Download Module 3 – The Family of Prophet Muhammad (s)

Short Course - Module 3 – The Family of Prophet Muhammad (s)
Module 3 – The Family of Prophet Muhammad (s)
Chapter 1 – His Family
Tribe & Sub-tribe
The Prophet (s) belonged to the tribe of Quraish of Makkah. The Quraish
had many tribes that belonged to it.
From the Quraish he belonged to the Bani Hashim tribe and hence the
family of Prophet Muhammad (s) is called the Hashimite family.
His Grand Father
Abdul-Muttalib was the grand father of the Prophet (s) who was also the
leader of his tribe. His Family was in charge of pilgrims’ food and water.
‘Abdul-Muttalib witnessed two important events in his lifetime, namely
digging of Zamzam well and the Elephant raid.
‘Abdul-Muttalib saw in his dream that he was asked to dig Zamzam well in
a particular place. When he stated to dig that place the well of Zamzam
gushed water forth. The Quraish made a claim to partner in the
enterprise, but ‘Abdul-Muttalib refused their demands on grounds that
Allâh had singled only him out for this honourable job.
The Elephant Raid was when Abraha, the Abyssinian (Ethiopian) King
came to Makkah to destroy the Kabah but was prevented by a Miracle
from Allah (swt). (Read Surah Al Feel, Chapter 105)
His Parents:
The Prophet’s (s) father’s name was Abdullah. Abdullah died three or four
months before the Prophet’s Birth.
Abdul-Muttalib chose Amina, as a wife for his son, ‘Abdullah, who became
the Mother of the prophet (s). She also died when he was at the age of 6
years.
Prophet Muhammad (s) was the only child to his parents.
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Short Course - Module 3 – The Family of Prophet Muhammad (s)
Chapter 2 – His Wives
It is well-known that the Prophet (s) was exceptionally authorized by
Allah (swt) to have more than four wives for various reasons which
Inshallah we will discuss in the future Modules.
The Wives of the Prophet (s) are known as Umm al Mu’mineen (Mother of
all the Faithful Believers). They did not have the permission from Allah
(swt) to marry anyone after the death of the Prophet (s).
The Wives of the Prophet (s) in the order he married them are mentioned
below:
1. Khadijah:
In Makkah even before his prophet hood he married Khadijah in the
month of Safar*, who became his first wife. He was twenty-five and she
was forty when they got married. She was the only wife he had till she
died. He had sons and daughters with her.
The first of them was Al-Qaasim, and then they were blessed with AtTayyib, who was otherwise known as At-Taahir. But for some Divine
Wisdom all of them died in their infancy.
Their daughters were Zainab, Ruqaiya, Umm Kulthum and Fatimah.
(*Note: People have wrong assumptions that Marriages cannot take place
in Muharram & Safar, while the best of all his Marriages took place in
Safar)
2. Sawdah:
He married her in Shawwal, in the tenth year of Prophet hood, a few days
after the death of Khadijah. She was a Widow and was also quite old. The
reason being that she immediately took the place of a mother to all the
daughters of the prophet (s) who were still quite young.
3. Aishah:
She was the daughter of the most famous companion Abu Bakr (r.a.).
The Prophet (s) married her in the eleventh year of Prophet hood, a year
after his Marriage to Sawdah. She was very young* when she got married
to the Prophet (s). Allah (swt) showed Aishah in a dream to the
Messenger (s) and commanded him to marry her. She was the only
unmarried girl that the Prophet (s) married in his lifetime, who then
became the most beloved of all humans to him. As a woman she was the
most learned woman in Islam.
(*Note: This will be discussed in a different module)
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Short Course - Module 3 – The Family of Prophet Muhammad (s)
4. Hafsah:
She was the daughter of Umar (r.a) who was one of the closest
companions to the messenger (s).
She was Aiyim (i.e. husbandless). Umar her father wanted the best
person to marry Hafsah and hence approached Abu Bakr first and then
Uthman bin Affan. After their refusal he then informed this to the Prophet
(s). Upon this The prophet (s) said I have a better person for Hafsah than
the these two, Umar was surprised to know that there are men better
that Abu bakr & Uthman, he then inquired who is he and the Prophet (s)
replied himself. Tears rolled down the face of Umar, who than began to
praise Allah (swt).
