Zunaira al-Rumiya زنيرة الرومية | |
---|---|
Born | Harithah bint al-Muammil
[1] |
Died | |
Nationality | Middle East, originally from Europe |
Other names | Harithah bint al-Muammil |
Known for | Companion (Sahabiyyah) of Muhammad |
Relatives | Umm Ubays (sister) |
Zinira al-Rumiya ( Arabic: زنيرة الرومية, Zinira the Roman) (correct pronunciation is Zinira or Zinnirah, as specified in the الرحیق المختوم - The common pronunciation Zunaira, is also correct), was a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. She was among the slaves freed by Abu Bakr.
Zunairah was a concubine of the Banu Makhzum [2] and a slave of Umar ibn al-Hashim .
She was amongst the first to embrace Islam in Mecca. [3] After her conversion, she was asked to renounce her new religion but remained steadfast. [4] When Abu Jahl knew of her conversion, he beat her. [2]
Abu Bakr bought and freed her, along with her companion in slavery Lubaynah. [3]
After being manumitted, Zunairah lost her eyesight. The Quraysh claimed, " Al-lāt and Al-‘Uzzá are the ones that have taken away her sight." [5] [3] But she replied, "No, by the house of Allah, you are lying. Al-Lat and Al-Uzza can neither harm nor heal and they have not afflicted me. This is from Allah." [3] [5]
Later she recovered her eyesight, a healing that the Muslims attributed to Allah. [3] [5] However, the Quraysh then said, "This is some of Muhammad's magic." [3]