Prophet Muhammad ﷺ’s wives or what usually known as Ummahatul mu’minin (Mothers of believers) are some of the most important women in the history of Islam and Prophet Muhammad ﷺs life. They were the ones who took care of his personal life is his prophetic years. And they are consider as mothers for Islamic ummah as stated in this verse:
ٱلنَّبِىُّ أَوْلَىٰ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ وَأَزْوَٰجُهُۥٓ أُمَّهَٰتُهُمْ ۗ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَرْحَامِ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلَىٰ بِبَعْضٍ فِى كِتَٰبِ ٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُهَٰجِرِينَ إِلَّآ أَن تَفْعَلُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَوْلِيَآئِكُم مَّعْرُوفًا ۚ كَانَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱلْكِتَٰبِ مَسْطُورًا
The Prophet is more worthy of the believers than themselves, and his wives are [in the position of] their mothers. And those of [blood] relationship are more entitled [to inheritance] in the decree of Allah than the [other] believers and the emigrants, except that you may do to your close associates a kindness [through bequest]. That was in the Book inscribed. (Surah Al-Ahzab: 6)
Some of Ummahatul mu’minin were still living after the passing of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and they keep on becoming important part of Islamic society until their passings. But as we know, one of the special rules for Prophet Muhammad ﷺ family is that they are not allowed to receive zakat. This leave us with a question: “how Ummahatul mu’minin earned a living after the passing of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ?”
Who are Ummahatul Mu’minin (Mothers of believers)?
Ummahatul mu’minin (Mothers of believers) are the the wives of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and they are:
- Sayyidatina Khadija bint Khuwaylid (68 B.H-3 B.H; 556-619 C.E)
- Sayyidatina ‘Aisha bint Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (9 B.H-58 A.H; 613-678 C.E)
- Sayyidatina Sawda bint Zam‘a (passed away 54 A.H/673 C.E)
- Sayyidatina Hafsa bint ‘Umar al-Faruq (passed away 45 A.H/665 C.E)
- Sayyidatina Umm Salama, Hind bint Abi Umayya al-Makhzumiyya (passed away 62 A.H/681 C.E)
- Sayyidatina Juwayriya bint al-Harith (passed away 56 A.H/675 C.E)
- Sayyidatina Zaynab bint Jahsh al-Asadiya (passed away 20 A.H/641 C.E)
- Sayyidatina Zaynab bint Khuzayma al-Hilaliyya (passed away 4 A.H/625 C.E)
(she was called the “mother of the poor”) - Sayyidatina Umm Habiba, Ramla bint Abi Sufyan (passed away 44 A.H/664 C.E)
- Sayyidatina Safiyya bint Huyayy (passed away 50 A.H/670 C.E or 52 A.H/672 C.E)
- Sayyidatina Maymuna bint al-Harith al-Hilaliyya (passed away 61 A.H/680 C.E)
They are considered the most superior of Islamic women as stated in this verse:
يٰنِسَآءَ النَّبِىِّ لَسۡتُنَّ كَاَحَدٍ مِّنَ النِّسَآءِ اِنِ اتَّقَيۡتُنَّ فَلَا تَخۡضَعۡنَ بِالۡقَوۡلِ فَيَـطۡمَعَ الَّذِىۡ فِىۡ قَلۡبِهٖ مَرَضٌ وَّقُلۡنَ قَوۡلًا مَّعۡرُوۡفًا ۚ
O wives of the prophet, you are not like any other women, if you observe taqwā (righteousness). So, do not be too soft in your speech, lest someone having disease in his heart should develop fancies (about you); and do speak with appropriate words. (Surah Al-Ahzab:32)
Also read: 6 Secrets of Success from Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Khadijah in Managing a Blessed Business
The Prohibition of Sadaqah and Zakat for Prophet Muhammad ﷺs Wifes
Because they are considered as ahlul bait (Prophet Muhammad ﷺs family), Prophet Muhammad ﷺs wives are prohibited from receiving zakat and sadaqah as stated in this hadith:
إِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ لَا تَنْبَغِي لِآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ إِنَّمَا هِيَ أَوْسَاخُ النَّاسِ
“The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘zakah should not be given to the family of Muhammad ﷺ because it is from the dirt of the people.’” (Narrated by Muslim, al-zakah, 1784).
With this hadith as a reference, Prophet Muhammad ﷺs wifes can’t receive any help in form of zakat and sadaqah after the passing of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
How Prophet Muhammad ﷺs Wifes Got a Living after His Passing
Prophet Muhammad ﷺs wives didn’t got his inheritance as stated in this hadith:
عن عائشة رضي الله عنها: أن أزواج النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم حين توفي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أَرَدْنَ أن يبعثْنَ عثمان إلى أبي بكر يسألنه ميراثهن، فقالت عائشة: أليس قد قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «لا نورث، ما تركنا صدقةٌ»
From Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her: When the Prophet, peace be upon him, passed away, his wives wanted to send Uthman to Abu Bakr to ask him about their inheritance. Aisha said, ‘Didn’t the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, say, “We do not inherit, and what we left is charity”?’(Muttafaqun Alaih)
So as a compensation of that, they were allowed to live in their initial house that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ left for them as it was already transferred to their ownership before his passing. As for their living, it was taken from fa’i (wealth left by Chaliphate opponents without war) as narrated by Abu Hurairah Radhiyallahu anhu:
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «لا يَقْتَسِمُ وَرَثَتي دينارًا ولا درهمًا، ما تَرَكْتُ بَعْدَ نَفَقَة نسائي، ومئونَة عامِلي فهو صَدَقة
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘My heirs shall not divide my estate into dinars or dirhams. Whatever I leave behind after paying for my wife’s expenses and my workers’ wages is charity.’(Muttafaqun Alaih)
The explanation is: Since even after his passing, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ still has right over fa’i as stated in surah Al Hasyr verse 7:
مَا أَفَاءَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْقُرَىٰ فَلِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ وَلِذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ كَيْ لَا يَكُونَ دُولَةً بَيْنَ الْأَغْنِيَاءِ مِنْكُمْ ۚ وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ
Whatever spoils of war (fai-i) Allah has given to His Messenger (from the property) of the inhabitants of the cities, it is for Allah, for the Messenger, for the relatives, for the orphans, for the poor, and for those who are travelling, so that it does not circulate only among the rich among you. Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it; and whatever he forbids you, refrain from it. And fear Allah. Verily, Allah’s punishment is severe.
Every fa’i that was allocated for him after his passing must be allocated to his wives needs first. So Prophet Muhammad ﷺs wifes always got the living after his passing from fa’i won by Muslims soldiers in various encounters with opponents.
Also read: Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as a Role Model of Character Education
Conclusion
The lives of Ummahatul mu’minin (the Mothers of the Believers) after the passing of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ remind us of their unique status and the special rulings that applied exclusively to them. Although they could not receive zakat or inherit from the Prophet ﷺ, Allah ﷻ honored them through other means by granting them permanent residence in their homes and by allocating for them a rightful portion from fa’i, ensuring their dignity and well-being until their final days.
Their lives stand as a testimony to the honor of being part of the Prophet ﷺ’s household, and a reminder for the ummah to respect, cherish, and study their legacy with deep reverence. May Allah ﷻ be pleased with them all and allow us to benefit from their examples.
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Devin Halim Wijaya, B.B.A, M.Sc
Independent Sharia Consultant
Instagram: @devinhalimwijaya
Linkedin: @devinhalim
References
Surah Al-Ahzab – 32 – Quran.com. (2025). Quran.com. https://quran.com/al-ahzab/32
Surat Al-Hasyr Ayat 7. (2015). Tafsir AlQuran Online. https://tafsirq.com/59-al-hasyr/ayat-7
شرح وترجمة حديث: لا يقتسم ورثتي دينارا ولا درهما ما تركت بعد نفقة نسائي، ومئونة عاملي فهو صدقة – موسوعة الأحاديث النبوية. (2025). موسوعة الأحاديث النبوية. https://hadeethenc.com/ar/browse/hadith/10986
شرح وترجمة حديث: لا نورث، ما تركنا صدقة – موسوعة الأحاديث النبوية. (2025). موسوعة الأحاديث النبوية. https://hadeethenc.com/ar/browse/hadith/65825
admin. (2018, September 15). Surat Al-Ahzab Ayat 6. TafsirWeb | Baca Al-Qur’an Online Terjemah Tafsir; TafsirWeb. https://tafsirweb.com/7618-surat-al-ahzab-ayat-6.html
http://www.alukah.net/authors/view/sharia/1622. (2015, June 16). فضل أمهات المؤمنين رضي الله عنهن. Www.alukah.net – شبكة الألوكة. https://www.alukah.net/sharia/0/87968/%D9%81%D8%B6%D9%84-%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A4%D9%85%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%B1%D8%B6%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%B9%D9%86%D9%87%D9%86/
Mothers of Faithful Believers (Ummahaatu’l-Mu’minin) – muslimway.org – Muslim’s way – A way of life. (2006, February 24). Muslimway.org. https://www.muslimway.org/prophet-muhammad ﷺ/308-Family-of-the-Prophet/1677-mothers-of-faithful-believers-ummahaatul-muminin
خصوصية أمهات المؤمنين في النفقة والسكنى، بعد موته، صلى الله عليه وسلم. – أحمد بن محمد الحمزاوي – مدونة المصحف الالكتروني. (2025). مدونة المصحف الالكتروني. https://e-quran.com/blog/?p=19119