Ummha tul
Momineen (Mothers of the Believers)
The Prophet is closer to the believers than
their selves, and his wives are (as) their mothers….” (Holy Quran 33:06)
The Muslim Ummah is indeed
so blessed to have proper guidelines as to how to live; how to lead their lives
to attain ultimate success and eternal glory. Both the Holy Qur’an and the
Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) explain how to behave and deal with virtually
every issue in life. When we talk about Islam, we cannot deny the active and
concerned role of Muslim women.
The
noble wives of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), who are well known as Ummha tul Momineen
(Mothers of the Believers), are undoubtedly the greatest source of inspiration
for a Muslim woman in every walk of life. They were the models of modesty and
character and left for all Muslim Women a clear path to follow in order to
tackle the realities of life. Ummha tul Momineen have been specifically
addressed and mentioned at various places in the Holy Qur’an, whether it is
about Hijab or explaining their
superiority over other Muslim Women. Allah Almighty says,
“O wives of the prophet!
You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty (to Allah), then
be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy,
or evil desire for adultery) should be moved with desire, but speak in an
honorable manner. (Holy Qur’an 33:32)
“O prophet! Tell
your wives and your daughters
and the women of the believers to draw their
cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves
completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That
will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so
as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful.” (Holy Qur’an 33:59)
They were indeed the best
women, being the wives of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). They gave us a true
definition of how a Muslim woman should be. The blessed names of Ummha tul
Momineen (Mothers of the Believers) are as follows:
- Hazrat Khadija bint Khawaylid (RA)
- Hazrat Saudah bint Zam’ah (RA)
- Hazrat Ayesha bint Abu Bakr (RA)
- Hazrat Hafsah bint Umar (RA)
- Hazrat Zainab bint Khazeemah (RA)
- Hazrat Umme Salmah bint Abu Umayya (RA)
- Hazrat Zainab bint Jahash(RA)
- Hazrat Juwayria bint Harith(RA)
- Hazrat Safiyyah bint Huyayee (RA)
- Hazrat Umme Habibah Ramlah bint Abi Sufyan(RA)
- Hazrat Maimoonah (bint Harith Al-Hilalah (RA)
·
The
Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H) married Hadrat Khadija (R.A) at the age of
twenty-five, while Khadija herself was forty years old. It is also said that
she had two previous marriages to Abu Halah and Atigh Makhzumi and twice
widowed.
- When His (SAW) mission was at its peak ,He (SAW) had to go for more marriages with following reasons :
- Some marriages were with the view to help the women whose husbands had been killed while they were defending their faith.
- Others were with a view to cement relationships with devoted followers like Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him.
- Others were to build bridges with various tribes who were otherwise at war with the Muslims. When the prophet became their relative through marriage, their hostilities calmed down, and much bloodshed was averted. This means these marriages were totally political
