Aqdam أقدام

Companion of the Prophet ﷺ

أم عطية الأنصارية

رضي الله عنها

Umm Atiyyah al-Ansariyyah

Nusaybah bint al-Harith al-Ansariyyah

An Ansari woman who joined seven campaigns tending the wounded and who washed the Prophet's daughter; a key narrator of rulings on funerals and Eid.

A day in her footsteps
  • KunyaUmm Atiyyah
  • Family and tribeAnsar (Madinah)
  • BornBefore the Hijrah (exact year unknown)
  • DiedUncertain (lived into the later first century AH)
  • Counted amongAnsar

Introduction

Umm Atiyyah, whose own name was Nusaybah, was a woman of the Ansar of Madinah who pledged allegiance to the Prophet. She took part in seven expeditions with him, staying behind the lines to cook for the fighters, treat the wounded and nurse the sick.

She was among the women the Prophet called upon to wash his daughter's body after she died, and her detailed narration of how he instructed them is the basis for much of the funeral washing procedure. She also narrated rulings on Eid, mourning and the pledge of women.

Later in life she travelled to Basra to visit her son, where scholars such as Muhammad and Hafsah ibn Sirin took hadith from her. Many of her narrations are in the two Sahih collections.

The story

  1. Madinah period

    Pledged allegiance to the Prophet and took part in seven campaigns, caring for the wounded and cooking for the fighters.

    Read the wording
    Sahih Muslim 1812Sahih
    Arabic text

    قَالَتْ غَزَوْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم سَبْعَ غَزَوَاتٍ أَخْلُفُهُمْ فِي رِحَالِهِمْ فَأَصْنَعُ لَهُمُ الطَّعَامَ وَأُدَاوِي الْجَرْحَى وَأَقُومُ عَلَى الْمَرْضَى

    “I took part with the Messenger of Allah in seven battles”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih Muslim)

  2. Madinah period

    Called to wash the body of one of the Prophet's daughters and recorded his instructions.

    Read the wording
    Sahih al-Bukhari 1253Sahih
    Arabic text

    … دَخَلَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ تُوُفِّيَتِ ابْنَتُهُ فَقَالَ" اغْسِلْنَهَا ثَلاَثًا أَوْ خَمْسًا أَوْ أَكْثَرَ مَنْ ذَلِكَ إِنْ رَأَيْتُنَّ ذَلِكَ بِمَاءٍ وَسِدْرٍ، وَاجْعَلْنَ فِي الآخِرَةِ كَافُورًا أَوْ شَيْئًا مِنْ كَافُورٍ، فَإِذَا فَرَغْتُنَّ فَآذِنَّنِي". فَلَمَّا فَرَغْنَا آذَنَّاهُ فَأَعْطَانَا حِقْوَهُ فَقَالَ" أَشْعِرْنَهَا إِيَّاهُ". تَعْنِي …

    “Wash her thrice or five times or more, if you see it necessary”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih al-Bukhari)

  3. Later life

    Travelled to Basra to visit her son and transmitted hadith to the Ibn Sirin family.

    Read the wording
    Sahih al-Bukhari 1261Sahih
    Arabic text

    … النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَنَحْنُ نَغْسِلُ ابْنَتَهُ فَقَالَ" اغْسِلْنَهَا ثَلاَثًا أَوْ خَمْسًا أَوْ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ إِنْ رَأَيْتُنَّ ذَلِكَ بِمَاءٍ وَسِدْرٍ، وَاجْعَلْنَ فِي الآخِرَةِ كَافُورًا، فَإِذَا فَرَغْتُنَّ فَآذِنَّنِي". قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا فَرَغْنَا أَلْقَى إِلَيْنَا حَقْوَهُ فَقَالَ" أَشْعِرْنَهَا إِيَّاهُ". وَلَمْ يَزِدْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ، وَلاَ أَدْرِي أَىُّ بَنَاتِهِ. …

    “came to Basra to visit her son”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih al-Bukhari)

A day in their footsteps

6 small, repeatable practices from Umm Atiyyah al-Ansariyyah's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.

  1. Caring for the wounded and cooking for fighters

    She took part with the Prophet in seven battles, staying in the camp, preparing food, treating the injured and nursing the sick.

    Try this today

    Put your practical skills in service of people who are struggling.

    Sit with this

    What practical skill could you offer people who are struggling?

