The Al-Azhar Global Center for Electronic Fatwa has explained who nursed Prophet Muhammad ﷺ during his childhood and identified his milk siblings, coinciding with the observance of the Prophet’s Birthday in 2026.

The center also addressed the date of the Prophet’s birth and the ruling on commemorating the occasion.

Who Were the Prophet’s ﷺ Wet Nurses?

According to the Al-Azhar Global Center for Electronic Fatwa, the first woman to nurse Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was his mother, Aminah bint Wahb.

He was then nursed by Thuwaybah, the freedwoman of his uncle Abu Lahab, followed by Halimah al-Sa'diyyah.

Halimah al-Sa'diyyah is particularly well known in the Prophetic biography for caring for Muhammad ﷺ during an important period of his childhood among the tribe of Banu Sa'd.

Who Was Thuwaybah?

Thuwaybah was the freedwoman of Abu Lahab. She nursed the Prophet ﷺ during the early part of his childhood.

Who Was Halimah al-Sa'diyyah?

Halimah al-Sa'diyyah was the Prophet’s ﷺ wet nurse from Banu Sa'd. She cared for him during his childhood and became one of the most prominent figures associated with his early years.

Who Were the Prophet’s ﷺ Milk Siblings?

The Al-Azhar Fatwa Center explained that the Prophet ﷺ had milk siblings through both Thuwaybah and Halimah al-Sa'diyyah.

Milk Siblings Through Thuwaybah

They included:

• Masruh, Thuwaybah’s son.
• Abu Salamah Abdullah ibn Abd al-Asad al-Makhzumi.
• Hamzah ibn Abd al-Muttalib, the Prophet’s uncle.

Milk Siblings Through Halimah al-Sa'diyyah

They included:

• Abdullah, Halimah’s son.
• Unaysah, Halimah’s daughter.
• Al-Shayma, Halimah’s daughter.
• Abu Sufyan ibn al-Harith ibn Abd al-Muttalib, the Prophet’s cousin.

Who Were the Women Who Cared for the Prophet ﷺ?

Al-Azhar also identified the women who cared for the Prophet ﷺ during his childhood. They included:

Aminah, his mother; Thuwaybah; Halimah al-Sa'diyyah; Al-Shayma, Halimah’s daughter; and Umm Ayman Barakah al-Habashiyyah.

These women played an important role in caring for the Prophet ﷺ during his early years.

Was the Prophet’s Birthday on 12 Rabi' al-Awwal?

Scholars have differed over the exact date of the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ birth. However, they agreed that he was born in Makkah, during Rabi' al-Awwal, in the Year of the Elephant.

It is reported from Abdullah ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما:

“The Prophet ﷺ was born in the Year of the Elephant.”

Scholars also agree that the Prophet ﷺ was born on a Monday, based on the hadith of Abu Qatadah al-Ansari رضي الله عنه.

When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about fasting on Monday, he said:

“That is the day on which I was born, and the day on which I was sent—or revelation was sent down to me.”

The exact date of 12 Rabi' al-Awwal, however, is a matter of scholarly disagreement and cannot be stated as an undisputed date.

What Is the Ruling on Commemorating the Prophet’s Birthday?

The Al-Azhar Global Center for Electronic Fatwa previously stated that commemorating the Prophet’s ﷺ birth can represent reverence for the Prophet and an expression of love for him, which is an essential part of faith.

Al-Azhar cited Allah’s statement:

“And peace be upon him the day he was born.”
[Maryam: 15]

The center explained that commemorating the Prophet’s Birthday may include gatherings for the remembrance of Allah, sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ, praising him, providing food as charity, fasting, and performing voluntary prayers as expressions of love and joy at his birth.

Who was the first woman to nurse Prophet Muhammad ﷺ?

His mother, Aminah bint Wahb, was the first to nurse him, followed by Thuwaybah and Halimah al-Sa'diyyah.

Who was the Prophet’s most famous wet nurse?

Halimah al-Sa'diyyah is the most famous wet nurse associated with the Prophet’s ﷺ childhood.

Who were the Prophet’s ﷺ milk siblings?

They included Hamzah ibn Abd al-Muttalib, Abu Salamah, and Masruh through Thuwaybah, as well as Abdullah, Unaysah, and Al-Shayma through Halimah al-Sa'diyyah.

Was the Prophet ﷺ born on Monday?

Yes. The hadith of Abu Qatadah establishes that the Prophet ﷺ was born on a Monday.

Was the Prophet ﷺ definitely born on 12 Rabi' al-Awwal?

Scholars differed regarding the exact date. It is established that he was born during Rabi' al-Awwal, in the Year of the Elephant, and that his birth was on a Monday.