Back Ground:
After the signing of the pact of Hudaibiya in the end or beginning of 6/7 Hijrah
and according to another report it was in the year 628/9 when the Muslims were
much relived of the tension they were made to face that the Holy Prophet
gathered his companions and told them that the God had sent me to deliver his
message to the entire world. Therefore being the appropriate and suitable time
the Holy Prophet sent various delegations to the rulers of following non
-Muslims countries to enter the religion of Islam.
Country Head of Envoy
Rome Wahete Kalbi
Iran Abdullah bin Kharafa
Egypt Hatib bin Abi
Syria Shujah bin Wahib
Delegation To Egypt:
The delegation headed by Hatib bin Abi reached Alexandria the then capital of
Egypt, which at that time was being ruled by the Mukawkis. The Coptic Archbishop
of Alexandria whose name was George bin Menaa answered in a radically different
way from other rulers. In reply to the letter sent by the Holy Prophet he
acknowledged that a Prophet was indeed to appear in the world but in al-Sham. He
ensured that Hatib bin Abi the representative of the Prophet is given a fine
reception and sent with a gift to the Prophet Muhammad consisting of two slave
girls (Maria and Sirin), a white mule, a donkey, some money and a variety of
Egyptian products. However according to another report there were four girls,
two other were the slaves of Maria and Sirin. In addition there was an impotent
slave by the name of Mabour and Maria’s first cousin by the name of Shahba. The
archbishop explained that he did not convert to Islam because of his fear of
discharge by his superior and that were he not a man of authority and power, he
would have been rightly guided to the true faith.
Journey to Medinah:
Hatib bin Abi along with the reply from the Archbishop and Hazrat Maria, her
sister Sirin, Mabour, Shahba, the mule, donkey and other gifts started their
journey towards Medinah. During the journey Hatib bin Abi through his relentless
and deliberate efforts managed to convince both the ladies to enter the religion
of Islam. However on arrival at Medinah they were taken to the house of Umm
Saleem bin Malhan where both the sisters formally entered the religion of Islam.
Genealogy:
No authentic record is available except that Hazrat Maria was a daughter of an
individual by the name of Shanoun. She belonged to a very reputable and a
wealthy family and was the Christian descendant of Egypt (Coptic). When she was
sent to the Holy Prophet her family was residing in Alexandria, the capital of
Egypt. Hardly any information is available that weather she had any brother or
not. However she had one sister by the name of Sirin, who accompanied her to
Medinah.
Arrival In Medinah:
When the delegation arrived in Medinah the Holy Prophet married Hazrat Maria and
Sirin her sister was given to Hassan ibn Thabit. Sirin later gave birth to a son
who was named Abdur Rehman. The mule was given the name of Duldul for its unique
whiteness of skin, which the Arabian Peninsula had never seen before. The donkey
was called Ufayr or Yafur.
Life with The Holy Prophet:
Hazrat Maria was approx 20 years old when she reached Medinah in the year 628/9
AD. She was very fair, beautiful kindhearted and a charitable woman. Since she
was the maid of the Holy Prophet; as such she did not have the privilege of
having a living quarter by the mosque, as did the other wives. However the Holy
Prophet had provided her with a second story residence in one of the out skirts
of Medinah, which is today known as the Mashrabat Umm Ibrahim. Her house, which
was surrounded with vineyards, was where the Holy Prophet used to visit her
every now and then.
Birth of Ibrahim:
The Holy Prophet did not expect to have any more children as none of his wives
except the Late Hazrat Khadijah had ever conceived, though some of his wives
were quite young and capable of bearing children. The Holy Prophet was busy in
his daily mission when Abu Rafi gave the news that Hazrat Maria has given birth
to a son. The Prophet was extremely happy and out of jubilation gave a slave to
Abu Rafi for giving him the good news. In addition the Prophet generously
rewarded Salam the wife of Abu Rafi for her role as a midwife. The Prophet named
his son, Ibrahim who was born in the month of Zulhaj (July or August) 8 Hijri
(630), after the ancestor- father of the Arabs as well as of Islam. Hazrat
Maria’s status after giving birth to Ibrahim was raised in the Prophet’s esteem.
He now looked upon her as a free wife, indeed as one enjoying a most favoured
position. The birth of Ibrahim was celebrated by giving away a measure of grain
to all the destitute of Medinah and on the 7th day the child’s head was shaved
and the Prophet distributed silver according to the weight of the hairs as sadka
and the hair were buried. In addition two rams were slaughtered as Hakika. The
Holy Prophet assigned the newborn to the care of Umm Sayf a wet nurse who owned
seven goats whose milk she was to put at the disposal of the newborn. Every day
the Holy Prophet would visit the house of Hazrat Maria to look at his son’s
radiant face and to reassure him of the newborns continued health and growth.
