Halimah bint Abi Dhuayb facts for kids

Halimah al-Sa'diyah (Arabic: حليمة السعدية) was a very important woman in the early life of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. She was his foster-mother, meaning she cared for him as a baby and young child. Halimah and her husband belonged to the Banu Sa'd tribe, which was part of a larger group called Hawazin in ancient Arabia.

Halimah's Special Connection with Muhammad

Aminah bint Wahb, Muhammad's mother, was looking for a foster mother for her baby. It was common for women from the Banu Sa'd tribe to take babies from Mecca to the desert. They would teach the children classical Arabic and other skills. In return, the families in Mecca would pay them.

Halimah and her husband, al-Harith bin Abdul Uzza, had their own children: a son named Abdullah, and daughters named Unaysa and Hudhafa. When Halimah traveled to Mecca, she was having trouble feeding her own baby. Her camel wasn't producing milk.

In Mecca, many foster mothers didn't want to take care of Muhammad. This was because he was an orphan, and his father had passed away. They worried they wouldn't get paid. Halimah felt sad that all the other women in her tribe had found a child to foster, but she hadn't.

So, she told her husband, al-Harith, that she didn't want to go home without a child. She decided to take care of the orphan Muhammad. Her husband agreed.

Right after Halimah took Muhammad into her care, good things started happening for her family. Even during a time when there was a big famine, her husband's animals were healthy and produced milk. Other people's animals were struggling.

Muhammad's Early Years with Halimah

When Muhammad was two years old, Halimah took him back to his mother, Aminah. But Halimah really wanted to keep him longer. Aminah agreed to let Muhammad stay with Halimah for a while more.

A few months later, something unusual happened. Muhammad's foster brother was playing alone. Muhammad didn't play as much as other children. Suddenly, Halimah and her husband saw their son running back. He shouted that two men dressed in white had grabbed his brother and opened his chest.

Halimah and al-Harith quickly ran to Muhammad. They found him looking pale. When they asked what happened, Muhammad said that two men had opened his chest and taken something from it. After this event, Halimah decided it was time to return Muhammad to his mother. She told Aminah everything that had happened.

Halimah later became a Muslim after the Battle of Hunayn.

Halimah's Passing

Halimah al-Sa'diyah passed away in the year 9 A.H. Her grave is in Jannatul Baqi, which is a cemetery in Medina. You can still see the remains of the place where she lived and where Muhammad grew up.

Family Connections

This chart shows how Halimah connects to Muhammad's family tree. It helps you see who was related to whom.

• * indicates that the marriage order is disputed
• Note that direct lineage is marked in bold.

See also

In Spanish: Halimah bint Abi Dhuayb para niños

• Sahaba
• Aminah bint Wahab