"UMMAHAA-TUL-MU'MINEEN"  

Q 1: What does "Ummahaa-tul-Mu'meneen" mean?  

1. "Ummahaa-tul-Mu'meneen" is appellation of the respected wives of the Holy Prophet. Each  of them is called "Ummul Mu'meneen" meaning the mother of the faithfuls. The wisdom in  calling them "mothers of the faithfuls" is to distinguish."Mu'min" (believer) from others. Mu'min  is he who holds them in high esteem as mother. A Mu'min's fulfillment of filial duty toward  Ummahaa-tul-Mu'meneen is, in fact, love and veneration for the Holy Prophet and perfection in  Eimaan. Mischievous ones can not attain to this honour.  

Q 2: What are the specific excellences of Ummahaa-tul-Mu'meneen?  

1. Their first excellence is that Allah Almighty Himself has described those pure and venerated  souls as the "wives of the Holy Prophet" which vindicates that their being wives of the Holy  Prophet is with the consent of Allah Almighty. This is, indeed, a great excellence of theirs, for no  other couple can claim about the position of their marriage in the Divine Court. Their second  excellence is that Allah Almighty said about them in the Holy Quran: "Las-tunna ka-Ahadim  Minan Nisaaa" (O' the wives of the Prophet! you are not like other women). The word "An 

Nisaa" encompasses the whole fair sex excluding no woman which is indicative of the fact that  the respected wives of the Holy Prophet are superior to all women on the earth. No woman has  any resemblance to them at all. They have been rewarded far greater than all women of the world  for enjoying the companionship of and affinity with the Holy Prophet.  

The third excellence is that Allah Almighty described their houses as "Mahbit" (the place of the  descent of Divine revelations) and cradle of the Divine knowledge and wisdom. And it is a well known fact that a house is esteemed because of its inmates. Their fourth excellence is that Allah  Almighty descended "Ayatul Tat-heer" (the verse of purification) in their honour. The Holy  Quran said: "Innamaa Yureedul Laahu Li-yuzhiba 'Ankumur Rijsa Ahlal Baieti wa yu-Tah hirakum Tat-heeraa" (O' the family members of the Prophet! Allah desires to cleanse you of  every impurity and to make you all clean by purifying you well). The wives of the Holy Prophet  are focally addressed in the Quranic verses preceded this verse. That's why the word "Ahlal  Baiet" (family of the Holy Prophet) is an address to them as is "Booyu-tikunna" (an address to  them). It is a well-known fact that the word "Sahib-e-Khaanah" or "Ghar-waalee" is always used  for housewife. "Ahlal Bait" is an Arabic translation of "Ghar-waalee" (house-wife) and when the  meaning of this word is enlarged then the word "Gharwaalay" (families) comes into being. A  family consists of parents and children. Without housewife it will be a misnomer. Well, the creed  of the "Ulama" of Ahle Sunnat is that the word "Ahlal Bait" embraces all respected wives of the  Holy Prophet, "Khaatoon-e-Jannat" Hadrat Fatimah, Hadrat Ali, Imaam Hasan and Imaam  Husain (may Allah be pleased with them all) which is based on and proved by the Quranic verses  and Ahaadees.  

Their fifth excellence is that in a Quranic verse "Wamaa-kaana Lakum Un Tu'zoo Rasoolal  Laah" (it does not behove you to annoy the Messenger of Allah) believers have been warned  against hurting the Holy Prophet and then the rights of wives of the Holy Prophet have been  specifically explained therein. Thus it is clear that the worst vexation of the Holy Prophet is to  adopt an unbecoming attitude for any of his wives. 

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A Hadees says that once Ummul Mu'meneen Zainub bint Jahash called Ummul Mu'meneen  Safiah jew. No doubt her lineage belonged to Yahood bin Yaqoob but her tone was scornful. On  this, the Holy Prophet stayed away for some days from Ummul Mu'mineen Zainub. She was  pardoned only when she repented. In short, insolence to any of Umma-haa-tul Mu'meneen is, in  fact, impudence and insolence to the Holy Prophet and Allah and tantamount to depriving  oneself of Islaam and Eimaan. Their numerous other excellences are also proved by Quran-o 

Hadees which are not dilated upon for brevity.  

