A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE LIVES OF THE WIVES OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD (s)

Prophet Muhammad's Wives

UMMAHAATUL MU'MINEEN (MOTHERS OF THE FAITHFUL)

AND

CHILDREN OF RASULULLAH (s)

A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE LIVES OF THE WIVES OF SAYYIDUNA RASULULLAH (S).

Sayyida KHADIJAH (r)

This noble lady belonged to the Quraish tribe. She is also known as "Khatijatul Kubra" or "Khadijah the Great." Sayyiduna Rasulullah (s) married her when he was 25 years old and she was 40 years old. She was a very devoted wife, companion and counselor, ever ready to stand by Sayyiduna Rasulullah (s) in all trials and tribulations. She proved to be an immense support and help to the Cause of Islam. She passed away at the age of 65 years on the 11th of Ramadaan - 10 years after the first revelation. Sayyiduna Rasulullah (s) has said about her: "The noblest women of the world are Sayyida Mariam (alaiha as-salaam) and Sayyida Khadijah (r)." (Bukhari Shareef)

 

Sayyida SA'UDA (r)

Sayyida Sa'uda (r) was a widow and the daughter of Sayyida Zama (r). She married Sayyiduna Rasulullah (s) after Sayyida Khadijah (r) had passed away. Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) was then 55 years old. She was generous, affectionate and kind. The reason for his marriage was that he needed someone to care for his children so that he could concentrate on the heavy responsibilities of Prophethood. Sayyida Aisha Siddiqa (r) has said about her: "It is only Sa'uda, on seeing whom, I wish my soul lived in her body." Sayyida Sa'uda (r) passed away in 55 A.H. 

Sayyida AISHA SIDDIQA (r)

She was the daughter of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (r) and was unmarried. In the 10th year of the mission, Sayyiduna Rasulullah (s) married her. Since she was very young at the time of her marriage, she only began to live with him in Madinatul Munawwarah in 2 A.H. He married Sayyida Aisha Siddiqa (r) in order to strengthen the ties of friendship with Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (r), his closest friend and also so that she could teach other women. Sayyida Aisha (r) led a very simple life without comfort and luxury. She dressed very simple. She served Sayyiduna Rasulullah (s) with utmost devotion and he loved her very much. She led a very pious life.

When Sayyiduna Rasulullah (s) passed away, she was 25 years old. Thereafter, she lived for another 48 years and saw the rule of all the four Khulafaa. She is remembered for her intelligence, intuition, her knowledge of Hadith and principles of religion, secrets of Islamic knowledge, Arabic literature, piety and Islamic Fiqh. She became a great Madani (person of Madinatul Munawwarah) scholar and knew several thousand Ahadith by heart. Sayyiduna Rasulullah (s) himself used to teach her and answer her questions. She used to also teach other women. A great Scholar, Imam Zahri (r), has said about her: "Sayyida Aisha's (r) knowledge will surpass the knowledge of all the males and Mothers of the Faithful put together."

Sayyida HAFSA (r)

She was the daughter of Sayyiduna Umar (r) and was a widow. In 2 or 3 A.H. Sayyiduna Rasulullah (s) married her. He also gave his own daughter, Sayyida Umm Kulthum (r), in marriage to Sayyiduna 'Uthman (r). She was a very learned person and spent most of her time in reading and writing. Sayyiduna Rasulullah (s) had personally taught her with the result that she was an authority on Islamic knowledge. She was also given the original hand-written copy of the Holy Quran to keep. She was very pious and saintly. She passed away in the month of Shabaan 45 A.H. 

Sayyida ZAYNAB (r)

She was the daughter of Khuzaimah. She was a widow and was poverty stricken. Moved by her piety and self-sacrifice, Sayyiduna Rasulullah (s) married her in 3 A.H. Sayyida Zaynab (r) was a very kind-hearted lady and ever ready to help the poor and destitute. She would spend all her income on charity and was called "Ummul Masaakin" or "Mother of the Poor." She passed away within three months of her marriage and was buried in Jannatul Baqi. 

Sayyida UMME SALMAH (r)

She was the daughter of Abu Ummayyah Sohail. When her husband passed away she was left with four children and had no means of maintenance. Sayyiduna Rasulullah (s), now 57 years old, married her in the month of Shawwal in 4 A.H. She was very beautiful and used to live a very pious life. She did all kinds of good works. She was very learned and had a good knowledge of Hadith. She was able to teach others on Islamic matters. She read the Holy Quran in the same style as Sayyiduna Rasulullah (s). She was almost as learned as Sayyida Aisha (r). She outlived all the Ummahaatul Mu'mineen and passed away at the age of 84 years in 63 A.H. 

