Wives of the Holy Prophet of Islam

1. SAYYADAH KHADIJAH (RADI ALLAHU ANHA)

This noble lady belonged to the Quraish tribe. She is also known as “Khatijatul Kubra” or “Khadijah the Great.”

Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) married her when he was 25 years old and she was 40 years old. She was a very devoted wife, companion and councilor, ever ready to stand by Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) 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 Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has said about her: “The noblest women of the world are Sayyadah Mariam (alaihis salaam) and Sayyadah Khadijah (radi Allahu anha).” (Bukhari Shareef)

2. SAYYADAH SA’UDA (RADI ALLAHU ANHA)

Sayyadah Sa’uda (radi Allahu anha) was a widow and the daughter of Sayyadah Zama (radi Allahu anhu). She married Beloved Habeeb (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) after Sayyadah Khadijah (radi Allahu anha) had passed away. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (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. Sayyadah Aisha Siddique (radi Allahu anha) has said about her: “It is only Sa’uda, on seeing whom, I wish my soul lived in her body.” Sayyadah Sa’uda (radi Allahu anha) passed away in 55 A.H.

3. SAYYADAH AISHA SIDDIQUE (RADI ALLAHU ANHA)

She was the daughter of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) and was unmarried. In the 10th year of the mission, Beloved Habeeb (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) 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 Sayyadah Aisha Siddique (radi Allahu anha) in order to strengthen the ties of friendship with Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu), his closest friend and also so that she could teach other women.

Sayyadah Aisha (radi Allahu anha) led a very simple life without comfort and luxury. She dressed very simple. She served Beloved Habeeb (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) with utmost devotion and he loved her very much. She led a very pious life.

When Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) passed away, she was 25 years old. Thereafter, she lived for another 48 years and saw the rule of all the four Khalifa.

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 Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) himself used to teach her and answer her questions. She used to also teach other women. A great Scholar, Imam Zahri (radi Allahu anhu), has said about her: “Sayyadah Aisha (radi Allahu anha’s) knowledge will surpass the knowledge of all the males and Mothers of the Faithful put together.”

4. SAYYADAH HAFSA (RADI ALLAHU ANHA)

She was the daughter of Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) and was a widow. In 2 or 3 A.H. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) married her. He also gave his own daughter, Sayyadah Umm Kulthum (radi Allahu anha), in marriage to Sayyiduna ‘Uthman (radi Allahu anhu).

She was a very learned person and spent most of her time in reading and writing. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) 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.

5. SAYYADAH ZAYNAB (RADI ALLAHU ANHA)

She was the daughter of Khuzaimah. She was a widow and was poverty stricken. Moved by her piety and self-sacrifice, Beloved Habeeb (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) married her in 3 A.H. Sayyadah Zaynab (radi Allahu anha) 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.

6. SAYYADAH UMME SALMAH (RADI ALLAHU ANHA)

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 Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), 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 Beloved Habeeb (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). She was almost as learned as Sayyadah Aisha (radi Allahu anha). She outlived all the Ummahaatul Mu’mineen and passed away at the age of 84 years in 63 A.H.

7. SAYYADAH ZAINAB (RADI ALLAHU ANHA)

She was the daughter of Jahsh bin Rabah and married Sayyiduna Zaid bin Harith (radi Allahu anhu), the adopted son of Beloved Habeeb (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). After her divorce, she married Beloved Habeeb (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) in 5 A.H., when he was 58 years old.

Her marriage to Sayyiduna Zaid (radi Allahu anhu) 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, Sayyadah Aisha (radi Allahu anha) said about her: “Alas, the pious respected lady is no more and has left the orphans and widows broken-hearted.”

8. SAYYADAH JUWAIRIYAH (RADI ALLAHU ANHA)

She was the daughter of Harith and was a widow. She was a captive of war and set free by Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) 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.

Sayyadah Juwairiyah (radi Allahu anha) 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.

9. SAYYADAH UMME HABIBAH (RADI ALLAHU ANHA)

She was the daughter of Sayyiduna Abu Sufyaan (radi Allahu anhu) and a widow. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) married her when she was 36-37 years old in 6-7 A.H. This marriage also resulted in Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walid (radi Allahu anhu) 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.

10. SAYYADAH SAFIYAH (RADI ALLAHU ANHA)

She was a Jewess and taken captive during the Battle of Khaibar. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) 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 Beloved Habeeb (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) 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.

11. SAYYADAH MAYMUNA (RADI ALLAHU ANHA)

She was a widow. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) 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.

12. SAYYADAH MARIA QIBTIYA (RADI ALLAHU ANHA)

She was given to Beloved Habeeb (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) 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.

SOURCE: The Imam Ahmed Raza Academy Durban South Africa