# Halima bint Abi Dhu'ayb

Halima bint Abi Dhu'ayb al-Sa'diyya (Arabic: حليمة بنت أبي ذؤيب السعدية) was the foster-mother of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Halimah and her husband were from the tribe of Sa'd b. Bakr, a subdivision of Hawazin (a large North Arabian tribe or group of tribes).

## Relationship with Muhammad

Aminah bint Wahb, the mother of Muhammad, was waiting for the arrival of the Banu Sa'd; the women within the tribe of the Banu Sa'd were foster mothers. They would take the children of Mecca to the desert and teach them classical Arabic and other skills; in return, they would receive a salary from the family of the child in Mecca. Halimah's husband was al-Harith bin Abdul Uzza and his nickname was Abu Kabsheh. Halima's father was Abu Dhu'ayb Abd Allah bin Harith bin Shejna Saadi, from the tribe of Saad bin Bakr bin Hawazin. Her son was named Abdullah, while the daughters were named Unaysa and Hudhafa. While traveling to Mecca, she was unable to feed her child because her she-camel stopped lactating. In Mecca, all those looking for foster children rejected taking care of the half-orphan Muhammad because they feared not getting paid since his father was dead. Halimah felt sad that every woman in her tribe had received a child except her. So she told her husband al-Harith: "By God, I do not like the idea of returning with my friends without a child; I will go and take that orphan." Her husband agreed. Immediately after accepting him, blessing came to her and her family. Her husband's flock during a time of great famine was healthy and producing milk while the rest of the people's flocks were dying.
A few months later Muhammad's foster brother shouted: that two men in white cut Muhammad's chest. When Halimah and Al-Harith asked Muhammad what happened, he said: "Two men came and opened my chest and took a portion of it". After this she gave up fostering him and told his mother what had happened. Muhammad spent five years in the BaniSaad bin Bakr tribe. Then Halima brought him back to his mother and grandfather Abdul Mutalib when he was five years old.
Years later, after Muhammad married Khadijah, Halimah went to him in Mecca and complained about the hardships of the times. Muhammad talked about her with Khadija and Khadija gave her some sheep and camels. After the advent of Islam, Halima joined Muhammad and along with her husband converted to Islam
Halima bint Abi Dhu'ayb later accepted Islam after the Battle of Hunayn.

## Death

She died in 9 A.H. and her grave is in Jannatul Baqi, Medina. The remains of the place she used to live in and where Muhammad grew up still stand today.

