Every Muslim likes to know (and every muslim must know) about, the members of the family of the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam). The Muhaddithin and historians all agree that eleven ladies had the honour of being wives of the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam). A very brief account of their lives is, therefore, given here.
Hadhrat Khadijah (Radhiyallaho anha)
Hadhrat Sauda (Radhiyallaho anha)
Hadhrat Aishah (Radhiyallaho anha)
Hadhrat Hafsah (Radhiyallaho anha)
Hadhrat Zainab bint Khuzaimah (Radhiyallaho anha)
Hadhrat Umme Salamah (Radhiyallaho anha)
Hadhrat Zainab bint Jahsh (Radhiyallaho anha)
Hadhrat Juwairiah bintul Harith (Radhiyallaho anha)
Hadhrat Umme Habibah (Radhiyallaho anha)
Hadhrat Safiyyah (Radhiyallaho anha)
Hadhrat Maimoonah (Radhiyallaho anha)
Hadhrat Khadijah (Radhiyallaho anha)
She was the first among them. At the time of her marriage, she was 40 year old and the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) was twenty-five. She begot all his children, except a son, Ibrahim.
She was first to be married to Waraqah bin Naufal, but this marriage could not take place. Her first husband was Atiq bin Aa’iz. She had a daughter from him, whose name was Hind. Hind grew up and embraced Islam, and she was the mother of many children. On the death of Atiq, Khadijah (Radhiyallaho anha) was married to Abu Hala, and got two children from him viz. Hind and Halah. Hind lived up to the time of Ali’s Caliphate. On the death of Abu Halah, the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) married her as his first wife.
She died in Ramadan of the 10th year of the mission at the age of sixty-five. He loved her very much and did not marry any other woman during her life time. She was popularly called Tahirah (Clean and pure) even before Islam.
Her children from other husbands are therefore known as Banu Tahirah. Her virtues and privileges have been mentioned extensively (in Hadith). The Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) laid her in the grave with his own hands. The funeral service had not till then been enjoined.
Hadhrat Sauda bint Zam’ah bin Qais (Radhiyallaho anha)
She was previously married to her cousin Hadrath Sukran bin ‘Amor (Radhiyallaho anho). The couple embraced Islam and emigrated to Abysinnia. Hadhrat Sukran (Radhiyallaho anha) died in Abyssinia. Hadhrat Saudah (Radhiyallaho anha), now a widow, returned to Mecca. The Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) , on the death of Hadhrat Khadijah (Radhiyallaho anha) in Shawwal of the same year married Hadhrat Saudah (Radhiyallaho anha). We know the devotion of the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) in his salaat. Once Hadhrat Saudah (Radhiyallaho anha) stood after him in Tahajjud. The next day she said to him:
“O, Prophet of Allah! Last night you took so long in your Ruk’u that I apprehended bleeding from my nose.”
(As she was bulky, the strain might have been too much for her).
The Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) once intended to divorce her. As meanwhile Hadhrat Aishah {Radhiyallaho anha) had also been married to the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) , she said:
“O, Prophet of Allah! I am ready to forego my turn in favor of Hadhrat Aishah {Radhiyallaho anha), but I don’t like to be divorced (by you). I wish to be in Paradise as one of your wives.”
The Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) agreed to this suggestion. She died in about 55 A. H. towards the end of the Khilafat of Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho anho).
There was another Qureysh woman of the same name. She also a widow having about six children. The Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) offered to marry her, but she said:
“O, Prophet of Allah! You are dearer to me than any other person in this world. I do not like my children to a nuisance to you.”
He appreciated this, and withdrew the offer.
Hadhrat Aishah (Radhiyallaho anha)
She too was married to the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) in Swawwal of the 10th year of the Nubuwwat. She was born in the 4th year of Nubuwwat and was married when she was six, but was actually sent by her parents to live with the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) after his emigration to Madinah, when she was nine. She was eighteen at the time of the Prophet Mohammad’s (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) death. She died on the night of Tuesday, the 17th Ramadan, 57 A. H at the age of sixty-six. She desired at the time of her death that she might be buried, along with other Ummahat-ul- Momineen, in the public graveyard, though she could be buried by the side of the Prophet Mohammad’s (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) grave, which was in her house.
She was the only wife of the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) who had not been married previously. All the remaining wives had either been widowed or divorced (some quite a few time before they became Ummuhat-ul-Momineen. To be married in Shawwal was considered a bad omen among the Arab women.
