Army Public School for International Studies

SRM Islamiyat for Class VIII

Week 8, Week 9
Strand 6: Sources of Guidance and Known Muslim Personalities
Topic: Mothers of the Believers or Wives of the Prophet (PBUH)

Wives of the Prophet (PBUH) are known as Mothers of the Believers. They were pious and pure.
Quran says that:

‫ين إ ِ ََّّل‬
َ ِ ‫۟ ٱْلْ َ ْر َحٱم ِبَ ْع ُض ُه ْم أَ ْول َٰى ب ِ َب ْع ٍۢض فِى ك ِ َتـ ٰ ِب ٱهَّللِ ِم َن ٱل ُْم ْؤ ِمن ِي َن َوٱل ُْم َهـٰجِر‬ ‫ٱل َّن ِب ُّى أَ ْول َٰى بِٱل ُْم ْؤ ِمن ِي َن ِم ْن أَن ُف ِسه ِ ْمۖ َوأَ ْز َ ٰو ُجهُۥٓ أ ُ َّم َهـ ٰ ُت ُه ْم َوأُو‬
‫۟لُوٱ‬
‫ٱن ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱ ْل ِك َتـ ٰ ِب َم ْس ُط ًۭورٱ‬ َ َ ‫۟ إلِ َٰٓى أَ ْول َِيٱئِكُم َّم ْعرُ ًۭوفٱۚ ك‬
‫أَن َتف َْعلُوٱ‬
The Prophet is closer to the believers than their own selves, and his wives are
their mothers; and those having mutual kinship are closer to one another (for the
purpose of inheritance) than (other) believers and emigrants according to the
Book of Allah, unless you do some good to your friends (by making a will in their
favour). This had been written in the Book (the Preserved Tablet).

Hazrat Umm e Habibah bint Abi Sufyan (RA)

Her real name was Ramla and she was the daughter of Hazrat Abu Sufyan bin Harb (RA). Her
mother’s name was Safiya bint Al Aas. She faced many difficulties for Islam. She was one of those
who first migrated towards Abyssinia before the migration to Madinah.
Prophet (PBUH) proposed to her in the 6th year of Hijrah. She accepted and married.
She was very fond of the prophet (PBUH) and followed every command of the Prophet (PBUH).
Once the Prophet (PBUH) said anyone who will pray 12 Rakats of Sunnah every day, Allah will
make a house for him in Heaven. She says that she never left the praying of 12 Rakats after that.
She gave more importance to the Prophet (PBUH) than any other as it is the right of every
husband. She mourned 3 days for her father Abu Sufyan (RA) after his death and scented herself
and said that it is the order of the Prophet (PBUH) that it is not allowed to mourn for more than 3
days on a death. The death of a husband is exempted from this because Quran indicates that a
woman will mourn for 4 months and 10 days on her husband’s death. She died in the 44th year of
Hijrah.

Hazrat Juwairiyyah bint Harith (RA)

She was from a family of Mustalaq which belonged to the tribe of Khuza’ah. Her father’s name
was Harith bin Abi Dharar who was the leader of the tribe of Banu Mustalaq. Her real name was
Barrah which was changed by the Prophet (PBUH) to Juwairiyyah.
She was married to the Prophet (PBUH) in the 5th year of Hijrah.
Many people of Banu Mustalaq came as a slave in the battle. She was among them. Prophet
(PBUH) married her which resulted in the conversion of the people of Banu Mustalaq. They were
freed and they left for their homes. Hazrat Ayesha (RA) says that She has never seen anybody so
blessed for their tribe except Hazrat Juwairiyyah (RA). Hundreds of the people of Banu Mustalaq
were freed due to her.
She also narrated some of the sayings of the Prophet (PBUH). She was a true worshipper and
used to worship from the Fajr prayer till the forenoon (1). Once the Prophet (PBUH) came out of
her house for Fajr prayer. When he went back at forenoon she was still worshipping. She used to
fasten a lot.
She died at the age of 70 in the 56th year of Hijrah. She was buried in ‘Jannatul Baqee’

Hazrat Safiyyah bint Hye (RA)

