Biography of Ummama bint Abi al-Aas (Bint Lady Zainab)
Genealogy of Ummama bint Abi al-Aas
Ummama bint Abi al-Aas ibn al-Rabie ibn Abdul Uzza ibn Abd Shams ibn Abd Manaf ibn Qusay. Her mother was Zainab, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. She was the first offspring of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and she belonged to the noblest lineage. She was a part of the household of the best of mankind and their master. Her grandmother was Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, and her mother was among the first to embrace Islam and played a unique role in the blessed household, earning the pleasure and satisfaction of Allah.
Her father, Abi al-Aas ibn al-Rabie, was the son-in-law of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. He was known for his honesty in his trade dealings with the Quraysh, fulfilling the rights of his associates. Abi al-Aas was also one of the sincere supporters of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. The Prophet frequently visited his house and praised him, saying, "He told me the truth when he spoke and kept his promise when he made one".
Ummama's Status in the Time of the Prophet
Ummama bint Abi al-Aas was the dearest of the Prophet's grandchildren to him. During prayer, the Prophet would carry Ummama on his back. When he bowed or prostrated, he would put her down, and when he stood up, he would carry her again.
Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, received a gift containing a necklace made of onyx. He said, "I will give it to the dearest of my family members". The woman said, "It should be given to the daughter of Abi Quhafa." So, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, sent for Ummama bint Zainab and put the necklace around her neck.
Aisha also reported that Negus, the ruler of Abyssinia, gifted the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, with a jewelry piece containing a golden ring. The Prophet had a somewhat distant relationship with it, so he sent it to the daughter of his daughter Zainab and said, "Adorn yourself with this, my dear".
Marriage of Ummama
Before his death in the year 12 AH, her father had instructed that she be married to Zubair ibn al-Awam. However, her aunt, Lady Fatimah, had advised her husband, Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him), to marry Ummamah after her death. So, Ali ibn Abi Talib married Ummamah after Fatimah’s passing.
Later, Ali ibn Abi Talib instructed al-Mughira ibn Nawfal ibn al-Harith ibn Abd al-Muttalib to marry Ummamah bint Abi al-As ibn al-Rabi (may Allah be pleased with them), his wife after him, because he feared that Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) might marry her. Al-Mughira then married her, and she bore him a son named Yahya, after whom he was given his kunyah (nickname). She died while married to al-Mughira.
However, it has also been said that she did not bear any children, neither from Ali nor from al-Mughira. Al-Zubayr also stated that she did not have children from al-Mughira ibn Nawfal, and he added: "Zaynab has no descendants".
Death of Ummama
Ummama bint Abi al-Aas passed away during her marriage to al-Mughira ibn Nawfal ibn al-Harith, and the sources do not specify the date of her death.
