Prophet Muhammad married 12 women in his life, who are referred to as ‘Mothers of the Believers' (Umm al-Mu’min), as a sign of honor and respect.
All his marriages were accomplished for different political, or social reasons, and perhaps as a matter of the heart. Kadija was his first wife.
Wives of the prophet were either divorcees, captives of the war, or widows, except Aisha and Maymunah. Prophet's opponents often accuse him of being lustful, however, Laura Veccia Veglieri, puts it in her book, 'An Interpretation Of Islam', that had he been a sensual personality who was popular amongst the masses, he would not have married widows and captives at a time when women's piousness was a prerequisite for a marriage. Moreover, widows and divorced women were not allowed to remarry in Arabia at the time.
Furthermore, Laura adds that Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) wives were neither all beautiful, nor young, except two and he was always fair to each of his wives. Read on to know more about Prophet's wives and why the information is valued a lot in the Muslim religion.
Aisha bint Abu Bakrwas a woman who was married to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and she was one of her favorite wives.
Zaynab bint Jahshwas the paternal cousin of the apostle whom he married.
Ibrahimwas the youngest child of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and Maria al-Qibtiyya.
Zaynab bint Khuzaymawas another of Muhammad’s (SAW) spouses whose husband got killed in the battle of Badr.
Zainabwas the first daughter of prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Khadijah, his first wife. She was married to Abu al-As bin al-Rabi, her maternal cousin.
Rayhana bint Zaydwas a Jewish lady who came from the Banu Nadir tribe and later married prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Maria al-Qibtiyyawas presented as a gift to Muhammad (SAW) by a delegate from Byzantine, who was later married to the prophet.
Juwairiya bint al-Harithwas a captive whom Muhammad (SAW) married and then about a hundred captive families were freed.
Sawdah bint Zama’h,the second wife of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), was another widow who remarried the prophet.
Aisha bint Abu Bakrwas the daughter of the messenger’s intimate friend, Abu Bakr, and the dearest wife of Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). Muhammad-Aisha shared a good relationship. She is regarded as one of the favorite wives of the prophet.
Juwairiya bint al-Harithwas a noblewoman who was enslaved in a skirmish but was later proposed for marriage to the prophet.
Hafsah bint Umarwas widowed when her husband was martyred in the battle of Badr and later Muhammad (SAW) married her.
Khadija bint Khuwaylidwas the first wife of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who was a widow when both married.
Ramla bint Abi Sufyan (Umm Habiba)was asked for her hand in marriage by Muhammad through ‘Amr bin Omaiyah Ad-Damri who was sent to King Negus.
Maymuna bint al-Harithproposed Muhammad (SAW) when he visited Mecca for the Treaty of Hudaybiyah. The proposal was accepted and both married. One of the last wives of the prophet.
Umm Salama (Hind bint Suhayl)was a devout Muslim woman who had married Khalid ibn al-Waleed before she was married to the prophet.
Safiyya bint Huyayy Ibn Khattabhailed from a Jewish clan of Banu Nadir. When prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) married her, she was a divorcee.
Sawda bint Zama’hwas the woman whom the prophet married before leaving for Medina. She had five or six children from his previous marriage with As-Sakran ibn ‘Amr.
Abdullahibn Muhammad was a son of Muhammad (SAW) and Khadija, who was given the name of his grandfather. Just like his son al-Qasim, Abdullah too shut his eyes to the world in childhood only.
Khadijah bint Khuwaylidwas the first and dearest wife of prophet Muhammad (SAW). She was a rich merchant and a widow, who proposed to the prophet for marriage at the age of 40 while he was 25. She was the mother of six children with Muhammad, two sons, and four daughters. She died in 619 CE. The most well-known Muhammad spouse. She stayed with Muhammad for 25 years.
Al-Qasimwas the first child of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and Khadijah. He did not live beyond three years of age. Al-Qasim is buried in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
Umm Salama (Hind bint Suhayl) was a widow of Abu Salamah and a pious Muslim. Noticing her plight and she was reaching old age as well, she was proposed to by many but was finally married to prophet Muhammad (SAW).
Maria al-Qibtiyyawas a Coptic Christian from Egypt who married the prophet and had a son Ibrahim, who expired in infancy.
Ruqayyahwas born after Zaynab and was a daughter of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and Khadijah. She was married to the third caliph of Islam, Uthman.
Rayhana bint Zaydwas a Jewish woman whom the prophet married for the purpose of reconciliation between tribes.
Fatimahis the youngest and most beloved daughter of Prophet Muhammad and Khadija who was married to Ali ibn Abi Talib, who became the 4th caliph later.
Safiyya bint Huyayy Ibn Al Khattabwas a woman of high status who hailed from a famous Jewish tribe. Muhammad (SAW) proposed to marry Safiyya with the aim of establishing peace between the two clans.
Hafsa bint Umarwas another widow whom the prophet married. She was the fourth wife of the prophet whose ex-husband had died in the battle of Badr.
Khadija bint Khuwaylidwas a widow and a rich merchant for who Muhammad (PBUH) worked as a caravan manager. His skills left the woman impressed and she proposed to him through her friend. Muhammad (SAW) was 25 at the time of the proposal and Khadijah was 40 years old. Nonetheless, both accepted each other and she became one of the dearest wives of the prophet.
Ramla bint Abi Sufyan (Umm Habiba)was another widow whom Prophet Muhammad (SAW) married after he came to know about her husband’s demise.
Aisha bint Abu Bakrwas a beloved and favorite wife of Muhammad (PBUH). She was the daughter of Abu Bakr. Her age at the time of marriage to the prophet stands as a disputed matter. Nonetheless, the prophet's head was in Aisha's lap when he closed his eye on this word, as she relates.
Maymuna bint al-Harith’soriginal name was Barra but the prophet called her Maymuna when he married her.
Umm Kulthumwas the third daughter of Muhammad (SAW) and Khadijah, who was born in Mecca. She became Muslim immediately after her mother Khadija.
Zaynab bint Jahshwas the paternal cousin of Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) who was married to Zayd, the prophet’s adopted son. The marriage soon fell out and she was finally married to the apostle.
