‘A’ishah bint Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with them both) was born in the house of truthfulness and piety. She grew in a home that was based on faith, for her mother was a Companion, her sister was Asmaa’(may Allah be pleased with her) the lady of the two girdles, was also a Companion, and her brother was also a Companion of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. Her father was the Siddiq of this Ummah (the steadfast affirmer of truth of the Muslim Ummah).
She grew in the home of knowledge, for her father was the prominent scholar and genealogist of the Quraysh. She was endowed with extraordinary intelligence and a sharp memory. Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy upon him) said: “Among all the nations, there was none like ‘A’ishah in her sharp memory, knowledge, eloquence, and intelligence. She preceded all women in knowledge and wisdom as she was blessed with understanding Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), memorising poetry, and all the sciences of Shari’ah (Islamic jurisprudence).”
Ath-Thahabi (may Allah have mercy upon him) said: “She was the most knowledgeable among all women of this Ummah. I do not know a woman more knowledgeable than her in the Muslim Ummah, or even from among all the women of the world.”
She surpassed all other women by her virtues and kind companionship. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “‘A’ishah ‘s excellence over other women is like that of Thareed (a delicious mixture of meat and bread) over other types of food.” [Al-Bukhari]
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, loved her very much and he loved only what is good and beautiful. ‘Amr ibn al-‘As (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, once: “Who is most beloved to you from among people?” He replied: “‘A’ishah.” Then ‘Amr asked: “(Who is most beloved to you) from among men?” He replied: “Her father.” [Al-Bukhari]
She was the only virgin woman from among the wives of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, and the only wife in whose bed the Revelation (Jibril, may Allah exalt his mention) came to him. She was a chaste woman and sincere worshipper. She used to go out only during the night in order to screen herself from men. She said: “We used to go out only during the night.” In doing so, she applied the verse in which Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance.} [Qur’an 33:33]
Commenting on this verse, Al-Qurtubi may Allah have mercy upon him said, “The Shari’ah is full of proofs which oblige women to abide in their houses and not to frequently go out unless there is a necessity. When there is a necessity to go out, women are required to completely cover themselves.”
Allah The Almighty puts to trial those whom He loves and one is given trials according to his level of faith. ‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, was accused of unchastity when she was 12 years old. She said, “I wept throughout the whole night until the morning. I did not get any sleep, nor did my tears cease until my parents thought that weeping would split my liver.” The trial grew more and more severe until she said, “My tears dried up, so that I could no longer feel a single tear.”
Ibn Kathir said: “Allah The Almighty got jealous for her sake.” Therefore, He revealed her innocence in 10 Qur’anic verses which will continue to be recited until the end of time. This endowed her with a sublime reputation and prestigious position and proved her chastity while she was still young. Allah The Almighty gave testimony that she is a pure and good woman and further promised her His Forgiveness and abundant Provision.
She continued to serve the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, and nurse him during his sickness until he died on the night appointed for her, in her house and while he was leaning between her chin and chest.
* The woman of the wholesome heart, Sawdah bint Zam‘ah (may Allah be pleased with her) was the first wife of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, after the death of Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her). She remained his only wife for three years. She was revered and noble and endowed with a clear and pure heart. Caring for the feelings of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, she gave up the night that was appointed for her to ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) seeking the Satisfaction of her Lord.
* Hafsah, daughter of the Commander of the Believers, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with them both) was a devout worshipper who was steadfast in her prayers and fasting. She grew up in a house whose members supported Islam and worked hard to make the truth manifest. Seven people from her family attended the Battle of Badr. Concerning her, ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “She was the only one to vie with me (with regard to her status from the Prophet) from among the wives of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam.”
* The benevolent, Zaynab bint Khuzaymah al-Hilaliyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) was a generous giver and used to hasten in doing righteous and good deeds. She remained the wife of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, for two months and then died.
* Umm Habibah, Ramlah bint Abu Sufyan (may Allah be pleased with them) emigrated for the sake of Allah The Almighty seeking His reward. Unlike all the other wives of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, she was the closest in kinship relation to him, received the highest dowry, and was the farthest in distance from him when he concluded the marriage with her. He concluded the marriage with her when she was in Abyssinia fleeing to protect her religion. The King of Abyssinia paid her dowry on behalf of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, and provided her with the necessary marital needs.
* Umm Salamah, Hind bint Abu Ummayyah (may Allah be pleased with her) was known as a patient and bashful believer, who was one of the early emigrants to Madinah. When she wanted to migrate to Madinah with her husband, Abu Salamah, may Allah be pleased with him, her people separated her and her husband and child. She said, “I used to go out every morning and sit in the valley of Makkah and cry until the evening. I kept doing this for about a year until they finally sympathised with me and returned my child to me.”
She had firm and strong faith in Allah The Almighty. When her husband, Abu Salamah, may Allah be pleased with him, died, she followed the guidance of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, and supplicated Allah The Almighty Who compensated her with the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam.
It was narrated that she said:
“I heard the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, saying: ‘When a Muslim is afflicted with an affliction, then he says, ‘We belong to Allah and to Him shall we return; O Allah, Support me through my affliction and Reward me for it and Give me something better in its stead,’ Allah Will Give him something better in its stead.’
When Abu Salamah died, I said, “Who is better than Abu Salamah from among the Muslims whose family was the first to emigrate to the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam.’ I then said those words and Allah blessed me with the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam.” [Muslim]
So, when you are afflicted with an affliction, you have to use this supplication and Allah The Almighty will compensate you with something better.

Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/

Zaynab bint Jahsh
The mother of the needy, Zaynab bint Jahsh (may Allah be pleased with her) was the paternal cousin of the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, enjoyed a noble and prestigious lineage. Allah The Almighty made her a wife of His Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, through a Qur’anic text and with neither a matrimonial guardian nor witnesses. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {So when Zayd had no longer any need for her, We married her to you.} [Qur’an 33:37]
Her marriage to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, was a blessing for Muslim women until the advent of the Hour. Having married her, the Hijab (Islamic covering) was obligated upon Muslim women in order to maintain their honor, chastity, and purity.
She used to give abundantly to the poor and weak, beneficently performed righteous deeds, and gave charity. Despite her noble position and high rank, she used to work with her hands in tanning skin, and weaving and then she would give in charity from her earnings. ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said about her: “I never saw a woman better in religiousness than Zaynab, nor more pious, truthful in speech, maintaining kinship ties, and greater in giving charity than her.”
* The sincere worshipper, Juwayriyyah bint Al-Harith (may Allah be pleased with her) was from Banu Al-Mustaliq. Her father was a chief of his people. She was blessed in herself and a source of blessing for her people as well. ‘A’ishah said: “I never saw a woman greater in blessing for her people than her.”
She was in the habit of worshipping her Lord and devoutly obedient to Him. She used to sit in her place of prayer remembering Allah The Almighty until midday. It was narrated that she said, “The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, passed by me in the early morning while I was remembering Allah and then he went out for his needs. Then he returned shortly before midday, and he said: ‘Are you still sitting here (remembering Allah)?’ I replied, ‘Yes.’” [Muslim]
* The notable, Safiyyah bint Huyayy (may Allah be pleased with her) was from the offspring of Harun (Aaron) - may Allah exalt his mention. She was noble, wise, prestigious, religious, tolerant, and revered. It was narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said to her: “You are a daughter of a prophet (i.e. Harun), your uncle is a prophet (i.e., Musa (Moses)), and your husband is a prophet (i.e., himself).” [At-Tirmithi]
The banquet of her marriage to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, included butter, goat cheese, and dates. Therefore, her marriage was easy and blessed.
* The one who maintained her kinship ties, Maymunah bint al-Harith Al-Hilaliyyah (may Allah be pleased with her). She was one of the greatest women. Allah The Almighty endowed her with a sound heart and pure self and she was a devoted worshipper of Allah The Almighty. ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “She was the best among us in fearing Allah and maintaining kinship ties.”
O Muslims! These are the biographies of immortal women in Islam, the Mothers of the Believers, may Allah be pleased with them. They were endowed with a shining position and combined beauties and virtues. It is their due right that Muslim women consider them a beacon of life, benefit from their lives, and follow their example in religiousness, good morals, consciousness of Allah The Almighty and complete submission to the command of Allah The Almighty and His Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. Muslim women should emulate their devotion to worship by doing more acts of obedience, speaking the truth, controlling the tongue, giving generously to the poor, relieving the distress of the weak, raising children well, adopting patience in reforming children, fortifying themselves with knowledge and when in doubt, asking those who are firm in knowledge.
Muslim women must also be careful about observing correct Hijab (Islamic covering), guarding their chastity, abiding in their houses, keeping away from suspicious matters and desires, avoiding excessive ambitions in this worldly life, avoiding negligence in this worldly life, and taking care of the apparent side while neglecting the inner side, giving free hand for one’s eyes to look at what is prohibited, using soft speech with men and avoiding voices which call to impermissible exposure of women’s beauty and intermixing with men. A woman’s greatness and glory lies in adhering to her religiousness and abiding by her Hijab. Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful. } [Qur’an 33:59]
The wives of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, lived with him in humble houses, in chambers built of mud-bricks and palm reeds, nevertheless, these chambers were full of faith and piety. They were patient with the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, and complained from neither poverty nor need. They used to spend one or two months with no fire kindled for cooking in their houses. They experienced days when there was only one date in their house. They used to spend days while they had only water and there was no food at all. They were satisfied with their lives and looked for the promise of Allah The Exalted Who Says (what means): {And the Hereafter is better for you than the first [life].} [Qur’an 93:4]
Their reward is twice. Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {And whoever of you devoutly obeys Allah and His Messenger and does righteousness -- We will give her reward twice; and We have prepared for her a noble provision.} [Qur’an 33:31]
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, married five of them when they were 40 to 60 years old. In doing so, he ensured taking care of widows and sponsoring their orphans. He married Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) when she was 40 years old and she previously had three children from another husband, even though it was the first time for him to marry. He married Zaynab bint Khuzaymah, (may Allah be pleased with him) a widow who was approaching 60. He married Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) while she was a widow and had six children. He married Sawdah (may Allah be pleased with her) a widow who was 55 years old.
He married from his relatives; the daughters of his paternal uncles and aunts, as well as those who were not his relatives. He was a merciful husband to them, dutiful, generous, kind, cheerful, and gentle with them. A person who seeks happiness has to follow the role model of the best of all humans, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. The Muslim women, meanwhile, are required to follow the example of his righteous wives. A woman will not find success unless she follows their example in adhering to the Hijab, righteousness, piety as well as kindness to both her husband and children.

Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/