Sawda bint Zam'a رضي الله عنها

Second Wife of the Prophet ﷺ — The First to Emigrate to Abyssinia

"Would you like Allah to give you great blessing, Sawda?" — "And what is that?" — "The Messenger of Allah has sent me to you with a proposal of marriage!"

— Exchange between Khawla and Sawda (RA)

🌿 Her Faith and Her Journey

Sawda bint Zam'a (RA) was among the earliest Muslims and the first woman to emigrate to Abyssinia in the way of Allah — leaving her home and crossing desert and sea to preserve her faith. After her husband died in Abyssinia, she returned to Makkah as a widow living with her elderly father, having sacrificed much for Islam.

After the death of Khadijah (RA), a woman named Khawla suggested to the Prophet ﷺ that he marry Sawda. The Prophet ﷺ remembered all that Sawda had sacrificed — how she had emigrated to Abyssinia, left her property, and endured hardship for the sake of her deen. When Khawla went to Sawda with the proposal, Sawda replied in a trembling voice: "I would like that. Go to my father and tell him."

💚 Her Kindness and Generosity

Sawda (RA) was middle-aged, jolly, kind-hearted and generous by nature — exactly the right person to care for the Prophet's household and daughters during a difficult period. She moved into the Prophet's ﷺ home and immediately took charge with warmth and devotion.

The people of Makkah were surprised that the Prophet ﷺ would choose to marry a widow who was neither young nor exceptionally beautiful. But the Prophet ﷺ was not looking for beauty — he was honouring a woman who had given everything for the sake of Allah.

As years passed and the Prophet ﷺ gained more wives, Sawda (RA) gave her allotted nights to Aisha (RA) out of love and devotion. When the Prophet ﷺ later offered to release her, she said: "I only want to be your wife on the Day of Rising." She lived until the end of the time of Umar (RA). She and Aisha (RA) always remained very close.

May Allah be pleased with Sawda bint Zam'a — a woman of sacrifice, simplicity, and warm devotion who cared for the household of the Prophet ﷺ with love and loyalty.

رضي الله عنها — May Allah be pleased with her