Her real name was Zainab. She belonged to the tribe of Banu Nazeer. Her Father was the leader
of Banu Nazeer whose name was Hye bin Akhtab. She was the granddaughter of the leader of the
tribe of Quraiza. Her mother’s name was Dhard bint Samwal. She was the descendant of Hazrat
Haroon (AS) brother of Hazrat Musa (AS). Prophet (PBUH) married her after the battle of Khyber
in the 7th year of Hijrah. The wedding feast known as ‘Walima’ was held at the place of ‘Sahbaa’
while returning from the Khyber.
She was very high in morality.
Prophet (PBUH) loved her a lot. Once a wife of the Prophet (PBUH) said something harsh to her,
Prophet (PBUH) got the news and expressed displeasure. Once the wives of the Prophet (PBUH)
were being proud of their relationship with the Prophet (PBUH). She informed the Prophet (PBUH
about that to which he replied why don’t you say them that Haroon (AS) is my father (forefather)
Musa (AS) is my uncle (Hazrat Haroon’s brother) and Prophet (PBUH) is my husband, how can
you all be better than me (in the relationship). She was very generous. When she came as a wife
of the Prophet (PBUH), she gave Hazrat Fatima (RA) and all the wives of the Prophet (PBUH) her
earrings made of gold. She was an excellent cook. She used to cook and share it with the Prophet
(PBUH). She loved the Prophet (PBUH) very much which can be determined from the event of the
death of the Prophet (PBUH). He was ill on his deathbed when she said that “I wish I had your
illness”. Other wives of the Prophet (PBUH) started to look at her. Prophet (PBUH) then said that
“She is telling the truth (She is not making up)”
She died in the 50th year of Hijrah. She narrated the sayings of the Prophet (PBUH).

Hazrat Maimoonah bint Harith (RA)

Her name was Barrah which was changed by the Prophet (PBUH). Her father’s name was Harith
bin Hazn and her mother’s name was Hind bint Auf. She was married to the Prophet (PBUH) in
the 7th year of Hijrah. She belonged to the tribe of Quraish. Her mother was from the tribe of
Hameer in Yemen. She was born in Makkah 30 years before the migration of the Prophet (PBUH)
towards Madinah.
One of her sisters was married to Hazrat Abbas (RA). Prophet (PBUH) married Hazrat Maimoonah
on the advice of his uncle Hazrat Abbas (RA).
She narrated 46 Hadiths of the Prophet (PBUH). She was an expert jurist. Hazrat Ayesha (RA)
says that she was a God-fearing woman and focused on having good ties with her relatives and
neighbours. She followed the commandments of the Prophet (PBUH). She had a passion for
freeing slaves. Once she freed a slave on which Prophet (PBUH) said that “May Allah reward
you”.
She became very ill before her death. She said that “Take me out of Makkah because the Prophet
(PBUH) said that I will not die in Makkah”. She was taken towards the tree in the place known as

1 Forenoon is known as ‘‫ ’چاشت‬in Urdu. It ends right before the beginning time of Zuhr when Sun stops rising and is
right on top of our heads. When it starts to decline, the time of Zuhr prayer starts.
Sarf where the Prophet (PBUH) and she met after their marriage. She died under that tree at the
age of 80 in the 51st year of Hijrah. Her funeral prayer was led by Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA).
She was buried at the same place she died on her advice.

Hazrat Maria Qibtia (RA)

Her name was Maria and her surname was Umm Ibraheem. Qibtia was her tribe. Prophet (PBUH)
loved her and used to look after her a lot. Prophet (PBUH) once said that “Have good affairs with
the people of Qibtia (Egypt) due to the relationship of Hazrat Ismail’s (AS) mother Hazrat Hajra
and my son Ibraheem’s (RA) mother Hazrat Maria (RA) with the same tribe. She was very pious.
All Children of the Prophet (PBUH) were from Hazrat Khadija (RA) except Hazrat Ibraheem (RA).
He was from Hazrat Maria Qibtia (RA). Hazrat Ibraheem died after 18 months after his birth.
Prophet (PBUH) was very saddened by his death.
Hazrat Maria (RA) died in the 16th year of Hijrah. Hazrat Umar got the news and arranged the
funeral of her by himself.
The lives of the wives of the Prophet (PBUH) are the ultimate guidance for Muslims. We should
abide by their teachings