Aqdam أقدام

Companion of the Prophet ﷺ

زينب بنت محمد

رضي الله عنها

Zaynab bint Muhammad

Zaynab bint Muhammad ibn Abdullah al-Hashimiyya al-Qurashiyya

Zaynab bint Muhammad, eldest daughter of the Prophet and Khadijah: loyalty to her husband, patience in hardship and migration, with hadith citations.

  • Eldest daughter of the Prophet
  • Companion who migrated after Badr
A day in her footsteps
  • Family and tribeQuraysh (Banu Hashim)
  • Bornc. 600 CE (approx.)
  • Died629 CE / 8 AH
  • Resting placeMedina (Jannat al-Baqi, per tradition)
  • Counted amongAhl al-Bayt, Muhajirun

Introduction

Zaynab was the eldest daughter of the Prophet and Khadijah. She married her cousin Abu al-As ibn al-Rabi' before the revelation, and she accepted Islam soon after her father's call, while her husband stayed on his old religion for years.

When the Muslims migrated to Medina she stayed in Mecca. After Badr, where Abu al-As was captured, she sent her own property, including a necklace her mother Khadijah had given her, as ransom. The Prophet was moved when he saw it, and he returned the necklace to her and sent her husband back on condition that she be allowed to come to Medina.

Her journey to Medina was hard: she was assaulted on the way and lost her pregnancy. Years later Abu al-As accepted Islam and the Prophet restored her to him on the basis of the original marriage. She died in 8 AH, and the Prophet gave his own garment to be placed next to her body when she was shrouded.

The story

  1. c. 600 CE

    Born in Mecca, eldest daughter of Muhammad and Khadijah.

  2. Before 610 CE

    Married Abu al-As ibn al-Rabi'; Khadijah gave her a necklace as a wedding gift.

    Read the wording
    Sunan Abi Dawud 2692Hasan
    Arabic text

    … أَبِي الْعَاصِ بِمَالٍ وَبَعَثَتْ فِيهِ بِقِلاَدَةٍ لَهَا كَانَتْ عِنْدَ خَدِيجَةَ أَدْخَلَتْهَا بِهَا عَلَى أَبِي الْعَاصِ. قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا رَآهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَقَّ لَهَا رِقَّةً شَدِيدَةً وَقَالَ" إِنْ رَأَيْتُمْ أَنْ تُطْلِقُوا لَهَا أَسِيرَهَا وَتَرُدُّوا عَلَيْهَا الَّذِي لَهَا". فَقَالُوا نَعَمْ. وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَخَذَ عَلَيْهِ أَوْ …

    “a necklace of hers which Khadijah had had”

    Grade: Hasan (al-Albani)

  3. 2 AH / 624 CE

    Sent the ransom for her husband after Badr; the Prophet returned her necklace and arranged for her to join him in Medina.

    Read the wording
    Sunan Abi Dawud 2692Hasan
    Arabic text

    … فِي فِدَاءِ أَسْرَاهُمْ بَعَثَتْ زَيْنَبُ فِي فِدَاءِ أَبِي الْعَاصِ بِمَالٍ وَبَعَثَتْ فِيهِ بِقِلاَدَةٍ لَهَا كَانَتْ عِنْدَ خَدِيجَةَ أَدْخَلَتْهَا بِهَا عَلَى أَبِي الْعَاصِ. قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا رَآهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَقَّ لَهَا رِقَّةً شَدِيدَةً وَقَالَ" إِنْ رَأَيْتُمْ أَنْ تُطْلِقُوا لَهَا أَسِيرَهَا وَتَرُدُّوا عَلَيْهَا الَّذِي لَهَا". فَقَالُوا نَعَمْ. وَكَانَ …

    “Zaynab sent some property to ransom Abul'As”

    Grade: Hasan (al-Albani)

  4. c. 6-7 AH

    Returned to Abu al-As in the first marriage, after about six years, when he accepted Islam.

    Read the wording
    Jami at-Tirmidhi 1143Sahih
    Arabic text

    قَالَ رَدَّ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ابْنَتَهُ زَيْنَبَ عَلَى أَبِي الْعَاصِي بْنِ الرَّبِيعِ بَعْدَ سِتِّ سِنِينَ بِالنِّكَاحِ الأَوَّلِ وَلَمْ يُحْدِثْ نِكَاحًا. قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ لَيْسَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ بَأْسٌ وَلَكِنْ لاَ نَعْرِفُ وَجْهَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ وَلَعَلَّهُ قَدْ جَاءَ هَذَا مِنْ قِبَلِ دَاوُدَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ مِنْ قِبَلِ حِفْظِهِ.

