Hadhrat Safiyyah (Radhiyallahu anha) Kills A Spy

Hadhrat Safiyyah (Radhiyallahu anha) was the aunt of the Prophet (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and a real sister of Hadhrat Hamzah (Radhiyallahu anhu). She took part in the battle of Uhud. When the Muslims were defeated and some of them began to flee from the battle, she would smite their faces with her spear and excite them to go back and fight. In the war of the Khandaq (Trench), the Prophet (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) had collected all the Muslim women in a fortress and had deputed Hadhrat Hassaan bin Thabit (Radhiyallahu anhu) to look after them. The Jews, who were always on the look-out for such opportunities for doing mischief, surrounded the place and sent one of them to find out if there were any men with the ladies. Hadhrat Safiyyah (Radhiyallahu anha) happened to see the Jew approaching the fort. She said to Hadhrat Hassaan (Radhiyallahu anhu): "There is a Jew coming to spy on us. You go out and kill him."

Hadhrat Hassaan (Radhiyallahu anhu) was a weak person. He did not make bold to do the job. Safiyyah (Radhiyallahu anha) got hold of a tent peg and went outside the fortress and gave a blow on the head of the spy that killed him on the spot. She came back and said to Hassaan: "The man is dead. I have not removed the clothes and arms from his body for reasons of modesty. Now you go and remove everything from his body. Also bring his head after severing it from the body."

Hadhrat Hassaan (Radhiyallahu anhu) was too weak-hearted to do that even. She herself went again and brought his head, and threw it over the wall amidst the Jews. When they saw this, they said: "We were wondering how Muhammad (Sallallahu alayhi wa ssallam) could keep the womenfolk alone in this fort. Surely, there are men inside to guard the ladies."

Safiyyah died in 20 A.H. at the age of seventy three The war of the Trench was fought in 5 A.H. She was, therefore, 58 then. These days, a lady of that age is hardly able to do her domestic work. But look how Safiyyah (Radhiyallahu anha) goes and kills a spy all alone.