Sayyida ZAINAB (r)

She was the daughter of Jahsh bin Rabah and married Sayyiduna Zaid bin Harith (r), the adopted son of Sayyiduna Rasulullah (s). After her divorce, she married Sayyiduna Rasulullah (s) in 5 A.H., when he was 58 years old. Her marriage to Sayyiduna Zaid (r) [Bahasu Indonesia] was a lesson to all not to distinguish between a free person and a slave in social matters. She was very generous to the poor people of Madinatul Munawwarah. She passed away at the age of 53 years in 20 A.H. and lies buried in Jannatul Baqi. When she passed away, Sayyida Aisha (r) said about her: "Alas, the pious respected lady is no more and has left the orphans and widows broken-hearted." 

Sayyida JUWAIRIYAH (r)

She was the daughter of Harith and was a widow. She was a captive of war and set free by Sayyiduna Rasulullah (s) who married her in 5 A.H. As a result of her marriage, the prisoners which belonged to her tribe were set free. This made many accept Islam. Sayyida Juwairiyah (r) was a highly self-respecting person. She was very religious-minded and spent most of her time in Salaah. She was also very learned. She passed away at the age of 65 years in 56 A.H. and lies buried in Jannatul Baqi. 

Sayyida UMME HABIBAH (r)

She was the daughter of Sayyiduna Abu Sufyaan (r) and a widow. Sayyiduna Rasulullah (s) married her when she was 36-37 years old in 6-7 A.H. This marriage also resulted in Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walid (r) accepting Islam. She was a dedicated wife and feared Almighty Allah much. She had much regard for the poor, down-trodden and destitute and prayed a lot for the Muslims. She passed away at the age of 73 in 44 A.H. 

Sayyida SAFIYAH (r)

She was a Jewess and taken captive during the Battle of Khaibar. Sayyiduna Rasulullah (s) married her in 7 A.H. This made a great impact on the Jews, with the result that many accepted Islam. She was very dignified in her behaviour, patient and polite. She was very much attached to Sayyiduna Rasulullah (s) and he had great regards for her. She was also very generous and kind-hearted. She was also very learned. She passed away at the age of 50 and is buried in Jannatul Baqi. 

Sayyida MAYMUNA (r)

She was a widow. Sayyiduna Rasulullah (s) married her in the month of Shawwal when she was 51 years old. Her marriage also drew many towards Islam. She was very pious and humble and fond of advising Muslim women and freeing slaves. She was also very learned. She passed away in 51 A.H. 

Sayyida MARIA QIBTIYA (r)

She was given to Sayyiduna Rasulullah (s) as a gift by the Christian King of Egypt. She accepted Islam and was very pious. Her marriage also improved the relationship with the Egyptians. She passed away 5 years after her son passed away and is buried in Jannatul Baqi.

CHILDREN OF RASULULLAH (s)

Sayyiduna Rasulullah (s) had children from only two of his wives. They were Sayyida Khadijah (r) and Sayyida Maria Qibtiya (r).

Sayyida KHADIJAH (r)

Sayyida Khadijah (r) had 6 children. They were:

• Sayyiduna Qasim (r): He was the eldest son and passed away in infancy.

• Sayyiduna Abdullah (r): He was born during the period of Prophethood and was called "Tayyab" and "Taahir." He also passed away in infancy.

• Sayyida Zaynab (r): She was the eldest daughter. She married Sayyiduna Abul Aas (r) who only accepted Islam just a year after she passed away in 8 A.H. She passed away from a wound she received while on the Hijrah to Madinatul Munawwarah. She had two children - Sayyiduna Ali (r) and Sayyiduna Umama (r).

• Sayyida Ruqayyah (r): She was first married to Utba, son of Abu Lahab. She did not live with him and he divorced her. She then married Sayyiduna 'Uthman (r) and migrated with him to Abyssinia and finally settled in Madinatul Munawwarah. They had one son, Sayyiduna Abdullah (r) who passed away at the age of 6. She passed away in 2 A.H. after an illness.

• Sayyida Umme Kulthum (r): She was first married to Utaibah, another son of Abu Lahab. She did not want to live with him and he divorced her. In 3 A.H. she married Sayyiduna 'Uthman (r). His first wife, Sayyida Ruqayyah (r), passed away. She passed away in Shabaan of 9 A.H.

• Sayyida Fathima (r): She was the youngest daughter of Sayyiduna Rasulullah (s). She married Sayyiduna Ali (r). They had 3 sons and 2 daughters. Sayyiduna Imam Hassan, Sayyiduna Imam Hussain, Sayyiduna Mohsin, Sayyida Umme Kulthum and Sayyida Zainab (r). She passed away a few months after Sayyiduna Rasulullah (s) left this world. She is considered to be "Sayyidatun Nisaa min Ahlil Jannah" or "Leader of the Women of Paradise."

