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  The tribe of Banu Khuza’ah was sympathetic to the cause of Islam and the Prophet (PBUH), except one of their branches, Banu Mustalaq, who planned to attack Madinah. The leader of the tribe, bin Abi Dharar, was an arrogant man drunk with his power and wealth.

  Harith had a beautiful daughter, Juwairiah, who had been born just before the advent of Islam. She was brought up in the lap of luxury, and had all the refinements and graces of a princess. Intelligent and wise, she mastered language and literary style. This was an accomplishment much prized by contemporary Arabs. She was married to Musafa bin Safwan, one of her tribe’s cavalrymen.  

  At that time, the Prophet received news that Harith was making preparations to attack the Muslims at Al Madinah. So he sent on of his most trusted men, Buraidah bin Haseeb, to see the situation and get information about the enemy. Buraidah met with Harith and many other important people who were close to him. He noted that there was a lot of activity and that the young men were busy making preparations for war. There were many weapons to be seen, and from his discussions with people it was quite obvious that they were planning to go to war.

  Buraidah came back and informed the Prophet of what he had seen and heard. Muslims were now alerted and they too started preparing for the battle. In no time, an army of seven hundred was ready to depart, under their General, the Prophet himself. His wife, Aishah, accompanied him on the march.

  The Muraisee was an important strategic point for Banu Mustalaq as it was their source of fresh water. The Muslims had reached this point and sent a message to Banu Mustalaq, who refused the Muslims’ terms and a fierce fighting broke out.

  The Prophet ordered his troops to keep to their ranks and launch a united attack on the enemy who were cornered. The Muslims killed ten and captured about seven hundred. The husband of Juwairiah, Musafa bin Safwan, was among those who were killed. The Muslims got also about two thousand camels and five thousand goats.

  On reaching Madinah, the spoils of war were distributed among the Muslims fighters. According to the custom of those days, men and women were distributed as slaves. Juwairiah bint Harith was given to the famous companion of the prophet, Thabit Bin Qais Al Ansari. Juwairiah was of exceptional beauty; brought up in one of the finest families of the time, she was not only beautiful but graceful, elegant and eloquent.

  At the first opportunity, she went to see the Prophet and pleaded her case with him. She told him that she was the daughter of a leader and used to command. Because of unfortunate circumstances she found herself in helpless position. How could she possibly live the life of a slave? She pleaded with the Prophet to consider the pitiful and desperate condition in which she found herself.

  The Prophet was moved by her sorrowful plea and paid her ransom. Then he asked for her in marriage. She had never in her dreams expected this offer. Moved deeply by this unexpected elevation in her status, she said she would be more than happy to accept. She was freed, and swearing allegiance to Islam, she married Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).

  When other Muslims heard of her conversion and marriage to the Prophet, they too freed all their slaves of Banu Mustalaq. So in this way not only did she become free, but she also became a Mother of the believers. This action of hers has the far reaching result of liberating all her tribe from slavery. And thus Juwairiah became a source of blessings for her tribe.

  Before her marriage to the Prophet her name was Barah, but Mohammad changed it to Juwairiah. Some time later, her father and all other men who had been freed on the occasion of her marriage presented themselves before the Prophet and accepted Islam as their religion. Juwariah was blessed with them into the fold of Islam.

  Most of the time Juwairiah would be found engrossed in prayer. On one occasion when the Prophet left home he found her lost in the meditation. On returning in the afternoon he still found her in the very same position of prayer and supplication. He asked her if she had been praying continuously since he had left. When she answered yes, he asked her if she would like to learn four small sentences that could earn her more reward from Allah than the whole morning prayers. Then he taught her the following sentence:

  "How perfect Allah is and I praise Him by the number of His creations and His pleasures, and by the weight of His Throne, and the extent of his words."

  Juwairiah died at the age of sixty five in the year 50 after Hijrah during the caliphate of Muawiyah Bin Abi Sufyan. The governor of Al Madinah, Marwan Bin Al Hakam led the funeral prayer and she was buried in Baqi.