Q 3: What is the total number of Umma-haatul Mu'meneen?  

1. There were eleven Umma-haatul Mu'meneen whose names are:  

1). Hadrat Khudaija-tul Kubra bint Khuvaielad.  

2). Hadrat Sauda bint Zam'ah.  

3). Hadrat Aiesha bint Siddique Akbar.  

4). Hadrat Hafsah bint Farooque 'Azam.  

5). Hadrat Zainub bint Khuzaima.  

6). Hadrat Umme Salman bint Abi Umaieyah.  

7). Hadrat Zainub bint Jahash.  

8). Hadrat Juwaireeyah bint Al-Haaris.  

9). Hadrat Umme Habeebah bint Abu Sufyaan.  

10).Hadrat Safiah bint Huyyai.  

11).Hadrat Maimoonah bint Al-Haaris.  

(May Allah be pleased with them all).  

Some of these Umma-haatul Mu'meneen are also closer to the Holy Prophet on account of their  family ancestral ties with him.  

Q4: Please also tell us about Hadrat Aiesha Siddiqa briefly?  

1. Ummul Mu'meneen Hadrat Aiesha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with her) was a daughter of  the first Caliph Saiey-yidinaa Abu Bakr Siddique Akbar (may Allah be pleased with him). Her  mother's name was Umme Roomaan Zainub who also belonged to the Holy Prophet's  genealogical line through "Kanaanah" (an ancestor of the Holy Prophet). She was wedded to the  Holy Prophet in holy Makkah in Shawwal of the 10th year of the Prophet's mission and was sent  to him in Shawwal, 2 Hegira in holy Madinah. She was the only lady amongst all Umma-haatul  Mu'meneen who was born and brought up in the lap of Islam and that she was virgin at the time  of marriage unlike other wives of the Holy Prophet who were either widow(s) or divorcee(s).  The Holy Prophet had described his "Nikaah" to her as "Minjaanib Allah" (from Allah  Almighty). A narrative reported by Hadrat Abu Musa Ash'aree (in Sahih Bukhari) says: "once  the Holy Prophet said that many people amongst men attained to perfection but amongst women  only Mariyam bint Imraan and Aasia wife of Fir'aoon (Pharaoh) attained to perfection and  Aiesha has superiority over all women as is "Sureed" (bread crumbled and mixed with soup)  superior to all dishes. ["Sureed" was a favourite dish of the Holy Prophet which he savoured with  a great relish]. Hadrat Ummul Mu'mineen Umme Salmah has related the Holy Prophet said: "I  receive "Vahee" (Divine revelation) even when I am in Aiesha's quilt. But it never happened in  other wives' beds".  

Therefore, the Holy Prophet asked Saiey-yidah Fatimatuz Zahra: "O' my dear daughter! Don't  you love the one whom I love? Yes I do, she replied. The Holy Prophet said: then you should  also love Aiesha. A Hadees which has been reported in Bukhari and Muslim also vindicates her  greatness that once the Holy Prophet addressed Hadrat Aiesha Siddiqa and said: This is Gibreil 

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who says you Salaam. She responded: may Allah's peace and mercy be also upon him. The flag  used in the battle of Badr under which the Angels served the cause of Islaam fighting alongwith  the believers against infidels and the believers were blessed with the first ever glorious victory,  was made of the covering-sheet of Hadrat Aiesha Siddiqa. This also proves her excellence.  During the early days of battle of "Jamal", Hadrat 'Ammaar bin Yaasir (may Allah be pleased  with him) said before the supporters of Moula 'Ali in Kufah mosque that "I know that Hadrat  Aiesha is the wife of the Holy Prophet in this world and the world hereafter".  

