أُمُّ أَيْمَن
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا
Umm Ayman
She raised him as a child · Early Muslim · Of the Hijrah
may Allah be pleased with her
Of Abyssinian descent; in the household of Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib · Makkah and Madinah, into the caliphate of Umar
She had looked after the Prophet ﷺ since he was a small child, having belonged to his father's household. She was freed, accepted Islam early, emigrated to Madinah, and outlived him.
Known for
She looked after the Prophet ﷺ from his childhood
She belonged to the household of his father, and cared for him as a boy after his mother died.
She was freed, and married Zayd ibn Harithah
Their son was Usamah ibn Zayd.
She accepted Islam early and emigrated to Madinah
Asked why she wept after his death, she said it was because revelation had ceased
The report is in Sahih Muslim.
Her story in moments
Short episodes from her life, in order. Read one at a time.
Life & legacy
Makkah
Umm Ayman — her name was Barakah — was of Abyssinian descent and belonged to the household of the Prophet's ﷺ father. She looked after him as a small child, in the years after his mother died.
She was freed, and married Zayd ibn Harithah. Their son was Usamah ibn Zayd. She accepted Islam in the earliest years.
Madinah
She emigrated to Madinah and lived there for the rest of her life.
She outlived the Prophet ﷺ. The episode she is most often remembered for comes from just after his death, and is set out in the moment below.
The sources place her death in the caliphate of Umar, and differ on the year.
How the sources describe her
She was there from the beginning to the end of his life
She said what she actually meant when asked
Connect
People around her
Family
Her husband, and the father of her son Usamah.
Alongside
- The Prophet Muhammad ﷺCompanion
She looked after him as a child and outlived him.
Full timeline
- Before the revelation began
Cares for the Prophet ﷺ as a child in Makkah
- 1 AH approximate
Emigrates to Madinah
- 11 AH
Abu Bakr and Umar visit her after the Prophet ﷺ dies
- During Umar's caliphate reports differThe reports differ over the year.
Dies in Madinah
Part of
Sources & review
In reviewBased on the listed sources. See something to correct? Tell us.
Sahih Muslimصحيح مسلم
Hadith collection · Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj
As-Sirah an-Nabawiyyahالسيرة النبوية
Classical biography · Ibn Hisham, from the recension of Ibn Ishaq
Kitab at-Tabaqat al-Kabirالطبقات الكبرى
Classical biography · Ibn Sa'd
Al-Isabah fi Tamyiz as-Sahabahالإصابة في تمييز الصحابة
Classical biography · Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani
Siyar A'lam an-Nubalaسير أعلام النبلاء
Classical biography · Shams ad-Din adh-Dhahabi
SahabaMate editorial summary
Editorial summary
References follow the citation detail available in the source material.
Notice an error?
If something looks wrong or missing, send a correction and we’ll check it against the listed sources.
Notice an errorWant to remember what you learn about the Sahabah?
Pro adds Smart Review, the full Sahaba Album, adaptive quizzes, learning paths, a Mistake Notebook and personalised daily sessions across both apps.