One of the Mothers of the Believers whose actions have been recorded in the books of the Prophet's biography (Sira) is Lady Zainab bint Khuzayma. In this article, she will be introduced as follows:
Her Name and Lineage
Her name is Zainab al-Makhzumiyya, and her full lineage is as follows: Zainab bint Khuzayma ibn al-Harith ibn Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Abd Manaf ibn Hilal ibn Amir ibn Sa'sa'a, from the tribe of Hilal. It is also said that she was the sister of Maimuna from her mother's side, and Maimuna bint al-Harith al-Hilaliyya was one of the Mothers of the Believers.
Lady Zainab: The Mother of the Needy
In the pre-Islamic era (Jahiliyya), Lady Zainab bint Khuzayma - may Allah be pleased with her - was known as "Umm al-Masakin" which translates to "The Mother of the Needy".
She earned this title due to her frequent acts of feeding and caring for the poor, demonstrating her compassion towards them. She was known for her generosity towards the impoverished and was eager to provide them with food and support.
Her Entry into the Prophet's Household
It is said that Zainab bint Khuzayma was initially married to Abdullah ibn Jahsh, who was martyred during the Battle of Uhud. There is another account stating that she was previously married to At-Tufail ibn Al-Harith but was later divorced. After these marriages, she married Ubaydah, who subsequently became a martyr during the Battle of Badr.
After becoming a widow, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) proposed to Zainab and married her. He offered a dowry of twelve ounces of silver and clothing. This marriage took place during the month of Ramadan. Notably, this marriage occurred after the Prophet's marriage to Umm al-Mu'minin Hafsa bint Omar ibn Al-Khattab.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) married Zainab bint Khuzayma in the third year of the Hijra (migration to Medina). However, her time with the Prophet was relatively short. She was the first of the Prophet's wives to pass away during his lifetime after Lady Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (may Allah be pleased with her).
It is reported that Zainab bint Khuzayma lived with the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) for a period of two months, three months, according to some sources, or eight months according to others. The brevity of her time with the Prophet explains why there are fewer stories and events associated with her, as her life with the Prophet was exceedingly short.
The Passing of Lady Zainab
Umm al-Mu'minin Zainab bint Khuzayma, may Allah be pleased with her, passed away in the city of Madinah in the month of Rabi' al-Awwal in the fourth year of the Hijra (migration) of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. At that time, she was approximately thirty years old. She was buried in Al-Baqi's Cemetery.
As previously mentioned, her life with the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was quite short. Az-Zuhri and Qatada reported that she spent a brief period of time with the Prophet, peace be upon him. Az-Zuhri stated, "She did not stay with the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, for long, and she passed away in Madinah. The Prophet, peace be upon him, lived while she was with him for only eight months, although some say it was two months, and others say it was three". Her biography is relatively scant in terms of information due to the brief duration she spent in the Prophet's household.
