COMPANIONS from Saudi Arabia

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Saudi Arabian Companions of all time. This list of famous Saudi Arabian Companions is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Saudi Arabian Companions.

1. Fatimah (604 - 632)

With an HPI of 83.43, Fatimah is the most famous Saudi Arabian Companion.  Her biography has been translated into 89 different languages on wikipedia.

Fatima bint Muhammad (Arabic: فَاطِمَة بِنْت مُحَمَّد, romanized: Fāṭima bint Muḥammad; 605/15–632 CE), commonly known as Fatima al-Zahra' (Arabic: فَاطِمَة ٱلزَّهْرَاء, romanized: Fāṭima al-Zahrāʾ), was the daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his wife Khadija. Fatima's husband was Ali, the fourth of the Rashidun Caliphs and the first Shia Imam. Fatima's sons were Hasan and Husayn, the second and third Shia Imams, respectively. Fatima has been compared to Mary, mother of Jesus, especially in Shia Islam. Muhammad is said to have regarded her as the best of women and the dearest person to him. She is often viewed as an ultimate archetype for Muslim women and an example of compassion, generosity, and enduring suffering. It is through Fatima that Muhammad's family line has survived to this date. Her name and her epithets remain popular choices for Muslim girls. When Muhammad died in 632, Fatima and her husband Ali refused to acknowledge the authority of the first caliph, Abu Bakr. The couple and their supporters held that Ali was the rightful successor of Muhammad, possibly referring to his announcement at the Ghadir Khumm. Controversy surrounds Fatima's death within six months of Muhammad's. Sunni Islam holds that Fatima died from grief. In Shia Islam, however, Fatima's (miscarriage and) death are said to have been the direct result of her injuries during a raid on her house to subdue Ali, ordered by Abu Bakr. It is believed that Fatima's dying wish was that the caliph should not attend her funeral. She was buried secretly at night and her exact burial place remains uncertain.

2. Aisha (605 - 678)

With an HPI of 79.13, Aisha is the 2nd most famous Saudi Arabian Companion.  Her biography has been translated into 90 different languages.

Aisha bint Abi Bakr (c. 613/614 CE – July 678) was a sixth century commander, politician, muhadditha, and the third and youngest wife of prophet Muhammad. Aisha had an important role in early Islamic history, both during Muhammad's life and after his death. In Sunni tradition, Aisha is portrayed as scholarly, intelligent and inquisitive. She contributed to the spread of Muhammad's message and served the Muslim community for 44 years after his death. Aisha narrated 2,210 hadiths throughout her life, not just on matters related to Muhammad's private life, but also on topics such as inheritance, pilgrimage, prayer, and eschatology. Her intellect and knowledge in various subjects, including poetry and medicine, were highly praised by early scholars and luminaries such as al-Zuhri and her student Urwa ibn al-Zubayr. Her father, Abu Bakr (r. 632–634), became the first caliph to succeed Muhammad, and after two years was succeeded by Umar (r. 634–644). Aisha played a leading role in opposing some policies of the third caliph Uthman (r. 644–656), though she also opposed those responsible for his assassination. She refused to recognize Uthman's successor Ali (r. 656–661) and joined al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam and Talha ibn Ubayd Allah. She was defeated in Battle of the Camel during the First Fitna, after which she retired in Medina, became reconciled to Ali and did not oppose caliph Mu'awiya (r. 661–680). She participated in the Battle of the Camel by giving speeches and leading troops on the back of her camel. Because of her involvement in this battle, Shia Muslims have a generally negative view of Aisha despite her subsequent reconciliation with Ali. In Sunni Islam, Aisha is viewed as a leading Islamic scholar and a teacher of several companions and the tabi'in.

3. Khadija bint Khuwaylid (556 - 619)

With an HPI of 78.79, Khadija bint Khuwaylid is the 3rd most famous Saudi Arabian Companion.  Her biography has been translated into 85 different languages.

Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (Arabic: خَدِيجَة بِنْت خُوَيْلِد, romanized: Khadīja bint Khuwaylid, c. 554 – November 619) was the first wife and the first follower of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Khadija was the daughter of Khuwaylid ibn Asad, a noble of the Quraysh tribe in Makkah and a successful merchant. Khadija is often referred to by Muslims as "The Mother of Believers". In Islam, she is an important female figure as one of the four 'ladies of heaven', alongside her daughter Fatimah bint Muhammad, Asiya the wife of the Pharaoh, and Mary, mother of Jesus. Muhammad was married to her for 25 years. Khadija's mother, Fatima bint Za'idah, who died in 575, was a member of the Amir ibn Luayy clan of the Quraysh and a third cousin of Muhammad's mother, Amina. Khadija's father, Khuwaylid ibn Asad, was a merchant and leader. According to some accounts, he died c. 585 in the Sacrilegious War, but according to others, he was still alive when Khadija married Muhammad in 595. Khuwaylid also had a sister named Ume Habib binte Asad.