## Family tree

| Kilab ibn Murrah | Kilab ibn Murrah | Kilab ibn Murrah | Kilab ibn Murrah | Kilab ibn Murrah | Kilab ibn Murrah | | | Fatimah bint Sa'd | Fatimah bint Sa'd | Fatimah bint Sa'd | Fatimah bint Sa'd | Fatimah bint Sa'd | Fatimah bint Sa'd | | | | | | | | |
| Zuhrah ibn Kilab (progenitor of Banu Zuhrah) maternal great-great-grandfather | Zuhrah ibn Kilab (progenitor of Banu Zuhrah) maternal great-great-grandfather | Zuhrah ibn Kilab (progenitor of Banu Zuhrah) maternal great-great-grandfather | Zuhrah ibn Kilab (progenitor of Banu Zuhrah) maternal great-great-grandfather | Zuhrah ibn Kilab (progenitor of Banu Zuhrah) maternal great-great-grandfather | Zuhrah ibn Kilab (progenitor of Banu Zuhrah) maternal great-great-grandfather | | | Qusai ibn Kilab paternal great-great-great-grandfather | Qusai ibn Kilab paternal great-great-great-grandfather | Qusai ibn Kilab paternal great-great-great-grandfather | Qusai ibn Kilab paternal great-great-great-grandfather | Qusai ibn Kilab paternal great-great-great-grandfather | Qusai ibn Kilab paternal great-great-great-grandfather | | | Hubba bint Hulail paternal great-great-great-grandmother | Hubba bint Hulail paternal great-great-great-grandmother | Hubba bint Hulail paternal great-great-great-grandmother | Hubba bint Hulail paternal great-great-great-grandmother | Hubba bint Hulail paternal great-great-great-grandmother | Hubba bint Hulail paternal great-great-great-grandmother |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | `Abd Manaf ibn Zuhrah maternal great-grandfather | `Abd Manaf ibn Zuhrah maternal great-grandfather | `Abd Manaf ibn Zuhrah maternal great-grandfather | `Abd Manaf ibn Zuhrah maternal great-grandfather | `Abd Manaf ibn Zuhrah maternal great-grandfather | `Abd Manaf ibn Zuhrah maternal great-grandfather | | | | | | | `Abd Manaf ibn Qusai paternal great-great-grandfather | `Abd Manaf ibn Qusai paternal great-great-grandfather | `Abd Manaf ibn Qusai paternal great-great-grandfather | `Abd Manaf ibn Qusai paternal great-great-grandfather | `Abd Manaf ibn Qusai paternal great-great-grandfather | `Abd Manaf ibn Qusai paternal great-great-grandfather | | | Atikah bint Murrah paternal great-great-grandmother | Atikah bint Murrah paternal great-great-grandmother | Atikah bint Murrah paternal great-great-grandmother | Atikah bint Murrah paternal great-great-grandmother | Atikah bint Murrah paternal great-great-grandmother | Atikah bint Murrah paternal great-great-grandmother |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Wahb ibn `Abd Manaf maternal grandfather | Wahb ibn `Abd Manaf maternal grandfather | Wahb ibn `Abd Manaf maternal grandfather | Wahb ibn `Abd Manaf maternal grandfather | Wahb ibn `Abd Manaf maternal grandfather | Wahb ibn `Abd Manaf maternal grandfather | | | | | | | | | | | Hashim ibn 'Abd Manaf (progenitor of Banu Hashim) paternal great-grandfather | Hashim ibn 'Abd Manaf (progenitor of Banu Hashim) paternal great-grandfather | Hashim ibn 'Abd Manaf (progenitor of Banu Hashim) paternal great-grandfather | Hashim ibn 'Abd Manaf (progenitor of Banu Hashim) paternal great-grandfather | Hashim ibn 'Abd Manaf (progenitor of Banu Hashim) paternal great-grandfather | Hashim ibn 'Abd Manaf (progenitor of Banu Hashim) paternal great-grandfather | | | Salma bint `Amr paternal great-grandmother | Salma bint `Amr paternal great-grandmother | Salma bint `Amr paternal great-grandmother | Salma bint `Amr paternal great-grandmother | Salma bint `Amr paternal great-grandmother | Salma bint `Amr paternal great-grandmother |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fatimah bint `Amr paternal grandmother | Fatimah bint `Amr paternal grandmother | Fatimah bint `Amr paternal grandmother | Fatimah bint `Amr paternal grandmother | Fatimah bint `Amr paternal grandmother | Fatimah bint `Amr paternal grandmother | | | | | | | `Abdul-Muttalib paternal grandfather | `Abdul-Muttalib paternal grandfather | `Abdul-Muttalib paternal grandfather | `Abdul-Muttalib paternal grandfather | `Abdul-Muttalib paternal grandfather | `Abdul-Muttalib paternal grandfather | | | | | | | | | Halah bint Wuhayb paternal step-grandmother | Halah bint Wuhayb paternal step-grandmother | Halah bint Wuhayb paternal step-grandmother | Halah bint Wuhayb paternal step-grandmother | Halah bint Wuhayb paternal step-grandmother | Halah bint Wuhayb paternal step-grandmother |
