Introduction to Lady Amina bint Wahb and Her Traits
Lady Amina bint Wahb is renowned as the mother of the greatest of mankind, Muhammad – peace be upon him. She belonged to the noble tribe of Quraysh; her father was Wahb ibn Abd Manaf ibn Zuhra ibn Kilab, making him a direct ancestor of the Prophet – peace be upon him – through his mother. Her mother was Barrah bint Abd al-Uzza ibn Qusayy ibn Kilab, establishing her as the Prophet’s maternal grandmother. Notably, Amina did not have any siblings, thus the Prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him – had no maternal uncles, except for Abd Yaghuth ibn Manaf. Rather than growing up in her father’s household, she was raised by her uncle, Wahb ibn Abd Manaf, which highlighted her esteemed lineage and accorded her a distinguished status among her people. She was distinguished in her community for her exceptional intelligence, eloquence, and articulate speech.
Amina bint Wahb’s Marriage and Pregnancy with the Prophet
While under the care of her uncle Wahb, Amina caught the eye of Abd al-Muttalib, who sought her hand for his son, Abdullah. Her guardian agreed to the marriage of Amina to Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib. In the same session, Abd al-Muttalib proposed to Halah bint Wahb — Amina’s cousin — for himself, and she too consented to the marriage, giving birth to Hamzah ibn Abd al-Muttalib, the Prophet’s paternal uncle. Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib spent three days with Amina following their marriage, a common practice among Arabs at the time.
Historical accounts narrate a fascinating episode regarding the light that emanated from Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib during his marriage to Amina bint Wahb and her subsequent pregnancy. It is reported that during a pilgrimage season, he passed by a woman from Banu Khath’am, possibly Layla al-Adawiyya, who noticed a radiant light between his eyes. She offered herself to him in exchange for a hundred camels. Abdullah mentioned he would consider her proposal upon his return but subsequently went to Amina. When he later returned to the woman, she observed that the light no longer shone from him and inquired if he had been with another woman. He revealed that he had gone to his wife Amina, who was then carrying the best of mankind, Muhammad – peace be upon him.
The marriage between Amina bint Wahb and Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib was short-lived as he embarked on a trading journey to Gaza, Palestine. On his return, prior to reaching Mecca, he unfortunately fell ill in Medina and passed away, being buried there. At that time, Amina was pregnant with Muhammad – peace be upon him. She gave birth to him after the death of his father. As a result, the orphaned Muhammad – peace be upon him – was raised by his grandfather Abd al-Muttalib. Every year, Amina made the journey from Mecca to Medina to visit her husband’s grave.
Amina bint Wahb’s Pregnancy with the Prophet
Amina bint Wahb’s pregnancy with the Messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – was characterized by ease and lightness; she did not feel the heaviness typically associated with pregnancy. Although initially uncertain about her condition, she recognized her pregnancy only after her menstrual cycle ceased. According to reports, she experienced a vision while in a state between sleep and waking, where she was informed that she would give birth to the best of mankind. As her delivery approached, she heard a voice advising her to seek refuge in Allah and entrust her child to Him. After a few days, she gave birth without significant difficulty. Muhammad – peace be upon him – was their only child.
Passing of Amina bint Wahb
When the Prophet – peace be upon him – reached the age of six, or according to some accounts, four years, Amina bint Wahb traveled with him to Medina to visit his maternal relatives, Banu Adi ibn al-Najjar. Accompanying them was Umm Ayman, the Prophet’s foster mother. They rode on two camels and stopped at a place called Dar al-Nabigha, where they stayed for a full month. The Prophet – peace be upon him – would later recall this location during his migration to Medina, remembering his playtime there with other children, and noting that the signs of prophethood were already evident in him, as observed by the local Jews. Upon returning home, Amina fell ill at a location known as al-Abwa, where she passed away and was buried. This site lies between Mecca and Medina. Umm Ayman returned to Mecca with Muhammad – peace be upon him – cradling him, accompanied by the two camels. It is narrated that during a later visit to perform the Umrah at Hudaybiyyah, the Prophet – peace be upon him – passed by his mother’s grave, allowed by Allah to visit her. He recalled her love and care, and wept at her grave alongside his companions.
After the death of both his parents, the young Muhammad – peace be upon him – remained under the guardianship of his grandfather, Abd al-Muttalib, who held him in high regard. Abd al-Muttalib maintained a special place of honor for himself under the shade of the Kaaba, where no one else was allowed to sit. Whenever Muhammad – peace be upon him – approached his grandfather’s seat as a young boy, he was often pushed away by others, but Abd al-Muttalib would say, “Leave him; he has a significant destiny ahead.” He would show compassion towards him, tenderly stroking his head and patting him affectionately.