    “after six years in the first marriage without renewing the marriage”

    Grade: Sahih (al-Albani)

  5. 629 CE / 8 AH

    Died; the Prophet ordered how she should be washed and gave his own garment for her shroud.

    Read the wording
    Sahih Muslim 939Sahih
    Arabic text

    … بِنْتِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ أُمِّ عَطِيَّةَ، قَالَتْ لَمَّا مَاتَتْ زَيْنَبُ بِنْتُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم" اغْسِلْنَهَا وِتْرًا ثَلاَثًا أَوْ خَمْسًا وَاجْعَلْنَ فِي الْخَامِسَةِ كَافُورًا أَوْ شَيْئًا مِنْ كَافُورٍ فَإِذَا غَسَلْتُنَّهَا فَأَعْلِمْنَنِي". قَالَتْ فَأَعْلَمْنَاهُ. فَأَعْطَانَا حِقْوَهُ وَقَالَ" أَشْعِرْنَهَا …

    “When Zainab the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) died”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih Muslim)

A day in their footsteps

3 small, repeatable practices from Zaynab bint Muhammad's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.

  1. Standing by her husband and helping him in need

    When her husband was captured at Badr, Zaynab sent property to ransom him, including the necklace from her mother Khadijah. The Prophet was touched by it and asked the Muslims to return her possession and free him.

    Try this today

    Support the people you are bound to in hard times, with your own resources if need be.

    Sit with this

    Whom are you bound to who needs your support in a hard time?

    Source

    Sunan Abi Dawud 2692Hasan

    … فِي فِدَاءِ أَسْرَاهُمْ بَعَثَتْ زَيْنَبُ فِي فِدَاءِ أَبِي الْعَاصِ بِمَالٍ وَبَعَثَتْ فِيهِ بِقِلاَدَةٍ لَهَا كَانَتْ عِنْدَ خَدِيجَةَ أَدْخَلَتْهَا بِهَا عَلَى أَبِي الْعَاصِ. قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا رَآهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَقَّ لَهَا رِقَّةً شَدِيدَةً وَقَالَ" إِنْ رَأَيْتُمْ أَنْ تُطْلِقُوا لَهَا أَسِيرَهَا وَتَرُدُّوا عَلَيْهَا الَّذِي لَهَا". فَقَالُوا نَعَمْ. وَكَانَ …

    “Zaynab sent some property to ransom Abul'As”

    Grade: Hasan (al-Albani)

  2. Keeping her faith when her family was divided

    Zaynab accepted Islam early while her husband stayed on his religion, and she lived with him for years in Mecca. When the Prophet restored her to him after he became Muslim, he did not make any new marriage contract.

    Try this today

    Hold to your faith with patience when those close to you do not yet share it.

    Sit with this

    How do you hold to your faith with patience when those close to you do not share it?

    Source

    Jami at-Tirmidhi 1143Sahih

    قَالَ رَدَّ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ابْنَتَهُ زَيْنَبَ عَلَى أَبِي الْعَاصِي بْنِ الرَّبِيعِ بَعْدَ سِتِّ سِنِينَ بِالنِّكَاحِ الأَوَّلِ وَلَمْ يُحْدِثْ نِكَاحًا. قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ لَيْسَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ بَأْسٌ وَلَكِنْ لاَ نَعْرِفُ وَجْهَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ وَلَعَلَّهُ قَدْ جَاءَ هَذَا مِنْ قِبَلِ دَاوُدَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ مِنْ قِبَلِ حِفْظِهِ.

    “The Prophet returned his daughter Zainab to Abul-As bin Ar-Rabi after six years in the first marriage without renewing the marriage”

    Grade: Sahih (al-Albani)

  3. A mother whom the Prophet carried in prayer

    Her daughter Umamah was carried by the Prophet on his shoulder during prayer. He would put her down when he prostrated and lift her again when he stood up.

    Try this today

    Make room for children in your life, even in the middle of worship.

    Sit with this

    Do children have a place in your life, even in your worship?

    Sources

    Sahih al-Bukhari 516Sahih

    أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يُصَلِّي وَهْوَ حَامِلٌ أُمَامَةَ بِنْتَ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلأَبِي الْعَاصِ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ شَمْسٍ، فَإِذَا سَجَدَ وَضَعَهَا، وَإِذَا قَامَ حَمَلَهَا.

    “he was carrying Umama the daughter of Zainab”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih al-Bukhari)

    Sahih Muslim 543Sahih

    أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يُصَلِّي وَهُوَ حَامِلٌ أُمَامَةَ بِنْتَ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلأَبِي الْعَاصِ بْنِ الرَّبِيعِ فَإِذَا قَامَ حَمَلَهَا وَإِذَا سَجَدَ وَضَعَهَا قَالَ يَحْيَى قَالَ مَالِكٌ نَعَمْ.

