Household
The family of Mohammad
The chart lays out the Prophet's household: his wives, his children and whom they married, and his uncles and aunts. His first marriage, to Khadija, lasted about 25 years until her death. Most of his later marriages took place in Medina and often sealed alliances or supported widows.
His wives
His first wife was Khadija bint Khuwaylid, a respected merchant whom he married at about age 25 and who was his only wife for some 25 years. After her death he married several women, many of them widows; tradition lists eleven wives in total:
- Khadija bint Khuwaylid
- Sawda bint Zam'a
- Aisha bint Abi Bakr
- Hafsa bint Umar
- Zaynab bint Khuzayma
- Umm Salama (Hind bint Abi Umayya)
- Zaynab bint Jahsh
- Juwayriya bint al-Harith
- Umm Habiba (Ramla bint Abi Sufyan)
- Safiyya bint Huyayy
- Maymuna bint al-Harith
His children
He had several children, most of them with Khadija. His sons — al-Qasim and Abdullah, and later Ibrahim — all died in childhood. His four daughters lived to adulthood:
- Zaynab
- Married Abu al-As ibn al-Rabi'.
- Ruqayya
- Married Uthman ibn Affan, a future caliph.
- Umm Kulthum
- Married Uthman ibn Affan after Ruqayya's death.
- Fatima
- Married Ali ibn Abi Talib; their sons Hasan and Husayn are deeply revered in Islam.
His uncles and aunts
Among his many uncles, Abu Talib raised and protected him, though he did not accept Islam. Hamza and al-Abbas embraced Islam and became important figures; another uncle, Abu Lahab, remained a fierce opponent. Among his aunts, Safiyya accepted Islam.
Common questions
How many wives did Mohammad have?
Tradition records eleven wives over his lifetime. For about 25 years, until her death, he was married only to Khadija. His later marriages, mostly in Medina, often supported widows or strengthened ties between communities and tribes.
Who was Khadija?
Khadija bint Khuwaylid was a successful and respected Meccan merchant who employed and then married Mohammad. She was the first person to believe in his message and supported him through the difficult early years. Muslims hold her in great honor.
Who were Hasan and Husayn?
They were Mohammad's grandsons through his daughter Fatima and her husband Ali. Both are deeply revered by Muslims; Husayn in particular is a central figure in Shia Islam. Through them, descendants of Mohammad continue to today.