WIVES OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD

 *WIVES OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD*

The Prophet ﷺ.had either eleven or twelve wives, of whom nine were alive when he passed away. A short account of each of the Mothers of the believers is given below:

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Khadeejah bint Khulwaylid 

The Prophet ﷺ married her when he was twenty-five years old. She bore all the Prophet’s ﷺ children except Ibraheem, and was the Prophet’s only wife while she lived. She died at the age of 65, in the month of Ramadan, ten years after the Prophet began his mission, and was buried in Hajoon.

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Saudah bint Zam’a

She was previously married to her cousin Sakran bin Amr. The couple embraced Islam and migrated to Abyssinia. On their return to Makkah, Sakran died. The Prophet ﷺ married Saudah in Shawwal, one month after Khadeejah died. She died in Shawwal, 54 A.H.

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Aishah Siddeeqah bint Abu Bakr Siddeeq 

The Prophet ﷺ married her in Shawwal, a year after marrying Saudah. Aishah was the only virgin the Prophet married and was regarded as the best loved of all the Prophet’s ﷺ wives. She was the most learned female Muslim jurist in history. She passed away on Ramadan 17, 57 A.H., and was buried in Baqi.

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Hafsah bint Umar bin Khattab 

She was married to Khunays bin Hadhayfah, who died from a wound incurred in the Battle of Badr. The Prophet ﷺ married her in Sha’ban, 3 A.H., after she came out of mourning. She died in Madinah in Sha’ban, 45 A.H., at the age of 60, and was buried in Baqi.

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Zaynab bint Khuzaymah 

She was the widow of Ubaydah bin Harith who was martyred in the Battle of Badr. According to some others she was married to Abdullah bin Jahsh, who was martyred in the Battle of Uhud. The Prophet ﷺ married her in 4 A.H. In the Days of Ignorance, she was known as “Umm Al-Masaakeen” (Mother if the destitute) for her compassion toward the poor. She died in Rabi’ Al-Akhir, 4 A.H., eight months after her marriage to the Prophet ﷺ.

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Umm Salamah, or Hind bint Abu Umayyah 

She was married to Abu Salamah (ra). She bore several children while married to him, but he died in Jamad Al-Akhir, 4, A.H. She was a great jurist and one of the wisest women of her time. She died in 59 A.H. at the age of 84 (other sources date her death in 62 A.H.). She was buried in Baqi.

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Zaynab bint Jahsh bin Riqab 

She was the daughter of the Prophet’s ﷺaunt Umayma bint Abdul Muttalib. She was initially married to Zayd bin Haritha, but the couple had problems, and Zayd divorced her. Zayd had been adopted by the Prophet ﷺ, and according to ancient Arab customs, it was unlawful for a man to marry the former wife of an adopted son. Allah ordered the Prophet ﷺ to marry Zaynab to show that this ancient Arab custom had been abolished. The marriage took place in Dhul Qa’dah, 5 A.H. (other sources date the marriage in 4 A.H.). She died in 20 A.H., at the age of 53 and was the first to die among the Prophet’s ﷺ surviving wives. Umar (ra) led the funeral prayer, and she was buried in Baqi.

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Juwayriyah bint Al-Harith 

She was brought as a prisoner from the Battle of Banu Al-Mustaliq in Sha’ban, in the year 5 or 6 A.H. and was given to Thabit bin Qays. He decided to set her free in return for a certain amount. The Prophet ﷺ paid Thabit the amount he requested, freed her and married her. Having seen this, the Muslims set free one hundred families of the Banu Al-Mustaliq saying that they were in-laws of the Prophet ﷺ. Thus, she proved herself a blessing for her people. She died in Rabi’ Al-Awwal, 56, A.H., at the age of 65.

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Umm Habeebah, or Ramla bint Abi Sufyan 

She came to be known as “Umm Habeebah” (the mother of Habeebah) because of her daughter, Habeebah. As the daughter of the Prophet’s ﷺ fierce enemy, Abu Sufyan bin Harb, she made many sacrifices for her faith and migrated to Abyssinia along with her husband, Ubaydullah bin Jahsh. Ubaydullah later converted to Christianity and died, but Umm Habeebah remained steadfast in faith. When the Prophet ﷺ sent his envoy, Amr bin Umayya Damri, to the king of Abyssinia, he also sent a proposal to the widowed Umm Habeebah. The king married her to the Prophet ﷺ, paying her 400 dinars in dowry, and sent her to the Prophet ﷺ under the escort of Shurahbeel bin Hasnah. After the Prophet ﷺ returned from Khaybar, he married Umm Habeebah in Safar or Rabi’ Al-Awwal, 7 A.H. She died in either 42 or 44 A.H.

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Safiyah bint Huyayy bin Akhtab 

She was the daughter of the chieftain of the Jewish tribe of Banu Nadir and a descendant of the Prophet Haroon (Aaron). She was taken captive in Khaybar and given to the Prophet ﷺ because of her status. The Prophet ﷺ asked her to accept Islam and she did so. He then set her free and married her in 7 A.H. on the eve of the conquest of Khaybar. Her death is variously dated around 36, 50 and 52 A.H. She too was buried in Baqi.

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Maymoona bint Harith Hilaliya 

She was the sister of Abbas’ wife, Umm Al-Fadl Lababa Al-Kubra bint Harith Hilaliya. The Prophet ﷺ married her in Dhul Qa’dah, 7 A.H. She came to the Prophet ﷺ as his bride at Sarf, nine miles outside Makkah. She also died at Sarf in 38, 61 or 62 A.H. and was buried there. Her grave site is known even today.

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There is no question that these eleven women were married to the Prophet ﷺ. However, some scholars have disagreed over the status of Rayhana bint Zayd, some saying she became the Prophet’s ﷺ wife in Muharram, 6 A.H. She belonged to the Banu Nadir and was the wife of a man from the Banu Quraydha. She was captured in the battle against Banu Quraydha, and the Prophet ﷺ chose her for himself. It is also said that the Prophet ﷺ did not set her free and kept her as a maid. She passed away upon the Prophet’s ﷺ return from his Farewell pilgrimage, and the Prophet ﷺ buried her at Baqi.

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The Prophet ﷺ also had a maid named Mariya Qibtiya (Mary the Copt), who was presented to him by the Maqauqis. She bore the Prophet ﷺ a son named Ibraheem. She died in 15 or 16 A.H. and was buried in Baqi.

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Source: When the Moon Split - A Biography of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Compiled by Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri

Edited and Translated by Tabassum Siraj - Michael Richardson and Badr Azimabadi