This topic introduces the important personalities of Islam who served the religion. It includes the Pure Wives (Ummahat-ul-Mumineen – wives of the Prophet ﷺ), the Ten Promised Paradise (Ashrah Mubashs...
The Pure Wives (Azwaj-e-Mutahharat) are the pure wives of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
The Quran gives them the status of "Ummahat-ul-Mumineen" (Mothers of the Believers) (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:6).
After marriage to the Prophet ﷺ, it is forbidden for them to marry any other man.
Total number of Pure Wives: 11 (according to some 13, but the famous number is 11).
| # | Name (RA) | Tribe | Marriage Date | Death | Special Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (RA) | Quraysh (Banu Asad) | Before prophethood (at age 25) | 10th year of prophethood (620 CE) | First to believe, most beloved to the Prophet ﷺ, all his children from her |
| 2 | Sawdah bint Zam'ah (RA) | Quraysh (Banu 'Amir) | 10th year of prophethood (after Khadijah's death) | 23 AH (or later) | First wife after Khadijah, loyal |
| 3 | Aishah bint Abi Bakr (RA) | Quraysh (Banu Taym) | 2 AH (in Medina) | 58 AH (678 CE) | Most knowledgeable, narrated 2,210 Ahadith, most beloved to the Prophet ﷺ |
| 4 | Hafsah bint Umar (RA) | Quraysh (Banu 'Adi) | 3 AH | 45 AH (665 CE) | The compiled Mushaf of the Quran was kept with her |
| 5 | Zainab bint Khuzaymah (RA) | Quraysh (Banu Hilal) | 3 AH (after Uhud) | 4 AH (died a few months later) | "Umm al-Masakin" (Mother of the Poor) |
| 6 | Umm Salamah (Hind bint Abi Umayyah) (RA) | Quraysh (Banu Makhzum) | 4 AH | 62 AH (682 CE) | Very knowledgeable, the last to die among the wives |
| 7 | Zainab bint Jahsh (RA) | Quraysh (Banu Asad) | 5 AH | 20 AH (641 CE) | The Quranic ruling about marriage was revealed concerning her |
| 8 | Juwayriyah bint al-Harith (RA) | Banu Mustaliq | 5 AH (Battle of Muraysi') | 50 AH (670 CE) | Her marriage led to the freeing of her entire tribe |
| 9 | Umm Habibah (Ramlah bint Abi Sufyan) (RA) | Quraysh (Banu Umayyah) | 7 AH | 44 AH (664 CE) | Daughter of Abu Sufyan, migrated to Abyssinia |
| 10 | Safiyyah bint Huyayy bin Akhtab (RA) | Jewish (Banu Nadir) | 7 AH (after Khaybar) | 50 AH (670 CE) | From a Jewish tribe, became Muslim |
| 11 | Maymunah bint al-Harith (RA) | Quraysh (Banu Hilal) | 7 AH | 51 AH (671 CE) | The last wife the Prophet ﷺ married |
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Incident of Ifk (Slander) | Aisha (RA) was slandered – the Quran revealed her innocence (Surah An-Nur) |
| Hafsah's Mushaf | The compiled Mushaf of the Quran was kept with her, then taken by Uthman (RA) |
| Zainab bint Jahsh's marriage | The Prophet ﷺ married the divorced wife of his freed slave (Zaid bin Harithah) – the Quran permitted this |
| Juwayriyah's incident | She was a captive; the Prophet ﷺ married her – the Companions said: "They are relatives of the Prophet ﷺ," and freed all the captives |
A Sahabi (Companion) is a person who saw the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in a state of faith and died upon faith.
Total number of Companions: 124,000 (or more).
The most virtuous Companion: Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (RA).