Significance of Keeping Promises:
One day Hafsah went to her father’s house while the Prophet was in her room.
Hazrat Maria came to him and stayed with him for some time. Upon Hafsahs return
she found the Prophet and Maria in her quarters and she waited for them to come
out. When finally, Maria left the quarters and Hafsah entered, she said to the
Prophet, I have seen who was here. By God that was an insult to me. You would
not have done that if I amounted to any thing at all in your eyes. At the moment
the Prophet realized that might broadcast what she has seen amongst the other
wives. The Holy Prophet in an attempt to please her promised that he would not
go on to Maria if she would refrain from broadcasting what she had seen. Hafsah
promised to comply however she could not keep her promise. Hence she intimated
the secret to Aiesha who in return reported the matter to the Prophet. The
following verses of surah Al Tahrim (66:3) can be presumed to be catering for
this incident
When the Prophet disclosed a matter in confidence to one of his consorts and she
then divulged it (to another) and Allah made it known to him he confirmed part
thereof and repudiated a part. Then when he told her thereof she said "Who told
thee this?" He said "He told me who knows and is well-acquainted (with all
things). (66:3).
However as to whom these two consorts were, and what was the matter in
confidence, which was disclosed, we are not expressly told, but the facts
mentioned above will help us to understand this passage. The sacred words imply
that the matter was of great importance as to the principle involved, but that
the details were not of sufficient importance for permanent record. Thus the
moral we have to draw is manifold:
(1) If especially one at the head of affairs tells us anything in confidence, we
must not divulge it to our closest friend.
(2) If such divulgence is made in the most secret whispers, Allah's Plan is such
that it will come to light and expose those guilty of breach of confidence.
(3) The breach of confidence must inevitably redound to the shame of the guilty
party.
(4) Both the party betraying confidence and that encouraging the betrayal must
purge their conduct by repentance.
(5) Frank repentance would be what their hearts and conscience themselves would
dictate and they must not resist such amends on account of selfish obstinacy.
(6) If they were to resist frank repentance and amends, they are only abetting
each other's wrong, and they cannot prevail against all the moral forces, which
will be ranged on the side of the right.
The Prophet took it as evidence of Hafsah’s failure to keep her promise. At the
same time, Allah blames him, because, in order to please his wives, he had bound
himself by oath to refrain from something, which is not definitely stated and
because he does not use the right granted him by Allah to release himself from
his oath. The Quran relates this in surah Al Tahrim (66:1)
O Prophet! why holdest thou to be forbidden that which Allah has made lawful to
thee? Thou seekest to please thy consorts. But Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most
Merciful. (66:1)
In addition, there is a word of warning to the two women who had disobeyed him
and a threat to all his wives that he might divorce them in order to marry more
pious ones Surah Al- Ahzab (33:28&9)
O Prophet! say to thy Consorts: "If it be that ye desire the life of this world
and its glitter then come! I will provide for your enjoyment and set you free in
a handsome manner (33:28)
But if ye seek Allah and His Apostle and the Home of the Hereafter verily Allah
has prepared for the well-doers amongst you a great reward (33:29)
Illness and Death of Ibrahim:
The promise and the hope, which Ibrahim represented, were not to last long and
soon the child fell seriously ill. He was moved to a date orchard near the
Mashrabat Umm Ibrahim, where his mother and Sirin, her sister looked after him.
When his state worsened and it became evident that he would not survive, Prophet
was called. The Holy Prophet took the child and laid him on his own lap with
shaking hands. His heart was torn apart by the new tragedy, and his face
mirrored his inner pain. Choking with sorrow, he said to his son, “O Ibrahim,
against the judgment of God, we cannot avail you a thing,” and then fell silent.
Tears flowed from his eyes. The child lapsed gradually and his mother and aunt
watched and cried loudly incessantly, but the Prophet never ordered them to stop
as Ibrahim surrendered to death.
Joining The Life Hereafter:
After the death of her son Ibrahim and the Holy Prophet both in the same year
and that too within a gap of 4 to 6 months she had no interest left in her life.
The loss was so great that she confined her-self to the four walls of her home,
a home that had nothing but emptiness. Though her sister and nephew were always
there to look after her, but who could take the place of such a beautiful and an
innocent child who had so much resemblance with the Prophet and the second loss
was even greater. She missed both the loved ones terribly. The pain of loosing
the most precious individual did not let her live for long and ultimately just
five years after the demise of the Holy Prophet in Muharram 16 Hijri on 16 Feb
637 AD Hazrat Maria the Coptic joined the eternal life. There was a large
gathering and Hazrat Umar led the funeral prayers. She was buried in Janet ul
Baqi.