5. Zainab bint Khuzaimah:
She was the daughter of Khuzaimah from Bani Hilal.
She was nicknamed as Umm Al-Masakeen (The Mother of the Poor)
because of her kindness and care towards them.
After her husband died at the battle of Uhud, she was married to the
Prophet (s) in the Seventeenth year of Prophet hood.
She died two or three months after her marriage to the Messenger of
Allâh (Peace be upon him).
6. Umm Salamah:
She used to be the wife of Abu Salamah, who was one of the companions
of the Prophet (s). She was a very wise lady and has also advised the
Prophet (s) in important issues.
7. Zainab bint Jahsh:
She was the daughter of Jahsh and was the Messenger’s paternal cousin.
She was married to Zaid bin Haritha — who was then considered the son
of the Prophet (s) even though he was adopted.
In Surah Al-Ahzab Chapter 33 Allah revealed verses to abolish adoption of
children in Islam which was practiced during this period.
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Short Course - Module 3 – The Family of Prophet Muhammad (s)
To avoid any confusion with this regards Allah commanded the prophet
(s) to marry the wife of his adopted son in order to show that there is no
adoption in Islam.
Zaid had already divorced her even before the verses were revealed as
both of them had problems in their marriage.
The Prophet (s) married her in the Eighteenth year of Prophet hood.
The proof for this can be found in the Quran:
“So when Zaid had accomplished his desire from her (i.e., divorced her),
We gave her to you in marriage.” [Surah Al-Ahzab, Chapter 33, Verse 37]
8. Juwairiyah:
She was the daughter of the head of Bani Al-Mustaliq a tribe that came
for war with the Muslims. After their defeat, Juwairiyah was among the
booty (captives) that fell to the Muslims. The senior companions
requested the Messenger to take her as a wife. She then accepted the
proposal and became a Muslim. After her marriage the prophet (s) set all
her people free, which led to them accepting Islam. This was a blessing
from Allah to her people.
9. Umm Habibah:
Her name was Ramlah, the daughter of Abu Sufyan and Hind. After
Accepting Islam her Husband refused to convert who died very shortly
after that. The Prophet (s) then married her because she was the
daughter of the leader of Quraish.
10. Safiyah
She was a Jew, the daughter of a king from a Jewish tribe who fell captive
to the Muslims after their defeat.
The Messenger of Allah sent his proposal to her on the condition that she
accepts Islam, which she did and went on to marry the Prophet (s).
11.
Maimunah:
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) married her after the Compensatory
‘Umrah (Lesser Pilgrimage).
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Short Course - Module 3 – The Family of Prophet Muhammad (s)
Chapter 3 – His Daughters
1. Zainab
Zaynab, was the one who bore the greatest resemblance to their mother,
Khadeejah.
She was married to her maternal cousin Abu Al-‘As.
Zainab died during the lifetime of the Prophet (s).
2. Ruqaiya
She was married to ‘Uthman bin ‘Affan before the battle of Badr during
which she fell ill and died due her illness.
3. Umm Kulthum
The Prophet (s) then married her to ‘Uthman bin ‘Affan after the death of
her sister. And hence Uthman is known as Noor ul A’ain (owner of Two
Lights) because he married two daughters of the prophet (s).
Umm Kulthum died during the lifetime of the Prophet (s).
4. Fatimah
Amongst the daughters she resembled the Prophet (s) the most.
She was married to ‘Ali and that was in the period between Badr and
Uhud battles. The sons and daughters that Fatimah and ‘Ali had were AlHasan, Al-Husain, Zainab and Umm Kulthum. (named after her sisters)
Fatima died six months after the death of the Prophet (s).
The saying goes as “who is she the Mother of, who is she the wife of and
who is she the daughter of”, meaning no body in the history of Islam had
better Men around her as sons, husband and Father.
Hint* - Questions will not be asked as to which year the Prophet (s) got married to
a particular wife. It is only for your reference.
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