SAUDA (Sawda) Bint Zam’a

(May Allah be pleased with her)

Name and Genealogy

Her name (Arabic: ‫)سودة بنت زمعة‬
Her genealogy is as follows : Sauda bint Zam'a bin Qais bin 'Abd
Shams bin 'Abd bin Nasr bin Hal bin 'Amir bin Luwayy.

Her Father name: Zam'a bin Qais bin 'Abd Shams

Her mother's name was Shamus who belonged to Bani Najjar of

Medina.

Her genealogy is as follows: Shamus bint Qais bin Zaid bin 'Amr bin
Labid bin Farash bin Amir bin Ghunaim bin 'Adi bin Najjar.

Her Appearance
No one among the wives of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allah be upon him) was taller than Sauda (Allah be pleased with her).
Hadrat 'A'isba (Allah be pleased with her) said : Anyone who saw her
could not remain hidden from her sight.(2) It has been stated in
Zarqani that her stature was tall.

Her tribe:

She belonged to the famous Quraish tribe 'Amir bin Luwayy.

Her Marriage before married to our Prophet

She was married to Sakran bin 'Amr, the cousin of her father.

Her position in Islam

She was said the tallest among the wives of the Prophet (pbuh)

1- She is the first woman migrated to Abyssinia in history

2- She belong to the early muslim

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3- She is 2nd wife of our Prophet(pbuh) ,the first woman
Prophet (pbuh) married after Khadijah among the umm
alMomineen ( Mother of the Believers)

( it’s a Islamic term that is given as a honorific to the Islamic prophet

Muhammad’s wives, the term itself is derived from the Quran:33:6)

The Prophet is closer to the Believers than their own

selves, and his wives are their mothers. Blood-
relations among each other have closer personal ties, in
33:6 the Decree of God. Than (the Brotherhood of) Believers
and Muhajirs: nevertheless do ye what is just to your
closest friends: such is the writing in the Decree (of
God).

َ ‫لّ مِنْ ا ْلمُ ْؤ ِمنِي‬

‫ن‬ ِ ‫ضهُمْ أَ ْولَى ِب َبعْضٍ فِي ِكتَبِ ا‬ ُ ْ‫سهِمْ َوأَزْوَجُهُ ُأ ّمهَ ُتهُمْ وَأُوْلُو الَْرْحَا ِم َبع‬
ِ ُ‫ن مِنْ َأنْف‬
َ ‫ال ّنبِيّ أَوْلَى بِا ْلمُ ْؤ ِمنِي‬
‫ب مَسْطُورًا‬ ِ َ‫ن ذَِلكَ فِي ا ْل ِكت‬
َ ‫ن تَ ْفعَلُوا إِلَى أَوِْليَا ِئكُ ْم َمعْرُوفًا كَا‬
ْ َ‫وَا ْل ُمهَجِرِينَ ِإلّ أ‬

Conversion to Islam
When she heard of this new religion, her heart was opened to it and
she believed in it and believed in the messages which Prophet brought.

This was not a strange for one such as Saudah, for she was a pure-
hearted woman who loved goodness and any one who possess such
traits will naturally be drawn toward the religion of Islam, because it is
a religion of goodness and purity.

She embraced Islam in the beginning of Apostlehood.

Her husband also embraced Islam.

She had, therefore, the privilege of being one of the earliest Muslims.
During the first migration to Abyssinia Hadrat Sauda and her husband
stayed at Mecca, but when the persecution of the polytheists became
unbearable and a large number of people intended to migrate, Hadrat
Sauda and her husband too decided to migrate.

She came back to Mecca after staying in Abyssinia for long and her
husband Sakran died after a few days of his return.

Muslims' Exile to Abyssinia (615 A.C.)

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In the month of Rajab,fifth year of the Prophethood (613 A.C.) the
noble Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had perforce to allow a
bend of his followers (11 men and 4 women) left Makkah to migrate to
Aybssinia ( Ethiopia), because he could not bear to see them cruelly
tortured without being able to protect themselves. The place of refuge
selected was Abyssinia, because the Prophet (SAWS) had heard of the
righteousness, tolerance, and hospitality of its king,

He said “if you were to leave for Abyssinia , you would find there a
king in whose land no one is treated unjustly and it is a land of
sincerity. You could stay there until Allah makes a way out for you from
the oppression you are being subjected to here.”

and a party of Muslims consisting of eleven men and four women left
in secrecy, with no hope of ever being able to return to their beloved
motherland. All were disheartened; for to leave their native land was,
to them, the greatest calamity possible; but their faith in God kept
them resolute.

