All Paternal Prophet Muhammad Cousins with Their Names

The family of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) played a significant role in the early days of Islam. Among his relatives, his cousins had diverse relationships with him; some were his strongest supporters, while others initially opposed him but later embraced Islam. Their contributions to Islamic history varied, from being scholars and warriors to serving as trusted companions of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).

This article explores the cousins of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), including the sons and daughters of his uncles such as Abu Talib, Al-Abbas, Az-Zubayr, Al-Harith, Hamzah, and Abu Lahab. Some of them became prominent figures in Islamic scholarship, like Abdullah ibn Abbas, while others, like Ali ibn Abi Talib, became key leaders of the Muslim community.

By learning about the lives of these cousins, we gain a deeper understanding of their roles in supporting or resisting Islam, their journeys, and their impact on Islamic history.

Cousins of the Prophet: Children of Abu Talib

Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib was one of the eldest uncles of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). His sons were:

• Talib ibn Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib – It is reported that he died as a polytheist.
• Aqil ibn Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib – He was ten years older than Ja‘far, fought alongside the polytheists at the Battle of Badr, but later embraced Islam at Hudaybiyyah. He passed away during the reign of Mu‘awiyah and was the last of his brothers to die.
• Ja‘far ibn Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib – He was ten years older than Ali. He witnessed the migration to Abyssinia and later migrated to Madinah. He was martyred in the Battle of Mu'tah and was known as "Ja‘far al-Tayyar" (the Flying Ja‘far), "Sayyid al-Shuhada" (the Leader of Martyrs), and "Alam al-Mujahideen" (the Banner of Warriors). The Prophet (ﷺ) said about him:

"You resemble my appearance and character".

• Ali ibn Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib – The fourth of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, the first of the youth to embrace Islam, the husband of Fatimah, the daughter of the Prophet (ﷺ). He fathered Hasan and Husayn, the grandsons of the Prophet (ﷺ).
• Umm Hani bint Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib – Some say her name was Hind. She was one of the daughters of Abu Talib who embraced Islam.
• Jumana bint Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib.

Cousins of the Prophet: Children of Al-Abbas

• Kathir ibn Al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib
• Tammam ibn Al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib
• Abd al-Rahman ibn Al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib
• Umm Habib bint Al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib
• Ubaydullah ibn Al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib
• Abdullah ibn Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib – Born three years before the Hijrah, he was a great scholar and interpreter of the Qur'an, known as "Hibr al-Ummah" (The Ink of the Nation) and "Faqih al-Asr" (The Jurist of the Era). He was among the most prolific narrators of hadith from the Prophet (ﷺ).
• Qutham ibn Al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib
• Ma‘bad ibn Al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib
• Al-Fadl ibn Al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib – He was the eldest son of Al-Abbas and witnessed the Conquest of Mecca, the Battle of Hunayn, and the Farewell Pilgrimage with the Prophet (ﷺ). He passed away during the Plague of Amwas in 18 AH.

Cousins of the Prophet: Children of Az-Zubayr

• Al-Tahir ibn Az-Zubayr ibn Abd al-Muttalib
• Hajal ibn Az-Zubayr ibn Abd al-Muttalib
• Qurrah bint Az-Zubayr ibn Abd al-Muttalib
• Abdullah ibn Az-Zubayr ibn Abd al-Muttalib – He fought in the Battle of Hunayn with the Prophet (ﷺ) and was beloved by him. The Prophet (ﷺ) used to call him "the son of my uncle and my beloved".
• Duba‘ah bint Az-Zubayr ibn Abd al-Muttalib – She narrated a few hadiths from the Prophet (ﷺ).
• Umm al-Hakam bint Az-Zubayr ibn Abd al-Muttalib

Cousins of the Prophet: Children of Nawfal

• Nawfal ibn Al-Harith ibn Abd al-Muttalib – He accepted Islam during the Battle of the Trench and the Conquest of Mecca, participated in the Battle of Hunayn, and supported the army with three thousand spears.
• Abu Sufyan Mughirah ibn Al-Harith ibn Abd al-Muttalib – He was the Prophet’s foster brother, as both were nursed by Halimah al-Sa‘diyyah. He accepted Islam a few days before the Conquest of Mecca.
• Ubaydah ibn Al-Harith ibn Abd al-Muttalib – He was martyred at the Battle of Badr.
• Abdullah ibn Al-Harith ibn Abd al-Muttalib – The Prophet (ﷺ) named him Said.
• Rabi‘ah ibn Al-Harith ibn Abd al-Muttalib

