see but that everything is for the men, and I do”

  Arabic text

  أَنَّهَا أَتَتِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَتْ مَا أَرَى كُلَّ شَيْءٍ إِلاَّ لِلرِّجَالِ وَمَا أَرَى النِّسَاءَ يُذْكَرْنَ بِشَيْءٍ فَنَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ:(إن الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ) الآيَةَ. قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ وَإِنَّمَا يُعْرَفُ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ.

  Jami at-Tirmidhi 3211Sahih Isnaad

  • Read on sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
  • Read on HadithUnlocked (opens in a new tab)

Words on this page

Aqabahالعقبة

A pass near Mina where people of Madinah pledged allegiance to the Prophet ﷺ before the Hijrah, in two pledges a year apart.

Hadithحديث

A report of what the Prophet ﷺ said, did or approved, passed down through a chain of narrators.

Madinahالمدينة

The city, formerly Yathrib, to which the Prophet ﷺ migrated and where the first Muslim community was built.

Uhudأحد

The mountain outside Madinah where the Muslims fought Quraysh in 3 AH, and where Hamzah and many others were martyred.

Wuduالوضوء

The ritual washing of the face, arms, head and feet before prayer.

The full glossary

Related companions

• أم أيمن (بركة)Umm Ayman (Barakah)The Prophet's nurse and freed servant, who loved him as a son and wept when revelation ceased.
• سودة بنت زمعةSawda bint Zam'ahEarly Muslim and the Prophet's wife after Khadijah, remembered for giving her day to Aisha to please him.
• أبو دجانة الأنصاريAbu Dujanah al-AnsariThe Ansari who took the Prophet's sword at Uhud and promised to fulfil its right, and obeyed the wine prohibi…
• الشفاء بنت عبد اللهal-Shifa bint AbdullahOne of the few literate people in Makkah, she taught writing and ruqya and was among the early women migrants.