Hadhrat Aishah (Radhiyallaho anha) says:
“I was married in Shawwal, It was also Shawwal when I was sent to live with the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) . Which of the Prophet Mohammad’s (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) wives has been more blessed with his 1love and Allah’s other favors than me?”
On the death of Hadhrat Khadijah (Radhiyallaho anha), Hadhrat Khaulah bint Hakim (Radhiyallaho anha) came to the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) and said:
“O, Prophet of Allah! Don’t you like to marry again?” The Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) : “Whom can I marry?”
Khaylah: “I know one virgin and one widow.” The Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) : “Name them.”
Khaulah: “The virgin is Aishah, (Radhiyallaho anha) the daughter of your bosom friend Abu Bakr (Radhiyallaho anho), and the widow is Saudah bint Zam’ah.”
The Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) : “All right! You may make the proposal.”
Hadhrat Khaulah (Radhiyallaho anha) then went Hadhrat Aisha’s (Radhiyallaho anha) mother Hadhrat Umme-Rooman (Radhiyallaho anha) and said to her: “I have come with good tidings for your family.”
Hadhrat Umme Rooman (Radhiyallaho anha): “What is that?” Hadhrat Khaulah (Radhiyallaho anha): “The Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) has sent me to seek Hadhrat Aishah (Radhiyallaho anha’s) hand for him”
Hadhrat Umme Rooman (Radhiyallaho anha): “But ‘Hadhrat Aishah (Radhiyallaho anha) is like his niece. How can she be married to him? Let me consult her father.”
Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radhiyallaho anho) was not at home at that time. When he came, the proposal was placed before him, and he expressed the same difficulty. Hadhrat Khaulah (Radhiyallaho anho) returned to the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) and apprised him of their difficulty. The Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) said: “Abu Bakr is my bosom friend and brother-in-Islam, but this does not forbid my marrying his daughter.”
Hadhrat Khaulah (Radhiyallaho anho) went and informed Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radhiyallaho anho) accordingly. Abu Bakr (Radhiyallaho anho) was extremely glad to call the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) to his home and perform Aishah’s (Radhiyallaho anha) Nikah with him. A few months later, when the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) had emigrated to Madinah, Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radhiyallaho anho) said to the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) : “Why don’t you have your wife Hadhrat Aishah (Radhiyallaho anha) to live with you?” He said: “I have to make some preparations, etc., before I do that.”
Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radhiyallaho anho) presented him with some money, with which necessary things were arranged. Hardhat Aishah (Radhiyallaho anha) then started living by the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) from Shawwal of l or 2 A. H. She shared ‘bed with the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) for first time in Hadhrat Abu Bakr’s (Radhiyallaho anho) house. These are the three marriages, which the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) had before Hijrah. All the remaining, wives were taken by him in Madinah.
Hadhrat Hafsah (Radhiyallaho anha)
She was the daughter of ‘Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) who was born in Mecca five years before the Nubuwwat. She was first married to Hadhrat Khunais bin Huzaifah (Radhiyallaho anho), who was one of the very early Muslims. He first emigrated to Abyssinia and then to Madinah. He participated in Badr, and was fatally wounded in Badr (or in Uhud) and died of the wound in the year l or 2 A. H. Hadhrat Hafsah (Radhiyallaho anha) had also emigrated to Madinah with her husband. When her husband died, Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) went to Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radhiyallaho anho) and said:
“I want to give Hafsah in marriage to you.” Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radhiyallaho anho) kept quiet and said nothing. Meanwhile Ruqayyah (Radhiyallaho anha) the daughter of the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) and the wife of Hadhrat Usman (Radhiyallaho anho) died.
Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) went to Hadhrat Usman (Radhiyallaho anho) and offered Hadhrat Hafsah (Radhiyallaho anho’s) hand to him.
He declined by saying, “I have no mind to marry for the present.” Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) complained of this to the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam).
The Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) said: “I tell you of a husband for Hafsah better than Usman and of a wife for Usman better than Hafsah.”
He then took Hadhrat Hafsah (Radhiyallaho anha) as (next wife, and gave his own daughter Hadhrat Umme Kulsum (Radhiyallaho anha) in marriage to Hadhrat Usman (Radhiyallaho anho). Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radhiyallaho anho) later said to Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho anho):
“When you offered Hafsah’s hand to me, I kept quiet as the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) had expressed to me his intention of marrying her. I could neither accept your offer nor disclose the Prophet Mohammad’s (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) secret to you. I, therefore, kept quiet. If the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) had changed his mind, I would have gladly married her.”
Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) says: “Abu Bakr’s silence over the offer was in fact more shocking to me than ‘Usman’s rejection.”
Hadhrat Hafsah (Radhiyallaho anha) was a very pious woman, and very much devoted to Salaat. She would often fast during the day and spend the night in prayers. Once the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) , for some reason, was displeased with Hafsah and even pronounced the first divorce to her. ‘Hadhrat Umar (Radhlyallaho anho) was naturally very much shocked over this. Jibraeel Alayhis came to the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) and said: “Allah wants you to take Hafsah back, as she is fasting often and spending her nights in Salaat, and also Allah wants it for Hadhrat Umar’s (Radhiyallaho anho) sake.”
The Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) therefore took her back. She died in Jamadil oola, 45 A. H., at the age of 63.
Hadhrat Zainab (Radhiyallaho anha)
She was the next to be married to the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) . There are divergent reports about her previous husbands. According to one report she was first married to Hadhrat Abdullah bin Jahsh (Radhiyallaho anho) who was killed in Uhud, as we have already seen in his story in chapter VII. According to another report, she was first married to Tufail ibnul al Harith and when divorced by him was remarried to his brother Ubaidah ibnul Harith, who was killed in Badr. The Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) married her in Ramadan, 3 A.H. She lived with the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) for eight months only, as she died in Rabi-ul-Akhir, 4 A.H.
Hadhrat Zainab and Hadhrat Khadijah (Radhiyallaho anha) are the two wives of the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) who died during his life time. All the other wives lived on after him and died later. Hadhrat Zainab (Radhiyallaho anha) spent very liberally on the poor, and was ul Masakin’ (mother of the poor) even before Islam.
After her death, the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) married Hadhrat Umme Salmah (Radhiyallaho anha).
Hadhrat Umme Salamah (Radhiyallaho anha)
She was the daughter of Hadhrat Abu Ummayyah (Radhiyallaho anhu). She was first married to her cousin Hadhrat bin Abdul Asad known as Abu Salamah (Radhiyallaho anhu). The couple embraced Islam in the very beginning and emigrated to Abyssinia, due to the persecutions of Qureysh. A son was born to them in exile, who was named Salamah. After returning from Abyssinia, the family emigrated to Madinah. Hadhrat Umme Salamah’s (Radhiyallaho anha) story about her journey to Madinah, has been already given in the early part of the chapter. After reaching Madinah, Hadhrat Umme Salmah (Rad laho anha) got another son ‘Umar and two daughters Durrah and Zainab (Radhiyallaho anhum).
Hadhrat Abu Salamah (Radhiyallaho anho) was the eleventh man to embrace Islam. He participated in the battle of Badr as well as in Uhud. He got a severe wound in Uhud, which did not heal for a long time. He was sent by the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) in an expedition in Safar, 4 A. H.
When he returned from the expedition, the old wound again started giving trouble and at last he died of the same on 8th Jamadil-Akhir, 4 A. H. Hadhrat Umme Salamah (Rad, laho anha) was pregnant at the time. Zainab was born to her after the death of her husband. After she had completed her Iddat (waiting period), Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radlaho anho) proposed to marry her, but she declined.
Later, the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) offered to marry her. She said: “O, Prophet of Allah! I have quite a few children with me and I am very sensitive by nature. Moreover, a people are in Mecca, and their permission for getting remarried is necessary.”
The Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) said: “Allah will look after your children and your sensitiveness will vanish in due course. None of people will dislike the proposed marriage”.
She then asked her (eldest) son Hadhrat Salamah (Radhiyallaho anho) to serve as her guardian and give her in marriage to the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) She was married in the end of Shawwal, 4 A. H. She says: “I had heard from the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) that a person struck with a calamity should recite this prayer:
“O, Allah! Recompense me for this affliction by giving me something better than what I have lost: then Allah would accept his prayer.” I had been reciting this prayer since the death of Hadhrat Abu Salamah (Radhiyallaho anho), but I could not imagine a husband better than he, till Allah arranged my marriage with the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) .” Hadhrat Aishah (Radhiyallaho anha) says:
“Umme Salamah (Radhiyallaho anha) was famous for her beauty. Once I contrived to see her. I found her much more beautiful than I had heard. I mentioned this to Hafsah who said. “In my opinion, she is not as beautiful as people say.” She was the last of the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) wives to die. It was in 59 or 62 A. H. She was 84 at the time of her death, and as such she was born 9 years before Nubuwwat.