Cousins of the Prophet: Children of Hamzah

• Ya‘la ibn Hamzah ibn Abd al-Muttalib
• Bakr ibn Hamzah ibn Abd al-Muttalib
• Umm al-Fadl bint Hamzah ibn Abd al-Muttalib
• Fatimah bint Hamzah ibn Abd al-Muttalib
• ‘Umara ibn Hamzah ibn Abd al-Muttalib
• ‘Amir ibn Hamzah ibn Abd al-Muttalib
• Umamah bint Hamzah ibn Abd al-Muttalib

Cousins of the Prophet: Children of Abu Lahab

• Uqbah (or Utbah) ibn Abu Lahab – He embraced Islam during the Conquest of Mecca and participated in the Battle of Hunayn.
• Al-Mu‘aqib (or Al-Mu‘attib) ibn Abu Lahab – He also embraced Islam during the Conquest of Mecca and participated in the Battle of Hunayn.
• Durrah bint Abu Lahab – She narrated one hadith from the Prophet (ﷺ).
• Utaybah ibn Abu Lahab – The Prophet (ﷺ) made dua against him, and it was fulfilled when a lion attacked and killed him during a journey to Zarqa.

Cousins of the Prophet: Children of Umaymah

Umaymah bint Abd al-Muttalib was one of the paternal aunts of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Her children were:

• Abdullah ibn Jahsh ibn Ri'ab ibn Khuzaimah – Known as Abu Muhammad al-Asadi. He embraced Islam early, migrated twice to Abyssinia, and later to Madinah. Abdullah was appointed by the Prophet (ﷺ) as the commander of the first military expedition (Sariyyah). He was martyred in the Battle of Uhud.
• Ubaydullah ibn Jahsh ibn Ri'ab ibn Khuzaimah – He initially embraced Islam and migrated to Abyssinia, but later converted to Christianity and died there. His former wife, Umm Habibah bint Abi Sufyan, subsequently married the Prophet (ﷺ).
• Zaynab bint Jahsh ibn Ri'ab ibn Khuzaimah – She was one of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad (Mothers of the Believers ﷺ). Previously married to Zayd ibn Harithah, the Prophet’s adopted son, she married the Prophet (ﷺ) after her divorce. This marriage abolished the pre-Islamic practice regarding adopted sons. Zaynab passed away in 20 AH, the first among the Prophet’s wives to die after him.
• Hamnah bint Jahsh ibn Ri'ab ibn Khuzaimah – Initially married to Mus'ab ibn Umair, who was martyred at Uhud battle. Later, she married Talhah ibn Ubaydullah. Hamnah was involved in the incident of the slander (al-Ifk) against Aisha and was punished for spreading false accusations.
• Umm Habibah bint Jahsh ibn Ri'ab ibn Khuzaimah – She was married to Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf. Umm Habibah suffered from continuous irregular bleeding (Istihadah) for several years and sought advice from the Prophet (ﷺ) about this condition.

Cousins of the Prophet: Children of Al-Bayda'

Al-Bayda' bint Abd al-Muttalib was one of the paternal aunts of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Her child was:

• Amir ibn Kurayz ibn Rabi'ah – He embraced Islam during the opening of Mecca and lived until the caliphate of Uthman ibn Affan, during which he visited his son Abdullah ibn Amir, the governor of Basra.

Cousins of the Prophet: Children of Atikah

Atikah bint Abd al-Muttalib was a paternal aunt of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Her children included:

• Abdullah ibn Abi Umayyah ibn al-Mughirah – Brother of Umm Salamah (a wife of the Prophet ﷺ). Initially hostile towards Islam, he later embraced Islam after the Conquest of Mecca, participated bravely in subsequent battles, and was martyred at the siege of Taif.
• Umm Salamah bint Abi Umayyah ibn al-Mughirah – One of the Mothers of the Believers; her real name was Hind. She was first married to Abu Salamah ibn Abd al-Asad, and after his death, married the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). She passed away in 59 AH, being the last surviving wife of the Prophet.
• Zuhayr ibn Abi Umayyah ibn al-Mughirah – Brother of Umm Salamah and cousin to Khalid ibn al-Walid. Not much detail about his life is recorded historically.