4. Zainab bint Muhammad (600 - 629)

With an HPI of 71.20, Zainab bint Muhammad is the 4th most famous Saudi Arabian Companion.  Her biography has been translated into 33 different languages.

Zainab bint Muhammad (Arabic: زَيْنَب بِنْت مُحَمَّد)‎ (598/599–629 CE) was the eldest daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad by his first wife Khadijah.

5. Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib (567 - 653)

With an HPI of 71.10, Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib is the 5th most famous Saudi Arabian Companion.  His biography has been translated into 53 different languages.

Al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib (c. 566–653 CE) was a paternal uncle and sahabi (companion) of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, just three years older than his nephew. A wealthy merchant, during the early years of Islam he protected Muhammad while he was in Mecca, but only became a convert after the Battle of Badr in 624 CE (2 AH). His descendants founded the Abbasid dynasty in 750.

6. Hafsa bint Umar (602 - 661)

With an HPI of 70.99, Hafsa bint Umar is the 6th most famous Saudi Arabian Companion.  Her biography has been translated into 50 different languages.

Hafsa bint Umar (Arabic: حفصة بنت عمر, romanized: Ḥafṣa bint ʿUmar; c. 605–665) was the fourth wife of Muhammad and a daughter of the second caliph Umar (r. 634–644). In Islamic writings, her name is thus often prefixed by the title "Mother of the Believers" (Arabic: أمّ المؤمنين, romanized: ʾumm al-muʾminīn).

7. Zayd ibn Harithah (581 - 629)

With an HPI of 70.34, Zayd ibn Harithah is the 7th most famous Saudi Arabian Companion.  His biography has been translated into 33 different languages.

Zayd ibn Ḥāritha al-Kalbī (Arabic: زيد بن حارثة الكلبي) (c. 581–629 CE), was an early Muslim, Sahabi and the adopted son of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. He is commonly regarded as the fourth person to have accepted Islam, after Muhammad's wife Khadija, Muhammad's cousin Ali, and Muhammad's close companion Abu Bakr. Zayd was a slave that Hakim ibn Hizam, Khadija's nephew, bought for her at a market in Ukaz. Zayd then became her and Muhammad’s adopted son. This father-son status was later annulled after Muhammad married Zayd’s ex-wife, Zaynab bint Jahsh. Zayd was a commander in the early Muslim army and led several early military expeditions during the lifetime of Muhammad. Zayd led his final expedition in September 629 CE, and set out to raid the Byzantine city of Bosra. However the Muslim army was intercepted by Byzantine forces and Zayd was subsequently killed at the Battle of Mu'tah.

8. Umm Kulthum bint Muhammad (603 - 630)

With an HPI of 69.90, Umm Kulthum bint Muhammad is the 8th most famous Saudi Arabian Companion.  Her biography has been translated into 31 different languages.

Umm Kulthūm bint Muḥammad (Arabic: أم كلثوم بنت محمد) (c. 603–630) was the third daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad by his first wife Khadija bint Khuwaylid.

9. Sawda bint Zamʿa (589 - 674)

With an HPI of 69.38, Sawda bint Zamʿa is the 9th most famous Saudi Arabian Companion.  Her biography has been translated into 38 different languages.

Sawdah bint Zamʿah (Arabic: سودة بنت زمعة) was the second wife of Muhammad and regarded as "Umm-ul-Mu'mineen" (Arabic: أمّ المؤمنين, romanized: ʾumm al-muʾminīn), "Mother of the Believers".

10. Juwayriyya bint al-Harith (608 - 676)

With an HPI of 65.77, Juwayriyya bint al-Harith is the 10th most famous Saudi Arabian Companion.  Her biography has been translated into 33 different languages.

Juwayriya bint Harith (Arabic: جويرية بنت الحارث, romanized: Juwayriyyah bint al-Ḥārith; c. 608–676) was the eighth wife of Muhammad and so, considered to be a Mother of the Believers.