Question

How many women were honoured to breastfeed Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)?

Was Sayyidatuna Khawla bint Mundhir (radiyallahu ‘anha) amongst them?

 

Answer

Some Historians have mentioned up to ten women who may have breastfed Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

However, several of those mentioned in that list of ten, are refuted by the Muhaqqiqun (Scholars of thorough research) while the names of some are even unknown.

The following is a list of those who have been accepted to have breastfed Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam):

1. The mother of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam); Sayyidah Aminah.

2. The slave girl of Abu Lahb; Thuwaybah.

3. Sayyidah Halimah.

4. Ummu Farwah.

The others are either unproven, or whose names are unknown.

As far as Khawlah bint Mundhir -radiyallahu ‘anha-  (mentioned in your query), some Historians have mistakenly mentioned her as the foster Mother of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), whereas the more preferred view is that she had breastfed the son of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam); Sayyiduna Ibrahim (radiyallahu ‘anhu).

(Refer: Subulul Huda war Rashad, vol. 1, pgs. 375-378 & Nurun Nibras, vol. 1, pg. 258-259)

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

Answered by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar