What do we actually know about the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) when it comes to his family? Who were the Prophets’ grandparents, parents, children and wives? How can we follow or even relate to someone if we don’t know much about their life?
Now let’s talk about the family of the Prophet (pbuh)…
Parents
The parents of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) were noble and pious people. They were free from all the evils of their society and never worshipped idols.
Abdullah, the Prophet’s (pbuh) father, belonged to a very famous tribe in Makkah called Quraysh. Shortly before the Prophet's (pbuh) birth while Abdullah was on a trade journey he fell ill and passed away.
Aminah, the Prophet’s (pbuh) mother, came from the Banu Zuhra tribe in Yathrib (Madinah). Whilst on a journey to take her young son to visit his father’s grave Aminah fell ill and passed away also. The Prophet (pbuh) faced both deaths at just six years old.
Grandparents
Abdul Muttalib the grandfather of the Prophet (pbuh) took care of him after the death of his mother Aminah. He surrounded the young child with love and affection and looked after him as if he was his own son. When the Prophet (pbuh) reached eight years of age his grandfather whom he loved dearly passed away.
Fatimah bint Amr was the Prophet’s grandmother. She was married to Abdul Muttalib ibn Hashim. Her full name was Fatimah daughter of `Amr ibn `A'idh ibn `Imran ibn Makhzum. Her mother's name was Sahre and Sahre's mother was Tahmur. Tahmur was the daughter of Ubeyd, the son of Qusai.
Uncles
In total the Prophet (pbuh) had nine uncles. They were Abu Talib, Hamza, Abbas, Abu Lahab, Haaris, Zubair, Gaidaq, Almaqoon and Zarrar. However not all of them accepted Islam. Out of the nine only two accepted Islam - Hamza and Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them).
Abu Talib took over the care of the Prophet (pbuh) after the death of his grandfather Abdul Mutalib. Even though Abu Talib wasn’t a Muslim he was a loving guardian to the Prophet (pbuh) and treated him as his very own son, raising the young Muhammad (pbuh) with overwhelming love. Whilst he was alive he provided his nephew with full protection from the Quraysh and declared war on anyone who tried to hurt him.
Hamza (ra) and Muhammad (pbuh) were raised together as they were almost the same age. Even before Hamza (ra) became a Muslim he still loved and protected the Prophet (pbuh) from the enemies of Islam. The day he became a Muslim was considered a great victory for Islam as he was a very brave and strong man. Due to his great physical strength he was given the name Asadullah (The Lion of Allah).
Abu Lahab was a bitter enemy of Islam and the Prophet (pbuh). Even though the Prophet (pbuh) was his nephew it didn’t stop him from hurting and scolding him. Along with his wife Umm Jameel they subjected the Prophet (pbuh) to severe cruelty and abuse.
Abbas (ra) was a paternal uncle and companion of the Prophet (pbuh), just a few years older than his nephew. Abbas was one of the youngest brothers of the Prophet's father. A wealthy merchant, during the early years of Islam he protected Muhammad while he was in Mecca, but only became a convert after the Battle of Badr
Aunties
In total the Prophet’s (pbuh) paternal aunties were Affiyah, Umm-ul Hakim, Barrah, Atikah, Saffiyah, Arwa and Umaimah. Among the blessed Prophet's paternal aunts, only Afiyya embraced Islam although some say that Arwa and Atika also converted.
Afiyya daughter of ‘Abdul-Mutallib
She was the wife of ‘Awwam ibn al-Khuwailid, brother of Khadija, Mother of the Believers. Az-Zubair ibn al-’Awwam is son of the above-mentioned Afiyya, a disciple of the Messenger of Allah(pbuh). She also gave birth to al-Sa'ib who was martyred at Yamama.
Wives - Ummahat ul Mumineen (Mothers of the Faithful)
The wives of the Prophet (pbuh) were given the title ‘Ummahat-ul Mumineen’ by Allah (swt) through the Prophet (pbuh). Each of them were exceptional women in their own way, making them exemplary role models for all Muslimahs to learn about and follow.
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (ra) was a wealthy businesswoman and it was her prosperous trading business that the Prophet (pbuh) worked for. After the death of her husband she refused offers of marriage from many noble Qurayshi men and instead sent a proposal of marriage to the Prophet (pbuh) which he accepted. The year in which Khadijah (ra) died is known in Islamic history as ‘The Year of Sorrow’. During this year not only did the Prophet (pbuh) lose his first, beloved wife but also his uncle Abu Talib.
Sawdah bint Zam'a Sawdah (ra) was the first woman to emigrate to Abyssinia in the way of Allah (swt). She married the Prophet (pbuh) after the death of her first husband. After the marriage she immediately took over the care of the Prophet (pbuh), his household and became a mother figure to his young daughters.
Aisha bint Abu Bakr (ra) was the daugher of the Prophet’s (pbuh) closest companion Abu Bakr (ra). Aisha (ra) was a beautiful, generous and an extremely intelligent young woman who was quick to learn and had a very accurate memory. Aisha (ra) is one of four people who have transmitted more than 2,000 Hadith. It was in Aisha’s (ra) arms that the Prophet (pbuh) passed away.
Hafsa bint 'Umar (ra) was the daughter of Umar (ra) – a close companion of the Prophet (pbuh) and the second Caliph. Her first husband died leaving her a widow while she was still very young. Her marriage to the Prophet (pbuh) strengthened the ties between two of the Prophet’s (pbuh) closest companions, who would later become the first two rightly guided Caliphs of Islam, as he was married to both their daughters.
Zaynab bint Khuzayma (ra) offered her hand in marriage to the Prophet (pbuh) after her husband was martyred in the battle of Badr. She was only with the Prophet (pbuh) for a few months after marriage as she passed away. Due to her generosity to orphans she was known as Umm-ul Maskeen (Mother of the Poor).
Umm Salma bint Abi Umayya (ra) and her husband were among the first people to embrace Islam. Her first husband though passed away and seeing her struggle to support her beloved children the Prophet (pbuh) proposed to her. By marrying Umm Salma (ra) the Prophet (pbuh) could be a father to her children and help them without it seeming like he was giving them charity.
Zaynab bint Jahsh (ra) was the Prophet’s (pbuh) cousin sister – the daughter of his paternal aunt. Zaynab (ra) married the Prophet (pbuh) after the divorce of her first marriage which had been to the adopted son of the Holy Prophet (pbuh). This marriage confirmed that it is permissible for cousins to marry and also that in Islam an adopted son is not regarded the same as a natural son – as a father is not allowed to marry a woman who was previously married to his natural son, but this marriage to his adopted sons ex-wife was permissible and ordered by Allah (swt).
Juwayriya bint al-Harith (ra) was a very beautiful young lady. Her father and first husband were enemies of Islam. The marriage between the Prophet (pbuh) and Juwayriya (ra) united the two sides and helped break down enmity to Islam and extinguish the intense hatred towards Muslims, as the tradition was to honour your in-laws.
Umm Habiba bint Abi Sufyan (ra) was the daughter of Abu Sufyan who later accepted Islam but who for part of his life was one of the most resolute enemies of the Prophet (pbuh) leading many armies in the battles against Muslims. Her marriage to the Prophet (pbuh) clearly demonstrated to Muslims that the sins of a parent should not be taken out on their children.
Safiyya bint Huyayy’s (ra) father, like Umm Habiba’s (ra), planned to assassinate the Prophet (pbuh) yet the Prophet (pbuh) still invited her to join Islam which she did. The Prophet (pbuh) then proposed to her and she accepted. Safiyya (ra) was a wise, loyal and caring woman who maintained close ties with her Jewish relatives.
Maymuna bint al-Harith (ra) was a relative of the Prophet (pbuh) and also the half-sister of Zaynab bint Khuzayma (ra). Maymuna (ra) sent forward an offer of marriage to the Prophet (pbuh) which he accepted. Maymuna (ra) was good-natured and got on well with everyone including all the other wives of the Prophet (pbuh).
