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 Zaynab bint Jahsh - A Woman of High Morals - Prophet Muhammad's Wives

Prophet Muhammad's Wives

Lady Zaynab bint Jahsh

A Woman of High Morals

The Life of Zaynab bint Jahsh

She was famed for her generosity, excellence in morality and helpfulness. She spent her earnings in the way of God and on the poor

Zaynab bint Jahsh is the daughter of Umayya bint Abdul Muttalib, the paternal aunt of the Prophet. Her real name is "Barra" and the name Zaynab was given to her by the Prophet.

Zaynab's father is Jahsh ibn Riyab, who moved to Makkah and settled there. She married Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, in the fifth year of Hijrah.

Given the title "Umm-ul Hakam", Zaynab is among the first female companions of the Prophet to have migrated to Madinah.

A very beautiful and intelligent woman in addition to being the daughter of the Prophet's aunt, she was among the first of the Prophet's wives to have seen herself as competition to Lady Aisha. Aisha herself reciprocated these sentiments toward Zaynab, saying: "She saw herself as being my counterpart."

Her Decency

She was famed for her generosity, 
excellence in morality and helpfulness.

Zaynab’s sensitivity and fear of Allah regarding matters of belief and acts of faith as well as her being one of the first individuals to become Muslim was noted by everyone including Prophet Muhammad, who, for this, had a great deal of love and respect for her.

Our beloved Mother Zaynab was a sincere Muslim and a believer very much tied to her beliefs. She had taken it upon herself to lead a life distanced from anything not pleasing to Allah. She had given our Prophet the title of "Awwah." When the companions asked our Prophet, "What is awwah Prophet of Allah?" he explained: "Awwah is one who is humble in prayer, one who sincerely begs Allah and Allah alone."

She is a woman who is most respectful to Allah, most truthful, most mindful of relatives and most generous in giving charity. She had testified in favor of Aisha, her rival, following the incident in which Aisha had been slandered, saying, "I know nothing of Aisha except what is good."

She was famed for her generosity, excellence in morality and helpfulness. She worked for her sustenance and would spend her earnings in the way of God and on the poor. About her, Aisha said: "I have never seen a woman more beneficent than Zaynab where religion is concerned.

Old Customs Abolished

Neither Zaynab nor her brother Abdullah welcomed the idea of a noble and free woman marrying a freed slave.

Prior to Islam, if a man wanted to adopt a child, he would announce this in public, and the child would thereby be considered his own; called with the name of the father and essentially becoming his father's successor.

This custom of adoption, which was preserved into the first few years of Islam, was banned and the wide-spread understanding that "the wives of adopted children could not be married to the adopter," thus needed to be abolished.

Along with the revelation that Allah does not accept adopted children as biological children, Zayd, who was adopted by the Prophet and called Zayd ibn Muhammad, began to be called Zayd ibn Harithah, after his own father.

Thus, according to God’s revelations, the Prophet was to take Zayd, whom he was emotionally attached to, out of his adoption as consequently his wife Zaynab was no longer considered our Prophet's daughter-in-law. Zaynab’s first marriage was with Zayd Bin Harithah, who was a slave freed by the Prophet and whom he loved as though he was his own child.

Prophet Muhammad personally arranged the marriage of his cousin Zaynab to Zayd. According to Arab traditions, a noble Arab woman could not marry a slave as Arabs placed a great deal of significance on lineage; classifying and evaluating people not on their personal accomplishments and traits, but the lineage which they came from.

For this reason, the Prophet began with his own family members in abolishing this old tradition and perception to ensure that the old tradition would be erased.

As well known, one of the Prophet's methods of delivering the message was through his personal application of commands and restrictions ordered by Allah; if he was unable to or did not have the opportunity to apply the commandments himself, we would have his relatives apply the command or restriction. This is because for the Messenger of Allah no factor should give one exception or privilege, except for the fear of Allah:

"Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you." (Al- Hujurat 49; 13).

Thus, the deep-rooted belief of privileged class needed to be abolished. And this ban needed be realized through one of the most sensitive issues: marriage.

