Safiyya bint Huyayy was born in Medina…
June 629 CE
Safiyya bint Huyayy was born in Medina to Huyayy ibn Akhtab, the chief of the Jewish tribe Banu Nadir.
Her mother, Barra bint Samawal, was from the Banu Qurayza tribe.
According to a source, she was married off to Sallam ibn Mishkam, who later divorced her.
When the Banu Nadir were expelled from Medina in 625, her family had settled in Khaybar, an oasis near Medina.
Her father and brother had gone from Khaybar to join the Meccan and Bedouin forces besieging Muhammad in Medina during the Battle of the Trench.
When the Meccans withdrew, Muhammad had successfully besieged the Banu Qurayza.
Safiyya had married Kenana ibn al-Rabi, treasurer of the Banu Nadir; in 627 or early in 628; she was about seventeen years old at that time.
Safiyya is said to have informed Kenana of a dream she had in which the moon had fallen from the heavens into her lap.
Kenana interpreted it as a desire to marry Muhammad and struck her in the face, leaving a mark which was still visible when she first had contact with Muhammad.
After the Muslims defeat several Jewish tribes (including the Banu Nadir) at the Battle of Khayba, the Jews had surrendered, and were allowed to remain in Khaybar on the provision that they give half of their annual produce to the Muslims.
The land itself becomes the property of the Muslim state.
This agreement, Stillman says, did not extend to the Banu Nadir tribe, who were given no quarter.
In the aftermath of the battle of Khaybar, the female captives had been divided among Muhammad and his followers.
Safiyya bint Huyyayy, reportedly a woman of intense beauty, who had seen her husband, father and brother slain in the siege, had been assigned to Dihya ibn Khalifa, but Muhammad had selected her while compensating Dihya with two of her cousins, or, according to other sources, seven head of cattle, and according to a differing source, seven female slaves.
She then converted to Islam, thereby becoming Muhammad's wife; her dowry being her emancipation.
On the way back from Khaybar, the Muslims camp at a place called Sadd al-Rauha.
Safiyya is by now clean from her menstrual period, and the marriage is thus consummated.
Thereafter, Muhammad holds a banquet of dates and butter in celebration of the marriage, then returns to Medina.
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