CHAPTER 4: THE MOTHERS OF THE BELIEVERS (1)
Introduction
The title “Mothers of the Believers” refers to the wives of the Prophet (pbuh). Allah (swt) is the One who granted them this title:
“The Prophet has more right on the believers than themselves, and his wives are their mothers.” (al-Ahzab 33:6).
The Mothers of the Believers deserve special regard and respect. They are the women that Allah chose for the intimate company of His Messenger (pbuh). They conveyed to us a great deal of knowledge from their husband, Allah’s Messenger (pbuh). Like one’s own mother, Allah prohibited marrying any of the Mothers of the Believers after the Prophet (pbuh):
“It is not (allowed) for you to harm Allah’s Messenger or marry his wives after him, ever. Indeed, that would be in Allah’s sight an enormous (sin).” (al-Ahzab 33:53)
In this chapter, we present a brief overview about each one of the Mothers of the Believers. The reason for this is their important role in relating to us most of what we know about the Prophet’s (pbuh) married life.
Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid
Khadijah was the daughter of Khuwaylid Bin Asad Bin’Abd il-’Uzza Bin Qasiyy Bin Kilab. Therefore, she was from one of the noblest branches of the Quraysh tribe meeting with the Prophet (pbuh) in ancestry at his fifth forefather: Qasiyy. Before Islam, she was known as at-Tahirah (the Pure one).
Khadijah was a wealthy woman, and she hired the Prophet (pbuh) to manage her trade to Sham (Damascus and the surrounding lands). Noticing his honesty and good management, she offered herself to him in marriage, and he agreed.
Prior to the Prophet (pbuh), she was married to Abu Halah Bin Zurarah at-Tamimi, then to ‘Atiq Bin ‘Abid Bin ‘Abdillah Bin ‘Umar Bin Makhzum. The Prophet (pbuh) married her when he was twenty-five years old and she was forty.
She bore the Prophet (pbuh) seven children: three boys (al-Qasim, at-Tayyib, and at-Tahir) and four girls (Ruqayyah, Zaynab, Umm Kulthum, and Fatimah) ( Whereas the girls are known and confirmed, the historians differ in regard to the boys – to the extent that some of them say that he had no boys at all from Khadijah, and others say that he only had al-Qasim, and so on.). The boys died in their early childhood, and the first three girls died in al-Madinah during the Prophet’s (pbuh) lifetime. Fatimah died a few months after her father.
Khadijah was the first person to believe in the Prophet (pbuh) and support him. Jibril would often ask the Prophet (pbuh) to give salam to Khadijah:
‘O Khadijah, Jibril gives you salam.’
‘O Muhammad, give salam to Khadijah from her Lord.’ (Record by al-Bukhari, Muslim, and others.)
Khadijah was one of the most perfect women who ever lived. Abu Musa al-Ash’ari and Qurrah Bin lyas reported that Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) said:
‘Many men were complete (in faith, character, and taqwa), but only (three) women were complete: Asiyah the wife of Pharaoh, Maryam Bint Imran, and Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid. And the excellence of A’ishah over other women is like the excellence of
tharid (A dish made of bread and meat broth. It is full of nutrients and easy to digest) over other types of food.’ (Recorded by al-Bukhari, Muslim, and others. The part about Khadijah is only recorded by Ibn Mardawayh (Sahih ul-Jami no. 4578).)
Also, Anas and Jabir reported that the Prophet (pbuh) named her among the best four women of all times:
‘The best of the people’s women are four: Maryam Bint Imran, Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid, Fatimah Bint Muhammad, and Asiyah the wife of Pharaoh.’ (Recorded by Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi, and others. Verified to be authentic by al -Albani (Sahih ul-Jami no. 3328 & 3143).)
The Prophet (pbuh) did not marry before Khadijah, nor did he marry another woman while she was married to him. When she died, he was deeply grieved.
‘A’ishah reported that when Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) mentioned Khadijah, he would not become tired of describing her and praising her, and seeking Allah’s forgiveness for her. One day, overtaken by jealousy, ‘A’ishah commented, “But Allah has given you better than that old woman.” Noticing signs of extreme anger on his face, she regretted her words and thought to herself, “O Allah, if you take away Your Messenger’s anger, I will never again say anything bad about her.” When the Prophet (pbuh) noticed her regret he said:
‘How could you have said that! By Allah, she believed in me when people rejected me, and sheltered me when people expelled me. And I was granted offspring from her, whereas you all (my other wives) were denied offspring from me.’
A’ishah added, “He continued to say this to me, morning and evening, for a full month.” (Recorded by ad-Dulabi in ath-Thurriyat ut-Tahirah. Verified to be hasan by Shu’ayb al-Arna’ut (Siyaru A’lam in-Nubala 2:112).)
