If you're looking for yan important Muslim African woman to talk about, look no further than the Seerah of Rasulullah SAW, and the woman he described as his "mother after my own mother. She is the rest of my family.".

We do not know precisely how the young Abyssinian girl ended up for sale in Makkah. We do not know her 'roots', who her mother was, or her father or her ancestors. There were many like her, boys and girls, Arabs and non-Arabs, who were captured and brought to the slave market of the city to be sold.

A terrible fate awaited some who ended up in the hands of cruel masters or mistresses who exploited their labor to the full and treated them with the utmost harsh ness.

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, was one of the more fortunate ones. She was saved by the generous and kind Abdullah, the son of Abd al-Muttalib. 'She became the only servant in his household and when he was married, to the lady Aminah, she looked after her affairs as well.

She was the woman whom the noble Prophet esteemed so highly. She was the first person to hold him in her arms when he was born and the only person who knew him from that point until his death. She was one of the few Muslims who the Prophet assured of a place in Paradise.

"Be a mother to him, Barakah. And don't ever leave him," Amina instructed her about her son as she lay dying.

Umm Ayman did not fail in her responsibility.

It was Umm Ayman who slept at the foot of Amina's bed and comforted her when, only two weeks after her wedding, her husband was instructed to leave for that journey to Syria, after which he never came back. It was Umm Ayman who took care of Amina during her pregnancy.

It was Umm Ayman who gave Amina the news of her husband's death at Yathrib (her son, too, would one day be buried there), what was later to be known as Madinah.

As the Prophet faced tragedy upon tragedy, Umm Ayman was there for him. From the time when his mother died when he was six, to when his grandfather Abdul Muttalib died when he was eight, Umm Ayman stayed with the Prophet.

It was only after the Prophet married Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) that she married, and that too, on their insistence.

She married Ubayd ibn Zayd from the Khazraj tribe of Yathrib and they had a son named Ayman, thus her name Umm Ayman.

When the Prophet received the prophethood, Umm Ayman was among the first Muslims, How could she fail to do so when she knew Muhammad's (pbuh) character, from the first day of his life. She knew that he never said a lie, and like the others, bravely faced the punishments of the Quraish for those who dared to believe in La ilaha illa Allah Muhammadur Rasool ullah.

She and Zayd ibn Harithah, another companion who lived in the Prophet's household, put their lives on the line to find out about the plots and conspiracies of the pagan Makkans against the Prophet and the Muslims.

During the Battle of Uhud she gave out water to the thirsty soldiers and took care of the wounded. She accompanied the Prophet on some expeditions.

She tied her well-being to that of Islam. During a visit from the Prophet, he asked: "Ya Ummi! Are you well?" and she would reply: "I am well, O Messenger of Allah so long as Islam is."

Umm Ayman's husband died not very long after their marriage. One day, the Prophet SAW, when speaking to his companions said, "Should one of you desire to marry a woman from the people of Paradise, let him marry Umm Ayman."

It was Zayd ibn Al-Harith who stepped forward and agreed to marry her. They had a son named Usamah who was described as "the beloved son of the beloved." In other words, the Prophet loved both he and his father. Usamah grew to be one of the commanding leaders of the Muslim army and the youngest general to be appointed by the Prophet (may the blessings and peace of God be upon him).

One example of Umm Ayman's dedication to Islam and the Prophet was when she trekked across the burning desert through sandstorms on foot from Makkah to Madinah to join the Prophet. Despite the harshness of the journey though, she persisted, and was given good news when she reached her destination.

When she got to Madinah, swollen feet, dust-covered face and all, the Prophet said to her,

"Ya Umm Ayman! Ya Ummi! (O Umm Ayman! O my mother!) Indeed for you is a place in Paradise!" exclaimed the Prophet SAW when he saw her. He wiped her face and eyes, massaged her feet and rubbed her shoulders with his kind and gentle hands.

She became a widow again, after Zayd was killed during the Battle of Mutah in Syria. She also lived to see her elder son's martyrdom at the Battle of Hunayn.

Umm Ayman lived to see her other "son" die as well: the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

After the Prophet SAW had passed away, Abu Bakr and Umar visited her, just like the Prophet SAW used to visit her. They wanted to inquire after her as they knew how the Prophet cared for her. When they were with her, she cried. They tried to console her, saying that the Prophet's position with God was better than life on earth. She told them that she was fully aware of that, and it was not for the loss of the Prophet that she wept. She wept "because revelation from high had ceased."

They admired her answer and wept with her. This is a far-sighted view, recognizing that revelation meant much for that first Muslim community, ensuring that God's care was ready for them. With the Prophet gone and revelations ceased, they were left to look after themselves.

It is important to note that Umm Ayman was one of the first Black Muslim women in Islam, and she played a key role in the life of the Prophet (may the blessings and peace of God be upon him). He respected and honored her like his own mother, as she was his caretaker. She was even given the glad tidings of Paradise!.

Muslims today should also hold her in a high regard, and recognize her race. Unfortunately, because racism still exists in many communities, including the Muslim one, people are quick to pin stereotypes on those unlike themselves. We forget the words of the Prophet (may the blessings and peace of God be upon him) from his last sermon, "An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action."

To truly live by these words, we need to bury the preconceived ill notions we hold of people, and realize they were the building blocks of this religion from the get-go.

Barakah was unique in that she was the only one who was so close to the Prophet throughout his life from birth till death. Her life was one of selfless service in the Prophet's household. She remained deeply devoted to the person of the noble, gentle and caring Prophet. Above all, her devotion to the religion of Islam was strong and unshakable.

The exact date of Umm Ayman's death is not clear. Some have suggested that she died approximately five months after Muhammad's SAW death.But according to ibn Sa'd,she was alive in the early days of the caliphate of Uthman (ra)..

Her roots were unknown but her place in Paradise was assured.