Sayyida MARIA QIBTIYA (r):

Sayyiduna Ibrahim (r): Sayyida Maria (r) bore Sayyiduna Rasulullah (s) a son, Sayyiduna Ibrahim (r), who passed away in infancy.

Compiled by the Imam Ahmed Raza Academy South Africa

Source: http://onislam.net

Brief Sketch of Mothers of Believers by www.quransearchonline.com/HomeBiography.asp

Lady Khadijah … The Unsung Heroine - Prophet Muhammad's Wives

Prophet Muhammad's Wives

Lady Khadijah … The Unsung Heroine

The simplicity of Khadijah's example is something that cannot pass unnoticed not only by Muslim women but by non-Muslims as well.

Lady Khadijah is a woman who we have many fruitful lessons to learn from. There are different aspects of her character that each need a multivolume book to write, let alone a small article.

Her life was rich with moral lessons from which today's husbands and wives irrespective of their race, faith and geographical locations are in dire need to adopt and embrace. Her life before adopting Islam was also an exemplar to follow and her lifestyle was of that kind women in the 21st century ought to imitate.

Her upright character made the people of her clan call her at-Tahirah; an Arabic adjective meaning the 'chaste' or the 'pure'. Her morals as a widow were much more admired by the men of her clan, and her business was the talk of the town.

Admirable Business woman

Khadijah was a highly respectable business woman in her clan. She was a very wealthy lady, and all the people of her clan were keen to marry her because of her family status and thriving business; a fact she was clever enough to realize, and hence she never succumbed to their material wishes.

In other words, she was wise enough to know her qualities and hence was better able to choose her suitable match away from any clannish pressure. Due to her inability as a single woman to travel long distances on her own in the desert trading in her properties, Khadijah used to hire men from her clan to trade in her business and to travel with her trading caravans to the Levant; purchasing and selling different commodities.

At that time, Muhammad (peace be upon him) was known for his honesty and truthfulness among the whole clan, and these good manners were the main reasons behind Khadijah's decision to hire him to trade in her business, and later on to choose him as a husband and a soul mate.

Indeed, the thriving business of lady Khadijah and her strategic planning in hiring the right man to trade in her business is an eternal lesson from which modern women ought to imitate in the course of their tired attempts in finding women champions from whose examples and rich experiences many lessons can be drawn.

The simplicity of Khadijah's example is something that cannot pass unnoticed not only by Muslim women but by non-Muslims as well.

It Began with Business and Ended up in Marriage

It is no wonder after all to see Khadijah talking to her lady friend,

Nafisah, about her interest in Muhammad.

Khadijah offered Muhammad a job to trade in her business on her behalf. Muhammad, on his part, showed remarkable success in his new job because of the transparency he adopted in his trading job with the business lady, and his experience in the field as a tradesman who successfully led many business trips to the Levant.

In her business trips, Khajidah appointed Maysarah (one of her servants) as an assistant to Muhammad in his new job, and through talking to her servant, she was assured of Muhammad's transparency and honesty in handling her business.

It is no wonder after all to see Khadijah talking to her lady friend, Nafisah, about her interest in Muhammad. Nafisah went straight to the Prophet and implicitly mentioned lady Khadijah. The Prophet got so interested and decided to ask for her hand in marriage.

Now, the prestigious and high-born lady is offering herself in marriage after she became pretty sure that this person she is proposing to marry will never think of her as a rich businesswoman, but as a woman worthy of company and warm marriage relationship.

It is an aspect of Khadijah's character worthy of contemplation and remembrance. It is a moral lesson for both non-Muslims and new Muslims to learn from and adopt in their daily lives. A very prestigious lady offering to marry a man who once used to trade in her business after she has tested his manners and character. What a moral lesson worthy of contemplation in today's life where marriages have turned into business deals and where real love is becoming rare.

Once she found her perfect match, Khadijah was not hesitant to offer herself and unfold her love in a dignified manner that, although was not quite common among her people, but still it was very respectable.

The happy couple, Muhammad and Khadijah, concluded the marriage ceremony and it has been narrated that Muhammad offered Khadijah a dowry worthy of her respectable status in that time. The happy couple moved forward until a turning point in their lives took place.

Indeed, Muhammad-Khadijah's marriage here is a telling example on its own of how far Islam empowers women to select their suitable matches while being free from any family pressure and worn-out traditions that in many times stand as stumbling blocks in the face of happy marriages.