Zaynab, the daughter of our Prophet's aunt and Abdullah ibn Jahsh, was thereby a good candidate for a marriage that would be exemplary. One day, when Zaynab's potential marriage was being discussed, our Prophet ruled that the time had come for an old and bad custom to be abolished and asked for Zaynab's hand in marriage for his adopted son, Zayd. Neither Zaynab nor her brother Abdullah welcomed the idea of a noble and free woman marrying a freed slave. They both asked Prophet Muhammad whether someone like him would be suitable for their family. Zaynab even went a step further and actually said that she will not marry someone like Zayd.

Zaynab finally agreed to this marriage in order to follow the orders of the Prophet. However, she was just not able to warm up to Zayd, and therefore a continual state of unease took place in the absence of emotions. This marriage didn’t work out and about a year later Zayd consulted with the Prophet, stating that he could no longer continue with it. The Prophet was sorry to hear this:

“And when you, Muhammad, said to him on whom Allah has conferred favor and you have conferred favor: Keep your wife to yourself, and fear Allah.” (Al-Ahzab 33; 37)

Despite the Prophet’s advice to them, neither Zayd nor Zaynab could make it work as Zayd consequently made a final decision to divorce his wife whom he did not wish to be with.

After some time had elapsed, it was time for yet another bad custom to be abolished. This particular custom was the treatment of adopted children as though they were biological children and their wives to be treated like actual daughters-in-law.

New Life

... she was truly a righteous woman. She would fast much and wake up for night prayers. She was a woman of skills and she would disburse the earnings of her work entirely to the needy

After Zayd and Zaynab were divorced, Prophet Muhammad was faced with two realities; one was that his cousin was a divorced woman following an unsuccessful marriage. The second was that according the Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic) beliefs, Zaynab could now only marry a slave. Consequently, the Prophet felt obliged, particularly towards his relatives, to mend these wounds.

In the end, this principal brought on by Islam, would in certainty become put into practice through him as a matter of fact:

"But you did hide in your heart that which Allah was about to make manifest: you did fear the people, but it is more fitting that you should fear Allah. Then when Zaid had dissolved (his marriage) with her, with the necessary (formality), We joined her in marriage to you: in order that (in future)there may be no difficulty to the Believers in (the matter of) marriage with the wives of their adopted sons, when the latter have dissolved with the necessary (formality) (their marriage) with them. And Allah's command must be fulfilled." (Al-Ahzab 33; 37).

Despite the order to marry Zaynab was a very difficult one for the Prophet, it was impossible for him to dismiss since it was God’s command. The marriage had taken place in the eyes of Allah, with the angels acting as witnesses. When the verses regarding the Prophet's marriage to Zaynab were revealed, the Prophet was asked to go to Zaynab and tell her that Allah had wed her to him in the heavens, and proceeded to repeat the revealed verses.

It was said Prophet Muhammad gave an incredible Walima (wedding feast) which he had not given for any of his other wives on the day of his marriage to Zaynab where about 300 people were invited.

Thus, Lady Zaynab, who was married to Zayd just in order to fulfill the command of Allah and His messenger, was rewarded for her compliance by being married to the Prophet of Allah following her divorce from Zayd. Undoubtedly this was the most beautiful and sacred of marriages to have ever taken place because it was implemented by Allah through the delegation of the angel Jibreel.

The esteem of Zaynab, which had suffered a blow with her marriage to Zayd, was being restored with her marriage to the Prophet, who knew about the sense of belittlement that Zaynab felt with being married to a former slave. With her new marriage, Zaynab, one of the most noble of Arab families then, would be able to salvage her damaged dignity.

Zaynab married Prophet Muhammad, after his marriage to Umm Salamah, in the fifth year of Hijrah. She was 35 years of age when she married the Prophet, who was 57 or 58 at the time.

Multi-Talented

Lady Zaynab was a clever woman; she could skin animals that had been butchered, gut them and allow them to dry. She was good at sewing and doing alterations on clothing. She could process animal skin in accordance with the methods of that time and sew clothing leather, spending what she earned in the way of Allah.

Umm Salamah, one of the wives of the Prophet, when speaking of Zaynab, would say: "The Prophet appreciated Zaynab bint Jahsh and spoke of her often; she was truly a righteous woman. She would fast much and wake up for night prayers. She was a woman of skills and she would disburse the earnings of her work entirely to the needy." In another narration it is said that: "Zaynab was a handcrafts artist; she would process leather, sew and spend in charity in the way of Allah."

Zaynab would spend her entire earnings of her own hard work on the needy, divorced and orphaned.

Source: http://onislam.net