152. Safiyyah Bint Huyayy (Yahya) (2025)

Umm ul-Mu'minin Safiyyah was the daughter of Huyayy (Yahya) Ibn Akhtab Ibn Shu'bah1 from the tribe of Banu'l-Nadir who belonged to the Children of Israel. She was one of the descendants of Prophet Aaron the son of 'Imran and the brother of Prophet Moses ('a). Her mother was Barrah, the daughter of Sam'ul (Samuel).

Her first husband was Sallam Ibn Mashkam, and after him she married Kinanah Ibn Abu al-Haqiq. Kinanah was killed in the conquest of Khaybar. At the time of the conquest at Khaybar, Safiyyah dreamt that the sun came to rest in her lap. She related her dream for her father2 and he slapped her hard in the face and said, "You want to sleep with a king of the Arabs?"

After the conquest of the castle at Khaybar, the women were taken captive and were brought before the Messenger of God (S). He picked Safiyyah who was the uppermost of the tribe of the Banu-Qurayzah and the Banu'1-Nadir and freed her. Afterwards, he married her himself and her dowry was her being freed.3

For the wedding feast of this marriage, they gave dates and flour. Safiyyah was young and beautiful, with only 17 years at the time of this marriage.

Her Merits

Ibn Sa'd and Ibn Hajar in explanation of a tradition have written, "When Safiyyah entered al-Madinah she had golden earrings which she gave to Fatimah ('a)." They have also written, "One day Safiyyah complained of A'ishah and Hafsah to the Prophet (S) that they are telling her, 'O daughter of a Jew, we are better than you. We are the cousins of the Messenger of God.'

He told her, 'Why didn't you answer them? Tell them my ancestor was Prophet Aaron, my uncle Moses, and my husband Muhammad, the master of the prophets.'5

The Messenger of God (S) gave dates and flour for their wedding feast."

Safiyyah has related ten traditions from the Messenger of God (S). One of these traditions is written the same in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.6

Ibn Abd al-Barr has written, "Safiyyah was a patient, wise, and eloquent woman."7

Ibn al-Athir relates from Ins Ibn Malik as saying, "She was one of the wisest women."8

Shaykh al-Tusi, Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Ibn 'Abd al-Barr, Ibn al-Athir, and Ibn Hajar have listed Safiyyah among the transmitters of traditions from the Messenger of God (S).9 'Umar Ridha Kahhalah has said, "She was a wise and scholarly woman."10 She has related traditions from the Messenger of God (S).11

Imam Zayn al'Abidin 'Ali Ibn al-Husayn ('a), her nephew, Kinanah her servant, Yazid Ibn Mu'attab (Yazid the manumitted slave of Munba'ith) al-Madani, Ishaq Ibn 'Abdullah Ibn Harith, Muslim Ibn Safwan, and Suhayrah (or Duhayrah) Bint Jayfar have related traditions from her.

Shaykh al-Tusi has related that during the Battle of Hunayn, Safiyyah the wife of the Messenger of God (S) said, "O Messenger of God, I am not like the other women. I have given up my father, mother, brother, and uncle for you. Who will be the Caliph and Imam if something happens to you?"

He gestured towards Amir al-Mu'minin 'Ali ('a) and said, "The rule of Imamat and the decree of you and the entire nation of Muslims will be with him."12

Al-Tabarani based on his documents quotes from Ali Ibn al-Husayn ('a) from Safiyyah Bint Huyayy the wife of the Prophet (S) that she said, "When the Prophet (S) would retire to the Mosque for worship, I would go to him to talk with him. One night he arose to accompany me to my house. Two men from the Ansar came across him. When they saw the Prophet (S) they were embarrassed and returned. The Messenger of God (S) said, 'Come, this is Safiyyah, the wife of the Prophet.'

They said, 'We take refuge with God who is pure.'

He (S) said, 'I don't say anything to you which you may think is evil. However, I know that Satan is moving in the veins of people."'13

Al-Tabarani based on his documents quotes Kinanah (the servant of Safiyyah) from Safiyyah as saying, "The Messenger of God (S) came to me when I was crying, and asked as to why I was crying. I said, A'ishah and Hafsah talk behind my back and say, 'We are better than Safiyyah. We are the daughters of his uncles and the wives of the Prophet. He said, 'Didn't you ask them: How can you be better than me when my father is Prophet Aaron, my uncle Moses, and my husband the Messenger of God (S)?'"14

Al-Tabarani has related 11 traditions from those who have related traditions from Safiyyah. Some of them are similar to each other.15

Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah have mentioned the traditions of Safiyyah.16

1. Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra has listed Safiyyah with the name Sa'iyah.
2. In some of the traditions it is related that she related this dream for her husband.
3. Tahdhib al-Kamal, p. 210.
4. Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 128; al-Isti'ab, vol. 4, p. 1872; Tarikh al-Ya'qubi, vol. 2, p. 149; al-Jami' Bayn Rijal al-Sahihayn, vol. 2, p. 608; Al-A'lam by al-Zarkali, vol. 3, p. 206.
5. Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 127; Al-Isabah, vol. 4, p. 338; al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, vol. 24, p. 75. Ibn Hajar tells of Safiyyah under the verse [O you who believe! let not (one) people laugh at (another) people perchance they may be better than they, nor let women (laugh) at (other) women, perchance they may be better than they; and do not find fault with your own people nor call one another by nicknames; evil is a bad name after faith...]
6. A'lam al-Nisa’, vol. 2, p. 336.
7. A'lam al-Nisa’, vol. 2, p. 336.
8. Usd al-Ghabah, vol. 5, p. 490
9. Rijal al-Tusi, p. 32; al-Jami' fi'l-'llal..., p. 244; Al-Isti’ab, vol. 4, p. 1871; Usd alGhabah, vol. 5, p. 490; Al-Isabah, vol. 4, p. 337.
10. A'lam al-Nisa ', vol. 2, p. 333.
11. al-Jami 'fi'l-'Ilal..., p. 244.
12. Rayahin al-Shari'ah, vol. 2, p. 346.
13. Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, vol. 24, p. 72.
14. Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, vol. 24, p. 75.
15. Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, vol. 24, pp. 71 - 76.
16. Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 12, p. 429.