When we speak of the Mother of the Believers, names like Ayesha, Khadijah, and Fatima often dominate our memory. But among the early and most faithful supporters of the Prophet (SAW) was a woman who rarely sought the spotlight, yet stood firm when others fled. Her name is Sawdah bint Zam’ah.
Her story is not one of public debate or scholarly rulings. Hers is a story of loyalty, humility, and the quiet grace of sacrifice.
Lady Sawdah bint Zam’ah was among the earliest women to accept Islam. Alongside her husband, as-Sakran bin Amr, she embraced the message of tawheed in Makkah at a time when doing so was socially dangerous and politically costly.
When the persecution of Muslims intensified, Lady Sawdah bint Zam’ah and her husband were among those who migrated to Abyssinia, seeking refuge under the Christian King al-Najashi. This marked her as one of the first muhajirin, early migrants for the sake of faith.
Tragically, her husband passed away shortly after their return to Makkah, leaving her widowed at a time when widowhood for Muslim women was socially vulnerable and economically difficult.
After the passing of Lady Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, the Prophet (SAW) endured a period of deep grief. He had lost not only his wife, but also his confidante and strongest supporter. The home was quiet. The burden of revelation was heavy. The children, especially his beloved daughter Fatima bint Muhammad, needed maternal care.
It was during this period that the Prophet (SAW) married Lady Sawdah bint Zam’ah. According to a hadith in Sahih Al-Bukhari and other sources, it was Khawlah bint Hakim who suggested her as a suitable match, and the Prophet (SAW) accepted.
Her age, maturity, and calm presence made her a stabilizing figure in the household. She became the second wife of the Prophet (SAW) after Lady Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, and the first after the Revelation had begun.
Lady Sawdah bint Zam’ah was known for her simplicity and sense of humor. She was tall, dark-skinned, and older than most of the Prophet (SAW)’s wives, yet she held a unique space in the Prophetic household.
She once said jokingly to the Prophet (SAW), “I prayed behind you and prolonged the bowing so long that I feared a nosebleed!” The Prophet (SAW) smiled at her words, and this was a testament to the comfort and ease she brought him. However, her most striking trait was her selflessness.
Lady Sawdah bint Zam’ah did not narrate many ahadith, nor did she engage in political or legal matters after the Prophet (SAW)’s death. But her presence during critical moments, including the Hijrah to Madinah, the settling of the early Muslim community, and the formation of the Prophetic household earned her a place of honor.
She lived in the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab, content, pious, and quiet. Her avoidance of public life was not a flaw, it was a reflection of a heart that had already found its closeness to Allah (SWT).
From Lady Sawdah bint Zam’ah, we learn:
- Loyalty is not always loud: She stood by the Prophet (SAW) when he needed companionship the most, not just in times of victory, but also in times of sorrow.
- Age is not a barrier to contribution: She embraced Islam early, migrated for it, and married the Prophet (SAW) later in life, still leaving a legacy.
- Selflessness can be an act of worship: Giving up her time with the Prophet (SAW) for the sake of harmony shows her true spiritual maturity.
- There is value in quiet faith: Not every legacy is built in the public sphere. Some are built in kitchens, homes, and silent nights of remembrance.
Lady Sawdah bint Zam’ah may not have left behind volumes of hadith, military contributions, or legal rulings. But she left something quieter, and perhaps more enduring, and that is an example of steadfast faith, sincere service, and selfless love for the Prophet (SAW).
In honoring her, we honor a model of spiritual integrity rarely seen. One that asks for nothing, but gives everything.
We pray to Allah (SWT) that He may be pleased with our mother Lady Sawdah bint Zam’ah, reward her for her support of Islam and the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), and raise her rank in the Gardens of Bliss, Ameen.
