Sajah | |
|---|---|
| Born | Unknown |
| Died | after 661 CE[1] / 675 AD[2] |
| Known for | Being part ofWars of Apostasy |
| Spouse | Musaylimah |
| Father | Al-Harith ibn Suwayd |
Sajah bint Al-Harith ibn Suwayd al-Taghlibi (Arabic:سجاح بنت الحارث بن سويد التغلبي,fl. 630s CE) from the tribe ofBanu Taghlib,[1] was anArab Christian protected first by her tribe; then causing a split within the Arab tribes and finally defended byBanu Hanifa. Sajah was one of a series of people (including her future husband) who claimedprophethood in the 7th-century Arabia and was also the only female claiming to be a prophetess during theWars of Apostasy in the early Islamic Period.
Her fullnisba was Sijah bint al-Harith bin Suwaid at-Tamimi.[2] According toMuhammad Suhail Taqu̅sh,Arab culture andTurkic history professor ofImam al-Awza’i University, Sajah was aChristian who also worked as a shaman. Her father was a chief of Banu Yarbu, a clan ofBanu Tamim, which has dominant Christians populace after their frequent contact with the Christianity influences from theEuphrates Region. Her mother came fromBani Taghlib from theLower Mesopotamia region.[2] However, according toMeir Jacob Kister,Arabist fromHebrew University of Jerusalem, it was instead Sajah's father, Al-Harith ibn Suwayd, who belonged to the Banu Taghlib tribe ofIraq.[3]
During Sajah's lifetime, the Tamim tribe were subjects of theSasanian Empire. This relationship was established through theKingdom of Hira, which was an extension of the Persian Empire. Persian traders passed through several regions first to reach Hira. Bani Tamim played a role in maintaining the security of Persian trade caravans that crossed the Arabian Peninsula. Meanwhile, due to their adherence to Christian religion, the Tamim tribe also develop close relationship with the Christians of the Euphrates region and northernSyria. The Yarbu branch which Sajah hailed from gained political monopoly inSouk Okaz, as one of their chiefs was entrusted as an arbitrator and judge of the market. However, their domination of Souk Okaz came to an abrupt end two years beforeMuhammad began preachingIslam.[2]
After the death of Muhammad, Sajah self-proclaimed herself as a prophetess. Muhammad Suhail[non sequitur] suspected the motivation of Sajah proclamation was due to political move to unite the Tamim confederation branches.[2] At first, Sajah came into Hizn region, where she managed to gain the allegiance fromBani Malik under Waki' ibn Malik, and Banu Yarbu' underMalik ibn Nuwayra. However, her proclamation was not entirely successful. Although the Taghlib tribe under Hudhayl ibn 'Imran pledged their allegiance and abandoned Christianity, the majority of the Banu Tamim clans rejected her call, which made Sajah give up hope of getting the support from the majority of her own kinsmen.[2] As theRidda wars broke out, she moved intoal-Yamama, where she joined forces with Musaylima in anti-Medinese coalition.[4] Thereafter, 4000 people gathered around her to march onMedina. Others joined her against Medina. However, her planned attack on Medina was called off after she learned that the army ofKhalid ibn al-Walid had defeatedTulayha al-Asadi (another self-proclaimed prophet).[citation needed] As the time passed on, the alliance came into abrupt end as Musaylima grew suspicious towards Sajah. Thus, Sajah left Musaylima alone to fought against the Muslim army in al-Yamama.[2]
After theBattle of Yamama, where Musaylima was killed, sources mention that Sajah converted to Islam after giving up her claim of prophethood and died after 661 during the reign ofMu'awiya I.[1] Other source said Sajah returned to the settlement of Taghlib tribe after the death of Musaylima, and then she converted to Islam and lived inBasra, where she lived her death 675 AD.[2] After her death,Samura ibn Jundab, the governor of Basra, led thefuneral prayer for her.[5]