Zaynab bint Khuzayma

Zaynab bint Khuzayma was nicknamed 'the Mother of the Poor' (Umm al-Masakin) for her generosity towards the destitute, even before Islam. She was a wife of the Prophet ﷺ, but died shortly after their marriage.

Zaynab bint Khuzayma already carried, before Islam, the nickname Umm al-Masakin, 'the Mother of the Poor', so well was she known for feeding and helping the needy. Widowed from a Companion fallen in battle, she married the Prophet ﷺ.

Their union was brief: she died only a few months after the marriage, one of the few wives to pass away during the Prophet's ﷺ lifetime. But her nickname outlived her, testifying to a life turned towards others.

On the number of wives: contrary to a common misconception, Islam does not permit an unlimited number of wives. For believers, the Quran sets a maximum of four, subject to the condition of equal treatment, and recommends taking only one if there is fear of injustice (Surah an-Nisa, 4:3). The Prophet ﷺ held a special status (Surah al-Ahzab, 33:50); God then forbade him from marrying additional women (33:52), thus fixing the number of his wives.

Zaynab bint Khuzayma teaches that generosity leaves a lasting mark. Even a brief life, devoted to the care of the weakest, lives on in memory. Her nickname alone is a legacy.