Companions & Great WomenMother of the Believers

Umm Habiba

أم حبيبة

Daughter of Abu Sufyan, married to the Prophet ﷺ while she was in Abyssinia.

Scholarly opinionSee it in the Atlas
Known as
Ramla bint Abi Sufyan

Life

Her name was Ramla, the daughter of Abu Sufyan. She had emigrated to Abyssinia, and when her husband there left Islam for Christianity, the Prophet ﷺ married her while she was still in Abyssinia; the Negus paid her dowry.

islamweb's article tells that when her father came to Madinah before he became Muslim, she would not let him sit on the Prophet's ﷺ bedding.

Evidence

QuranAl-Ahzaab (The Clans)Quran 33:6Holds part of this text only

ٱلنَّبِىُّ أَوْلَىٰ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ وَأَزْوَٰجُهُۥٓ أُمَّهَـٰتُهُمْ ۗ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَرْحَامِ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلَىٰ بِبَعْضٍ فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ إِلَّآ أَن تَفْعَلُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَوْلِيَآئِكُم مَّعْرُوفًا ۚ كَانَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ مَسْطُورًا ٦

The Prophet is more worthy of the believers than themselves,[1182] and his wives are [in the position of] their mothers. And those of [blood] relationship are more entitled [to inheritance] in the decree of Allāh than the [other] believers and the emigrants, except that you may do to your close associates a kindness [through bequest]. That was in the Book[1183] inscribed.

Translator's notes

[1182] He (ﷺ) is more worthy of their obedience and loyalty and is more concerned for them than they are for one another. [1183] The Preserved Slate (al-Lawḥ al-Maḥfūẓ).

Saheeh International · QuranEnc v1.1.2

Another translation: Al-Hilali & Muhsin Khan · QuranEnc v1.1.2

6. The Prophet is closer to the believers than their ownselves,[3] and his wives are their (believers’) mothers (as regards respect and marriage). And blood relations among each other have closer personal ties in the Decree of Allâh (regarding inheritance) than (the brotherhood of) the believers and the Muhâjirûn (emigrants from Makkah), except that you do kindness to those brothers (when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم joined them in brotherhood ties). This has been written in the (Allâh’s Book of Divine) Decrees - (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfûz)."

[3] (V.33:6) Narrated ‘Abdullâh bin Hishâm رضي الله عنه: We were with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and he was holding the hand of ‘Umar bin Al-Khattâb. ‘Umar said to Him. "O Allâh’s Messenger! You are dearer to me than everything except my ownself." The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "No, by Him in Whose Hand my soul is, (you will not have complete Faith) till I am dearer to you than your ownself." Then ‘Umar said to him, now, by Allâh, you are dearer to me than my ownself." The Prophet said, " Now, O ‘Umar, (now you are a believer)." Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.8, Hadîth No.682).

Read in context on Quran.com

Names the wives as Mothers of the Believers as a group, not each by name.

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