Who Was Sayyidah Aminah the Prophet’s Mother?

The Mother of al-Muṣṭafā, Sayyidah Āminah رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا

The pure and noble Sayyidah Āminah رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا was a most fortunate woman, for she was blessed with the honour of being the mother of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم . Her father’s name was Wahb b. ꜤAbd Manāf, and her mother’s name was Barrah.^[1]

Her Beautiful Qualities

Sayyidah Āminah رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا was an exceedingly pious, God-fearing lady of faith, possessing a pure soul, noble lineage, and honour and dignity. Among the women of the Quraysh, she was the most distinguished in ancestry, lineage and virtue. ^[2]

Marriage

When her father, Wahb b. ꜤAbd Manāf, saw the outstanding qualities of Sayyidunā ꜤAbdullāh  رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ, he developed great love and admiration for him. Upon returning home, he resolved: “I shall wed my beloved daughter (Sayyidah) Āminah رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا to none but (Sayyidunā) ꜤAbdullāh رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ.” Accordingly, through some of his friends, he conveyed this heartfelt wish to Sayyidunā ꜤAbd al-Muṭṭalib  رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ . All the qualities he sought in a bride for his beloved son, Sayyidunā ꜤAbdullāh رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ , were present in Sayyidah Āminah  رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا ; therefore, he gladly accepted this proposal. Thus, at the age of 24, Sayyidunā ꜤAbdullah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ married Sayyidah Āminah  رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا, and the Muhammadan Light, transferring from Sayyidunā ꜤAbdullāh رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ , became manifest in the pure womb of Sayyidah Āminah رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا.^[3]

The Only Child:

The Beloved Prophet, Muhammad al-Muṣṭafā, Aḥmad al-Mujtabā صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was the only child of Sayyidah Āminah  رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا.^[4]

Demise

When she رَضِیَ اللہُ عَنْہَا, accompanied by Sayyidunā ꜤAbd al-Muṭṭalib and Sayyidah Umm Ayman, visited the blessed grave of Sayyidunā ꜤAbdullāh رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ — as was her custom — she passed away on the return journey at Abwa, and was buried there. ^[5]

Allah’s Protection of her Grave:

Some disbelievers once passed through Abwa and intended to exhume the blessed body of Sayyidah Āminah رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا in order to cause distress to the Noble Prophet  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم . However, Allah Almighty, for the sake of honouring the mother of His Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, prevented them from carrying out this impure intention.^[6]

The Extent of His Love for His Mother

Once, the Noble Prophet  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  visited the grave of his mother and wept. When those present asked the reason for his weeping, he said: “I remembered the affection and kindness of my mother, and it made me weep.” ^[7]

The Prophet’s Parents are Believers:

The noble exegetes have cited evidence from the Holy Quran proving that the noble parents of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  are believers. Allah Almighty states:

وَ تَقَلُّبَكَ فِی السّٰجِدِیْنَ(۲۱۹)

Translation from Kanz al- ꜤIrfān: And your movement within those who prostrate.[8]

(Click here for further explanation of this verse)

According to some exegetes, the phrase “those who prostrate” refers to the believers. So, the verse means that from the time of Sayyidunā Ādam عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام and Sayyidah Ḥawwā رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا up to Sayyidunā ꜤAbdullāh and Sayyidah Āminah  رضیَ اللہُ عنہُمَا, the Prophet  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم continued to pass through the loins and wombs of the believers. From this, it is established that all the forefathers of the Prophet  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم from Sayyidunā Ādam عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام are believers.[9]