Zaynab bint Khuzaymah (RA)

Zaynab bint Khuzaymah (RA) was one of the wives of the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ and is honored in Islamic tradition as one of the Ummahāt al-Muʾminīn (“Mothers of the Believers”). She belonged to the Banū Hilāl tribe and was widely respected for her compassion, generosity, and care for the poor even before the advent of Islam. Because of her exceptional charity and kindness toward the needy, she became known by the title Umm al-Masākīn (“Mother of the Poor”). Islamic historical sources portray her as a woman of noble character who devoted herself to supporting vulnerable members of society and assisting those in need.

Before her marriage to the Prophet ﷺ, Zaynab bint Khuzaymah (RA) had previously been married, and according to many reports, her husband ʿUbaydah ibn al-Ḥārith (RA) was martyred following the Battle of Badr. After becoming widowed, she married the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ in approximately 3 AH/625 CE. Her marriage reflected the Prophet’s ﷺ concern for widows and vulnerable members of the Muslim community, particularly those whose families had sacrificed in the cause of Islam. Although her marriage to the Prophet ﷺ lasted only a short period, she attained the honored status of Mother of the Believers and became part of the Prophet’s household during a formative stage of the Madinan community.

Islamic tradition especially remembers Zaynab bint Khuzaymah (RA) for her generosity and charitable works. Reports describe her as consistently concerned for the welfare of the poor, distributing food and wealth among the needy whenever possible. Her title Umm al-Masākīn reflects the high regard in which she was held for her compassion and service to society. Through her conduct, she embodied the Qurʾānic emphasis upon charity, mercy, and social solidarity that characterized the early Muslim community in Madīnah.

Zaynab bint Khuzaymah (RA) passed away only a few months after her marriage to the Prophet ﷺ, around 4 AH/626 CE, making her one of the earliest wives of the Prophet ﷺ to die after Khadījah (RA). She was buried in Jannat al-Baqīʿ in Madīnah. Despite the brevity of her marriage to the Prophet ﷺ, her memory remained deeply associated with generosity, care for the poor, and devotion to humanitarian service. In Islamic historical and devotional literature, she continues to be remembered as a model of compassion and social responsibility within the household of the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ.