She was Ash-Shaymaa‘ bint Al-Haarith ibn ‘Abd Al-‘Uzza ibn Rifaa‘ah, sister of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) from his nursing mother, who was known as Ash-Shaymaa‘ or Ash-Shammaa‘, and her [original] name was Huthaafah.
As-Sa‘diyyah means that a Bedouin woman from the tribe Banu Sa‘d. She was the daughter of Haleemah As-Sa‘diyyah who was among the women of Banu Sa‘d who had headed to Makkah to find a child to nurse [along with her own child for a salary]. She did not remain long in Makkah before she returned home carrying a child she would nurse (i.e. the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention )).
Siblings of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), through nursing:
His siblings in nursing are: ‘Abd Allah, ’Unaysah, Huthayfah, the children of Al-Haarith, and Huthaafah who was mostly known as Ash-Shaymaa‘.[1]
Ash-Shaymaa‘ supplicates for the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ):
The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), lived for two years in the desert being nursed by Haleemah, and being cared for by her daughter, Ash-Shaymaa‘, may Allah be pleased with her.
The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), used to go out with Haleemah's children to the pastures and his sister, Ash-Shaymaa‘, may Allah be pleased with her, would tend to him and care for him. She would sometimes carry him on their way to the meadow when the weather was hot and the journey was long. At other times she would let him toddle around here and there, and then later on run after him and take him in her arms, holding him tightly to her chest, hugging him. Then again at other times she would sit in the shade and play with him while reciting [a poem]:
O Lord protect Muhammad for us
Till I see him a youth not yet with a beard
Then I see him as a fully grown man and a master ruling over others.
And suppress for him both his foes and those who are envious
And grant him everlasting glory
Muhammed ibn Al-Mu‘alla Al-Azdiyy, said, "When Abu ‘Urwah Al-Azdiyy used to recite this poem he would say, 'How wonderfully Allah The Almighty answered her supplication!'"[2]
Imaam Ibn Hajar may Allaah have mercy upon him mentioned in his book Al-‘Isabaah:
"On the Day of [the Battle of] Hawaazin, when the Muslims won [the battle], Ash-Shaymaa‘, may Allah be pleased with her, was among the women they took as captives. When she was taken to the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) she said, 'O Messenger of Allah, I am your sister through nursing.'
He asked: 'And what is the sign for that?' She said, 'A bite you gave me on my back, while you were riding on it.' The Messenger of Allah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) recognized the sign, and he laid down his gown for her [to sit on]; then he told her: 'Here.' He made her sit down on it, and gave her a choice.
He said: 'If you like, stay here with me, loved and honored; or if you prefer I could present you with gifts and you may return to your people.' She said, 'Rather supply me with gifts and let me return to my people.' Hence, he gave her gifts and had her taken back to her tribe."[3]
Her death
Ash-Shaymaa‘, may Allah be pleased with her, died after the eighth year of Hijrah (emigration), may Allah The Almighty be pleased with her and raise her ranks, and make the Highest Paradise her eternal abode.[4]
[1]Al-‘Isaabah (8/205)
[2] Al-Isaabah (4/344)
[3]Al-Isaabah (4/344)
[4]Al-A‘laam (3/184)