Among them are:

1.Uthman bin Affan + Ruqayyan ( his wife)

2.Hudhaifa bin Utabh

3.Uthman bin Mazun

4.Abdullah bin Masud

5.Abdur-Rahman bin Auf

6.Zubair bin Al-awwam

7.Musab bin Umair

8.Amir bin Rabiah

9.Suhail bin Baida

10 Sakran bin 'Amr + Sawda ( his wife)

11 Jafar Ibn Abu Talib + Assma bint Omais ( his wife)

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Most of these belonged to the well-to-do, rich, and influential families,
which shows that even for such Mecca was not safe. As to the poor
and the slaves, they had neither the means nor the opportunity to
migrate. On leaving Mecca, the emigrants travelled as far as Jeddah on
foot, whence they took ship.

In the meantime, the Quraysh had learnt of this and at once sent a
strong detachment to capture them and bring them back, but
fortunately for the exiles the pursuers reached the port after they had
sailed.

These people had a peaceful life in Abyssinia. They were neither

molested nor ill-treated in any way by the Christian King Negus, and
the tidings of their good reception in a foreign land induced more in
Mecca to migrate. The Quraysh, of course, could not tolerate this - for
to them it foretold defeat - and in consequence sent a deputation to
the king to demand the fugitives back.

To facilitate the accomplishment of their purpose, they sent valuable

presents to be given to the courtiers and those who had the ear of the
king. The deputation, which was headed by 'Abdullah Ibn Rabia, in due
course reached Abyssinia and, by distributing the presents lavishly,
found themselves in the presence of the Negus to whom they also
presented costly gifts and begged that the offenders should be handed
over to them. But the king declined to do that until he had heard the
case for the other side.

So the next day the Muslims in Abyssinia were sent for and the Negus
inquired of them what they had to say to the demand of the
deputation. Then one of the Muslims, Ja'far Ibn AbuTalib,

( The prophet (pbuh) called him “The father of the Neey people”,
and also “The one of Two wings.” He is cousin of the Prophet
(pbuh), eldest brother of Ali ibn Abu Talib, he died during the battle of
Mu’ta, the enemy struck his right hand w/ sword he took the flag w/
his left hand before it fall down, they struck also his left hand, he
embraced the flag between his upper arms, he was the most generous
of the people when he was alive, Abdullah ibn Omar said, “I was with
Jafar in the battle of Mu’ta, we got his dead body, in which we found
more than 90 injuries with sword, spears and arrow. The Prophet
(pbuh) said”I saw him in paradise, having 2 wings dyed w/blood)

He rose and addressed the king thus:

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"O King! We were an ignorant people given to idolatry. We used to eat
corpses even of animals that died a natural death, and to do all sorts
of evil and unclean things. We never made good our obligations to our
relations, and we ill-treated our neighbours. The strong among us
would grow fat on the blood of the weak, until at last God raised up
Muhammad from among us to reform us by showing us the path of
righteousness.

"He is well known to us. We know him to be most noble, truthful, and
righteous. He called us to the worship of God, and persuaded us to
give up idolatry and stone worship. He enjoined on us to tell the truth,
to have love for our kith and kin, to fulfill our promises, and to do good
to others, teaching us to shun everything that is bad, and to cease
from bloodshed. He forbade all other indecent things-telling lies,
robbing and cheating orphans and widows, and bearing false witness.
He taught us to keep the chastity of women sacred. So we believed in
him, we followed him, and acted up to his teachings so far as in us lay.
Thereupon these men began to torture us, thinking that thus we might
be induced to give up our new faith and go back to idolatry. When their
cruelties exceeded all bounds we came to seek peace and shelter in
your country, where we trust we shall come to no harm."

Thereupon the Negus wished to hear the Qur'an, and Ja'far recited
the chapter entitled "Maryam/ Mary." After this he refused to
hand over the exiles to the deputation.

So far foiled in their attempts they played a mean trick and, obtaining
audience of the king, told him that these Muslims held views about
Jesus repugnant to the king. They had thought of this plan to prejudice
the king against the Muslims. The Negus sent for them again, and this
time they were genuinely afraid that the deputation would succeed in
effecting their extradition; for they thought that the replies that they
might have would offend the king.

The Negus asked them point-blank what they thought about Jesus and
these truthful people, not caring for the consequences, boldly replied
that they believed Jesus to be only the Prophet of God, and not the
Son of God. The Negus admired this courage of theirs and entirely
refused to hand them over to the deputationists, who returned in
confusion to Mecca.

The King said:Go and live safely in my land, Whoever insulted and hurt
you would bear the consequence of his act.”

