At a glance
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In space
Map: Natural Earth, public domain · places and route from the graph
Family, marriage and kinshipWomen
Place in the story
- Family of the Prophet
Roles are dated and sourced; the museum describes the act and attributes the judgement.
Summary
Salma bint Amr, of the Banu Adi ibn al-Najjar in Yathrib, was the wife of Hashim ibn Abd Manaf and the mother of Abd al-Muttalib. According to The Sealed Nectar, she bore him after Hashim's death in Gaza, in 497 CE, and named him Shayba because he had a white streak in his hair. 1 2 3.
Marriage
Hashim went to Syria as a merchant. When he came to Medina, he married Salma bint Amr and stayed with her. He then left for Syria again while she was at her family's home, pregnant with Abd al-Muttalib, and Hashim died in Gaza. 1.
Raising Abd al-Muttalib
Salma gave birth to Abd al-Muttalib in 497 CE and named him Shayba. She raised him in her father's house in Yathrib, and none of his family in Mecca knew about him. 1. When he was a young boy, or a little older, al-Muttalib came to take him. The boy refused to go until his mother gave permission. Al-Muttalib asked her to send him with him, and she refused. He said that the boy was going to his father's kingdom and to the sanctuary of God, and she then gave her permission. 4 5.
Maternal relatives of Abd al-Muttalib
The Banu al-Najjar were the maternal relatives of Abd al-Muttalib. He called on them for help when Nawfal seized his property (arkah). His maternal uncle Abu Sad ibn Adi came with eighty riders. 4. See the recovery of Abd al-Muttalib's arkah.
For young visitors
Salma was the mother of the Prophet ﷺ's grandfather. After her husband died, she stayed in Yathrib and raised her son Shayba in her father's house, until his uncle came and took him to Mecca.
Connections
- Parent of
- Abd al-Muttalib ibn Hashim
- Spouse of
- Hashim ibn Abd Manaf
- Member of
- Banu al-Najjar
- Lived in
- Medina
People and things also explored
Abd al-Muttalib ibn Hashim· Medina· The Recovery of ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib’s Rights· Banu Hashim· al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib· Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib· Banu al-Najjar· Banu Maghala
Sources
- al-Raheeq al-Makhtum — Safi al-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri , p.49
- al-Sira al-Nabawiyya — Ibn Hisham , 1/137
- Rahma lil-Alamin — al-Mansur Furi , 2/24
- al-Raheeq al-Makhtum — Safi al-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri , p.50
- al-Sira al-Nabawiyya — Ibn Hisham , 1/137-138
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “Salmā bint ʿAmr”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/person/salma-bint-amr/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-22.