At a glance
- Era
- The Prophetic Era
- Region
- Arabia
- Review
- Draft Completeness 1/5 · Help complete it
WomenFamily, marriage and kinshipConverts and those who leave
Place in the story
- Family of the ProphetTradition
Roles are dated and sourced; the museum describes the act and attributes the judgement.
Summary
Al-Shayma' bint al-Harith al-Sa'diyya was a woman of Banu Sa'd ibn Bakr of Hawazin, and the Prophet's foster-sister in the house of Halima al-Sa'diyya. She fell among the captives of Hunayn in 8 AH 1.
The Prophet's honour to her
Al-Shayma' was among the captives of Hunayn who were held at al-Ji'rana. When she was brought before the Prophet, she made herself known to him, and he recognised her by a sign. He honoured her, spread his cloak for her and had her sit on it. Then he showed her favour and returned her to her people 1.
Foster-kinship with Banu Sa'd ibn Bakr was among the strongest things that the Hawazin delegation invoked with the Prophet when they asked him to return their women and children 2.
For young visitors
Al-Shayma' was the Prophet's foster-sister, because she had lived with him as a child in the desert of Banu Sa'd. When he found her among the captives, he honoured her, seated her on his cloak, and released her to her people.
Her name and her care of the Prophet (The Sealed Nectar, p.55)
The Sealed Nectar calls her Hudhafa or Judhama bint al-Harith, and says that al-Shayma' became the title that prevailed over her own name. It counts her among the Prophet's foster-siblings in Halima's house, together with the two sons of al-Harith, Abd Allah and Unaysa. It notes that she used to tend the Prophet in his childhood 3 4.
Connections
- Child of
- Al-Harith ibn Abd al-Uzza
- Member of
- Hawazin
- Participated in
- The Battle of Hunayn
People and things also explored
Halima al-Sa'diyya· Malik ibn Awf al-Nasri· The siege of Ta'if· Banu Jusham· Banu Nasr· Hawazin· Durayd ibn al-Simma· The Battle of Hunayn
Sources
- al-Raheeq al-Makhtum — Safi al-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri , p.417
- al-Raheeq al-Makhtum — Safi al-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri , p.421
- al-Raheeq al-Makhtum — Safi al-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri , p.55
- Zad al-Ma'ad — Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya , 1/19
- Nisa' Hawl al-Rasul: Tarajim wa Qisas — al-Maktaba al-Asriyya
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “al-Shayma bint al-Harith al-Sa'diyya”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/person/al-shayma-bint-al-harith/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-25.