Here, Khadijah chose her 'Mr. Right' on her own using sound criteria that although somewhat driven by human inclinations but yet has its undeniable and fair share of a marriage choice that is mainly based on reason and rationale. Selecting her partner herself is an experience girls in 21st century can benefit from once they apply the same rules their head figure Khadijah once followed.

Khadijah: The First Female Muslim

his beloved wife Khadijah comforted and 
reassured him when he returned home

Fifteen years after their marriage, Muhammad was ordered by God to carry out his duty as a Messenger to the whole of mankind.

It was in the Cave Hira' that he received the first revelation. It might be out of context to mention the minute details of how and when Muhammad received the revelation, but what matters here is how his beloved wife Khadijah comforted and reassured him when he returned home after he received the first divine revelation.

Trembling of awe as a result of the revelation he received, Muhammad returned home, and told his wife what happened. Hearing him, she comforted his soul with outstanding courage saying:

'By God, He will never forsake you. You extend ties of kinship, say the truth, help the weak, show generosity to guests, and strive hard to apply justice.'

We haven't witnessed a woman ever assuring her husband in the same way Khadijah did. She managed to reassure her husband in the right time and she instantly sought practical ways to achieve that by visiting her cousin Waraqah who had knowledge of the People of the Book.

Later on, Waraqah appeased Muhammad's heart that this experience he witnessed is shared only by Prophets and Messengers of God. It has been reported that Khadijah was the first to proclaim her Islam.

She embraced Islam with no introduction or even a brief inquiry about the new religion. The word hesitation finds no place in her dictionary after she had witnessed her husband granted the honor of divine revelation directly from God.

It is really rare to trace back how she became a Muslimah, but a great number of Muslim historians state that she was the first member from among both men and women to declare faith in Allah and His Messenger.

Others state that she was the first female to adopt Islam. This latter view is the most famous one and it is the one followed by the greatest majority of Muslims. 

Khadijah lived as a very loyal and supporting wife to her husband (i.e. Muhammad) for more than nine years after the beginning of the revelation. She supported the Islamic mission with her money and was a source of comfort for her husband.

She respected her husband's meditations before the revelations were sent to him, and later she supported him as a leader in his community.

It is through this attitude of Khadijah that modern women, irrespective of their faith, race, or location can draw fruitful lessons taking Khadijah's way of treatment to Muhammad as an exemplar.

Modern women, who at many times tend to start a perfect life may yearn to have a luxurious lifestyle and once they face the hardship of reality, they may fail to face the first test.  Hence, learning from the heroine figure of Khadijah is necessary. She stood behind her husband in his stressful moments, shared his sorrow before his happiness, bore his burden before enjoying the moments of ease together.

Muhammad's Love to Khadijah

Muhammad remained loyal to Khadijah 
a long time after her death

Khadijah's Islam alleviated Muhammad's suffering, and assured him the tranquility he was in need of at home. Khadijah played a great role in granting her husband the necessary courage he had to adopt in order to face both physical and psychological sufferings as a result of his divine mission.

It is a role today's modern wives ought to learn from Khadijah in order to help their husbands cope with modern challenges that threaten the institution of family and threaten to target its very roots.

Muhammad remained loyal to Khadijah a long time after her death, and it has been reported that he called the year she died as the 'Year of Grief.' He used to praise her a lot in the presence of his other wives to the extent that his wife 'Aishah said:

"I have never felt jealous from any woman except Khadijah."

The Prophet used to mention her qualities a lot saying:

"She (Khadijah) believed in me while others rejected my call. She affirmed my truthfulness when people called me a liar. She spent her wealth to lighten the burden of my sorrow when others had forsaken me." (At-Tirmidhi)

Muhammad even continued to honor her friends a long time after her death as a sign of showing gratitude to her.

The Beloved Wife Passing Away

According to some Muslim historians, Khadijah died during the month of Ramadan before the year of Muhammad's emigration to Madinah on the 'Year of Grief.' Muhammad was badly affected as a result of his wife's death and it has been reported that he said while seeing his beloved dying: "How heavy it is on myself to see such a scene."

He stayed many days in his home overwhelmed by sadness for the death of Khadijah, the loyal and obedient wife with whom he stayed twenty five years in love, dedication, patience, and commitment.

Finally, Khadijah's story of adopting Islam as a religion and as a way of life remains a new living story from which men and women will continue to have spiritual provision along the course of centuries.

Khadijah is a telling example by herself as a non-believing lady who lived by morals and principles, as a wife who stood by her husband in difficult times, as a believer who showed no hesitation to accept the truth, and as a supporter to her new belief with different forms of personal sacrifices.

Her example is one worthy of contemplation and imitation by young women in our modern societies.

Source: http://onislam.net