Zubayr married me, and he had no property on earth, no slave, and nothing at all except his horse. I used to feed his horse, take care of its needs, tend to it, and grind date pits for his water-carrying camel. I would draw water and patch his water-skin and knead dough, though I was not good at baking bread. Some of my neighbors among the Ansar women would bake for me, and they were truly good women.I used to carry date pits on my head from Zubayr's land, which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had granted him, and it was two-thirds of a parasang from my home.One day, I came along with the date pits on my head and met the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who was with a group of his companions. He called me over and then said, "Ikh, ikh," intending to have me ride behind him.But I felt shy to travel with the men, and I remembered Zubayr and his jealousy, for he was the most jealous of people. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ realized that I felt shy, so he moved on.I came to Zubayr and said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ met me while the date pits were on my head, and he had a group of his companions with him. He made his camel kneel for me to ride with him, but I felt shy and remembered your jealousy."He replied, "By Allah, your carrying the date pits is harder for me to bear than your riding with him."Things continued this way until Abu Bakr later sent me a servant, who took over the care of the horse for me. It was as though he had set me free.
حدثنا أبو أسامة قال حدثنا هشام بن عروة قال أخبرني أبي
تزوجني الزبير وما له في الأرض من مال ولا مملوك ولا شيء غير فرسه قالت فكنت أعلف فرسه وأكفيه مئونته وأسوسه وأدق النوى لناضحه أعلب وأستقي الماء وأخرز غربه وأعجن ولم أكن أحسن أخبز فكان يخبز لي جارات من الأنصار وكن نسوة صدق وكنت أنقل النوى من أرض الزبير التي أقطعه رسول الله ﷺ على رأسي وهي مني على ثلثي فرسخ قالت فجئت يوما والنوى على رأسي فلقيت رسول الله ﷺ ومعه نفر من أصحابه فدعاني ثم قال إخ إخ ليحملني خلفه قالت فاستحيت أن أسير مع الرجال وذكرت الزبير وغيرته قالت وكان أغير الناس فعرف رسول الله ﷺ أني قد استحيت فمضى وجئت الزبير فقلت لقيني رسول الله ﷺ وعلى رأسي النوى ومعه نفر من أصحابه فأناخ لأركب معه فاستحيت وعرفت غيرتك فقال والله لحملك النوى أشد علي من ركوبك معه قالت حتى أرسل إلي أبو بكر بعد ذلك بخادم فكفتني سياسة الفرس فكأنما أعتقني