He received his first revelation from Allah when he was 40 years old and spent the rest of his life preaching the message of God. He built and led the largest community of Muslims and unified the majority of the Arabian Peninsula under Islam. In addition to being a community leader and statesman, prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was also known for being a family man.

Prophet Muhammad‘s Family

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was born in 570 CE to Abd Allah bin Al-Muttalib and Amina bint Wahb. He was their first and only son. His family was one of Makkah’s most prominent families and belonged to the Quraysh tribe’s Banu Hashim clan. His father passed away shortly before his birth and he was raised by his mother, who entrusted her son to a wet nurse called Halima bint Abi Dhuayb and her husband, who belonged to the nomadic tribe of Sa’d ibn Bakr. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) lived with his foster mother until the age of 2.

Muhammad lost his mother when he was 6 years old, after which he was passed into the care of Abd al-Muttalib, his paternal grandfather. Then, his grandfather died when the Prophet was 8 years old. And, he was raised by Abu Talib, his paternal uncle and the new leader of the Banu Hashim clan.

Prophet Muhammad’s Wives

Prophet Muhammad‘s family included 13 wives, who are referred to as the ‘Mothers of the Believers‘. He was monogamous with his first wife named Khadija bint Khuwaylid for 25 years until her death. The names and details about each of the wives of Prophet Muhammad are as follows:

1. Khadija bint Khuwaylid: She was a rich merchant and widow who employed Muhammad as a trader. She was 15 years older than him. And, they had a happy monogamous marriage for 25 years. She and the Prophet had six children including four daughters and two sons, both of whom died in infancy.
2. Sawdah bint Zam’ah: She was said to have been around 55 when Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) married her. She was a widow and the prophet married her with the intention of rescuing her from a difficult life. Their marriage was more friendly than romantic.
3. Aishah bint Abu Bakr: She was Abu Bakr’s daughter who was a companion of Prophet Muhammad. She married the prophet when she was very young. Later in life, she became a teacher and narrator of the prophet’s pronouncements, Hadith and traditions.
4. Zaynab bint Jahsh: She was Prophet Muhammad’s cousin who was a skilled leatherworker. She got married to the prophet after her first husband died in 622.
5. Hafsah bint ‘Umar: She was a widow as well. Her husband was killed while she was helping the wounded on the battlefield.
6. Zainab bint Khuzaimah: She was an elderly widow of a fallen Muslim who was known for his kindness and generosity towards the poor. She died just eight months after getting married to Muhammad.
7. Umm Salamah: She was a widow and had immigrated to both Madinah and Abyssinia. Her first husband died leaving behind four young orphans, after which the prophet married her. 
8. Maria al-Qibtiyya: Maria was gifted to Muhammad as a slave in 628 and gave birth to Ibrahim, one of Muhammad’s three sons.
9. Juwayriah bint Al-Harith: Her husband was killed in battle and she was captured by Muslim forces. She was freed by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) when he married her.
10. Umm Habibah: She and her first husband were early converts to Islam. She divorced her husband when he reverted to Christianity and later married Muhammad.
11. Maimunah bint al-Harith: She lived with Muhammad for three years after marrying him in 629. He died just after three years of marriage.
12. Safiyyah bint Huyayy: She was the daughter of a Jewish chieftain and was captured after her first husband was killed by Muslims in battle. Soon she converted to Islam and married Muhammad. 
13. Raihanah bint Jahsh: She belonged to a Jewish tribe that was conquered by Muslim forces and was enslaved. She married Muhammad after she was freed by him.

Prophet Muhammad’s Children

The family of Prophet Muhammad also include his seven children. All of them except for one were from his first wife, Khadija. His children included three sons – Abdullah, Qasim and Ibrahim, all of whom died in early childhood. He also had four daughters, namely:

1. Hadhrat Zainab: She was Muhammad’s eldest daughter from Khadija. She converted to Islam as soon as Muhammad revealed himself as the Prophet. 
2. Ruqaiyyah: She became a Muslim at the same time as her mother.
3. Umm Kulthum: She was Muhammad and Khadija’s first daughter born after they moved to Makkah. Shortly after her mother died, she converted to Islam. 
4. Fatimah: She was Muhammad’s youngest daughter and the mother of his grandsons, Husayn and Hassan. She spent most of her time praying and is considered a role model for all Muslims.

Prophet Muhammad’s family tree has many interpretations and different sources. Usually there are disputes regarding his ancestors. However, the following family tree gives quite a clear picture of his descendants.

Near Masjid An Nabawi, more than tens of thousands of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) companions and family members are buried. The graveyard carries an immense significance as it has graves of the Prophet’s wives, daughters and relatives. It is believed that one who is blessed by Allah is buried in the Baqi; hence, most of the family members of the Prophet are close to Allah.

Suggested Read: Jannatul Baqi: The Cemetery Where The Prophet’s Near Ones Rest

To learn about Prophet Muhammad‘s family, one must reach out to research papers published by various Islamic scholars who throw light of different sources, facts and perspectives and genuinely attempt to draw a clear descent chart of his forefathers and mothers. Reading and researching about the life story of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also gives insight about his ancestry.

Prophet Muhammad Family FAQs

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