The Prophetic House Hold

The prophet peace be upon him had either eleven or twelve wives ,of whom nine were alive when he passed away.A short account of each of the mothers of the believers is given below :

1 . Khadeejah bint Khuwaylid :

The prophet peace be upon him married her when he was twenty-five years old.She bore all the prophet’s children except Ibraheem,and was the prophet’s only wife while she lived .She died at the age of 65,in the month of Ramadan,ten years after the prophet peace be upon him began his mission ,and was buried in Hajoor.

2. Saudah bint Zam’ah :

She was previously married to her cousin Sakran bin Amr.The coule ambraced Islam and migrated to Abyssinia.On their return to Makkah ,Sakran died.The prophet peace be upon him married Saudah in the month of Shawwal ,one month after Khadeejah died.She died in Shawwal,54 A.H.

3.Aishah Siddeeqah bint Abu Bakr Siddeeq:

The prophet peace be upon him married her in Shawwal, a year after marrying Saudah .Aishah as the only virgin the prophet peace be upon him married and was regarded as the best loved of all the prophet’s wives.She was the most learned female Muslim jurist in the history. She passed away on Ramadan 17 ,57 A.H and was buried in Baqi .

4. Hafsah bint Umar bin Khattab .

She was married to Khunays bin Hadhafah ,who died from a wound incurred at the battle of Badr.The prophet peace be upon him married her in Sah’ban ,3 A.H after she came out of mourning .She died in Madinah in Sha’ban 45 A.H at age of 60,and was bured in Baqi.

5.Zaynab bint Khuzaymah :

She was the window of Ubaidah bin Harith who was marrtyerd in Battle of Badr .According to some others she was married to Abdullah bin Jahsh ,who was martyred in the Battle of Uhud.The prophet peace be upon him married her in 4 A.H. In the days of Ignorance ,she was known as Ummul Masaakeen ( Mother of the destitute) for her compassion toward the poor .She died in Rabi Al – Akhir , 4 AH eight months after he marriage to the Prophet peace be upon him .The Prophet peace be upon him led her funeral prayer and buried her in Baqi .

6. Umm Salamah ,or Hind bint Abu Umayyah :

She was married to Abu Salamah .She bore several children while married to him ,but he died in Jamad Al Akhir,4 A.H .The prophet peace be upon him married her at the end of Shawaal ,4 A.H .She was a great jurist and one of the wisest women of her time .She died in 59 A.H .At the age of 84 ( other sources date her death in 62A.H ) She was buried in Baqi .

7. Zaynab bint Jahsh bin Riqab :

She was the daughter of the prophet’s aunt Umaymah bint Abdul-Muttalib .She was initially married to Zayd bin Harithah ,but the couple had problems and Zayd divorced her.Zayd had been adopted by the prophet peace be upon him ,and according to ancient Arab customs, it was unlawful for a man to marry the former wife of an adopted son .Allah ordered the prophet peace be upon him to marry Zaynab to show that this ancient Arab custom had been abolished.The marriage took place in Dhul Qa’dah ,5 A.H ( other sources date the marriage in 4 A.H ) .She died in 20 A.H at he age of 53 and was the first to die among the prophet’s surviving wives.Umar led the funeral prayer and she was buried in Baqi.