HADRAT REHANA(R.

A)
BINT-E-SHAM‘OON

Hadrat Rehana daughter of Sham‘oon is not considered equal to other wives of the
Hoy Prophet. According to certain historians; like Maria Qibtia, she was one of the
bondmaid. A few historians like Ibn-e-Saad and Hafiz Ibn-e-Hajar have tried to prove
that Rehana was married to the Holy Prophet; but these are un-authentic reports and
not confirmed by majority of the other historians. Barring few, all historians have the
consensus that she served the Prophet merely in the capacity of a bondmaid.

There is no doubt that the connotation of a bondmaid is quite abhorring to the

modern mind but it was not so a few centuries back. The Europeans flourished in
slave trade even in nineteenth century. It was the Holy Prophet (SAW) who
discouraged slavery and took all steps to eliminate this inhuman system from the
society. A keen study of codification of Islamic laws during the Holy Prophet’s life
reveals that change was brought gradually. The training of people on a giving pattern
could not be achieved in a day. It took twenty-three years to complete the basic code
of Islam. This period stretches from the announcement of Prophethood by Hadrat
Mohammad (SAW) to his death. During the Holy Prophet’s stay at Makkah, the process
of codification of Islamic jurisprudence was slow and less dramatic because of the
pressure of idolatry. But after the Islamic state was established at Madina, this
process accelerated and in only ten years, Islam was revealed to its full extent and on
Hajjat-ul-Wida (The Holy Prophet’s last Haj), the Holy Prophet (SAW) declared, “O
people, be witness, I did my job and conveyed the whole message of Allah unto you”.

In response, the Muslims roared together with one voice:

“O Prophet of Allah, By God, you have conveyed the message of Allah”. The natural
way of inculcating a concept is through slow and steady grooming. The concepts
trusted on a society by pressure fizzle out and diffuse when the pressure is released.

The Holy Prophet’s concept regarding slavery can be judged by one example, that he
declared a slave named Zaid bin Harith as his son. And people took it to be true.
Every body called Zaid as Zaid bin Mohammad (Zaid son of Mohammad). He had a
great love for Zaid. The same is true of Rehana bint-e-Sham‘oon. The Holy Prophet’s
behavior and attitude towards Rehana was such that many historians take her as his
wife. But keeping in view of the conditions obtaining in that social predicament, this

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does not seem very surprising. She was merely his bondmaid. According to one
narrative, Rehana declined the offer of marriage with the Holy Prophet Mohammad
(SAW) and said:

“Let me remain a bondmaid. I don’t deserve to be one of your wives”.

The history of Rehana coming to the service of the Holy Prophet (SAW) has a great
resemblance to that of Hadrat Safia and Hadrat Juwairai. Rehana was the daughter of
Chief of Banu-Quraiza tribe. His name was Sham‘oon bin Zaid. The Banu Quraiza tribe
mostly comprised of Jews and lived in the suburbs of Madina.

After settling down and establishment of an Islamic state in Madina the Holy Prophet
(SAW) endeavored to promote good relations with the neighbors of his tiny Islamic
state. As a result of this effort, a treaty was signed with Banu-Quraiza by Madinites.
This treaty had two clauses: firstly that both parties will not wage war against each
other, and secondly that in case of aggression from any foreign tribe, the two parties
will defend and meet the aggression jointly. But in clear violation of the agreement,
the Banu-Quraiza kept on intriguing against Muslims. They extended secret co-
operation to Makkans and anti-Islamic forces. Further they instigated the anti-Islamic
forces to attack Madina since the Muslims were weak at that time. These nefarious
activities could not remain secret and soon there was a battle between Muslims of
Madina and Banu-Quraiza. As a result, Banu-Quraiza lost this battle and their
property, lands, goods of riches, effects, chattels and wealth were confiscated by the
Muslims. According to the universally accepted custom, the booty included bondmen
and bondmaids. Rehana was brought before the Holy Prophet (SAW) as a part of the
booty. She was introduced as the daughter of the chief of Banu-Quraiza tribe. The
Holy Prophet (SAW) addressed the prisoners of war and invited them to follow the
path of Allah i.e. Islam. After the address of the Holy Prophet (SAW) Rehana stood up
and said:
“Please leave me alone”.

The Prophet did not like this answer, got up and left. Ibn-e-Saad (Famous historian)
has narrated that one day, the Prophet was sitting in a social gathering, and he heard
the sound of somebody’s footsteps; instantly he said:
“Listen this is Tha ‘alba who is coming to announce that Rehana has embraced Islam”.

To the great surprise of the audience, the in-comer was Tha ‘alba and he announced
what the Holy Prophet (SAW) had already revealed.
After Rehana had embraced Islam, the Holy Prophet met her and offered, “If you like
and agree, I can marry you and you may observe Hijab (Hijab means Purdah, the
tradition of hiding face and body by the Muslim women) as the rest of the wives are
doing”.

Rehana replied, “Let me remain a bondmaid, I don’t deserve to be one of your

wives”.

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So she remained a bondmaid in the service of the Holy Prophet (SAW) till she died.
One historian has reported that she was set free and was no longer a bondmaid. She
died during the life of the Holy Prophet (SAW) in the tenth year of Hijrah. The Holy
Prophet (SAW) had just returned from his last pilgrimage (Hijjat-ul-Wida) to Makkah.

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