Halima Sadia, the foster mother of Prophet Muhammad

Hazrat Halima Sadia رضي الله عنها was the foster mother of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as he spent the early years of his childhood with her. Here are some of the lesser-known facts about Halima Sadia.

• Where is Halima Sadia House in Bani Saad Village?

Who is a foster mother?

According to Islamic law, a woman who breastfeeds a child before the age of two years is called a foster mother. The foster mother and foster sister are mahram relations to a man – An-Nisa 4:23.

• Who is considered Mahram in Islam?

How long did Prophet Muhammad live with Halima?

When Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was only 8 days old, his mother Amina bint Wahab handed him over to Halima Sadia رضي الله عنها. She took her to Bani Saad village in Taif.

When Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was 2 years old, she took her back to Makkah to give it to his mother with a heavy heart. Seeing her love for Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Amina bint Wahab gave it back to her to be raised.

Halima Sadia رضي الله عنها took care of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for the first 6 years of his life.

Halima Sadia biography

Harith Abu Zowaib رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ was the husband of Halima Sadia رضي الله عنها and both of them were from the tribe of Sa’d b. Bakr, a subdivision of Hawazin (a large North Arabian tribe or group of tribes).

She had a five-year-old daughter named Shaima and an infant named Abdullah.

Halima Sadia witnessed some miracles

Halima Sadia رضي الله عنها revealed in the later part of her life that she witnessed some miracles when Prophet Muhammad ﷺ came to her house to live;

• Her breasts were instantly filled with milk which was dry for so long before that.
• Her weak donkey was now ahead of all the others.
• Her goats gave more milk than usual which was enough for her children as well as the new person in the family.

Halima Sadia embraced Islam

After Prophet Muhammad ﷺ got married to Khadija bint Khuwaylid رضي الله عنها, Halima Sadia رضي الله عنها and her husband visited them in Makkah and told them about their poor financial condition.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ requested Khadija رضي الله عنها to gift her 40 sheep. Halima and her husband Harith Abu Zowaib رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ embraced Islam later.

She is buried in Madina

In her last days, Halima Sadia رضي الله عنها came to Madinah and died, and then was buried in Jannat ul Baqi.

Foster Sister of Prophet Muhammad

During the battle of Hunain when Makkah was attacked, and Muslims won, there was an old lady among the captives Shaima, who claimed to be the foster sister of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. She was taken to the Holy Prophet.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ welcomed her and spread his shawl and asked her to sit near him. She told him when he was young he had a bite on her shoulder, which is still a scar on her body.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ recognized that and the tears rolled down his cheeks remembering those days. Shaima embraced Islam and consented to go back to her tribe. – Arab News