Sawda bint Zamʿa

Sawda bint Zamʿa ibn Qayyis ibn ʿAbd Shams (Arabic: سودة بنت زمعة‎) was a wife of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and considered by Muslims to be a Mother of the Believers.

Biography

She was of the Quraysh tribe on her father's side.

Migration to Abyssinia

Sawda bint Zam'a had been the first woman to immigrate to Abyssinia. She migrated to Abyssinia with her first husband named As-Sakran bin Amr, after being persecuted by the Polytheists of Mecca. Her husband died on the way back to Mecca according to some, or when the couple returned to Mecca,according to some. Actually, Sakran left Abyssinia by sea with Waqqas for overseas preaching.

Marriage to Sakran

The name of her previous husband was Sakran, and she had a son from him named Sakran ibn Amr ibn Abd Shams who fell a martyr fighting in the Battle of Jalula in 637 AD.

Marriage to Muhammad

She was middle-aged, rather plump, with a jolly, kindly disposition, and just the right person to take care of the Prophet's household and family. So Muhammad gave permission to Khawla to speak to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and to Sawda on the subject. Muhammad married her in Shawwal, in the tenth year of His Prophethood, a few days after the death of Khadijah. Prior to that, she was married to a paternal cousin of hers called As-Sakran bin ‘Amr. She was considered homely and was older than Muhammad. They got married in 620 A.D. She was a widow who lived until the end of time of Umor. Mohammad married Sauda when he was 53 and she was 50 almost the same time when he married Aisha.

Later life, widowhood

After Muhammad's death, Sawda received a gift of money, which she spent on charity. Muawiyah I, the first caliph of the Umayyad dynasty bought her house in Medina for 180,000 dirhams. She died in Medina in October 674.

External links

• 2 Muslims.com
• Islam.About.com