Sawdah bint Zam’ah
Migration to Abyssinia:
Sawdah bint Zam’ah was one of the believers to migrate to Abyssinia.
When she heard about the religion of Islam, she was open to it and believed in the prophethood of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Sawdah and her husband, As-Sakran ibn Amr left their belongings and family to join the early Muslims, who headed to Abyssinia to avoid persecution from the Quraysh.
Sawdah bint Zam’ah and As-Sakran settled down in Abyssinia, where Allah SWT blessed them with children, including her son Abdur-Rahman ibn as-Sakran.
It is reported in some narrations that Sawdah bint Zam’ah had five children but none with the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
The Death of Her Husband:
During their stay in Abyssinia, Sawdah’s husband, As-Sakran ibn Amr felt ill and after they returned to Makkah, he passed away from this illness.
Despite suffering from the loss of her husband, Sawdah bint Zam’ah remained a patient and God-fearing, as she knew that Allah SWT was the best of planners.
The Prophet’s Marriage to Sawdah:
As mentioned in the story of Aisha bint Abi Bakr, in the ‘Year of Sorrow’, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was saddened by the death of his uncle, Abu Talib and his wife, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid.
Khawlah bint Hakim, the wife of Uthman ibn Mazun, went to the Prophet with the intention of speaking to him about marriage.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ asked Khawlah: Who can there be after Khadijah? Khawlah bint Hakim then presented the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ with the names of Aisha bint Abi Bakr and Sawdah bint Zam’ah for marriage.
Khawlah said regarding Sawdah: She believes and follows what you say and she is a virtuous Muslim woman.
After agreeing to marry Aisha bint Abi Bakr, Khawlah bint Hakim asked the Prophet ﷺ: But will you not marry Sawdah bint Zam’ah now, O Messenger of Allah? The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ replied: Go and inform her that I wish to marry her.
Khawlah bint Hakim went to Sawdah and said: What a great blessing Allah has blessed upon you! Sawdah replied: What is that, O Khawlah?
Khawlah said: The Messenger of Allah has sent me to propose marriage to you.
Sawdah bint Zam’ah was very happy with this but she informed Khawlah: Go to my father and tell him about this.
Khawlah bint Hakim then went to Zam’ah ibn Qays and said: Muhammad ibn Abdullah has sent me to propose marriage to Sawdah.
When Sawdah’s father, Zam’ah heard this, he replied: This is a noble match! What does your companion (referring to Sawdah) say? Khawlah bint Hakim said: She likes it! Zam’ah ibn Qays replied: Call her to me.
Zam’ah ibn Qays then said: O my daughter! This woman claims that Muhammad ibn Abdullah has sent her to propose to you, and that is a noble match, do you wish me to marry you to him? Sawdah bint Zam’ah replied: Yes.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ went to Sawdah, who said: My affair is in your hands, O Messenger of Allah!
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ married Sawdah bint Zam’ah in the month of Ramadan, ten years after the Prophet had first received prophethood.
Sawdah – One of the Mothers of the Believers:
After marrying the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Sawdah bint Zam’ah became one of the ‘Mothers of the Believers’.
Allah SWT mentions the ‘Mothers of the Believers’ in the Quran, where He says: ‘The Prophet has a stronger affinity to the believers than they do themselves. And his wives are their mothers’. (Quran, 33:6)
Her Character:
Sawdah bint Zam’ah was an easy-going person who often liked to joke with the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
If the Prophet was ever worried or upset, Sawdah would make it her responsibility to make him smile. On one occasion, Sawdah prayed behind the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. She was a heavy woman and from all of the standing, bowing and prostrating, she became tired.
After the Prophet had completed the prayer, she said in a light-hearted way: I prayed behind you tonight, O Messenger of Allah, for so long that I held onto my nose for fear that it would bleed.
Sawdah bint Zam’ah was known for her honourable character, her pure heart and for showing great compassion for those in need. Because of her character, she was loved and respected by those around her.
Aisha on Sawdah:
Aisha bint Abi Bakr said regarding Sawdah: I have not seen a woman whom I would wish to be like more than Sawdah bint Zam’ah, although she had a quick temper. (Muslim)
Sawdah at the Battle of Khaybar:
As mentioned above, Sawdah bint Zam’ah was well-renowned for her generosity especially to the poor.
At the Battle of Khaybar, her share of the spoils of war amounted to eighty ‘Mudds’, with one ‘Mudd’ being equivalent to around 0.67kg.
She also had twenty ‘Mudds’ of wheat from the spoils of war and she gave it all away to the poor.
Sawdah During the Caliph of Umar;
When Umar ibn al-Khattab was the Khalifah, he sent Sawdah bint Zam’ah a large amount of dirhams, to which she responded: What is this? She was informed that this had been brought to her by the Caliph.
After hearing this, Sawdah called her servant and decided to distribute this money that was given to her by Umar ibn al-Khattab, to the poor.
Sawdah specifically instructed her with the names of who to provide it to, and the servant distributed all of this money.
The Verse of the Al-Hijab (The Veil):
The verse of Al-Hijab was revealed regarding Sawdah bint Zam’ah.
Umar ibn al-Khattab told the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: veil your wives! However, the Prophet did not do this at that time.
On one occasion, Sawdah went out for the Isha prayer and she was recognised by Umar ibn al-Khattab, who said: We have recognised you, O Sawdah!
The reason for why Umar said this was because he wanted Allah SWT to reveal an Ayat in the Quran, ordering for the veil to be worn.
Eventually, Allah SWT did reveal an Ayat regarding this.
Allah SWT says in the Quran: ‘O Prophet! Ask your wives, daughters, and believing women to draw their cloaks over their bodies. In this way it is more likely that they will be recognised (as virtuous) and not be harassed. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful’. (Quran, 33:59)
Sawdah’s Fear of Divorce:
Eventually, Sawdah bint Zam’ah felt as if she was getting old and she was no longer able to carry out the duties expected from a wife. Because of this, she feared that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ would divorce her.
Sawdah addressed the Prophet about this fear and asked him not to divorce her. As well as this, she gave up her allocated night, where the Prophet ﷺ would spend time with her, and requested him to spend it with Aisha bint Abi Bakr instead.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ agreed to Sawdah’s request.
Abdullah ibn Abbas reported: Sawdah feared that she would be divorced by the Messenger of Allah so she said: Do not divorce me, keep me with you and give my day to Aisha.
It is also reported in Sahih Bukhari, that Aisha bint Abi Bakr said: Sawdah gave up her turn for me.
Allah SWT revealed in the Quran regarding this incident: ‘If a woman fears indifference or neglect from her husband, there is no blame on either of them if they seek (fair) settlement, which is best’. (Quran, 4:128)
The Death of Sawdah:
After the death of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Sawdah bint Zam’ah stayed in her house and did not leave.
She was well-renowned for her constant worship to Allah SWT, her frequent fasting and her night prayers.
Sawdah said: I have performed Hajj and Umrah during the time of the Messenger of Allah, so I will remain in my house, as Allah commanded me to do.
Sawdah bint Zam’ah passed away at the age of 85 years old, during the Caliph of Umar ibn al-Khattab. She was buried in the Jannat al-Baqi graveyard in Madinah.