    Sources

    Sahih Muslim 1812Sahih

    قَالَتْ غَزَوْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم سَبْعَ غَزَوَاتٍ أَخْلُفُهُمْ فِي رِحَالِهِمْ فَأَصْنَعُ لَهُمُ الطَّعَامَ وَأُدَاوِي الْجَرْحَى وَأَقُومُ عَلَى الْمَرْضَى

    “I would stay behind in the camp of men, cook their food, treat the wounded and nurse the sick”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih Muslim)

    Sunan Ibn Majah 2856Sahih

    قَالَتْ غَزَوْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم سَبْعَ غَزَوَاتٍ أَخْلُفُهُمْ فِي رِحَالِهِمْ وَأَصْنَعُ لَهُمُ الطَّعَامَ وَأُدَاوِي الْجَرْحَى وَأَقُومُ عَلَى الْمَرْضَى.

    “looking after their goods, making food for them, tending the wounded and looking after the sick”

    Grade: Sahih (al-Albani)

  2. Washing and shrouding the dead with care

    When the Prophet's daughter died, he told Umm Atiyyah and the women with her to wash her in an odd number of washes with water and lote leaves, adding camphor at the end, and starting from the right side. They braided her hair in three plaits.

    Try this today

    Learn how to wash and shroud the dead; it is a service to the community.

    Sit with this

    Do you know how to wash and shroud the dead?

    Sources

    Sahih al-Bukhari 1253Sahih

    … دَخَلَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ تُوُفِّيَتِ ابْنَتُهُ فَقَالَ" اغْسِلْنَهَا ثَلاَثًا أَوْ خَمْسًا أَوْ أَكْثَرَ مَنْ ذَلِكَ إِنْ رَأَيْتُنَّ ذَلِكَ بِمَاءٍ وَسِدْرٍ، وَاجْعَلْنَ فِي الآخِرَةِ كَافُورًا أَوْ شَيْئًا مِنْ كَافُورٍ، فَإِذَا فَرَغْتُنَّ فَآذِنَّنِي". فَلَمَّا فَرَغْنَا آذَنَّاهُ فَأَعْطَانَا حِقْوَهُ فَقَالَ" أَشْعِرْنَهَا إِيَّاهُ". تَعْنِي …

    “Wash her thrice or five times or more, if you see it necessary”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih al-Bukhari)

    Sahih al-Bukhari 1256Sahih

    قَالَتْ لَمَّا غَسَّلْنَا بِنْتَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ لَنَا وَنَحْنُ نَغْسِلُهَا " ابْدَأْنَ بِمَيَامِنِهَا وَمَوَاضِعِ الْوُضُوءِ".

    “Start the bath from the right side”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih al-Bukhari)

  3. Bringing everyone to the Eid prayer

    She narrated that women, including girls and women who are menstruating, were told to go to the Eid place: those who could pray stood behind the men and said takbir, while others invoked Allah and hoped for the blessing of that day.

    Try this today

    Take your whole family, including the young and those who cannot pray, to Eid.

    Sit with this

    Will your whole family come with you to the Eid prayer?

    Source

    Sahih al-Bukhari 971Sahih

    قَالَتْ كُنَّا نُؤْمَرُ أَنْ نَخْرُجَ يَوْمَ الْعِيدِ، حَتَّى نُخْرِجَ الْبِكْرَ مِنْ خِدْرِهَا، حَتَّى نُخْرِجَ الْحُيَّضَ فَيَكُنَّ خَلْفَ النَّاسِ، فَيُكَبِّرْنَ بِتَكْبِيرِهِمْ، وَيَدْعُونَ بِدُعَائِهِمْ يَرْجُونَ بَرَكَةَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ وَطُهْرَتَهُ.

    “say Takbir along with them and invoke Allah along with them and hope for the blessings of that day”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih al-Bukhari)

  4. Keeping the limit of mourning

    After her son died she waited three days and then applied perfume, saying that they had been forbidden from mourning more than three days except for a husband.

    Try this today

    Let grief be sincere but follow the guidance given; do not let it last forever.

    Sit with this

    Can your grief be sincere and still follow the guidance given?

    Source

    Sahih al-Bukhari 1279Sahih

    قَالَ تُوُفِّيَ ابْنٌ لأُمِّ عَطِيَّةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ فَلَمَّا كَانَ الْيَوْمُ الثَّالِثُ دَعَتْ بِصُفْرَةٍ، فَتَمَسَّحَتْ بِهِ وَقَالَتْ نُهِينَا أَنْ نُحِدَّ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ثَلاَثٍ إِلاَّ بِزَوْجٍ.