Maria al-Qibtiyya (ra) father was a Copt (Egyptian Christian) and her mother was a Christian Greek. Maria (ra) gave birth to a son who the Prophet (pbuh) named Ibrahim after the great Prophet (as). However the child while still very young became seriously ill and died. This relationship, along with the marriage to Safiyya (ra), taught all Muslims to be respectful of other religions and helped wipe out bigotry from the Muslim community.
Children
The Prophet (pbuh) and Khadijah (ra) had six children – four daughters and two sons . The Prophet (pbuh) also had a son with Maria (ra). Sadly all the sons of the Prophet (pbuh), Abdullah, Qasim and Ibrahim died in infancy.
Zainab (ra) was the eldest of the Prophet’s (pbuh) four daughters. She married her first cousin Abul 'Aas (ra) who was the son of her maternal aunt Hala (ra). He hadn’t accepted Islam at the time of the marriage but was always a loving and devoted husband to Zainab (ra) and good son-in-law to the Prophet (pbuh). Zainab (ra) experienced many hardships in her life, including being severely wounded for her love and support of Islam.
Ruqaiyyah (ra) was the second eldest daughter of the Prophet (pbuh). Her first marriage to Utba ended in divorce after his father, the Prophet’s (pbuh) uncle Abu Lahab, forced him to divorce her. Her second marriage was to Uthman(ra) who himself experienced cruel torture from the non-believers. Ruqaiyyah (ra) was a very virtuous lady who endured many hardships courageously. She was only in her early twenties when she passed away.
Umm-e Kulthum (ra) was the second youngest daughter of the Holy Prophet (pbuh). Like Ruqaiyyah (ra) she too was first married to Abu Lahab’s son, the youngest Utaiba, but like his brother he divorced his young wife at the order of his parents. After the death of Ruqaiyyah (ra), the Prophet (pbuh) gave Umm-e Kulthum’s (ra) hand in marriage to Uthman (ra). They both shared an exemplary marriage but were only together for a few years when Umm-e Kulthum (ra) became ill and passed away.
Fatima (ra) was the Prophet’s (pbuh) youngest daughter and shared a very close relationship with her father. She was a very hard-working and noble woman and despite being very poor herself she was very generous to others. The Prophet (pbuh) gave her hand in marriage to his cousin Ali (ra), the son of his uncle Abu Talib. Fatima (ra) was the Prophet’s (pbuh) only living child at the time of his death, but she passed away shortly after in the month of Ramadan. The Prophet (pbuh) stated Fatima (ra) was one of the four most perfect, spritual and exalted ladies in the world.
Grandchildren
Zainab (ra) had two sons and a daughter. One of her sons died in infancy but her other son Ali shared a close relationship with his grandfather, the Holy Prophet (pbuh). Her daughter Umama (ra) was also close to her grandfather who often spoilt her with gifts.
Ruqaiyyah (ra) with her husband Uthman(ra) had a son Abdullah but he died at a young age.
Fatima (ra) and Ali (ra), who later became the fourth Caliph of Islam, had six children: Hassan, Hussain, Mohsin, Ruqaiyyah, Umm-e Kulthum and Zainab. Sadly Mohsin and Ruqaiyyah died in childhood. Hassan and Hussain were particularly close to the Prophet (pbuh) who dearly loved them. Through both his appearance and character Hassan (ra) often reminded others of the Prophet (pbuh).
Comments
I love this.
They brought a necklace to the prophet (PBUH) and said: “O Messenger of Allah! This is the ransom for Abul A’as bin al Rabee’. The Prophet (PBUH) looked at it; tears started flowing down his cheeks. The companions were quite puzzled...why would the Prophet
cry at the sight of a necklace? Indeed that necklace had a story; but what was it? It was a love story that had two sides, one related to the Prophet 
and the other his daughter Zainab (ra)
Abul A’as bin al Rabee’ was Zainab’s cousin. He came to the Prophet
before Islam, asking for her hand in marriage. The Prophet 
said; “I cannot answer you until I have asked the girl."
"O Zainab! Your cousin Abul A’as has mentioned you. What do you say?" The shy girl did not say a word but smiled and blushed. The Prophet
knew that his girl (the elder of his 4 girls) had just consented.
For her wedding, her mother Khadijah (ra) presented her with her own expensive necklace as her wedding gift. Zainab put it on, and the Prophet
saw it on his daughter’s neck as he had seen it on his wife’s before. It was a happy night in the life of the father, the mother, and the daughter. Zainab loved her husband and they both lived happily. She had a boy and a girl by him: Umamah and ‘Ali.
Abul A’as was a businessman which meant that he would travel quite often. During one of his travels the Prophet
was sent by Allah, with the Message of Islam. So Khadijah and all of her daughters (ra) embraced the new religion. Abul A’as came home and his wife,so happy, and excited, told him the news.
"My father has been sent as a Messenger by Allah to invite all people to worship Allah. My mother and all of my sisters became Muslim, and so did I."
“You should have waited until I came”, he said.
"But He is my father and I would never belie him nor would he ever lie to us. I want you to follow the new religion."
“No!” He said. “I shall never turn away from the faith of my fathers, and forefathers. Would you not understand my situation? Can you give me the benefit of the doubt?"
"Who would understand you if I couldn’t? I am your wife, and will always help you with the truth until you accept it."
She remained faithful to him for the next 20 years. However, she was sad at his decision. But she still loved him and wanted to continue to live with him and perhaps one day he would become a believer. At the time of (al hijra) migration to Madinah, Zainab (ra) asked the Prophet
to allow her to stay with her husband. He allowed her to do that. All of her sisters, however, migrated.
The difference in faith between Zainab and her husband continued to pose a problem in their married life. There were confrontations between the Muslims in Madinah, and the pagans in Makkah. Yet Zainab (ra) continued to be the faithful wife who loved and cared for her husband even though a time would come and test that love.
She loved her father, and Islam more. She always feared the time when her husband would fight against her father. She said: “I fear a day when my children would lose their father or I would lose my father.”
In the first battle between the Muslims, and the pagans of Makkah, the believers were victorious and Abul A’as fell captive in the hands of the Muslims. The Messenger of Allah
gave the captives two choices: . Let those who can read, and write teach ten of the Muslims how to read and write. The others can be ransomed by their family.
Back in Makkah, Zainab (ra) was anxious about her father. She did not want to see her husband fight against her father, the Prophet (saw). She asked: "What did my father do?", “Victory was his”, they said. She thanked Allah and prostrated to Him. She then asked: "What happened to my husband?" “His father- in- law has taken him captive.” They said.
She did not have anything to ransom him with except her necklace. She took it off & gave it to her brother-in-law to take to her father. So that her husband could be free, and come back to her, and his children. Now the Prophet
has the necklace in his hands, and his tears are flowing down his cheeks. He remembered both his wife Khadijah (ra) and his daughter Zainab (ra). He loved Khadijah (ra) so much, whenever he thought of her, he would have tears in his eyes. . He remembered that day when his daughter wore the necklace for the first time and how happy she was. Now he knew how difficult for her to be alone especially that the Kuffar of Makkah would always harass her and blame her for everything because her father was the Prophet (saw).
The Prophet
missed his wife, and daughter.
He told his companions, this is Zainab’s necklace. If you wish you can send it back to her and release her husband or if you wish you can keep the necklace. That is how the Prophet
pleaded to his companions to allow his daughter to keep her necklace.
When Abul A’as was ready to leave, the Prophet
told him to send Zainab(ra) to Madinah. Allah has revealed that Muslim women could no longer marry non-Muslim men nor could the married ones stay with their non-Muslim husbands, Abul A’as told his wife about the decision of the Prophet 
and the orders of Allah. He was not a believer, but he promised his father-in-law to send his daughter to Madinah.
It was not easy for Zainab (ra) to leave her husband nor was it for him to leave her. She still loved him and his children loved him. She wanted him to be Muslim so they could live together as Muslims with the Prophet
in Madinah. But Abul A’as continued to refuse to change from the ways of his fathers. Zainab(ra) was sad but she submitted to the will of Allah (swt). She told him to accompany her to Madinah and return after he had secured them there. He refused as he was afraid to even take her to the outskirts of Makkah, where he agreed to leave her for the companions of the Prophet 
to take her from. He sent his brother with her.
As they were leaving, the Makkans found out. So they stopped them and started to harass her. His brother, though a non-believer, did not accept to see his brother’s wife being harassed like that, so he spread out all of his arrows. There were twenty arrows, he said: "You can take her but before you do that I will have killed twenty of you and then you kill me." Abu Sufyan, who was one of them, told him:"We have no desire to break a fight with you. Pick up your arrows, and leave, but don’t do it in the middle of the day challenging us."
Zainab (ra) lived in Madinah near the Prophet’s
houses. She raised her children alone. She had many offers for marriage, but refused them all. She was still hoping that Abul A’as would one day come back and accept Islam. In one of his travels, Abul A’as was captured by the Muslims, and brought to Madinah. He had the money of Qureish which he had earned from a trade he had done for them. He asked to be allowed to see his children. So he was led to Zainab’s (ra) house. There Zainab (ra) was surprised to see him but at the same time happy. She told him to stay in her house and no one would harm him. She went to the Prophet 
but he was in the Masjid with his companions.
She looked into the Masjid and proclaimed loudly: "I have given sanctuary to Abul A’as bin al Rabee’"
“Did you hear what I heard?” The Prophet (PBUH) exclaimed.
“O Messenger of Allah! Abul A’as is my cousin, and the father of my children”. She said
“This is a man whom I do not degrade as a son-in-law”, the Prophet (PBUH) said. “He had spoken to me, and told me the truth, and promised me, and fulfilled his promise. If you agree to give him back his money and let him go I shall be happy with that. But if you wish otherwise, then it is up to you.”
They all said: “We will do what pleases you O Messenger of Allah”.
Then the Prophet
turned to his daughter and said: “We have agreed to your sanctuary O Zainab!” He then told her to be kind to him, and hospitable as he was her cousin, and the father of her children. But “do not let him touch you as he is forbidden for you.”
She went to her cousin and told him: "O Abul A’as! Haven’t you had enough of being away from us? Why can’t you become Muslim and stay with us?" .."He said “No!” He took the money and left, but leaving behind a woman who truly loved him and waited all these years for him.
On his way back to Makkah he started thinking of her. He knew he was still in love with her. He knew how kind the Prophet
was with him and how the companions (ra) treated him. He knew first and foremost that Zainab being the lady she was would never be without marriage all these years except for one reason: She loved him and wished for his return. What he did not know was why he still held on to a tradition that had no grounds.
He arrived at Makkah, gave the money to his clients and came back to Madinah. He met the Prophet
and said: “O Messenger of Allah! Yesterday you freed me and today I am coming to you declaring my acceptance of Islam”. He then declared his shahaadah.
"Would you allow me to get back with my wife again?" “Come with me!” The Prophet
said.
“O Zainab! Your cousin Abul A’as has come asking to be back with you. Do you accept?” Zainab (ra) did not say a word but smiled and blushed. The Prophet
knew that she had just consented.
Zainab (ra) and Abul A’as lived happily together but only for one more year. Zainab (ra) died putting an end to one of most beautiful love stories. After six years of waiting for her beloved he finally joined them and after a year of so much happiness under the shade of Islam, the beloved wife died. Abul A’as cried bitterly at the loss of Zainab. He used to say: “I cannot live without Zainab." He died a year after Zainab’s death. May Allah be pleased with them both
"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi
this is so beautiful! where did you get it from TPOS? is there more? i like the style of writing.
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
Sorry I don't remember. Maybe from some sort of blog or something, google it and see what comes up
"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi
Sorry...Can't understand the point about Prophet(PBUH) marrying his adopted Daughter-in-Law.
Is this really true? or a later invention of some Kuffr text
She was the *ex*-wife of his adopted son, the point was to show that it's not wrong to marry her, just because she was married to Zaid (ra) especially as the Prophet
was not Zaid (ra) real father - and he did not replace him either. Otherwise it would've been looked down upon in that Arab society.
Islamically are father's allowed to marry their biological sons' ex-wifes?
"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi
His Aunt, Safiyyah also accepted Islam
Fantastic
JazakhAllah