In another report, ‘A’ishah said that Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) said:
‘No, Allah did not substitute her for me with anyone who is better. She believed in me when people disbelieved, made me a partner in her wealth when people deprived me, and Allah granted me offspring from her whereas he denied me offspring from other
women.’ (Recorded by Ahmad, and substantiated by the previous report.)
Khadijah ranks high among the Muslim women of all time.
This was a result of her unwavering support of her best of husbands. She believed in him, offered h.m emotional and financial support, and Lured him in times of worry. Allah granted her Jannah for this crucial role that she played in the life of the Prophet (pbuh), and hence, in the life of every Muslim. The Prophet (pbuh)treasured her memory and kept relations with her friends long after her death. Allah granted her the position of being the mother of all the descendants of the Prophet (pbuh). All Muslim women should benefit from the example of Khadijah.
Khadljah died three years before Hijrah, and was buried in al-Hajun (a mountain above Makkah). She was then about sixty-five years old.
Sawdah Bint Zam’ah
Sawdah Bint Zam’ah Bin Qays was from the Quraysh — meeting with the Prophet (pbuh) in ancestry at his eight forefather: Luayy Bin Ghalib. She was previously married to as-Sakran Bin Amr al- Amin, and they both were among the earliest people to embrace Islam. She migrated with him to al-Habashah (Abyssinia), and he died upon their return to Makkah. Later on, the Prophet (pbuh) married her in Makkah during Ramadan on the tenth year of his prophethood, and she was then in her fifties. Immediately after his Hijrah, he brought her to join him in al-Madinah.
Sawdah was the first woman that the Prophet (pbuh) married after Khadijah, and she was then in her mid-fifties. Thus, she became his only wife for more than four years – until he married ‘A’ishah.
Because of her age, Sawdah soon lost interest in men and felt she was unable to fully please the Prophet (pbuh). Thus, when the Prophet (pbuh) married ‘A’ishah, Sawdah gave up her turn with him to her in order to appease him – in case he had any thoughts of divorcing her.
She was a large, noble, and respected woman. She died in al-Madinah in 23 H – near the end of the rule of Umar.
A’ishah Bint Abi Bakr
Aishah’s Marriage
‘A’ishah was the daughter of as-Siddiq (the most-truthful): Abu Bakr ‘Abdullah Bin Abi Quhafah ‘Uthman Bin ‘Amir Bin ‘Amr Bin Ka‘b Bin Sa‘d Bin Taym Bin Murrah. Therefore, she was from one of the noble branches of the Quraysh tribe — meeting with the Prophet (pbuh) in ancestry at his seventh forefather: Murrah Bin Ka‘b. She is the most knowledgeable woman of this Ummah without exception. Her mother was Umm Ruman Bint ‘Amir Bin ‘Uwaymir, from the Kinanah tribe.
‘A’ishah was born in Islam. She said, “I never saw my parents but practicing the Din.” She was about eight years younger than Fatimah.
Her marriage contract was performed between the Prophet (pbuh) and her father about three years before Hijrah. That was the same year that he (pbuh) married Sawdah. She migrated with her parents to al-Madlnah, and the Prophet (pbuh) consummated his marriage with her immediately after the battle of Badr, during the month of Shawwal. She was then about nine years old. She remained with him for about nine years. ‘A’ishah reported:
“Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) married me (i.e. performed the contract) shortly after the death of Khadijah, when I was six years old. I was brought to him (to live with him) when I was nine. Some women came to me when I was playing on a swing, my hair long and reaching my shoulders. They adorned and beautified me, and then took me to him.” (Recorded by Abu Dawud, Verified to be authentic by Shu’ayb al-Arna’ut (Siyaru A’lam in-Nubala 2:228).)
Asma’ Bint Yazid Bin as-Sakan (She was Mu’th Bin Jabal’s cousin: one of the Ansar women who gave her covenant to the Prophet (pbuh) during Bay’at ur-Ridwan. She lived until the time of Yazid Bin Mu’awiyah.) reported that she adorned A’ishah for the Prophet (pbuh) , and then invited him to come and see her.He was given a large cup of milk. He drank some of it and then gave it to her. She shyly lowered her head, and Asma scolded her saying, “Do not reject Allah’s Messenger’s offer.” So she took the cup and drank some. The prophet (pbuh) then told her, “Give your friend.” Asma said, “ O Allah’s Messenger! First take it back and drink from it, then give it to me with your hand.” He took it, drank from it, and then gave it to her. She sat down, put it on her knees, and turned it around until she had her lips on the spot where the Prophet (pbuh) drank (Seeking the blessing from Allah’s Messenger’s (pbuh) touch). Then he pointed to some other women who were with her and said, “Give your friends.” They said, “We have no desire for it.” He said:
‘Do not combine hunger with lying.’
(Recorded by Ahmad. Verified to be hasan by al-Albani (Adah uz-Zifaf p. 92)
By Muhammad Mustafa al-Jibaly
Comments
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.