Her father was Jahsh ibn Riyab, an immigrant from the Asad ibn Khuzayma tribe who had settled in Mecca under the protection of Harb ibn Umayya. Her mother was Umayma bint Abd al-Muttalib, a member of the Banu Hashim clan of the Quraysh tribe and a sister of Muhammad's father.[1] Hence Habiba and her five siblings were the first cousins of Muhammad.
Habiba was an early convert to Islam. She married Abdur Rahman bin Awf,[2] but was childless.[3] Habiba was among those who accompanied her brother Abdullah on the Hijra to Medina.[4]
Habiba suffered from a gynaecological disorder and had constant bleeding for seven years. She consulted Muhammad about how to become ritually clean, and he advised her: "This is a vein. It is not menstruation.[5] Remain away (from prayer) equal (to the length of time) that your menstruation holds you back. After this, bathe yourself[6] and pray."[7] Habiba went to the house of her sister Zaynab (Muhammad's wife) and bathed in Zaynab's tub "till the redness of the blood came over the water"[8] and the tub was "full of blood".[9] The hadith narrators believed that Muhammad had meant that Habiba should take the ritual bath once a month like other women. However, of her own accord,[10] Habiba thereafter took the bath before every prayer,[11] apparently five times a day.
In 628 Muhammad granted Habiba 30 wasqs of dates and grain from the revenues of Khaybar.[12]