زَيْنَبُ بِنْتُ مُحَمَّد
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا
Zaynab bint Muhammad ﷺ
Eldest daughter of the Prophet ﷺ · Wife of Abu-l 'As · Injured emigrating to Madinah
may Allah be pleased with her
Quraysh — Banu Hashim · Makkah and Madinah, up to some years after the Hijrah
The eldest of the Prophet's ﷺ daughters, married to Abu-l 'As ibn ar-Rabi' before the prophetic mission began. She sent her own necklace as part of his ransom after he was captured at Badr, and was later attacked and injured on the road while emigrating to Madinah, which his release had made a condition.
Known for
Eldest daughter of the Prophet ﷺ and Khadijah
She married Abu-l 'As ibn ar-Rabi' before the prophetic mission began
He did not accept Islam when the rest of her family did, and the marriage continued regardless for some years.
She sent her own necklace, a gift from her mother Khadijah, as part of her husband's ransom after Badr
She was attacked and thrown from her mount while emigrating to Madinah, and was injured
Her husband's release after Badr had been made conditional on her going to her father. The party escorting her out of Makkah was overtaken and threatened; she was frightened into a fall.
Her story in moments
Short episodes from her life, in order. Read one at a time.
Life & legacy
Makkah, and Badr
Zaynab was the eldest of the Prophet's ﷺ daughters by Khadijah, and was married to her cousin Abu-l 'As ibn ar-Rabi' before the prophetic mission began. When it began and the rest of her family accepted Islam, he did not, and the marriage continued across that difference for some years.
He fought on the Makkan side at Badr and was taken captive. Zaynab, still in Makkah, sent toward his ransom, and among what she sent was, by report, a necklace that had belonged to her mother, given to her at her own wedding. The Prophet ﷺ is reported to have been visibly moved on seeing it, and Abu-l 'As was released without further payment as a kindness to her.
The release carried a condition: that Zaynab go to Madinah to join her father. Abu-l 'As agreed, and arranged for her to leave, though he did not accept Islam himself at that point.
The Hijrah, and after
What happened on the road out of Makkah is set out in the moment below. She reached Madinah injured, and rejoined the Muslim community there while Abu-l 'As remained in Makkah, on the opposing side of an ongoing conflict, for some years yet.
She had children with Abu-l 'As; a son who did not live to adulthood, and a daughter, Umamah, who is mentioned in later reports.
Reports place her death some years after her Hijrah, and do not agree closely on the year.
How the sources describe her
She stayed married to a husband who had not accepted her father's message, across a difference that lasted years
She went through with the journey to Madinah despite the danger on the road
Connect
People around her
Family
- The Prophet Muhammad ﷺParent
Her father. She was the eldest of his daughters.
Her mother. The necklace sent as part of her husband's ransom is reported to have been Khadijah's.
Her husband, married to her before the prophetic mission. He did not accept Islam when she did, and was reunited with her years later after he did.
Her sister, the youngest of the Prophet's ﷺ daughters.
Full timeline
- Before the prophetic mission
Marries Abu-l 'As ibn ar-Rabi', before the prophetic mission began
- 2 AH approximate
Sends her necklace as part of her husband's ransom after Badr
- 2 AH approximate
Emigrates to Madinah, and is injured on the road
- Some years after the Hijrah reports differThe sources do not agree closely on the year.
Dies, some years after the Hijrah
Part of
Sources & review
In reviewBased on the listed sources. See something to correct? Tell us.
Sahih al-Bukhariصحيح البخاري
Hadith collection · Muhammad ibn Isma'il al-Bukhari
As-Sirah an-Nabawiyyahالسيرة النبوية
Classical biography · Ibn Hisham, from the recension of Ibn Ishaq
Kitab at-Tabaqat al-Kabirالطبقات الكبرى
Classical biography · Ibn Sa'd
Al-Isabah fi Tamyiz as-Sahabahالإصابة في تمييز الصحابة
Classical biography · Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani
Siyar A'lam an-Nubalaسير أعلام النبلاء
Classical biography · Shams ad-Din adh-Dhahabi
SahabaMate editorial summary
Editorial summary
References follow the citation detail available in the source material.
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