Was Mariyah al-Qibtiyyah one of the Mothers of the Believers?

 

There is no doubt that Mariyah al-Qibtiyyah was the concubine of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and she bore him his son Ibraaheem. Can the title of “Mother of the Believers” be given to Mariyah al-Qibtiyyah or not?.

Praise be to Allaah.
 

 

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) did not marry Mariyah al-Qibtiyyah, rather she was a concubine who
was given to him by al-Muqawqis, the ruler of Egypt. That took place after
the treaty of al-Hudaybiyah. Mariyah al-Qibtiyyah was a Christian, then
she became Muslim (may Allaah be pleased with her). 

Ibn Sa’d said: 

The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) lodged her – meaning Mariyah al-Qibtiyyah and her sister – with
Umm Sulaym bint Milhaan, and the Messenger of Allaah (S) entered upon them
and told them about Islam. He took Mariyah as a concubine and moved her to
some property of his in al-‘Awaali… and she became a good Muslim. 

Al-Tabaqaat al-Kubra, 1/134-135 

Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr said: 

Mariyah died during the
caliphate of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab, in Muharram of 16 AH. ‘Umar gathered the
people himself to attend her funeral, and he led the funeral prayer for her.
She was buried in al-Baqee’. 

Al-Isti’aab, 4/ 1912 

Mariyah (may Allaah be pleased with her) was one of the
Prophet’s concubines, not one of his wives. The Mothers of the Believers are
the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“The Prophet is closer to the believers than their
ownselves, and his wives are their (believers’) mothers (as regards respect
and marriage)”

[al-Ahzaab 33:6] 

The Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) had four concubines, one of whom was
Mariyah. 

Ibn al-Qayyim said: 

Abu ‘Ubaydah said: He
had four (concubines): Mariyah, who was the mother of his son Ibraaheem;
Rayhaanah; another beautiful slave woman whom he acquired as a prisoner of
war; and a slave woman who was given to him by Zaynab bint Jahsh. 

Zaad al-Ma’aad, 1/114 

For more information of
the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) –
the Mothers of the Believers – please see the answer to question no.
47072 

And Allaah knows
best.