| Aminah mother | Aminah mother | Aminah mother | Aminah mother | Aminah mother | Aminah mother | | | `Abdullah father | `Abdullah father | `Abdullah father | `Abdullah father | `Abdullah father | `Abdullah father | | | Az-Zubayr paternal uncle | Az-Zubayr paternal uncle | Az-Zubayr paternal uncle | Az-Zubayr paternal uncle | Az-Zubayr paternal uncle | Az-Zubayr paternal uncle | | | Harith paternal half-uncle | Harith paternal half-uncle | Harith paternal half-uncle | Harith paternal half-uncle | Harith paternal half-uncle | Harith paternal half-uncle | | | Hamza paternal half-uncle | Hamza paternal half-uncle | Hamza paternal half-uncle | Hamza paternal half-uncle | Hamza paternal half-uncle | Hamza paternal half-uncle | | |
| Thuwaybah first nurse | Thuwaybah first nurse | Thuwaybah first nurse | Thuwaybah first nurse | Thuwaybah first nurse | Thuwaybah first nurse | | | Halimah second nurse | Halimah second nurse | Halimah second nurse | Halimah second nurse | Halimah second nurse | Halimah second nurse | | | Abu Talib paternal uncle | Abu Talib paternal uncle | Abu Talib paternal uncle | Abu Talib paternal uncle | Abu Talib paternal uncle | Abu Talib paternal uncle | | | `Abbas paternal half-uncle | `Abbas paternal half-uncle | `Abbas paternal half-uncle | `Abbas paternal half-uncle | `Abbas paternal half-uncle | `Abbas paternal half-uncle | | | Abu Lahab paternal half-uncle | Abu Lahab paternal half-uncle | Abu Lahab paternal half-uncle | Abu Lahab paternal half-uncle | Abu Lahab paternal half-uncle | Abu Lahab paternal half-uncle | | | 6 other sons and 6 daughters | 6 other sons and 6 daughters | 6 other sons and 6 daughters | 6 other sons and 6 daughters | 6 other sons and 6 daughters | 6 other sons and 6 daughters |
| | | | | Muhammad | Muhammad | Muhammad | Muhammad | Muhammad | Muhammad | | | Khadija first wife | Khadija first wife | Khadija first wife | Khadija first wife | Khadija first wife | Khadija first wife | | | | | | | `Abd Allah ibn `Abbas paternal cousin | `Abd Allah ibn `Abbas paternal cousin | `Abd Allah ibn `Abbas paternal cousin | `Abd Allah ibn `Abbas paternal cousin | `Abd Allah ibn `Abbas paternal cousin | `Abd Allah ibn `Abbas paternal cousin | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Fatimah daughter | Fatimah daughter | Fatimah daughter | Fatimah daughter | Fatimah daughter | | | | | Ali paternal cousin and son-in-law family tree, descendants | Ali paternal cousin and son-in-law family tree, descendants | Ali paternal cousin and son-in-law family tree, descendants | Ali paternal cousin and son-in-law family tree, descendants | Ali paternal cousin and son-in-law family tree, descendants | | | | | | | | | Qasim son | Qasim son | Qasim son | Qasim son | Qasim son | | | `Abd-Allah son | `Abd-Allah son | `Abd-Allah son | `Abd-Allah son | `Abd-Allah son |
| | | | | | | | | | | Zainab daughter | Zainab daughter | Zainab daughter | Zainab daughter | Zainab daughter | Zainab daughter | | | Ruqayyah daughter | Ruqayyah daughter | Ruqayyah daughter | Ruqayyah daughter | Ruqayyah daughter | Ruqayyah daughter | | | Uthman second cousin and son-in-law family tree | Uthman second cousin and son-in-law family tree | Uthman second cousin and son-in-law family tree | Uthman second cousin and son-in-law family tree | Uthman second cousin and son-in-law family tree | Uthman second cousin and son-in-law family tree | | | Umm Kulthum daughter | Umm Kulthum daughter | Umm Kulthum daughter | Umm Kulthum daughter | Umm Kulthum daughter | Umm Kulthum daughter | | | Zayd adopted son | Zayd adopted son | Zayd adopted son | Zayd adopted son | Zayd adopted son | Zayd adopted son |
