The story of Sumayyah Bint Khayat (RA) is one of courage, sacrifice, defiance, and dignity. Sumayyah (RA) was the first martyr or shaheeda of Islam and thus, when the different categories of people will rise on the Day of Judgement, she (RA) will be the first among the shuhada to rise.
In the Islamic context, her story is like Aasiyah (AS), the wife of Pharaoh in the way she (RA) was killed. Aasiyah (AS) was killed by Pharaoh and Sumayya (RA) was murdered by the Pharaoh of that time, Abu Jahl.
Sumayyah (RA) was born in Abyssinia or modern-day Ethiopia and twenty years older than the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW). She (RA) was a black slave woman and so, she did not have any family relations or tribal connections in Makkah. That meant that she did not have any tribal or kinship protection. Sumayyah (RA) on numerous occasions was victimized by the rich and powerful people of Makkah.
But, the shame of slavehood, her low rank in society, and her poverty remained with her. She (RA) was married to Yasir ibn Amir (RA), who also converted to Islam and was also killed for his belief. They had a son named Ammar (RA), who was one of the muhajirun or immigrants to migrate to Madinah.
When the Prophet (SAW) began to call the people of Makkah to Islam, Sumayyah (RA) was one of the first seven people to accept his invitation and formally pledge to support him (SAW) in his dawah activities. This shows Sumayyah’s (RA) intelligence to see the truth and logic of Islam that led her to accept Islam immediately.
Thus, she (RA) was distinguished amongst the greatest of all the companions of the Prophet (SAW) and a very special group of people that includes the likes of Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (RA), Abu Bakr (RA), Ali ibn Abu Talib (AS), Bilal ibn AbiRabiah (RA), Zaid ibn Harith (RA), and her son Ammar bin Yasir (RA).
The Quraysh couldn’t directly harm the Prophet (SAW) due to the power and status of his uncle Abu Talib, even though this didn’t stop them from trying to harm him and his mission in other ways. Similarly, Abu Bakr (RA) was also protected by his powerful tribe and own personal influence. However, the common Muslim was not spared torture or cruelty.
Sumayyah (RA), her husband Yasir (RA), and their son Ammar (RA) were regular victims of the brutality of the Quraysh since they were viewed as easy targets because they weren’t a rich or powerful family. The Holy Prophet (SAW) would make dua for the whole family pleading to Allah (SWT) to protect them and save them from Jahannam.
He (SAW) used to comfort them saying, “Be patient, O family of Yasir! For your final destination is Paradise”. This promise of Jannat or Paradise was the same that the Prophet (SAW) made to the Ansar of Madinah when they asked him (SAW) what he was promising in return for taking him in their city as this should be enough for them.
We cannot imagine the kinds of torture and cruelty that Sumayyah (RA) and her family and others similar in societal rank like Bilal ibn AbiRabiah (RA) suffered at the hands of Abu Jahl and the Quraysh. One form of brutality experienced by them was the wearing of metal armor in public under the hot sun and being beaten while wearing them. The aim of torturing them in public by Abu Jahl and the Quraysh was to make examples out of them to intimidate those who have accepted Islam to leave it and discourage others from accepting Islam.
When Sumayyah (RA) embraced Islam in front of the Prophet (SAW), she said, “I bear witness that you (SAW) are the messenger of Allah (SWT) and that your promise is true.” It is the true promise of Jannat that keeps her (RA) going despite all the torture and brutality. We must remember that out of the original seven that accepted Islam which also includes Ammar (RA) all lived to see the glory days of Islam except for Sumayyah (RA) who died from torture.
Sumayyah (RA), the frail, elderly black slave woman has become a thorn in the side of Abu Jahl because of her determination and defiance. Despite the torture, she (RA) was never deterred which was infuriating to Abu Jahl. Abu Jahl experimented with all kinds of torture on her (RA) knowing that no one would come to help her.
Whenever Abu Jahl would torture her, Sumayyah (RA) would respond with zikr or remembrance of Allah (SWT). Abu Jahl’s intention was not only to get her and others he tortured to publicly renounce Islam but to also curse the Prophet (SAW). But Sumayyah (RA) would maintain the honor of the Prophet (SAW) and the name of Allah (SWT) by returning the curses to Abu Jahl and his gods.
Abu Jahl was so cruel and sadistic that he would torture Sumayyah (RA), her husband Yasir (RA), and her son Ammar (RA) in front of each other. We can’t imagine the pain they endured watching each other tortured. Experiencing this kind of torture, finally, Ammar (RA) buckles to save his life for which the Prophet (SAW) told him that he (RA) would be forgiven.
While torturing her (RA), Abu Jahl taunts Sumayyah (RA) saying that you want your husband to die so that you can marry the Prophet (SAW) as you love him (SAW). But she (RA) responds by spitting at Abu Jahl and says, “May you be humiliated by Allah (SWT), an enemy of Allah (SWT) and vulgar person. I swear by Allah (SWT), you are smaller to me than a beetle that I would step on in the ground.”
Abu Jahl was outraged and thrust his spear into her (RA), which proved to be the fatal blow, and sadly Sumayyah (RA) was killed and became the first martyr of Islam. With the blow by Abu Jahl, she (RA) sees her place in Paradise and sees that promise of the Holy Prophet (SAW). The second martyr of Islam was her husband Yasir (RA) who passed away shortly after seeing his wife’s murder.
Her son Ammar (RA) was freed for renouncing Islam and the Prophet (SAW) but was embarrassed to be around the Prophet (SAW) until he (SAW) approached and consoled him that he (RA) cursed him (SAW) by his tongue and not in his heart so the Prophet (SAW) told him that if they torture you again then curse me (SAW) again to save your life.
Unlike the normal custom of calling the child by the father’s name, the Prophet (SAW) used to address Ammar (RA) fondly as ibn Sumayyah (son of Sumayyah) to keep alive the memory of his mother and honor her. The Prophet (PBUH) regularly spoke of the family of Sumayyah (RA) in the highest regard. The Holy Prophet stated that the army of truth is the one that includes Ammar ibn Yasir (RA).
Years later in the battle of Siffin, Ammar (RA) was also killed while defending the values of Islam and thus, gained the high status of Shaheed, like his parents before him
Sumayyah (RA) lived a difficult life before and after Islam and never experienced the goodness of this world but she (RA) is the first of our Ummah to transition into Paradise. She (RA) didn’t live to see the glory days of Islam but Sumayyah (RA) lived to see the glory of Allah’s (SWT) promise in Paradise. The significance of an old, frail black slave woman from Abyssinia being the first martyr of Islam shows that the honor of Allah (SWT) does not know the distinctions of this world.