Cousins of the Prophet: Children of Safiyyah

Safiyyah bint Abd al-Muttalib was one of the Prophet’s paternal aunts. Her children were:

• Az-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam ibn Khuwaylid – A close Companion of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and one of the earliest Muslims. He participated in all the battles alongside the Prophet and was famously called by the Prophet:
  "Every prophet has a disciple (Hawari), and my disciple is Az-Zubayr." [Bukhari]
  Az-Zubayr was martyred during the civil conflict at the Battle of the Camel.
• As-Sa'ib ibn al-Awwam ibn Khuwaylid – Brother of Az-Zubayr. He participated in the battles of Uhud, Khandaq, and others with the Prophet (ﷺ) and was martyred during the Battle of Yamamah.

Cousins of the Prophet: Children of Arwa

Arwa bint Abd al-Muttalib was another paternal aunt of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Her child was:

• Tulayb ibn Umayr ibn Wahb – One of the early converts to Islam. He migrated to Abyssinia, participated bravely in the Battle of Badr, and was martyred at the Battle of Ajnadayn.

Cousins of the Prophet: Children of Barrah

Barrah bint Abd al-Muttalib was a paternal aunt of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Her child was:

• Abu Salamah ibn Abd al-Asad ibn Hilal al-Makhzumi – His real name was Abdullah. He was among the early Muslims, migrated to Abyssinia with his wife Umm Salamah, and participated in the Battle of Badr. After his death, the Prophet (ﷺ) married his widow, Umm Salamah, raising Abu Salamah’s children as his own stepchildren.

The First Cousin of Prophet Muhammad

Nawfal ibn al-Harith ibn Abd al-Muttalib was the eldest and first cousin of the Prophet Muhammad. Early biographers note that he was already a mature man before the Prophet was born, making him older than both of the Prophet's uncles, Hamzah and al-Abbas, and thus the senior member of the Hashimite clan in his generation. Although he grew up alongside the Quraysh elite and initially shared their reservations about Islam, his pedigree and age meant that he commanded respect across the tribe.

Nawfal embraced Islam relatively late. Sources place his formal conversion around the fifth year after the Hijra (627 CE), when he migrated from Mecca to Medina with his brother Rabiah. His acceptance of the faith removed one of the last pockets of Qurayshite familial resistance and was welcomed by the Prophet, who gave him generous accommodation. Despite his late entry, Nawfal quickly proved his loyalty: at the conquest of Mecca (630 CE) he helped secure the city, and on the difficult day of Hunayn, he is recorded as having rallied fleeing warriors and donated three thousand spears to shore up Muslim ranks.

In the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab, Nawfal spent his final years in Medina, offering counsel rooted in his long memory of pre-Islamic Mecca and the early Islamic struggles. He died in 15 AH / 636 CE and was buried in al-Baqi cemetery. Although less celebrated than some of his younger relatives, his status as the Prophet's eldest cousin and his steadfastness after embracing Islam secured him an honored place in early Muslim history.

The Prophet’s Cousin Who Embraced Christianity

Ubayd-Allah ibn Jahsh was a first-generation Meccan believer who later became the most famous cousin of the Prophet Muhammad to die a Christian. His mother, Umayma bint Abd al-Muttalib, was the Prophet’s paternal aunt, which made Ubayd-Allah a first cousin on the father’s side. He accepted Islam in the very earliest days, but when persecution intensified, he joined the small band of emigrants who sailed across the Red Sea to the Christian kingdom of Axum

Life in the tolerant court of the Negus exposed him to the Bible and to Ethiopian liturgy. Within a short time he publicly declared that he had “found the truth” in Christianity, renounced Islam, and began preaching his new faith to the Muslim refugees in Axum. His conversion broke up his marriage to Ramla bint Abi Sufyan (Umm Habiba), who remained Muslim; years later she became one of the Prophet’s wives. Ubayd-Allah himself never returned to Arabia. He died in Axum around 627 CE, remembered in the sources as “the man who saw clearly while the others still half-opened their eyes”.

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) had many paternal cousins, and most of them embraced Islam. Some played significant roles in Islamic history, while others were only briefly mentioned.