m. 595

d.619

• wealthy widow owning caravan business; employs Muhammad
• first wife of Muhammad
• seven children from Muhammad; three boys die in childhood, four daughters survive (Qasim, Tayyib, Tahir; Zaynab, Ruqayya, Umm Kulthum, and Fatima)

• source of constant comfort and support for Muhammad in his difficult years 
• support of the Muslim cause through wealth (fi sabil Allah)
• cousin Waraqa b. Naufal is Christina or Jew (?)

• wife of Abu Lahab, "evil" uncle of Muhammad who forgoes protection of Muhammad after death of Abu Talib
• mentioned in the Qur'an (Sura 111 condemns both to hellfire) 

d. 613 ?

• first (female) martyr in Islam
• former slave
• mother of `Ammar b. Yasir

?

• wife of Abu Sufyan
• mutilates Muhammad's uncle Hamza at battle of Uhud, after Hamza had killed her father and brother at the battle of Badr
• epitome of the non-Islamic (Jahilite) woman

? 613 ? - AH 58; age 66. 

• •daughter of Abu Bakr, one of the first male Muslims and later first caliph
• •marries Muhammad after death of Khadijah; allegedly at age nine
• •Accusation of her infidelity creates crisis in the early Muslim community (so-called Hadith al-ifk); exonerated by the Qur'an (24:11ff) 
• •The only virgin bride of Muhammad, and his favorite wife
• •After the death of Muhammad, `A'isha is involved in the "Battle of the Camel," (657) challenging `Ali b. Abu Talib's authority; `A'isha's party looses
• •Famous hadith collector, praised for her intimate knowledge of the life of Muhammad; her hadiths oftentimes challenge more misogynist hadiths from other sources. 

• among the first three women of Medina to convert to Islam
• valiant fighter; participates in many battles, and personally defends Muhammad at the battle of Uhud. 

m. 627CE/AH5 (age 35); d. 20AH

• former wife of Zayd b. Haritha, adopted son of Muhammad; divorcee
• revelation of the hijab (veil) verse (Quran 33:53) 
• controversial marriage