Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … Sayyida Umm Ayman radi Allahu anha was a bondwoman (slave) of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and his nurturer. Her name was Barakah; she is well-known by both her name and her kunyah (honorific), though among the general people her kunyah is more famous. Originally, she was from Abyssinia (Habasha). Some historians have said that she was among the captives from the army of Abraha, the one who attacked Mecca with the army of elephants. She came into the possession of Abdul Muttalib, and after him, she came into the possession of his son Abdullah (the father of the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), and after him, by way of inheritance, she came into the possession of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. Then, at the time of his marriage to Sayyida Khadijah radi Allahu anha, he freed her and married her to a man from Banu Harith bin Khazraj, Ubayd bin Zayd, who had come to Mecca. From their union, a son named Ayman was born, and her kunyah is attributed to him. After her husband's death, she returned to Mecca, and Sayyiduna Zayd bin Harithah radi Allahu anhu married her, and from their union, Usamah radi Allahu anhu was born. In Sahih Muslim, it is narrated from Imam Zuhri that the mother of Usamah bin Zayd radi Allahu anhu, Sayyida Umm Ayman radi Allahu anha, was the bondwoman of Abdullah bin Abdul Muttalib. When the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was born, she used to nurture and raise him. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam freed her and married her to Sayyiduna Zayd bin Harithah radi Allahu anhu. She passed away five months after the demise of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.

It should be kept in mind that there was another woman named Umm Ayman, who was also from Abyssinia, and her name was also Barakah. She used to serve Umm al-Mu’minin Sayyida Umm Habibah radi Allahu anha.