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People from Ethiopia

Pre-Islam :year of Elephant, Abrah attempt to demolish Kaba

Barak umm Ayman

Bilal ibn Rabah ( his master Omaiyyah ibn khalaf,a old man who
toretured him, died in Syria)

Prophet Mohamed is said to have admonished his followers -- "Leave

the Abyssinians alone, so long as they do not take the offensive."

The question arises as to why Ethiopia?

The Prophet could have chosen a safe haven for his followers in any of
Arabia''s other neighbours: modern-day Egypt, Yemen, Syria, Iraq or
Iran. Instead he chose Ethiopia, largely, it is said, because of the
righteous reputation of Ethiopia''s king, the Negus or Al-Najashi. "Go
to Ethiopia, there is a king there that is just," Prophet Mohamed told
his followers. His counsel proved to be wise.

Iran, then known as Persia, was a pagan country and the far-flung
provinces of the Byzantine Empire -- Egypt and Syria -- were teetering
on the verge of rebellion. The Copts of Egypt asked the Prophet to
intervene on their behalf and overthrow Byzantine rule.

Ethiopia, in sharp contrast, was a free and pietistic land ruled by a

magnanimous monarch.

Ethiopia was also a black African kingdom. Europeans conceived it as

such. For the Arabs, however, Ethiopia was a multi-racial land and
hence they named it Al-Habasha, the Land of the Mixed Race People.
Abyssinia, a term derived from the Arabic Al-Habasha, was a curious
geographic construct. It was neither full- fledgedly black African nor
was it thoroughly Arabised. It stood apart and always at the
crossroads. It was an ancient Christian kingdom that had ruled huge
swathes of the Arabian Peninsula. As such it had strong cultural and
economic links with the people of Arabia, and especially those of Al-
Hejaz (the region which includes Islam''s holiest cities Mecca and
Medina) and Yemen.

Islam''s hold on Ethiopia was never absolute. Still, Ethiopia has the
third largest Muslim population in Africa after Nigeria and Egypt. The
country has between 30-40 million Muslims, although estimates

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vary considerably. Still there is a sizable Muslim community in
Ethiopia, more numerous than the entire population of countries like
Iraq, Algeria or Morocco. It is also a community that has long
cherished its special bond with the Muslims of Egypt and Arabia.

The 2nd migration is about 50-100 people

Marriage, with the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of

Allah be upon him)
Among the wives of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him) Sauda (Allah be pleased with her an excellent position in so
far as she was the first to marry to the Holy Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) after the death of Khadija (Allah be
pleased with her).

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was very
depressed and dejected due to the death of Khadidja (Allah be
pleased with her). Seeing him in such a state,

Khaula bint Hakim (the wife of 'Uthman bin Maz'un)said, "You seem to
be in need of a companion and a consoler."

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be with him) replied :
Yes, the management of the house and chidlren so far rested with
Khadija (Allah be pleased with her).

So Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) gave

permission to Khawla to speak to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and to Sawda
on the subject.

Khawla went straight to Sawda and said, "Would you like Allah to give
you great blessing, Sawda?" Sawda asked,"And what is that, Khawla?"
She said, "The Messenger of Allah has sent me to you with a proposal
of marriage!" Sawda tried to contain herself in spite of her utter
astonishment and then replied in a trembling voice, "I would like that!
Go to my father and tell him that."

Khawla went to Zam'a, and found the old man, and greeted him and
then said,

"Muhammad son of Abdullah son of Abdul Muttalib, has sent me to ask

for Sawda in marriage."

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The old man shouted, "A noble match. What does she say?"

Khawla replied, "she would like that."

He told her to call her. When she came, he said, "Sawda, this woman
claims that Muhammad son of Abdullah son of Abdul Muttalib has sent
me to ask for you in marriage. It is a noble match. Do you want me to
marry you to him?"

She accepted, feeling it was a great honor.

He replied: No doubt Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be

upon him) is a noble man but I would like to consult Sauda also.

When all the matters were settled, the Holy Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) himself went to Sauda's house.
Sauds's father read out the Nikah.

Four hundred Dirhams were fixed as dowery( gifted by the king of

Ethiopia- Nagus ,received by khalid ibn Sa’id).

The marriage of Sauda (Allah be pleased with her) took place in

Ramadan, on the 10th year of Apostlehood.

The different saying about the marriage timing from scholors

Since this day falls nearer to 'A'isha's marriage, the historians differ
ragarding the date of her marriage as to which one took place earlier.
According to Ibn Ishaq, Sauda's marriage took place first and
according to 'Abdullah bin Muhammad bin 'Aqil, Aisha's marriage took
place first.