In a "Ghazvah" (war against infidels in which the Holy Prophet himself participated) her  conveyance (the animal which carried her) lagged behind and reached the camp late.  "Munaafiqeen" (hypocrites) who were allout to denigrate the Holy Prophet and undermine  Islaam exploited her late arrival and spoke ill of her. Unfortunately a few Muslims also got  entrapped in their obnoxious propaganda. Such awkward situation definitely strains and tries the  fair sex. But her steadfastness in Islamic faith and purified nature helped her to be poise. She  herself said: I was sure that the Holy Prophet would be divinely told about my chastity and  virtue. But had no inkling that Allah Almighty would send down "Vahee" (revelation) on the  Holy Prophet in my favour. The religious scholars say that Hadrat Yousuf (Joseph) was cleared  of a calumny by the affirmation of an infant and Hadrat Mariyam (Mary) by Hadrat Issa(Jesus)  but when Hadrat Aiesha Siddiqa was calumniated, Allah Almighty Himself affirmed her chastity  and virtue by sending down seventeen Quranic verses. He would have made each tree and stone  under the Sun testify her chastity, if willed. But He did not like it and chose to certify the chastity  of the beloved of His beloved Himself thereby to further enhance her respect and excellence.  After the descent of Quranic verses the Holy Prophet announced her triumph (over hypocrites)  and innocence, described her "Taieybah" (chaste.pure) and also gave her the glad tidings of  forgiveness and honourable provision. In short, the earth and heavens were resounded with the  Divine proclamation of her chastity and virtue and the Quranic verses sent down in her favour  will continue to be recited in prayers and in arches (of the mosques) till the Doomsday. What  treasures of Islamic knowledge she passed on to the Muslim Ummah and what endeavours she  made in disseminating the Holy Prophet's teachings is so great an excellence that no other wife  of the Holy Prophet could get it.  

She related 2,210 Ahaadees besides the solutions to complicated, delicate and sensitive issues  and other Islamic services.  

Hadrat Aiesha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with her) passed away at the age of 63 on 17th  Ramadaan, 57 A.H. in holy Madinah and was buried in Jannatul Baqee'.  

Q 5: Please also sum up about other Umma-haatul Mu'meneen?  

1. The blessed lives of other Umma-haatul Mu'meneen are summarised as under:  
2. Ummul Mu'meneen Sauda (may Allah be pleased with her): Her father's name was Zam'ah bin  Qaieys. His maternal relatives were the maternal relatives of the Holy Prophet's grand father,  Abdul Muttalib. She herself embraced Islaam first and then persuaded her husband, Sakraan bin  Umro bin 'Abdood, who also embraced Islaam. He died in Abyssinia (Ethiopia). After his death,  the Holy Prophet married with Hadrat Sauda. She was then 50. She served the Holy Prophet for  14 years and passed away at the age of 72 in holy Madinah during the Caliphate of Hadrat  Farooque 'Azam (may Allah be pleased with him). Five Ahaadees are related by her. 

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Her and her family's (relatives') embracing of Islaam in its early days and migration to Abyssinia  for the sake of Islaam won her to be wife of the Holy Prophet.  

4. Ummul Mu'mineen Hafsah (may Allah be pleased with her): She was a daughter of Hadrat  Umar Farooque (may Allah be pleased with him). Her husband Khunais migrated to Abyssinia  for the sake of Islaam and then to holy Madinah. He took part in the battles of Badr and Uhd. He  was seriously injured in Uhd battle and later passed away in Madinah.  

After his martyrdom, the Holy Prophet married with Hadrat Hafsah. A Hadees says that Arch Angel Gibreil applauded her thus: "Fa-Innamaa Qawwaamatun Sawwaamatun wa Innahaa  Zaujatuka Fil-Jannah" (she devoutly worships [offers prayers], observes fasts and is your  [Prophet's] wife in paradise). She was 22 at the time of her marriage with the Holy Prophet and  passed away at the age of 59 in 41 A.H. in holy Madinah. She served the Holy Prophet for nine  years. She related sixty Ahaadees.  

5. Ummul Mu'mineen Zainub bint Khuzaima (may Allah be pleased with her): During the days  of ignorance (pre-Islamic days) her appellation was "Ummul Masaakeen" (mother of  indigent,poor). First time she was married to Tufail, second time to TJbedah and third time to  Abdul Laah bin Jahash who was brother of Ummul Mu'mineen Zainub bint Jahash. Abdul Laah  was martyred in the battle of Uhd. After his martyrdom, the Holy Prophet married with Hadrat  Zainub. She passed away after about three months of marriage.  
6. Ummul Mu'mineen Umme Salmah (may Allah be pleased with her): Her father's name was  Abu Umaieyah. She migrated to Abyssinia with her husband Abu Salmah who was also foster  brother of the Holy Prophet and then went back to holy Makkah. On migration of the Holy  Prophet to holy Madinah, they set out to migrate there but her in-laws stopped her husband. She  kept writhing and weeping for a year. At last, her stone-hearted in-laws allowed her with her  child (Salmah) to migrate and thus she reached holy Madinah.  

Being filled with compassion for her owing to her being widow of his foster brother and having  small children, the Holy Prophet married with her. She served the Holy Prophet for seven years.  She passed away at the age of 84. 378 Ahaadees are related by her.  

7. Ummul Mu'mineen Zainub bint Jahash (may Allah be pleased with her): Her mother  Umaimah bint Abdul Muttalib was the real paternal auntie of the Holy Prophet. She was first  married to Zaid bin Haarisah. Zaid who was "Najeebut Tarafaien" (having noble parents) was  kidnapped by a gang of kidnappers in his teens who later sold him as a slave. Hakeem bin  Hizaam purchased him for Hadrat Khudaijatul Kubra who detailed him to serve the Holy  Prophet. The Holy Prophet treated him so nicely and loved him so much that people began to call  him "Zaid bin Muhammad". Zainub bint Jahash could not get on with her husband - hence the  divorce.  

Later, the Holy Prophet married with her, in deference to the Quranic injunction eliminating the  dark custom which forbade a man to marry a divorcee or widow of the adopted son like that of  real son. She passed away at the age of 52 in 20 A.H. She served the Holy Prophet for six years.  

8. Ummul Mu'mineen Juwaireeyah (may Allah be pleased with her): She was taken prisoner in a  "Ghazvah". The Holy Prophet ransomed her and then married with her. When the companions  and believers came to know about this marriage, they immediately released all prisoners of her 

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tribe (Banu Mustaliq) who were over one hundred, for, they had now been relatives of the Holy  Prophet. She passed away at the age of 65 in Rabi-ul-Awwal, 56 A.H. Seven Ahaadees are  related by her.  

9. Ummul Mu'mineen Umme Habeebah (may Allah be pleased with her): She was the daughter  of Abu Sufyaan bin Umaieyah who (Abu Sufyaan) had embraced Islaam a few days before the  conquer of holy Makkah. She was one of those who embraced Islaam in its early days. She had  to abandon her parents, family, tribe and homeland for the sake of Islaam, but she held fast to  Islaam. When the Holy Prophet came to know about her sacrifices for Islaam, he wrote to the  monarch of Abyssinia as she was still there, to send his (Prophet's) proposal of marriage to her.  Being overwhelmed with joy, she gave all her jewellery (wearing then) as a gift to the slave-girl  who conveyed the proposal.  

The monarch of Abyssinia, Najaashi (Negus) himself held "Nikaah" ceremony in the presence of  the attornies of the Holy Prophet. After that, she came to the Holy Prophet in holy Madinah. She  passed away at the age of 74 in 44 A.H. in holy Madinah. She related 65 Ahaadees.  

10. Ummul Mu'mineen Safiah (may Allah be pleased with her): She belonged to the descendants  of Prophet Haroon (peace be upon him) and Israelites. Her (second) husband was killed in the  battle of Khaibar and she was taken prisoner. Since she was a respected lady of the tribes of  Quraizah and Nuzair (Nudair) that's why the Holy Prophet freed her and then married with her  on the advice of his companions.  

She served the Holy Prophet for about four years. She passed away in Ramadaan, 50 A.H. Ten  Ahaadees are related by her.  

11. Ummul Mu'mineen Maimoonah (may Allah be pleased with her): When the Holy Prophet  performed Umrah in 7 A.H., Hadrat Maimoonah was a widow then. Paternal uncle of the Holy  Prophet, Hadrat Abbaas told the Holy Prophet about her. He married with her. She served the  Holy Prophet for nearly 3 1/4 years. She passed away at the age of 80 in 51 A. H. in the same  house where she was married. She was one of the last wives of the Holy Prophet.