Barira’s husband was a negro slave called Mughith whom I can still picture going round behind her in the streets of Medina weeping with the tears flowing on his beard. The Prophet said to al- ‘Abbas, “Are you not astonished, ‘Abbas, at Mughith’s love; of Barira and Barira’s hatred of Mughith?" The Prophet expressed a wish that she would take him back, but when she asked whether he was giving her a command and he replied that he was merely interceding, she said, “I have no need of him.”
'Urwa told on' A’isha’s authority that God’s Messenger said to her concerning Barira, “Take her and set her free.” Now her husband was a slave, so God’s Messenger gave her her choice and she chose to separate from him; but if he had been free he would not have given her her choice.
‘A’isha said she wanted to set free two slaves of hers who were married, so she consulted the Prophet and he ordered her to begin with the man before the woman.
