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Background:
No precise information is available as to how this young Abyssinian girl ended up for sale in Mecca. Neither do we have any substantial record regarding her antecedents. There were many like her, boys and girls, Arabs and non-Arabs, who were captured and brought to be sold in the slave market of the city. A formidable fate awaited some that ended up in the hands of merciless masters or mistresses who exploited their labour to the full and treated them with unlimited callousness and brutality. A few in that inhuman environment were rather more fortunate. They were taken into the homes of more gentle and caring people. Barakah, the young Abyssinian girl of only 10 or 13 years of age being neither attractive nor beautiful, was the most fortunate one as the generous and kindhearted Hazrat Abdullah, the son of Abdul Muttalib, saved her. She became the only servant in his household and when he was married, to Hazrat Aminah, she looked after her affairs as well.
Life with Hazrat Aminah:
According to Barakah, Hazrat Abdullah married a young and a beautiful girl Aminah bint Wahib who was only 17 years and according to few other writers was 18 years old. Shortly after the couple was married Hazrat Abdullah's father came to their house and instructed his son to go with a trading caravan that was leaving for Syria. Hazrat Aminah a shy, tender and soft-spoken wife was deeply distressed and cried, “How can my husband go on a trading journey to Syria while I am yet a bride and the traces of henna are still on my hands". Never had I seen such grief as I saw at that moment in Hazrat Aminah’s eyes. Her distress knew no bounds and her heart cried out at this unfair decision. She fainted with anguish and sadness at her husband’s departure and my young heart bled for her. I shouted with distress for never in my so short years of life had I seen so much love and emotions encompassed in a woman.
She remained bed ridden for a long time; she spoke to no one except her husband’s father who worried greatly about her. Two months after Hazrat Abdullah’s departure, one day I heard Hazrat...