Aminah bint Wahb (Mother of the Prophet)

Introduction to Lady Aminah bint Wahb and Her Attributes

Lady Aminah bint Wahb was the mother of the best of humanity, Muhammad - peace be upon him. Her lineage traces back to the Quraysh tribe; her father was Wahb ibn Abd Manaf ibn Zuhrah ibn Kilab, who was the maternal grandfather of the Prophet - peace be upon him. Her mother was Barrah bint Abd al-Uzza ibn Qusai ibn Kilab, making her the maternal grandmother of the Prophet.

Lady Aminah had no siblings, hence the Prophet - peace be upon him - had no maternal uncles, except for Abd Yaghuth ibn Manaf. She was not raised in her father's house but was brought up by her uncle Wahib ibn Abd Manaf. Her noble lineage granted her a distinguished status among her people. Aminah bint Wahb was known among her people for her sharp intelligence and eloquent speech.

The Marriage of Aminah bint Wahb and Her Pregnancy with the Prophet

Aminah bint Wahb was under the care of her uncle Wahib when Abdul Muttalib came to propose to her for his son Abdullah Ibn Abd Al-Muttalib. Her guardian agreed to her marriage to Abdullah ibn Abdul Muttalib. In the same gathering, Abdul Muttalib also proposed to Hala bint Wahib - Aminah's cousin - for himself, and she agreed to the marriage. From this union, Hala bore Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib - the uncle of the Prophet - peace be upon him. Aminah bint Wahb stayed with Abdullah ibn Abdul Muttalib for three days after their marriage, which was a common Arab custom for newlyweds.

It is mentioned in historical books the story of the light between the eyes of Abdullah ibn Abdul Muttalib during his marriage to Aminah bint Wahb and her pregnancy from him. It was narrated that during the pilgrimage season, he passed by a woman from the Banu Khuza'a tribe, said to be Layla al-Adawiyya, who saw the light emanating from between Abdullah's eyes. She offered herself to him in exchange for a hundred camels. He told her he would return to her, then went to his wife Aminah bint Wahb. When he remembered the woman who had offered herself to him, he went back to her, but she no longer saw the radiant light on his face. She asked if he had been with another woman, and he informed her that he had been with his wife Aminah, who had conceived the best of humanity, Muhammad - peace be upon him.

The marriage of Aminah bint Wahb to Abdullah ibn Abdul Muttalib was not long, as he went on a trade journey to Gaza in Palestine. On his return journey before reaching Mecca, he fell severely ill in Medina and died there, where he was buried. At that time, Aminah bint Wahb was pregnant with Muhammad - peace be upon him. She gave birth to him after the death of his father, and since he was born an orphan with no father, he came under the care of his grandfather, Abdul Muttalib. Aminah bint Wahb used to travel every year from Mecca to Medina to visit her husband Abdullah's grave.

The Pregnancy of Aminah bint Wahb with the Prophet

The pregnancy of Aminah bint Wahb with the Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him - was easy and light. She did not feel the burden as other women do with their pregnancies. She was not aware of her pregnancy and was not certain of it, except that her menstruation had stopped. However, it was narrated that she felt a presence coming to her in a state between sleep and wakefulness, informing her that she was carrying the best of humanity, which confirmed her pregnancy.

Her pregnancy began on a Monday, and as her delivery date approached, she heard a voice instructing her to seek refuge in Allah, the One, the Eternal, and to entrust her son to Him. She gave birth a few days later without experiencing severe hardship during the delivery. Abdullah ibn Abdul Muttalib and Aminah bint Wahb had no other children besides Muhammad - peace be upon him.

The Death of Aminah bint Wahb

When the Messenger of Allah - peace and blessings be upon him - reached the age of six years, and in some narrations four years, his mother Aminah bint Wahb took him to Medina to visit her maternal uncles, the Banu Adi bin al-Najjar. Accompanying them was the Prophet's - peace and blessings be upon him - nursemaid, Umm Ayman. They rode on two camels and stayed in a place called Dar al-Nabigha, where they spent a whole month. The Messenger of Allah - peace and blessings be upon him - remembered this place when he grew up and migrated to Medina. He recalled playing there with other children and remembered how the Jews used to talk about him in his childhood, saying that the signs of prophethood were apparent in him.

On their return journey, Aminah bint Wahb and her son, along with Umm Ayman, fell ill at a place called al-Abwa, where Aminah passed away and was buried. It is located between Mecca and Medina. Umm Ayman then returned to Mecca with Muhammad - peace and blessings be upon him - cradling him, along with the two camels. It is narrated that the Messenger of Allah - peace and blessings be upon him - passed by his mother's grave when he was going to perform the 'Umrah of Hudaybiyah, as Allah - the Exalted - permitted him to visit her. He remembered her and her mercy towards him and wept at her grave, along with his companions.

After the death of his mother and father, he remained under the guardianship of his grandfather, Abdul-Muttalib, who held him in high esteem. Abdul-Muttalib had a special place in the shade of the Kaaba, where none of his sons would sit, nor would they allow anyone else to approach it. When Muhammad - peace and blessings be upon him - would come to his grandfather's bed as a young boy, they would move him away, but his grandfather would say: "Leave him, by Allah, he has a great future". He would show affection towards him, stroke his head, and pat him with mercy.