About her age when married to Prophet(pbuh) some said 60,

some said 80 there is not history confirmation

According to some traditions, Sauda had related adream to her first

husband during his lifetime and he had said : Perhaps my death is
near at hand and you will be tied in the bond of marriage with the Holy
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). This dream
proved to be hundred percent true.

After Her Marriage

8
After the marriage when 'Abdullah bin Zam'a (Sauda's brother) who
was then a disbeliever came to know of it, threw dust on his head
exclaiming : Woe to me what has happened! Later on, when he
embraced Islam he always repented of his foolishness.

General Events
On the 10th year of Hijra, when the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa
sallam) performed Hajj, Sauda also accompanied him. She was a long-
statured bulky woman and so she could not walk quickly. The Holy
Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) permitted her to proceed to
Muzdalida earlier than the other people so that she could avoid the
difficulty of walking through the multitude of people.

Her Excellence As a good wife

Her narration of Hadith

Only five traditions have been reported by Sauda (Allah be pleased

with her) of which only one tradition has been menitioned in Sahih al-
Bukhary.

Out of the companions of the Holy Prophet, the names of Ibn 'Abbas,
Ibn Zubair and Yahya bin 'Abdul Rahman cam be mentioned who have
transmitted from her.

Sauda was easily susceptible to anger. 'A'isha admired her greatly ;

but she said : Sauda flares up within no time.
“ I have no seen any woman whom I would wish to be like more than
Sawah bin zama- although she had a quick temper “ ( narrated
muslim)

Once she was going to the desert to answer the call of nature. On the
way she met 'Umar (Allah be pleased with him). As she was quite a tall
woman, 'Umar (Allah be pleased with him) recognized her. He did not
like that the wives of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him) should go out.

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Since 'Umar (Allah be pleased with him) had already brought forth this
issue (at keeping the women under veil) he said to Sauda : “I have
recognized you.”

She (Sauda) got extremely offended; went to the Holy Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allah be upon him) and! complained against 'Urnar
Immediately after this incident, the Surah Hijab was revealed.*

Al Bukhary Volume 1, Book 4, Number 148:

Narrated 'Aisha:

The wives of the Prophet used to go to Al-Manasi, a vast open place

(near Baqia at Medina) to answer the call of nature at night. 'Umar
used to say to the Prophet "Let your wives be veiled," but Allah's
Apostle did not do so. One night Sauda bint Zam'a the wife of the
Prophet went out at 'Isha' time and she was a tall lady. 'Umar
addressed her and said,

"I have recognized you, O Sauda." He said so, as he desired eagerly

that the verses of Al-Hijab (the observing of veils by the Muslim
women) may be revealed.

So Allah revealed the verses of "Al-Hijab" (A complete body cover

excluding the eyes).

Her Obidence to the Prophet (pbuh)

The Holy Prophet while addressing his wives on the occasion of ul-
Wada said :

When I leave, do not go out of the house.(1) Sauda acted upon this
advice strictly and did not proceed for Hajj after this.

She said : I have performed both Hajj and 'Umra and I shall remain in
the house according to the Will of Allah.(2)

Her humors that pleased her husband

Nevertheless, she had the element of laughter in her. She sometimes

walked in such a way that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of

10
Allah be upon him) could not help smiling. Once she told that
yesterday night she offered her prayer with the Holy Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allah be upon him). He prolonged his prostration to
such an extent that I feared lest my nose should begin to bleed. So I
caught hold of my nose for long. The Holy Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allah upon him) smiled on hearing these words.

She is Afraid of Dajjal

She was terribly afraid of Dajjal. Once she came to 'A'isha Hafsa when
both of them said to her jokingly : Dajjal has appeared. Hadrat Sauda
(Allah be pleased with her) was utterly founded. There was a camp
nearby where some persons were lighting fire ; she entered it. Hadrat
'A'isha and Hafsa (Allah be pleased with them) went to the Holy
Prophet (peace blessings of Allah be upon him) laughingly and told him
about the joke which they had played with Sauda. The Holy Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) went to the camp and said
: Dajjal has not yet come. Thereupon, Hadrat Sauda (Allah be pleased
with her) came out; the cobwebs had struck to her clothes. She
removed the cobwebs from her clothes. (According to M.S.Siddiqi this
Hadith is weak and unauthenticated).

Her Hospitality and Generosity

Hospitality and generosity were her outstanding merits and she

excelled the other wives in these virtues except 'A'isha (Allah be
pleased with her).

She would spend all of the money that came to her on the poor and
needy. On the day of battle of Khaibar, her share of the booty was 80
Mudds of dates and 20 mudds of wheat, and she distributed it all until
nothing remained.