    “Umama, daughter of Abu'l-'As”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih Muslim)

Virtues

  • The Prophet praised her husband Abu al-As: he proved truthful in whatever he said to me.

    “he proved truthful in whatever he said to me”

    Arabic text

    … فَحَدَّثَنِي وَصَدَقَنِي، وَإِنَّ فَاطِمَةَ بَضْعَةٌ مِنِّي، وَإِنِّي أَكْرَهُ أَنْ يَسُوءَهَا، وَاللَّهِ لاَ تَجْتَمِعُ بِنْتُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَبِنْتُ عَدُوِّ اللَّهِ عِنْدَ رَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ". فَتَرَكَ عَلِيٌّ الْخِطْبَةَ. وَزَادَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ حَلْحَلَةَ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ مِسْوَرٍ، سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَذَكَرَ …

    Sahih al-Bukhari 3729Sahih

  • The Prophet gave his own garment to be placed next to her body when she was shrouded.

    “he gave to us his (own) under-garment”

    Arabic text

    … أُمِّ عَطِيَّةَ، قَالَتْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْنَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَنَحْنُ نَغْسِلُ ابْنَتَهُ فَقَالَ" اغْسِلْنَهَا ثَلاَثًا أَوْ خَمْسًا أَوْ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ إِنْ رَأَيْتُنَّ ذَلِكَ بِمَاءٍ وَسِدْرٍ وَاجْعَلْنَ فِي الآخِرَةِ كَافُورًا أَوْ شَيْئًا مِنْ كَافُورٍ فَإِذَا فَرَغْتُنَّ فَآذِنَّنِي". فَلَمَّا فَرَغْنَا آذَنَّاهُ فَأَلْقَى إِلَيْنَا حِقْوَهُ فَقَالَ" أَشْعِرْنَهَا …

    Sahih Muslim 939Sahih

  • He was visibly moved when he saw Khadijah's necklace that Zaynab sent as ransom for her husband.

    “he felt great tenderness about it”

    Arabic text

    … فَلَمَّا رَآهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَقَّ لَهَا رِقَّةً شَدِيدَةً وَقَالَ" إِنْ رَأَيْتُمْ أَنْ تُطْلِقُوا لَهَا أَسِيرَهَا وَتَرُدُّوا عَلَيْهَا الَّذِي لَهَا". فَقَالُوا نَعَمْ. وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَخَذَ عَلَيْهِ أَوْ وَعَدَهُ أَنْ يُخَلِّيَ سَبِيلَ زَيْنَبَ إِلَيْهِ وَبَعَثَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم زَيْدَ بْنَ حَارِثَةَ وَرَجُلاً مِنَ …

    Sunan Abi Dawud 2692Hasan

  • The Prophet carried her daughter Umamah during the prayer.

    “carrying Umamah daughter of Abul'As ibn ar-Rabi'”

    Arabic text

    … يَقُولُ بَيْنَا نَحْنُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ جُلُوسٌ خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَحْمِلُ أُمَامَةَ بِنْتَ أَبِي الْعَاصِ بْنِ الرَّبِيعِ وَأُمُّهَا زَيْنَبُ بِنْتُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهِيَ صَبِيَّةٌ يَحْمِلُهَا عَلَى عَاتِقِهِ فَصَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهِيَ عَلَى عَاتِقِهِ يَضَعُهَا إِذَا رَكَعَ وَيُعِيدُهَا إِذَا قَامَ حَتَّى قَضَى …

    Sunan Abi Dawud 918Sahih

Words on this page

Badrبدر
The first major battle between the Muslims and Quraysh, in 2 AH. Those who fought there hold a special rank among the Companions.
Hadithحديث
A report of what the Prophet ﷺ said, did or approved, passed down through a chain of narrators.
Madinahالمدينة
The city, formerly Yathrib, to which the Prophet ﷺ migrated and where the first Muslim community was built.
Makkahمكة
The city of the Ka'bah, where the Prophet ﷺ was born and revelation began.

The full glossary

Sources and review

Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com. Each report links to sunnah.com, and, where the numbering matches, to al-Hadees or HadithUnlocked as well. Quran verses link to quran.com, Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Tanzil. The Arabic is taken from the hadith editions and trimmed around the quoted words, so read the full report at the source before relying on it. Grades are the ones those editions give.

This page is pending scholar review. It was compiled from public sources, and its citations were last checked on 7 October 2026. If you notice a mistake or a missing source, please tell us.

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