As already been said, the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) married her after the death of Hadhrat Zainab Khuzaimah (Radhiyallaho anha). She therefore lived in Hadhrat Zainab’s (Radhiyallaho anha) house. She found a had-mill, a kettle and some barley in an earthen jar, lying in the house. She milled some barley and after putting some fat cooked a preparation, which she served to the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) on the very first day of her marriage with him.
Hadhrat Zainab bint Jahsh (Radhiyallaho anha)
She was the Prophet Mohammad’s (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) cousin. She was first given in marriage by the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) to his adopted son Hadhrat Zaid bin Harithah (Radhiyallaho anho). When Hadhrat Zaid (Radhiyallaho anho) divorced her, she was married to the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) by command of Allah, as mentioned in Surah Al Ahzab. This took place in 5 A.H., at that time she was 35. She was therefore born 17 years before Nubuwwat. She was always proud of the fact that, the other wives while all the other wives were given in marriage to the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) by their guardians, it was Allah Himself Who did this for her.
When Hadhrat Zaid (Radhiyallaho anho) divorced her and she had completed her Iddat, the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) sent the proposal to her. She said: “I cannot say anything until I have consulted my Allah.” She performed Wudhu, said two rakaat of Salaat, and prayed to Allah: “O, Allah! Thy Prophet proposes to marry me. If I am fit for the honor, then give me in his marriage.”
Allah answered her prayer by revealing the following verse to the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) :
“So when Zaid had performed the necessary formality (of divorce) from her, we gave her unto thee in marriage, so that (henceforth) there may be no sin for believers in respect of the wives of their adopted sons, when the latter have performed the necessary formality (of release) from them. The Commandment of Allah must be fulfilled.” (XXXIII:37)
When she received the good news about this revelation, she prostrated before Allah in thanksgiving. Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) arranged a big feast of Walimah for this marriage. A goat was slaughtered and mutton-curry with bread was served to the guests. People came in groups, and were served till all of them were fed.
Hadhrat Zainab (Radhiyallaho anha) had a very large heart for spending in the way of Allah. She earned by working with her hands and spent all “her earnings in charity. It was about her that the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) prophesied:
“My wife with long hands will be the first to meet me after my death.” The wives took this to mean the physical length of arms and began to measure their hands with a stick. The hands of Hadhrat Saudah (Radhiyallaho anha) came out to be the longest by measurement. But when Hadhrat Zainab (Radhiyallaho anha) died first, the meaning of the metaphor used by the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) dawned upon them. She fasted very often. She died in 20 and ‘Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) led the funeral service. She fifty at the time of her death.
Hadhrat Juwairiah (Radhiyallaho anha)
She was the daughter of Harith, the chief of Banu Mustaliq and was married to Musafe’ bin Safwan.
She was one of the large number of captives who fell into Muslim hands after the battle of Muraisee’, and she was given to Hadhrat Thabit bin Qais (Radhiyallaho anho). He offered to release her for 360 Dirhams. She came to the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) and said: “O, Prophet of Allah! I am the daughter of Harith who is the chief of the, and you know my story. The ransom demanded by Hadhrat Thabit (Radhiyallaho anh) is too much for me. I have come to seek your help in the matter.”
The Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) agreed to pay her ransom, set her free, and offered to take her as his wife. She was very glad to accept this offer. She was married to the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) in 5 A.H. and as a consequence of this marriage, the prisoners of Banu Mustaliq (Juwairiah’s tribe), about a hundred families, were all set free by the Muslims.
“The tribe which so honoured by the Prophet Mohammad’s (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) relationship,” they said, “should not remain in slavery.” Such were the noble expediences in all the marriages of the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) . Hadhrat Juwairiah (Radhiyallaho anha) was pretty, her face was very attractive. Three days before her falling captive in the battle, she had seen in her dream the moon coming out from Madinah and falling into her lap. She says:
“When I was captured, I began to hope that my dream would come true.” She was 20 at time of her marriage with the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) . She died in Rabi-ul-Awwal, 50 A.H., in Madinah at the age of 65.