Once during Caliphate of Umar, he (Allah be pleased with him) sent to

her a bag. She enquired : What is in it ? He replied : Dirhams. She
said : Dirhams are also sent in a bag like dates and then she call her
servant and order her to distribute the money.

Her Sacrifice & the love to the Prophet & Allah

Sawdah served the household of the Prophet and his daughters.

She pleased his heart and helped him to go on calling for Allah.

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After Prophet (pbuh) married Aisha, she realized Prophet(pbuh)
married her out of sympathy, after her 1st husband death.She was also
far ahead in making sacrifice;

We have already mentioned that she and 'A'isha were married to the
Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) just one after
the other.

Since she was senior in age to 'A'isha, when she became old, she was
afraid lest the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
should divorce her and thus she should be deprived of the noble
company of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him), being informed of the Prophet’s intention of divorce, she felt that
as if she was living in a nightmare for such news. She entreats the
Prophet (pbuh) by saying

“O Messenger of Allah, hold me. By Allah, I did not seek to have a

husband but I just hope that Allah may resurrect me as you wife on
the day of Judgement.”

Thus she (may Allah be pleased with her ) preferred the Propht’s
desire ,therefore, she gave her night turn to 'A'isha to please Prophet
which the latter willingly accepted.

The Prophet (pbuh) responded to her noble feelings.

Allah reveled the verse: 4:128

If a wife fears cruelty or desertion on her husband's part, there is

no blame on them if they arrange an amicable settlement between
4:128 themselves; and such settlement is best; even though men's souls
are swayed by greed. But if ye do good and practise self-restraint,
God is well-acquainted with all that ye do.

‫ن تُحْسِنُوا‬
ْ ‫ح وَِإ‬
ّ ّ‫خيْ ٌر وَأُحْضِ َرتْ الَْن ُفسُ الش‬ َ ُ‫صلِحَا بَ ْينَ ُهمَا صُلْحًا وَالصّلْح‬
ْ ُ‫ن ي‬
ْ َ‫عَليْ ِهمَا أ‬
َ َ‫جنَاح‬
ُ َ‫عرَاضًا فَل‬
ْ ِ‫ن بَعِْلهَا نُشُوزًا َأوْ إ‬
ْ ِ‫ت م‬
ْ ‫ن امْرََأةٌ خَا َف‬
ْ ‫وَِإ‬
‫خبِيرًا‬
َ َ‫ن بِمَا تَ ْعمَلُون‬
َ ‫لّ كَا‬
َ ‫َو َتتّقُوا فَِإنّ ا‬

Wa-ini imraatun khafat min baAAliha nushoozan aw iAAradan fala junaha AAalayhima
an yusliha baynahuma sulhan waalssulhu khayrun waohdirati al-anfusu alshshuhha
wa-in tuhsinoo watattaqoo fa-inna Allaha kana bima taAAmaloona khabeeran

Sawdah remained in the Prophet’s house thankful and grateful to Allah

that He inspired such solution to her in order to be with the best of

12
Allah’s creation and to be mother of the faithful and a wife of the
Prophet in the Paradise.

Children
She bore the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be cpon him)
no children. She had one son from her first husband whose name was
'Abdul Rahman.

He met with martyrdom in lie battle of Jalula' (Persia).

Her Death
Once the wives of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah he
upon him) were sitting in the company of the Holy Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) when they asked him: Who will die
first of us, The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him) replied : One who has the longest hands amongst you. They took
its literal meaning and measured their hands and it was Sauda's hand
that was found to be the longest amongst them.(2) When Hadrat
Zainab died first, they knew the exact implication of the Prophet's
words that the longest hand implied the hand which excelled in
hospitality and generosity.

Waqid is of the view that Sauda died in the 54th Hijra (3)

but according to Thaqa her death occurred in the last days of the
Caliphate of Hadrat 'Umar.(4) Hadiat 'Umar died in the 23rd Hijra,
hence the year of death of Hadrat Sauda (Allah be pleased with her)
can be the 22nd Hijra.

This tradition is mentioned in Khamis and appears to be an authentic

one.(5) Imam Bukhari, Zahbi, Jazri Ibn 'Abdul Bara and Khazraji have
made a mention of it.

But she died at the ltat years of Umar’s era.

Aisha Praise her

A'isha has reported : None among the women has inspired this feeling
in me that my soul should have been in her heart.

She was more prominent than all the wives of the Holy Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allah be upon him) in obeying and serving the Holy
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

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May Allah be please with her and raise her to higher level of Jannah.
ameen

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