Emigrant and Widow

Sawdah bint Zam'ah was of Banu 'Amir ibn Lu'ayy, a clan of Quraysh. She accepted Islam early in Makkah, together with her husband and cousin al-Sakran ibn 'Amr, the brother of Suhayl ibn 'Amr, who would long remain one of Islam's opponents.

When persecution grew, the couple left their home and emigrated to Abyssinia, where the Negus gave the Muslims refuge. They later returned to Makkah, and there al-Sakran died, leaving Sawdah a widow in a city hostile to her faith, with her own family largely still unbelievers.