ABOUT NASYBAH, THE DAUGHTER OF KA’B, CALLED ALSO OMM A’MMÂRAH, AND SEVERAL EVENTS WHICH IT IS NECESSARY TO NARRATE.

The stringers of the jewels of names have strung pearls of words in the following manner upon the thread of description: Nasybah, the daughter of Ka’b, was a lion-hearted, valiant, and brave woman, who used to fight with the sword in the company of her husband and of her sons A’mmârah and A’bdullah. On the day of Ohod she was present with all the warriors of the religion, and the lions of the plain of certitude. She relates her story as follows: ‘On the day of Ohod I had a water-bag, from which I slaked the thirst of the Musalmâns; but when I perceived that the hands of the advocates of infidelity and of darkness were stretched forth to attack them, I ceased to give water, and went into the fight, where I combated to such a degree that I received thirteen wounds, one of which was cured only after a year had elapsed.’ Being asked who had inflicted such a terrible wound upon her, she replied: ‘On the day of Ohod I heard Ebn Qamyah exclaiming: “Show me Muhammad! Let me not be saved if he be saved.” Hereon Mossa’b arrived opposite to him with a number of Musâlmans, I being also present among them, when all of a sudden Ebn Qamyah struck me, and I struck him; but as the enemy of God wore two cuirasses, none of my blows took effect upon him. When I received that dreadful wound from him, the prophet—u. w. b.—exclaimed to my son: “Son of Omm A’mmârah, hasten to thy mother and bandage her wound.” 1 was with my children fighting near the apostle of God, whom his companions were abandoning in their flight. I had no shield, but the blessed vision of his lordship alighted upon one of the fugitives, saying: “Friend, leave thy shield to someone, for it is useful in battle.” As soon as that man dropped his buckler I picked it up, and fought manfully near his lordship the apostle, until a trooper of the infidels struck me with his sword, which, however, took no effect upon me. I struck his horse, which then fell down with its rider, who extricated himself. The apostle of Allah—u. w. b.—who was looking at me, shouted to my son: “O son of Omm A’mmârah, run to thy mother!” My son A’bdullah obeyed the behest, and we two killed that idolater.’ A’bdullah B. Ssaybah says: ‘On that day an infidel had struck me, and my mother, having bandaged my wound, said: “Get up and fight.” At that time the apostle of God was looking at us, and seeing my mother encouraging me, he said: