Kahn - Untold: a History of the Wives of Prophet Muhammad

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Fred Chappell for suggesting the master plan to incorporate research and poetry. Im grateful to Dr. Arthur Buehler for his scholarly help and encouragement. This book would not have been possible without the brilliant editing of Wendy Taylor Carlisle, and the patience and support of my husband, Shabda Kahn. Thanks go to Wendy Garling, Matt Cohen and Rahim St John for additional editing and to Jelehla Ziemba, Samia Bloch, and Kyra Epstein for formatting. Appreciation to Paul Cohen for believing in this book, Georgia Dent for the beautiful cover design, and to Ruth Padel for the title.

Each of the following have contributed in some way to this venture, and so thanks are offered.

Sidi Ahmed Kostas, Najat Kostas, and the Sufi women of Marrakesh, Hadia Affronti, Amina Mousa, Laura Shelly, Imam Bilal Hyde, Faisal Muqaddam, Dr. Arif Jamal, Hamza El Din, Pir Zia Inayat Khan, Mirza Inayat Khan, Taj Inayat Khan, Jonathan Granoff, Moon Granoff, Daisy Khan, Dr. Nahid Angha and Dr. Ali Kianfar, Sheikh Ahmed Tijani, Khalifa Ali Ahmed Abul Fathi, Imam Medhi Khorasani, Sherif Baba, Tai Situpa, Saadi Douglas-Klotz, China Galland, Kabir Helminski, Nuha Abed, Todd Lapidus, Coleman Barks, Zuleikha, Naomi Shihab Nye, Marie Howe, Khalid Mattawa, Adonis, Jack Gilbert, Wendy Palmer, Ammon Haggerty, Solomon Kahn, Karim Baer, Dr, Farida Ali, Reza Aslan, Talat Halman, Shabda Owens, Arnold Kotler, Mirabai Starr, Sarah Morgan, Asha Greer, David Carlisle, Sabura Meyer, Wali Ali Meyer, Paula Saffire, Shahabuddin Less, Kothrene-da Less, Khadija Goforth, Shakina Reinhertz, Irina Mikhailova, Aziz Ab-batiello, Eva Latifa Cristofalo, Hilal Sala, Amrita Blaine, Dilwara Fletcher, Fadhilla Bradley, Toni Minnecola, Jonathan Iqbal Lewis, Sherry Ruth Anderson, Palden Alioto, Gayan Long, Allaudin Mathieu, Aisha Gray Henry, and many others.

Muhammads wives and the year of marriage

* died while Muhammad was living

Muhammad died in 632, leaving 9 wives, 10 including Mariya.

Index of Names

Abdullah b. Abd al-Muttalib. Muhammads father who died before his son was born

Abdullah b. al-Asad, Abu Salama. Husband of Hind (Umm Salama)

Abbas b. Abd al-Muttalib. Muhammads uncle

Abd al-Muttalib. Muhammads powerful grandfather

Abraham. Prophet and ancestor of Jews, Christians and Muslims

Abul-As the son of Rabi. Muhammad and Khadijas son-in-law; Zaynabs husband

Abu Bakr. Muhammads close friend, father of Aisha, and first caliph

Abu Jahl. Meccan, nicknamed father of Jahiliyya by the Companions he tormented

Abu Salama (Abdullah). Husband of Umm Salama (Hind)

Abu Sufyan b. Harb. Father of Umm Habiba. Meccan chief who fought against Muhammad

Abu Talib b. Abd al-Muttalib. Muhammads uncle, guardian, and protector

Al-Alawi, Ahmad . Sufi Master from Algeria, 1869-1934; founder of the Alawiyya sufis

Allat . One of the three mediating deities (goddesses) in the Arabian Peninsula before Islam

Ali. Cousin of Muhammad who was raised in Khadijas household and married Fatima

al-Uzza. One of the three deity mediators (goddesses) in the Arabian Peninsula before Islam

Amina b. Wahb. Muhammads mother who died when he was seven

Ar-Rasul. Rasulullah, Messenger of God (Muhammads title)

Anas b. Malik. Muhammads friend; present when the hijab verses were spoken

Asma b. al-Numan. Married to Muhammad, but tricked into instant divorce

Asma b. Umays. Wife of Jafar, and Abu Bakr

Barra. Juwayriyya and Maymunas name before Muhammad changed it

Eve. Wife of Prophet Adam, expelled from the Garden and forgiven by Allah

Fatima b. Muhammad. Khadija and Muhammads fourth daughter; Alis wife

Gabriel. The angel of revelation to Muhammad and Mary, Mother of Jesus

Habiba. The daughter of Umm Habiba and Ubaydullah, born in Abyssinia

Hafsa b. Umar. Muhammads wife and Umars daughter

Hagar. Saras handmaiden, mother of Ishmael, direct ancestor of the Muslims

Hanif. Believer in One God, before and during the time of Muhammad

Hasan b. Thabit. Poet, Companion; spread scandal or support

Hasan b. Ali. Muhammad and Khadijas eldest grandson by Fatima

Hashim. The Meccan clan Muhammad belonged to. Rivals with Umayyah

Hatib b. Abi Baltaa . The diplomat who brought Mariya from Egypt

Hazrat Inayat Khan . Indian sufi and musician who came to the West in 1910

Hind b. Utbah (Umm Salama). Prophets wife after Abdullah, (Abu Salama) died

Humaira. Nick-name Muhammad gave Aisha, little reddish one

Husayn b. Ali. Muhammad and Khadijas second grandson by Fatima

Ibrahim b. Muhammad. Muhammads son by Mariya who died before the age of two

Jafar b. Abi Talib. Muhammads cousin and Muslim leader in Abyssinia

Juwayriyya b. al-Harith. Married to Muhammad after being a captive, freed her people

Khadija b. Khuwaylid. Muhammads only wife for twenty-five years

Manat . One of the three deities (goddesses) in the Arabian Peninsula before Islam

Mariya. Egyptian Copt, Mother of Muhammads son, Ibrahim; probable wife to Muhammad

Maymuna b. al-Harith. Sister of Uncle Abbas who was married to Muhammad

Muawiya. The first Umayyad caliph after Alis death

Muayza. Muhammads cat, translation: little sweetie

Mughiana, (Morgiana). Name of heroine in Ali Baba. From Arabic root: gh-n-y meaning free from want

Muqawqis. Title of Bishop or ruler in Egypt who sent Mariya to Muhammad

Murshid Samuel Lewis. Sufi master from San Francisco, California, 1896-1971

Negus (Nejashi). Christian emperor of Abyssinia, (Ethiopia)

Qaswa. Muhammads camel at the Peace treaty of Hudaybiya

Quraysh. Ruling tribe of Mecca who opposed Islam; also Muhammads tribe

Qurayzah. Jewish tribe that betrayed Muhammad; Rayhanas people

Ramla. Umm Habibas name before she became mother of Habiba

Ruqayya b. Muhammad. Khadija and Muhammads second daughter

Safiyya b. Bashshama . She chose captivity over marriage to Muhammad

Safiyya b. Huyay. Muhammads second Jewish wife

Sarah. Prophet Abrahams wife who sent Hagar away to Mecca

Sawda b. Zama. Second wife of Muhammad

Shaharazad. Shaharazad has many spellings. The Persian is shahrizad , meaning city-born princess or one of high birth.

Shekina (Hebrew), Sakina (Arabic). Tranquility, peace

Shirin. Mariyas sister who came with her from Egypt