These are ten Companions who were given the glad tidings of Paradise in this world by the Prophet ﷺ himself.
| # | Name (RA) | Title | Major Achievements | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abu Bakr as-Siddiq | Siddiq, Atiq | First Caliph, compilation of the Quran, Wars of Riddah | 13 AH |
| 2 | Umar al-Farooq | Farooq | Second Caliph, Hijri Calendar, expansion of the empire | 23 AH |
| 3 | Uthman Ghani | Dhun-Noorayn, Ghani | Third Caliph, standardization of the Quran | 35 AH |
| 4 | Ali al-Murtada | Murtada, Asadullah | Fourth Caliph, made Kufa the capital | 40 AH |
| 5 | Talhah bin Ubaydullah | Talhah al-Khayr | Protected the Prophet ﷺ at Uhud | 36 AH (Battle of the Camel) |
| 6 | Zubayr bin al-Awwam | Hawari Rasul | Among the early Muslims, migrated to Abyssinia and Medina | 36 AH (Battle of the Camel) |
| 7 | Abdur-Rahman bin Awf | Tajir al-Ummah | Very wealthy, gave all his wealth in Allah's cause | 32 AH |
| 8 | Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas | Fatih Iran | Commander at Qadisiyyah, conquered Persia (Iran) | 55 AH |
| 9 | Sa'id bin Zayd | - | Early Muslim, brother-in-law of Umar (RA) | 51 AH |
| 10 | Abu Ubaydah bin al-Jarrah | Amin al-Ummah | Conqueror of Syria, commander at Yarmouk | 18 AH (Plague) |
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Abu Bakr is in Paradise, Umar is in Paradise, Uthman is in Paradise, Ali is in Paradise, Talhah is in Paradise, Zubayr is in Paradise, Abdur-Rahman bin Awf is in Paradise, Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas is in Paradise, Sa'id bin Zayd is in Paradise, and Abu Ubaydah bin al-Jarrah is in Paradise." (Tirmidhi)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Hamzah bin Abdul Muttalib bin Hashim |
| Relation | Uncle of the Prophet ﷺ (paternal uncle) |
| Title | Asadullah (Lion of Allah), Sayyid ash-Shuhada (Leader of the Martyrs) |
| Acceptance of Islam | 6th year of prophethood (before or after Umar) – he was very powerful |
| Major achievement | Accepted Islam to intimidate the polytheists, protected the Prophet ﷺ |
| Martyrdom | Martyred at the Battle of Uhud (3 AH) by Wahshi (a slave) with a spear |
| State at martyrdom | His belly was ripped open, his liver was taken out |
| Prophet's reaction | He wept and said: "After Hamzah, no calamity has befallen me." |
| Burial place | Jannat al-Baqi (Medina) – in the field of Uhud |
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Mus'ab bin Umayr bin Hashim |
| Tribe | Quraysh (Banu Abd ad-Dar) |
| Title | Safir Rasul (Messenger of the Prophet ﷺ) |
| Acceptance of Islam | Early Islam (at Dar al-Arqam) |
| Condition | He was very wealthy; his mother imprisoned him and took everything from him when he accepted Islam |
| Migration | Migrated to both Abyssinia and Medina |
| Major achievement | The first teacher in Medina (the Prophet ﷺ sent Mus'ab bin Umayr to Medina) |
| Martyrdom | Martyred at the Battle of Uhud (3 AH) |
| State at martyrdom | Martyred in front of the Prophet ﷺ; he had no cloth for a shroud |
| Prophet's statement | "I have not seen anyone with softer clothes than Mus'ab bin Umayr, nor with more tattered clothes than on the day of Uhud." |
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Fatimah bint Muhammad ﷺ |
| Titles | Az-Zahra (the radiant), Al-Batul (the pure) |
| Relation | The youngest daughter of the Prophet ﷺ, wife of Ali (RA) |
| Children | Hasan, Husayn, Muhsin, Zainab, Umm Kulthum |
| Special feature | The most beloved child of the Prophet ﷺ – "Fatimah is a part of me." (Bukhari) |
| Death | 11 AH (3 months or 6 months after the Prophet ﷺ) |
| Age | 29 years (according to some 32) |
| Burial place | Jannat al-Baqi (Medina) – secretly (according to her will) |
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Asma bint Abi Bakr as-Siddiq |
| Title | Dhat an-Nitaqayn (the one with the two waistbands) |
| Relation | Daughter of Abu Bakr (RA), sister of Aisha (RA), wife of Zubayr bin al-Awwam (RA) |
| Major achievement | During the migration to Medina, she brought food to the Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr in the Cave of Thawr – she tore her waistband into two |
| Bravery | Fought at the Battle of Yarmouk alongside her husband |
| Death | 73 AH (692 CE) – age 100 years |
| Prophet's statement | About her, he said: "Asma will be given two waistbands in Paradise." |
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Sumayyah bint Khayyat |
| Husband | Yasir (RA) |
| Son | Ammar bin Yasir (RA) |
| Acceptance of Islam | Early Islam (among the first 40) |
| Importance | The first female martyr (the first male martyr was her husband Yasir RA) |
| Method of martyrdom | Abu Jahl martyred her with a spear |
| Prophet's statement | "Be patient, O family of Yasir, your destination is Paradise." |
| Date | 10th year of prophethood (620 CE) – before the Hijrah |
The Imams of Fiqh are great scholars who established the principles for deriving rulings from the Quran and Sunnah. Their schools of thought (madhhabs) are still followed throughout the world.
