Mothers of the Faithful Believers

Do you remember the names of your spiritual mothers: the wives of our Last Prophet (PBUH)? I don’t. And I know that most of the Muslims do not. In fact these are the women whom we love and respect many times more than our real mothers. I feel it is imperative for our love for the Last Prophet (PBUH) that we must remember the names of his spouses. Here is the list of the Mothers of the Faithfuls, with their very brief introduction. I hope it will help you and me to remember the names of these pious ladies.

1. Khadija bint Khuwaylid (RA)

She was the first wife of the Last Prophet (PBUH). Her companionship with the Last Prophet (PBUH) remained 25 years, until her death. The Last Prophet (PBUH) did not marry any other woman during her life. She bore two sons and four daughters of the Prophet (PBUH). The sons died in their childhood. The daughters are:

o Hazrat Zeinab (RA);

o Hazrat Ruqayya (RA);

o Hazrat Umm-e-Kulsoom (RA); and

o Hazrat Fatima (RA)

2. Sawda bint Zam’a (RA)

She was the second wife of the Prophet (PBUH). He married her when he was about fifty. Hazrat Sawda was approximately of the same age as the Prophet (PBUH).

3. Ayesha bint Abu Bakr (RA)

She was the daughter of the first Caliph, Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA). The Prophet married her when she was sixteen. I’ll quote two ahadith to indicate the opinion of the Prophet about her:

Amro bin Al-Aas (RA) stated that the Holy Prophet appointed him the commander in Ghazwa-e-Zaat al-Salaasil. When he returned after triumph, he asked him (the Holy Prophet (PBUH)) that who was dearest to him among the people. He answered that Ayesha (was dearest to me). Amro bin Al-Aas explained that his question was about the men. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) answered that Ayesha’s father (was dearest to me). (Tirmazi) The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: Among the men, there happened to be many complete (in religion: kaamil), but among women none was complete (in religion) except Maryam bint Imran and Asiya, the wife of Pharaoh. And the superiority of Ayesha upon other women is like that of sareed upon other meals. (Bukhari, Muslim, Nisai)

4. Hafsa bint Umer (RA)

She was the daughter of the second Caliph, Hazrat Umer (RA). She was the custodian of the mushaf, in which the Holy Prophet (PBUH) used to arrange Quran.

5. Zeinab bint Khuzeima (RA)

She was the widow of the Prophet’s cousin, who was martyred in Ghazwa-e-Uhd.

6. Umm-e-Salma bint Abi Umayya (RA)

Her name was Hind, and Umm-e-Salma was her Kunyat. She was also the widow of the Prophet’s cousin, who was martyred in Ghazwa-e-Uhd. She was a very wise and intelligent woman.

7. Zeinab bint Jahsh (RA)

She was Holy Prophet’s cousin. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) first married her to his adopted son Hazrat Zeid (RA). The relationship did not prove to be successful. He divorced her. God ordered the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to marry her, to reform the tradition of considering wife of adopted son to be Haraam for marriage.

8. Umm-e-Habiba bint Abu Sufyan (RA)

Her name was Ramla and Umm-e-Habiba was her Kuniyat. She was the daughter of Hazrat Abu Sufyan (RA), who was the Chief of Qureish. She was the sister of Amir-ul-Mu’mineen Hazrat Mu’aawia (RA). She was married to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) when she was in Abbysinia, after Hijrat.

9. Juweiria bint al-Haris (RA)

She was the daughter of the chief of Banu Mustaliq clan.

10.Safiyya bint Hayayy (RA)

She was an Israelite. She belonged to a Jewish clan of Arabia: Banu Nuzeir. She was from the progeny of Hazrat Haroon (PBUH). Before her marriage with the Holy Prophet (PBUH), she herself was a Jewess.

11.Meimuna bint al-Haris (RA)

It is said about her that she is the only woman who dedicated her soul to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) according to the directives of Surah Ahzaab, and he opted to wed her.

12.Maria Qibtia (RA)

She was not the wife of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), rather she was his slave girl. The King of Egypt presented her to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) as a gift. She embraced Islam in her way to Medina from Egypt. She bore a son of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), Ibraheem, who died at the age of one and a half year. God Himself permitted slave girls in that environment and society due to some valid problems and needs. God allowed such a relationship with a slave girl for the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in Surah Ahzaab:

O Prophet! We have made lawful to you your wives to whom you have paid their dowers; and those whom your right hand possesses out of the prisoners of war whom God has assigned to you; and daughters of your paternal uncles and aunts, and daughters of your maternal uncles and aunts, who migrated with you; and any believing woman who dedicates her soul to the Prophet if the Prophet wishes to wed her;---this only for you, and not for the Believers (at large); We know what We have appointed for them as to their wives and the captives whom their right hands possess;---in order that there should be no difficulty for you. And God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. You may defer (the turn of) any of them that you please, and you may receive any you please: and there is no blame on you if you invite one whose (turn) you had set aside. This were near to the cooling of their eyes, the prevention of their grief, and their satisfaction---that of all of them---with that which you have to give them: and God knows (all) that is in your hearts: and God is All-Knowing, Most Forbearing. It is not lawful for you (to marry more) women after this, nor to change them for (other) wives, even though their beauty attracts you, except any your right hand should possess (as handmaidens): and God does watch over all things. (50-52)

To learn the names of these pious ladies by heart, it would be helpful if you place the list of their names where you could glance frequently. Please click here to download the list of their names in Microsoft Word format, so that you could get it printed.

Saturday April 14, 2007 - 12:29pm
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