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The Mother of the Believers, Maria bint Shamoun al-Qibtiyyah
the last wife of the Prophet Muhammad, was sent by King Muqawqis to the Prophet Muhammad in the year 7 AH with Hatib bin Abi Balta’a. - After the death of the Messenger of God Muhammad - without being counted among them, and the Shiites believe that she is one of the mothers of the believers, Maria gave birth to the Messenger, his third son Ibrahim, who died as a young child, and she is the only one who gave birth to the Messenger after his first wife, Khadija Bint Khuwaylid. And the word “Copt” was meant by the people of Egypt, and her father was one of the great Copts, as stated by al-Muqawqis in his speech to the bearer of the Messenger’s message to him. The Prophet had four slave-girls, including Maria. Abu Ubaidah said: “He had four: Maria, the mother of his son Ibrahim, Rihanna, another beautiful slave girl whom he captured as a result of some captivity, and a slave girl who was given to him by Zainab bint Jahsh.”
sent story
Maria the Coptic emerges as a character whose story resonates with love, faith, and a spirit of acceptance. Her journey into the heart of Islam, intertwined with the life of the Prophet Muhammad, illuminates the essence of compassionate faith. This narrative explores the remarkable story of Maria the Coptic, emphasizing its importance and the profound lessons she gains from her life.
Arrival to Medina: A Gift and a Bond of Love
The story of Maria the Coptic takes place following the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah in the year 7 AH. After this pivotal moment in Islamic history, many rulers and figures received letters from the Prophet Muhammad, inviting them to convert to Islam. One of these beneficiaries was Al-Muqawqis, governor of Alexandria and general prosecutor of the Byzantine state in Egypt.
In response to the Prophet's message, Al-Muqawqis sent a delegation to Medina. Among the treasurers and envoys he sent were two maids: Maria, the daughter of Shimon the Copt, and her sister, Sirin, the daughter of Shimon. These offerings were a gesture of goodwill and understanding, and recognition of the importance of the message carried by the Prophet.
Upon their arrival in Medina, the Prophet Muhammad chose Maria for himself, recognizing her virtues and love for Islam. And her sister, Sirin Hassan bin Thabit Al-Ansari, the great poet and companion. This choice embodied the inclusive nature of Islam, embracing individuals from diverse backgrounds in the folds of faith and love.
Experiencing jealousy and overcoming challenges
Maria's arrival aroused feelings of jealousy, especially in Aisha, one of the Prophet's wives. Aisha expressed her feelings frankly, noting her struggle with jealousy, a feeling that highlights the human side of the Prophet's companions. The Prophet Muhammad, in his wisdom, dealt with these feelings with care and attention, and ensured that harmony prevailed between his wives.
Despite the initial challenges, Maria the Coptic's story stands as a testament to the power of acceptance, compassion, and understanding within the Islamic framework. Her inclusion in the Prophet's household emphasized the basic principles of Islam of equality, unity, and love for all believers.
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Mary gives birth to Abraham |
A year after Maria came to Medina, Maria became pregnant, and the Prophet rejoiced to hear this news, as he was nearly sixty years old and lost his children except for Fatima Al-Zahra. Maria gave birth in the “month of Dhu al-Hijjah of the eighth year of the Prophet’s migration,” a beautiful child resembling the Messenger, and he named him Ibrahim, after his father, Ibrahim Khalil al-Rahman.
Ibrahim, the son of the Messenger, lived for a year and a few months, enjoying the care of the Prophet, but he fell ill before completing his second year, and one day his illness became severe, so the Messenger lifted him while he was laughing (disputing) and Ibrahim died while he was in the hands of the Messenger, so he wept over him and his eyes shed tears, and Abd al-Rahman bin Awf was with him, and he said to him: « Are you crying, O Messenger of God? The Messenger, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, replied to him: It is a mercy. The eye sheds tears and the heart grieves, and we do not say anything except what pleases our Lord. O Ibrahim, we are saddened by your separation. He was eighteen months old. His death was on Tuesday, ten nights of Rabi` al-Awwal, the tenth year of the blessed Prophet's migration.” Maria, may God be pleased with her, was deeply saddened by the death of Abraham.
Mary's status with Muhammad
Mariya is of great importance to the Prophet Muhammad and in the Sahih of Imam Muslim bin Al-Hajjaj, he said: “The Messenger of God, peace and blessings of God be upon him, said: You will conquer Egypt, and it is a land in which the qirat is called. And in a narration: “Be kind to the people of Egypt, for they have lineage and in-laws.” The lineage is on the side of Hagar or Ismail, and the son-in-law is on the side of Maria the Coptic.
Mari's status in the Qur'an
Maria has a great deal in the verses and in the events of the Prophet’s biography. “God revealed the first chapter of Surat Al-Tahrim because of Mariyah Al-Qibtiyyah, and scholars, jurists, hadith scholars, and commentators mentioned it in their hadiths and compilations.” The Messenger died while he was satisfied with Maria, and Maria was very keen to gain the Messenger's pleasure.
Maria dies
Maria lived for nearly five years in the shadows of the Rightly Guided Caliphate, and she died in Muharram of the sixteenth year. Omar Ibn Al-Khattab called the people and gathered them to pray for her. A large number of the companions of the Muhajirun and Ansar gathered to witness the funeral of Maria al-Qibtiyya, and she was buried alongside the women of the Prophet's household, and next to her son Ibrahim.