Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was breastfed by his respected mother for approximately three or four days after he was born. Thereafter, he was suckled by Hazrat Suwaibah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), the freed slave of his uncle, Abu Lahab.
When Hazrat Suwaibah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) gave the glad tidings of Rasulullah’s (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) birth to his uncle, Abu Lahab, then he was so overjoyed that he immediately set her free.
Prior to feeding Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Hazrat Suwaibah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) also suckled his uncle, Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). In this manner, apart from being his uncle (father’s brother), Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) is also Rasulullah’s (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) milk brother. After feeding Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Hazrat Suwaibah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) also breastfed Hazrat Abu Salamah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).
Hazrat Umme Habibah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) relates, “I once asked Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), ‘I heard that you intend marrying Hazrat Abu Salamah’s (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) daughter, Hazrat Durrah (radhiyallahu ‘anha).’ Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was surprised and replied, ‘Hazrat Umme Salamah’s (radhiyallahu ‘anha) daughter, Hazrat Durrah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), who is in my guardianship, even if she was not my Rabibah (foster daughter), then too she would not be Halaal for me because she is my milk niece. Her father, Hazrat Abu Salamah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and I were breastfed by the same person, Hazrat Suwaibah (radhiyallahu ‘anha).’”
Hazrat ibn ‘Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was requested to marry the daughter of Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). However, he declined saying, “She is my milk niece.”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would honour Hazrat Suwaibah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) and treat her with kindness and respect. After his marriage to Hazrat Khadijah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), Hazrat Suwaibah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) would frequently visit Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Even after his Hijrah to Madinah Munawwarah, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would send gifts to her in Makkah Mukarramah.
Upon the conquest of Makkah Mukarramah, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) made enquiries as to the whereabouts of Hazrat Suwaibah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) and her son, Masrooh. When informed that both of them had passed on, he made further enquiries to locate any of her living relatives so that he may show them kindness. However, he was informed that none of her relatives or kinsfolk were alive.
After Abu Lahab died, someone saw him in a dream in a dreadful condition. He asked him how he was faring. Abu Lahab replied, “After I died, I have not found any comfort (on account of the punishment that I am undergoing). However, because I freed Hazrat Suwaibah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), I am provided with a fingertip of water.” In other words, in Jahannum, Abu Lahab is provided with water equivalent to a finger on account of him indicating to her with his finger that she was free when she gave him the glad tiding of the birth of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/68-69)