Hadhrat Umme Habibah (Radhiyallaho anha) was the daughter of Abu Sufyan, and was first married to Ubaidullah bin Jahsh in Mecca. The couple embraced Islam, and then emigrated to Abyssinia due to persecution by the Qureysh. One night she saw her husband (in a dream) in the most ugly and obnoxious form. The next day she came to know that he had turned Christian. She, however, remained a Muslim and was therefore separated from him. She was now all alone in exile. But Allah soon recompensed her loss. The Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) sent her an offer of marriage through the King Negus, who sent a woman named Abrahah to her with the message. She was so happy with the good news that she made over the bracelets and other jewellery that she was wearing to the woman in gratification.
King Negus represented the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) Nikah ceremony, and gave her 400 dinars as her portion and many other things in dowry from himself.
He also gave a feast and dinars as gift to all those who were present in the ceremony. The Negus then dispatched her to Madinah, with her dowry and other gifts such as perfume, etc. This marriage took place in 7 A. H. (Her father was not a Muslim then). She most probably died in 44 A.H.
Hadhrat Safiyyah (Radhiyallaho anha)
She was the daughter of Hayi, Who was a descendant of Hadhrat Harun (Alaihis salaam) the brother of Moosa (Alaihis salaam). She was first married to Salam bin Mishkam and then to Kinallah bin Abi Huqaiq at the time of Khevbar. Kinallah was killed in the battle and she was captured by the Muslims. Hadhrat Dahya Kalbi (Radhiyallaho anha) requested for a maid, and the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) made her over to him. At this, the other Sahabah approached the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) and said:
“O, Prophet of Allah! Ballu Nazir and Banu Quraizah (the Jewish tribes of Madinah) will feel offended to see the daughter of a Jewish chief working as a maid. We therefore suggest that she may be taken as your own wife.”
The Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) paid a reasonable sum of money to Hadhrat Dahya (Radhiyallaho allho) as ransom, and said to Safiyyah: “You are now free; if you like you can go back to your tribe or can be my wife.”
She said: “I longed to be with you while I was a Jew. How can I leave you now, when I am a Muslim?”
This is probably a reference to the fact that she once saw in her dream a portion of the moon falling into her lap. When she mentioned her dream to Kinanah, he smote her face so severely that she developed a mark on her eye. He said: “You seem to be desiring to become the wife of the King of Madinah.”
Her father is also reported to have treated her similarly when she related the same or similar dream to him. She again saw (in her dream) the sun lying on her breast. When she mentioned this to her husband, he remarked:
“You seem to be wishing to become the Queen of Madinah.” She says: “I was seventeen when I was married to the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) .
She came to live with the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) when he was camping at the first stage from Khaiber. Next morning, he said to the Sahabah: “Let everybody bring whatever he has got to eat.”
They brought their own dates, cheese, butter, etc. A long leather sheet was spread and all sat round it to share the food among themselves. This was the Walimah for the marriage.
She died in Ramadan, 50 A. H., when she was about 60.
Hadhrat Maimoonah (Radhiyallaho anha)
She was the daughter of Harith bin Hazan. Her original name was Barrah but she was later renamed Maimoonah by the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) . She was first married to Abu Rahim bin Abdul Uzza. According to some reports, she was married twice before she became Ummul Mominin. She had been widowed lately when the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) married her at Saraf, a place lying on his journey to Mecca for ‘Umrah in Zul Qa’dah 7 A.H. He had intended to start living with her when in Mecca after performing ‘Umrah but, as Qureysh did not allow him to enter Mecca, he called her over to him in the same place on his return journey. Many years later she died and was buried exactly at the same place in 51 A. H. (when she was 81).
This is a strange coincidence that at a certain place during one Journey she is married, at the same place on the return journey she starts living with the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) and at the very place during another journey she dies and is buried.
Hadhrat Aishah (Radhiyallaho anha) says: “Maimoonah was the most pious, and the most mindful of her kith and kin, among the Prophet Mohammad’s (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) wives.”
Hadhrat Yazid bin Asam (Radhiyallaho anha) says: “She was seen either engaged in Salaat or in domestic work. When she was doing neither, she was busy in Miswak.” She was the last woman to be married by the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) . Certain Muhaddithin have, however, mentioned one or two other marriages contracted by the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) .
Author: Shaikhal Hadith Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhalvi (Rahmatullahi Alayh)
