Read Part 1 Here

She was nineteen years old when she consoled a six-year-old orphan at his mother's grave.

Three years later, she held him again as his grandfather Abdul Muttalib died.

By now, Baraka (RA) wasn't just a servant in the Prophet's (ﷺ) life. She was the only mother figure he truly knew.

Technically, when Abdullah died, she became the Prophet's (ﷺ) inheritance. But when he came of age, he freed her. She was no no longer bound to stay.

She stayed anyway.

When the Prophet (ﷺ) married Khadija (RA), he introduced Baraka with words that defined her place: "She is my mother after my mother."

Baraka had never married. She'd devoted her entire youth to him. So when the Prophet (ﷺ) settled into married life, he told her gently: "Ya Baraka, I'm married and you're not. Maybe it's time."

She refused. "I'm staying with you, ya Rasulullah."

Khadija (RA) tried too, offering to find her the best man and cover all the wedding expenses, something she often did for women who couldn't afford it.

But Baraka said: "I never left him, and he never left me."

Eventually, after much convincing she relented. Khadija (RA) found her a noble man from the tribe of Khazraj in Yathrib—Ubaid ibn Zayd. They married before revelation came. She had a son: Ayman.

Her husband died before Islam arrived. So she moved back in with the Prophet (ﷺ) and Khadija (RA), this time with her son.

When revelation descended and the Prophet (ﷺ) came trembling into Khadija's arms, Baraka (now known as Umm Ayman) became the second woman to accept Islam.

Years later, the Prophet (ﷺ) said about this aging widow: "whoever wants to marry a woman from Paradise, let him marry Umm Ayman."

Zayd ibn Harithah (RA) who was at least twenty years younger, volunteered immediately. "If she's from Jannah, I want to be there too."

Here's the beautiful irony: Zayd had a similar story to Baraka. He was purchased from the same slave market in Mecca and freed by the Prophet (ﷺ), but taken as an adopted son. She was freed and became like his mother.

Even though Umm Ayman was past childbearing age, Allah blessed them with Usama ibn Zayd (RA). His nickname became “The beloved of the Messenger, son of the beloved.”

Everything about her life points to a truth : barakah lives in commitment.

In choosing to show up, quietly and consistently, day after day.

This Ramadan, we are inviting ourselves to practice that same kind of steadiness.

Join us in committing this Ramadan to daily giving.

"I never left him, and he never left me." What does lifelong loyalty actually look like in practice?

^{Share your reflections in the poll at the end of the email.}