    “when it was the third day she asked for a yellow perfume and put it over her body”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih al-Bukhari)

  5. Sharing charity received

    When a sheep was sent to her as charity, she shared some with Aisha. The Prophet asked for food at Aisha's home and was served that meat, because charity had reached its place.

    Try this today

    Share your gifts with others; do not hoard them.

    Sit with this

    What gift you received could you share onward?

    Source

    Sahih al-Bukhari 1446Sahih

    قَالَتْ بُعِثَ إِلَى نُسَيْبَةَ الأَنْصَارِيَّةِ بِشَاةٍ فَأَرْسَلَتْ إِلَى عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ مِنْهَا فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم" عِنْدَكُمْ شَىْءٌ". فَقُلْتُ لاَ إِلاَّ مَا أَرْسَلَتْ بِهِ نُسَيْبَةُ مِنْ تِلْكَ الشَّاةِ فَقَالَ" هَاتِ فَقَدْ بَلَغَتْ مَحِلَّهَا".

    “I sent some of it to `Aisha”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih al-Bukhari)

  6. Keeping the pledge not to wail

    She narrated that the women pledged to the Prophet not to wail over the dead and that very few kept it fully.

    Try this today

    Keep the promises you make to Allah and His Messenger, even in grief.

    Sit with this

    Which promise to Allah is hardest to keep in grief?

    Source

    Sahih Muslim 936Sahih

    قَالَتْ أَخَذَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَعَ الْبَيْعَةِ أَلاَّ نَنُوحَ فَمَا وَفَتْ مِنَّا امْرَأَةٌ إِلاَّ خَمْسٌ أُمُّ سُلَيْمٍ وَأُمُّ الْعَلاَءِ وَابْنَةُ أَبِي سَبْرَةَ امْرَأَةُ مُعَاذٍ أَوِ ابْنَةُ أَبِي سَبْرَةَ وَامْرَأَةُ مُعَاذٍ .

    “took a promise from us along with the oath of Allegiance that we would not lament”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih Muslim)

Virtues

  • Described as an Ansari woman who gave the pledge of allegiance to the Prophet.

    “an Ansari woman who gave the pledge of allegiance to the Prophet”

    Arabic text

    … ابْنًا لَهَا فَلَمْ تُدْرِكْهُ ـ فَحَدَّثَتْنَا قَالَتْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْنَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَنَحْنُ نَغْسِلُ ابْنَتَهُ فَقَالَ" اغْسِلْنَهَا ثَلاَثًا أَوْ خَمْسًا أَوْ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ إِنْ رَأَيْتُنَّ ذَلِكَ بِمَاءٍ وَسِدْرٍ، وَاجْعَلْنَ فِي الآخِرَةِ كَافُورًا، فَإِذَا فَرَغْتُنَّ فَآذِنَّنِي". قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا فَرَغْنَا أَلْقَى إِلَيْنَا حَقْوَهُ فَقَالَ" أَشْعِرْنَهَا …

    Sahih al-Bukhari 1261Sahih

  • The Prophet trusted her with the washing of his own daughter.

    “Wash her three, five or more times with water and Sidr”

    Arabic text

    … الله عليه وسلم وَنَحْنُ نَغْسِلُ ابْنَتَهُ فَقَالَ" اغْسِلْنَهَا ثَلاَثًا أَوْ خَمْسًا أَوْ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ بِمَاءٍ وَسِدْرٍ، وَاجْعَلْنَ فِي الآخِرَةِ كَافُورًا، فَإِذَا فَرَغْتُنَّ فَآذِنَّنِي". فَلَمَّا فَرَغْنَا آذَنَّاهُ، فَأَلْقَى إِلَيْنَا حِقْوَهُ فَقَالَ" أَشْعِرْنَهَا إِيَّاهُ". فَقَالَ أَيُّوبُ وَحَدَّثَتْنِي حَفْصَةُ بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَكَانَ فِي حَدِيثِ حَفْصَةَ" …

    Sahih al-Bukhari 1254Sahih

Words on this page

Ansarالأنصار
"The Helpers": the Muslims of Madinah, from the Aws and Khazraj tribes, who welcomed and sheltered the Prophet ﷺ and the emigrants from Makkah.
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.
Takbirتكبير
Saying "Allahu akbar", Allah is the greatest.

The full glossary

Sources and review

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.

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