Naila (Calipha)
Encyclopedia
Naila was the wife of Uthman, the third Caliph
of the Islamic Empire
. She was born into a Christian
family in Kufa
but was converted to Islam
by Aisha
. In 28 AH (649 CE), she married Uthman, who had succeeded to the Caliphate in 644. In 656, after growing discontent with his rule, rebels besieged Uthman in his palace in Medina
. Ali ibn Abu Talib
had earlier rescued Uthman from similar situation on his promise to address complaints made by public. Marwan ibn Al Hakam, however manipulated the situation and thwarted Uthman from correcting the wrong doings. The Caliph, now about 75 years old, this time pleaded for help from his governors but no help arrived in time. After 49 days, the rebels broke in with the intention of killing Uthman. Naila attempted to save her husband, but in raising her left hand to stop a sword falling on him, merely had her fingers cut off. Uthman was murdered as he read the Qur'an
, supposedly while reading the verse (2:137) "And Allah will suffice you for defense against them. He is the Hearer, the Knower." He was succeeded as Caliph by Ali ibn Abu Talib
.
After Uthman's murder, Naila spoke strongly against the rebels, and also the people of Medina who had failed to resist them. She also wrote a famous letter to Muawiya, the governor of Syria
and kinsman of Uthman, criticizing him for not doing more to save the Caliph's life. Muawiya, appointed initially by Uthman, later on waged a war against Caliph Ali ibn Abu Talib
.
Later, after Uthman's death, she remained a widow and did not marry again. Muawiya asked her to marry him twice (it was common for Arabs to marry widows). For the first time she refused verbally and on the second, in reply to his letter she sent along two front teeth of hers which she had broken deliberately signaling that she was no longer beautiful and Muawiya should not ask of her again.
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
of the Islamic Empire
Caliphate
The term caliphate, "dominion of a caliph " , refers to the first system of government established in Islam and represented the political unity of the Muslim Ummah...
. She was born into a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
family in Kufa
Kufa
Kufa is a city in Iraq, about south of Baghdad, and northeast of Najaf. It is located on the banks of the Euphrates River. The estimated population in 2003 was 110,000....
but was converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
by Aisha
Aisha
Aisha bint Abu Bakr also transcribed as was Muhammad's favorite wife...
. In 28 AH (649 CE), she married Uthman, who had succeeded to the Caliphate in 644. In 656, after growing discontent with his rule, rebels besieged Uthman in his palace in Medina
Medina
Medina , or ; also transliterated as Madinah, or madinat al-nabi "the city of the prophet") is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, and...
. Ali ibn Abu Talib
Ali
' |Ramaḍān]], 40 AH; approximately October 23, 598 or 600 or March 17, 599 – January 27, 661).His father's name was Abu Talib. Ali was also the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and ruled over the Islamic Caliphate from 656 to 661, and was the first male convert to Islam...
had earlier rescued Uthman from similar situation on his promise to address complaints made by public. Marwan ibn Al Hakam, however manipulated the situation and thwarted Uthman from correcting the wrong doings. The Caliph, now about 75 years old, this time pleaded for help from his governors but no help arrived in time. After 49 days, the rebels broke in with the intention of killing Uthman. Naila attempted to save her husband, but in raising her left hand to stop a sword falling on him, merely had her fingers cut off. Uthman was murdered as he read the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
, supposedly while reading the verse (2:137) "And Allah will suffice you for defense against them. He is the Hearer, the Knower." He was succeeded as Caliph by Ali ibn Abu Talib
Ali
' |Ramaḍān]], 40 AH; approximately October 23, 598 or 600 or March 17, 599 – January 27, 661).His father's name was Abu Talib. Ali was also the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and ruled over the Islamic Caliphate from 656 to 661, and was the first male convert to Islam...
.
After Uthman's murder, Naila spoke strongly against the rebels, and also the people of Medina who had failed to resist them. She also wrote a famous letter to Muawiya, the governor of Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
and kinsman of Uthman, criticizing him for not doing more to save the Caliph's life. Muawiya, appointed initially by Uthman, later on waged a war against Caliph Ali ibn Abu Talib
Ali
' |Ramaḍān]], 40 AH; approximately October 23, 598 or 600 or March 17, 599 – January 27, 661).His father's name was Abu Talib. Ali was also the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and ruled over the Islamic Caliphate from 656 to 661, and was the first male convert to Islam...
.
Later, after Uthman's death, she remained a widow and did not marry again. Muawiya asked her to marry him twice (it was common for Arabs to marry widows). For the first time she refused verbally and on the second, in reply to his letter she sent along two front teeth of hers which she had broken deliberately signaling that she was no longer beautiful and Muawiya should not ask of her again.