First woman worrier in Islam - Nusaybah Binte Ka'ab

AssalamuAlaikum Brothers and Sisters,
We all know prior to Islam, a woman was regarded by her parents as a threat to family honor and hence worthy of burial alive at infancy. As an adult, she was a sex object that could be bought, sold and inherited. From this position of inferiority and legal incapacity, Islam raised women to a position of influence and prestige in family and society.

Islam gave the woman an independent identity and declared that her moral and spiritual gains depend solely on her own performance. Like man, her ultimate failure or success rests on her own beliefs, attitude, behaviour and conduct. She is responsible for being in her own right and carries the burden of her moral and spiritual obligations.

Nusaybah Bint ka'ab Al Maziniyyah or Umm-amarah was one of those who embraced Islam with unbelievable strength. She was one of the early women to convert to Islam. She was one of the companions of Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
History does not tell us much about her years prior to Islam. She was an Ansarriyah from the Banu Najjar tribe living in Medina, Nusaybah was the sister of Abdullah bin Ka'ab, who as companion of Prophet Mohammad (SAW) and the loving mother of Abdullah and Habib ibn Zaid al-Ansari.
Both the sons later killed in the battle, were from her first marriage to Zaid bin 'Asim Mazni. She later married bin 'Amr, and had another son Tameem and a daughter Khawlah.

When 74 people descended on the Second pledge at al-Aqabah to swear allegiance to Islam following the teaching of  Musab bin Omair, Nusaybah Bint ka'ab and Umm Munee Asma bint Amr bin 'Adi were the only two women.
The Ghazyah bin 'Amr, informed Muhammad (SAW) that the women also wanted to swear their bayat, and He agreed. (noting that he would not take their hands in his, however, as he had done with the men). She returned to Medina and began teaching Islam to the women of the city.

With the advent of Islam, she believed that a woman has the same duty in defending the new religion. In fact, many consider her as the most distinguished woman who took part in the Battle of Uhud.
At the beginning of the battle of Uhud, she was bringing water to the thirsty fighters and tending the wounded, as the other women were doing. When the battle was going in favour of the Muslims, the archers disobeyed the command of the Prophet Mohammad (SAW), and this turned the victory into defeat, as the Qur'an described it.
At this point, Nusaybah went forward, with her sword unsheathed and her bow in her hand, to join the small group who were standing firm with the Prophet(SAW), acting as a human shield to protect him from the arrows of the non-believers. Every time danger approached the Prophet Mohammad (SAW) she hastened to protect him.
Prophet Mohammed (SA) noticed this, and later said, "Wherever I turned, to the left or the right, I saw her fighting for me."

On that day, Nusaybah Bint ka'ab herself received many wounds while she was fighting the non-believers and striking at them.
💜The Prophet saw her, and called to her son, "Your mother! Your mother! See to her wounds, may Allah bless you and your household! Your mother has fought better than so-and-so." 
💜When Nusaybah heard what the Prophet said, she said, "Pray to Allah that we may accompany you in Paradise."
💜He said, "O Allah (SWT), make them my companions in Paradise."
💜She said, "I do not care what befalls me in this world."

Umm 'Umarah's jihad was not confined to the battle of Uhud. She was also present on a number of other occasions, namely the treaty of Aqabah, Al-Hudaybiyah, Khaybar and Hunayn. Her heroic conduct at Hunayn was no less marvellous than her heroic conduct at Uhud. At the time of Abu Bakr's Khilafah, she was present at Al-Yamamah where she fought brilliantly and received eleven wounds as well as losing her hand.

Nusaybah lived through the rule of Abu Bakr Al Siddique and Omar Bin Al Khattab. She was admired by both who continuously praised her struggle and courage. It is said that once Omar received a gift from some foreign place. It consisted mainly of a piece of cloth made from the finest silk. Some people who were present suggested that he send it either to his daughter of to his daughter in law. Omar rejected both suggestions. He said that there is a woman who deserves that cloth more than all, and sent it to Nusaybah Binte Ka'ab.

💪She was not only brave on the battlefield, but also in her efforts as an advocate for Muslim women. She asked Prophet Mohammad (SAW) why the Qur'an only mentioned men and not women. Soon thereafter, Ayat 35 of Surah Al-Ahzab was revealed:

"Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient (to Allah) men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so - for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward(Paradise)".- Al-Qur'an 33:35

Again, her end is shrouded(buried) with ambiguity. This great woman died in the 13 Hijri year, and was buried in Al Baqi'e, in Meccah Al Mokarrameh.

JazakAllah Khair

Source: http://www.nuseibehfamily.net