| Feature | Imam Abu Hanifah | Imam Malik | Imam Shafi'i | Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Nu'man bin Thabit | Malik bin Anas | Muhammad bin Idris | Ahmad bin Hanbal |
| Title | Imam al-A'zam | Imam Dar al-Hijrah | Nasir al-Hadith | Shaykh al-Islam |
| Birth (AH) | 80 AH | 93 AH | 150 AH | 164 AH |
| Death (AH) | 150 AH | 179 AH | 204 AH | 241 AH |
| Birth (CE) | 699 CE | 712 CE | 767 CE | 780 CE |
| Location | Kufa (Iraq) | Medina | Egypt / Baghdad | Baghdad (Iraq) |
| School of thought | Ahl ar-Ra'y | Ahl al-Hadith | Between both | Ahl al-Hadith |
| Famous book | Al-Fiqh al-Akbar | Al-Muwatta | Al-Umm, Ar-Risalah | Al-Musnad (40,000 Ahadith) |
| Students | Abu Yusuf, Muhammad | Shafi'i (student) | Ahmad bin Hanbal | Abu Bakr al-Khallal |
| Madhhab name | Hanafi | Maliki | Shafi'i | Hanbali |
| Followers | Turkey, Subcontinent, Central Asia | North Africa, Sudan | Egypt, Syria, Yemen, South Asia | Saudi Arabia, Qatar |
Called "Imam al-A'zam" (The Greatest Imam)
Used Qiyas (analogy) and Istihsan (juristic preference) as sources
Was imprisoned in Baghdad (during the Abbasid Caliphate)
He saw (or narrated from) 600 Companions
Al-Muwatta is the first major Hadith book (contains 1,720 Ahadith)
Used the practice of the people of Medina as a source
The Abbasid caliphs (Mansur, Harun ar-Rashid) were his admirers
He laid the foundation of Usul al-Fiqh (principles of jurisprudence) in his book Ar-Risalah
Benefited from both Hanafi and Maliki schools
He had an old school (in Iraq) and a new school (in Egypt)
His book Al-Musnad contains 40,000 Ahadith
He faced the Mihnah (trial of the creation of the Quran) – was imprisoned
He was a great memorizer (Hafiz) of Hadith
A Mujaddid (reformer) is a person who renews the religion at the beginning of every century.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Allah will send for this Ummah at the beginning of every century a person who will renew its religion for it." (Abu Dawud)
| Century (AH) | Name | Work | Death |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st century (80 AH) | Umar bin Abdul Aziz (RA) (Rightly Guided Caliph) | Justice, elimination of oppression, elimination of innovations | 101 AH |
| 4th century | Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali | Combined Sufism and Ash'ari theology | 505 AH |
| 6th century | Shaykh Abdul Qadir al-Jilani | Reform of Sufism, founder of the Qadiri order | 561 AH |
| 7th century | Shaykh Shihab ad-Din as-Suhrawardi | Spread of Sufism | 632 AH |
| 12th century | Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehlawi | Revival of Quran and Hadith, reform in the subcontinent | 1176 AH |
| 13th century | Sir Syed Ahmad Khan | Modern education, Aligarh Movement (subcontinent) | 1315 AH |
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Abu Hamid Muhammad bin Muhammad al-Ghazali |
| Title | Hujjat al-Islam (Proof of Islam) |
| Birth | 450 AH (Tus, Iran) |
| Death | 505 AH (Tus) |
| Major work | Combined Sufism and Ash'ari theology, refuted philosophy |
| Famous books | Ihya' Ulum ad-Din (Revival of Religious Sciences), Tahafut al-Falasifah (Incoherence of the Philosophers) |
