List of Names of the Most Famous Female Companions of Islam

Discover the inspiring lives of the most renowned female companions of Islam, women who played pivotal roles in early Islamic history through their faith, courage, and wisdom.

This list honors their legacy, shedding light on their remarkable contributions to the growth of Islam and their enduring impact on generations of Muslims around the world.

Wives of the Prophet, peace be upon him

Many names of the female companions who believed in Allah and His Messenger were mentioned, the foremost among them being the wives of the Prophet Muhammad—peace be upon him. Their names are as follows:

• Mother of the Believers Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (may Allah be pleased with her)
• Mother of the Believers Sawda bint Zam'a (may Allah be pleased with her)
• Mother of the Believers Aisha bint Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her)
• Mother of the Believers Hafsa bint Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with her)
• Mother of the Believers Zaynab bint Khuzayma (may Allah be pleased with her)
• Mother of the Believers Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her)
• Mother of the Believers Zaynab bint Jahsh (may Allah be pleased with her)
• Mother of the Believers Juwayriya bint Al-Harith (may Allah be pleased with her)
• Mother of the Believers Safiyyah bint Huyayy (may Allah be pleased with her)
• Mother of the Believers Umm Habiba (may Allah be pleased with her)
• Mother of the Believers Maymunah bint Al-Harith (may Allah be pleased with her)

Female Companions Relatives of the Prophet and Women of Quraysh

There are many notable women from the Quraysh tribe and among the Prophet’s female relatives. Their names are as follows:

• Fatimah, daughter of the Messenger of Allah
• Zaynab, daughter of the Messenger of Allah
• Ruqayyah, daughter of the Messenger of Allah
• Umm Kulthum, daughter of the Messenger of Allah
• Safiyyah bint Abdul-Muttalib, the Prophet’s aunt
• Arwa bint Abdul-Muttalib, the Prophet’s aunt
• Umm Hani bint Abu Talib, the Prophet’s cousin
• Fatimah bint Qays – narrated from the Prophet
• Al-Shifa bint Abdullah
• Layla bint Abi Hathmah Al-Adawiyyah
• Fatimah bint Al-Khattab, sister of Umar ibn Al-Khattab
• Asma bint Sa'id, daughter of Fatimah (Umar’s sister)
• Sahla bint Suhail
• Fatimah bint Abi Hubaysh
• Fatimah bint Al-Mujallil
• Umm Ayman (Barakah), the Prophet’s nursemaid
• Arwa bint Kurayz
• Asma bint Abu Bakr
• Dubaa’ah bint Al-Zubayr
• Umm Al-Hakam bint Al-Zubayr
• Umamah bint Hamzah
• Umm Rumthah
• Umm Kulthum bint Uqbah
• Amat bint Khalid
• Fatimah bint Utbah
• Umm Qays bint Muhsin
• Juthamah bint Wahb
• Safiyyah bint Shaybah
• Fatimah bint Abi Hubaysh
• Busrah bint Safwan
• Barrah bint Abi Tajrah
• Habibah bint Abi Tajrah
• Umm Farwah bint Abi Quhafah
• Umaymah bint Ruqayyah
• Barirah, servant of Aisha
• Layla, servant of Aisha

Other Female Companions Mentioned in the Biography

There are a large number of female companions whose names were mentioned in the Prophet’s biography, and some of them are listed below:

The Female Companions Who Migrated to Abyssinia

When the persecution by the polytheists intensified against those who believed in Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his message, the Prophet advised his companions to migrate to Abyssinia to protect themselves from the oppression and tyranny of the polytheists. It is confirmed that five women were among those who migrated in the first migration to Abyssinia:

• Ruqayyah, daughter of the Messenger of Allah.
• Sahla bint Suhail ibn Amr.
• Umm Salama bint Abi Umayyah.
• Layla bint Abi Hathma.
• Umm Kulthum.

The books of the Prophet’s biography also mention that other women migrated to Abyssinia, some of whom passed away there, and some were born there. Their names are as follows:

• Umm Habiba bint Abu Sufyan and her daughter Habiba.
• Zaynab, daughter of Umm Salama, was born in Abyssinia.
• Rayta bint al-Harith ibn Jubayla, along with her two daughters, Aisha and Zaynab. They were born in Abyssinia but all died on their way back to Mecca.
• Fatima bint Rayta bint al-Harith, born in Abyssinia.
• Ramla bint Abu Awf ibn Dubayrah.
• Sawda bint Zamʿa ibn Qays.
• Sahla bint Suhail ibn Amr.
• The daughter of al-Mujallal.
• Amrah bint al-Saʿdi ibn Waqdan.
• Asmaʾ bint Umays ibn al-Nuʿman.
• Fatima bint Safwan ibn Umayyah.
• Fakiha bint Yasar.
• Barakah bint Yasar.
• Umm Sharhabil ibn Hasana.
• Ama bint Khalid, who was born in Abyssinia.

The Female Companions in Medina

The Prophet (peace be upon him) commanded his companions to migrate to Medina when the persecution of the polytheists intensified. A number of women also migrated, including:

• Zaynab bint Jahsh.
• Umm Habib bint Jahsh.
• Jadhama bint Jundal.
• Umm Qays bint Muhsin.
• Umm Habib bint Thumamah.
• Amina bint Ruqaysh.
• Sakhbara bint Tamim.
• Hamnah bint Jahsh.

Female Companions Who Fought Alongside the Prophet

The role of women during the Prophet’s time (peace be upon him) was not limited to traditional tasks. Many women are mentioned to have fought alongside the Messenger of Allah. Some of them even participated in battles. Their names include:

• The Prophet’s wife, Umm Salama.
• The Prophet’s aunt, Safiyyah bint Abdul Muttalib.
• The Prophet’s nursemaid, Umm Ayman.
• Salma, the wife of Abu Rafiʿ.
• The wife of Asim ibn Adi, who gave birth to her daughter Sahla during the Battle of Khaybar.
• Nusaybah bint Kaʿb, also known as Umm ʿUmara al-Ansariyyah.
• Umm Muniʿ.
• Kaʿibah bint Saʿd al-Aslamiyyah.
• Umm Mutaʿ al-Aslamiyyah.
• Umm Sulaym bint Milhan.
• Umm al-Dahhak bint Masʿud al-Harithiyyah.
• Hind bint ʿAmr ibn Haram.
• Umm al-ʿAlaʾ al-Ansariyyah.
• Umm ʿAmir al-Ashhaliyah.
• Umm ʿAtiyyah al-Ansariyyah.
• Umm Sulayt al-Ansariyyah.
• Umayyah bint Qays ibn Abi al-Salt al-Ghifariyyah.
• The wife of Abdullah ibn Unays, who gave birth to her son during the Battle of Khaybar.
• Umm Sinan al-Aslamiyyah.
• Umm Kulthum bint Uqbah.
• Zunairah al-Rumiyyah.
• Al-Nahdiyyah and her daughter.
• Sumayyah bint Khayyat.

Women Companions Who Gave Allegiance to the Prophet

There were many women who pledged allegiance to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). These women were known as the Ansar (Helpers) as well as women from the Quraysh tribe who also gave their allegiance. Below are the names of some of them:

Scenes from the Lives of Female Companions

The Prophet’s biography is filled with the names of many female companions who sacrificed and gave everything they had for the sake of defending the religion of Islam and following Muhammad (peace be upon him). They played a vital role in the spread of Islam. The first among them was the Mother of the Believers, Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her). Some of them embraced Islam on their own without their families, like Umm Kulthum bint ‘Uqbah and Umm Habibah bint Abu Sufyan; both daughters of the leaders of Quraysh.

Below are scenes from the lives of some of these noble female companions (may Allah be pleased with them all):

Umm ‘Ammarah (Nusaybah bint Ka‘b Al-Maziniyyah)

She was known as Umm ‘Ammarah, a companion whose courage and love for Allah and His Messenger became legendary. She was one of those who pledged allegiance to the Prophet (peace be upon him) at the first pledge of Al-‘Aqabah, along with Umm Mani‘. She participated in the Battle of Uhud, where she provided water to the fighters and treated the wounded.

When the tide of the battle turned in favor of the polytheists, Umm ‘Ammarah, along with her son and husband, rushed to protect the Messenger of Allah. They surrounded him, serving as a living shield and fighting bravely. She stood in the way of anyone who came close to the Prophet and sustained a deep wound during the battle.

She also witnessed with the Prophet the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, the Pledge of Ar-Ridwan, performed ‘Umrah with him, and was present in the battles of Khaybar and Hunayn. Her service didn’t end with the life of the Prophet; she later fought to defend the religion during the time of the apostate wars, specifically against the false prophet Musaylimah the Liar, who had killed her son during the Battle of Al-Yamamah. She fought with such determination that she lost her hand in defense of Allah’s religion.

Sumayyah bint Khayyat

She was the mother of ‘Ammar ibn Yasir. She embraced Islam with her family and believed in Muhammad (peace be upon him). She sacrificed her life for the religion and became the first martyr in Islam. She was killed by Abu Jahl, who tortured her and her family with severe forms of punishment before her death.

The polytheists would drag them out into the scorching desert, dress them in iron armor, and stone them. Despite this, they remained patient and held tightly to the rope of Allah, and so they attained the highest ranks in the sight of Allah.

Al-Khansā’ (Tumāḍir bint ‘Amr)

She sacrificed her four sons for the cause of Islam. When they went out to fight in the Battle of Qadisiyyah, she advised them to keep fighting until the very end, seeking the pleasure of Allah and His Paradise. All of them were martyred in that battle.

When she received the news, she was patient and content with Allah’s decree and said:

"Praise be to Allah, who honored me through their martyrdom. I hope Allah reunites me with them in the abode of His mercy".

Umm Ad-Darda’ As-Sughra

She was a righteous, devout, and prayerful woman. Women used to gather at her house at night and stand in prayer for long hours, reflecting and firmly believing in the words of Allah:

“No soul knows what joy is kept hidden for them as a reward for what they used to do”.
(Surah As-Sajdah 32:17)