| | | | | | | Ali ibn Zainab grandson | Ali ibn Zainab grandson | Ali ibn Zainab grandson | Ali ibn Zainab grandson | Ali ibn Zainab grandson | Ali ibn Zainab grandson | | | Umamah bint Zainab granddaughter | Umamah bint Zainab granddaughter | Umamah bint Zainab granddaughter | Umamah bint Zainab granddaughter | Umamah bint Zainab granddaughter | Umamah bint Zainab granddaughter | | | `Abd-Allah ibn Uthman grandson | `Abd-Allah ibn Uthman grandson | `Abd-Allah ibn Uthman grandson | `Abd-Allah ibn Uthman grandson | `Abd-Allah ibn Uthman grandson | `Abd-Allah ibn Uthman grandson | | | | | | | Rayhana bint Zayd wife | Rayhana bint Zayd wife | Rayhana bint Zayd wife | Rayhana bint Zayd wife | Rayhana bint Zayd wife | Rayhana bint Zayd wife | | | Usama ibn Zayd adoptive grandson | Usama ibn Zayd adoptive grandson | Usama ibn Zayd adoptive grandson | Usama ibn Zayd adoptive grandson | Usama ibn Zayd adoptive grandson | Usama ibn Zayd adoptive grandson |
| | | Muhsin ibn Ali grandson | Muhsin ibn Ali grandson | Muhsin ibn Ali grandson | Muhsin ibn Ali grandson | Muhsin ibn Ali grandson | Muhsin ibn Ali grandson | | | Hasan ibn Ali grandson | Hasan ibn Ali grandson | Hasan ibn Ali grandson | Hasan ibn Ali grandson | Hasan ibn Ali grandson | Hasan ibn Ali grandson | | | Husayn ibn Ali grandson family tree | Husayn ibn Ali grandson family tree | Husayn ibn Ali grandson family tree | Husayn ibn Ali grandson family tree | Husayn ibn Ali grandson family tree | Husayn ibn Ali grandson family tree | | | Umm Kulthum bint Ali granddaughter | Umm Kulthum bint Ali granddaughter | Umm Kulthum bint Ali granddaughter | Umm Kulthum bint Ali granddaughter | Umm Kulthum bint Ali granddaughter | Umm Kulthum bint Ali granddaughter | | | Zaynab bint Ali granddaughter | Zaynab bint Ali granddaughter | Zaynab bint Ali granddaughter | Zaynab bint Ali granddaughter | Zaynab bint Ali granddaughter | Zaynab bint Ali granddaughter | | | Safiyya tenth wife | Safiyya tenth wife | Safiyya tenth wife | Safiyya tenth wife | Safiyya tenth wife | Safiyya tenth wife |
| | | Abu Bakr father-in-law family tree | Abu Bakr father-in-law family tree | Abu Bakr father-in-law family tree | Abu Bakr father-in-law family tree | Abu Bakr father-in-law family tree | | | Sawda second wife | Sawda second wife | Sawda second wife | Sawda second wife | Sawda second wife | | | Umar father-in-law family tree | Umar father-in-law family tree | Umar father-in-law family tree | Umar father-in-law family tree | Umar father-in-law family tree | | | Umm Salama sixth wife | Umm Salama sixth wife | Umm Salama sixth wife | Umm Salama sixth wife | Umm Salama sixth wife | | | Juwayriya eighth wife | Juwayriya eighth wife | Juwayriya eighth wife | Juwayriya eighth wife | Juwayriya eighth wife | | | Maymuna eleventh wife | Maymuna eleventh wife | Maymuna eleventh wife | Maymuna eleventh wife | Maymuna eleventh wife |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Aisha third wife Family tree | Aisha third wife Family tree | Aisha third wife Family tree | Aisha third wife Family tree | Aisha third wife Family tree | Aisha third wife Family tree | Zaynab fifth wife | Zaynab fifth wife | Zaynab fifth wife | Zaynab fifth wife | Zaynab fifth wife | Zaynab fifth wife | | | Hafsa fourth wife | Hafsa fourth wife | Hafsa fourth wife | Hafsa fourth wife | Hafsa fourth wife | Hafsa fourth wife | Zaynab seventh wife | Zaynab seventh wife | Zaynab seventh wife | Zaynab seventh wife | Zaynab seventh wife | Zaynab seventh wife | Umm Habiba ninth wife | Umm Habiba ninth wife | Umm Habiba ninth wife | Umm Habiba ninth wife | Umm Habiba ninth wife | Umm Habiba ninth wife | Maria al-Qibtiyya twelfth wife | Maria al-Qibtiyya twelfth wife | Maria al-Qibtiyya twelfth wife | Maria al-Qibtiyya twelfth wife | Maria al-Qibtiyya twelfth wife | Maria al-Qibtiyya twelfth wife |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ibrahim son | Ibrahim son | Ibrahim son | Ibrahim son | Ibrahim son | Ibrahim son |
* * indicates that the marriage order is disputed
* Note that direct lineage is marked in bold.