| Movement | Brought Sufism within the bounds of Shariah |
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Qutb ad-Din Ahmad Waliullah |
| Birth | 1114 AH (Delhi, Subcontinent) |
| Death | 1176 AH (Delhi) |
| Major work | Urdu translation of the Quran (first time), revival of Hadith, reform in the subcontinent |
| Famous books | Hujjatullah al-Balighah (The Conclusive Argument of Allah), Urdu translation of the Quran |
| Movement | Islamic revival in the subcontinent; he inspired Syed Ahmad Shaheed |
| Influence | The Deoband movement (Qasim Nanotawi, Rashid Ahmad Gangohi) was influenced by him |
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Syed Ahmad Taqvi bin Syed Muhammad Muttaqi |
| Title | Sir Syed (British official title) |
| Birth | 1233 AH (Delhi, Subcontinent) |
| Death | 1315 AH (Aligarh) |
| Major work | Modern education, Aligarh Movement, promotion of Western sciences among Muslims |
| Famous institution | Aligarh Muslim University (formerly Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College) |
| Famous books | Asbab-e-Baghawat-e-Hind (Causes of the Indian Revolt – on the 1857 War of Independence), Tafsir al-Quran |
| Movement | Introduced Muslims to modern sciences, cooperation with the British government |
| Influence | The Pakistan Movement (Quaid-e-Azam was also influenced by Aligarh) |
| Personality | Era | Greatest Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Khadijah (RA) | Before prophethood | First to believe, supporter of the Prophet ﷺ |
| Aishah (RA) | 2-58 AH | Narrated 2,210 Ahadith, scholarly reference |
| Fatimah (RA) | Died 11 AH | Most beloved child of the Prophet ﷺ |
| Hamzah (RA) | Martyred 3 AH | Leader of the Martyrs, uncle of the Prophet ﷺ |
| Imam Abu Hanifah | 80-150 AH | Imam al-A'zam, Hanafi school |
| Imam Malik | 93-179 AH | Al-Muwatta, Maliki school |
| Imam Shafi'i | 150-204 AH | Founded Usul al-Fiqh, Shafi'i school |
| Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal | 164-241 AH | Al-Musnad, Hanbali school |
| Imam al-Ghazali | 450-505 AH | Hujjat al-Islam, Ihya' Ulum ad-Din |
| Shah Waliullah | 1114-1176 AH | Urdu Quran translation, Hujjatullah al-Balighah |
| Sir Syed Ahmad Khan | 1233-1315 AH | Aligarh Muslim University |
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Number of Pure Wives (Ummahat-ul-Mumineen) | 11 |
| Who was given the status of "Mothers of the Believers"? | The Pure Wives |
| Who narrated the most Ahadith among the Pure Wives? | Aishah (RA) – 2,210 |
| How many Companions are in the Ashrah Mubashsharah? | 10 |
| Who was given the title "Leader of the Martyrs" (Sayyid ash-Shuhada)? | Hamzah (RA) |
| First female martyr | Sumayyah (RA) |
| First male martyr | Yasir (RA) |
| Who was given the title "Imam al-A'zam"? | Imam Abu Hanifah |
| Whose book is Al-Muwatta? | Imam Malik |
| Whose book is Ihya' Ulum ad-Din? | Imam al-Ghazali |
| Who first translated the Quran into Urdu? | Shah Waliullah |
| Who founded Aligarh Muslim University? | Sir Syed Ahmad Khan |
| Who was given the title "Hujjat al-Islam"? | Imam al-Ghazali |
| Who was given the title "Shaykh al-Islam"? | Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal |