acceptance, stating, "O Messenger of Allah, I have three characteristics. I am a woman who is extremely jealous and I am afraid that you will see in me something that will anger you and cause Allah to punish me. I am a woman who is already advanced in age and I am a woman who has a young family." However, Muhammad appeased each of her concerns, "Regarding the jealousy you mentioned, I pray to Allah the Almighty to let it go away from you. Regarding the question of age you have mentioned, I am afflicted with the same problem as you. Regarding the dependent family you have mentioned, your family is my family." Muhammad's era Umm Salama was married to Muhammad at the age of 32. Umm Salamah was a widow with 3 children and a fourth born almost immediately after their marriage. When Fatimah bint Asad (mother of the 4th Caliph Ali) died, Muhammad is said to have chosen Umm Salama as the guardian of Fatimah bint Muhammad. However, the latter Fatimah is thought to have married Ali in 1 AH or 2 AH, Fatimah bint Asad died in 4 AH, and Umm Salama married Muhammad in year 5, so any guardianship must have been purely nominal. The Verse of Purification (33:33) in the Qur'an was revealed to Muhammad in her house. Umm Salama and the wives of Muhammad In the fourth year following the migration to Medina (4 AH), Umm Salama accepted a marriage proposal from Muhammad. After sharing her three reservations about the marriage, and hearing the response from Muhammad, Umm Salama was so pleased that she accepted the proposal. Umm Salama became the eldest of all of Muhammad's wives. She became the highest-ranking wife of Muhammad, only behind Khadija. Her elevated status among the rest of the wives was a result of her presence in many wars and her defense of the household of Muhammad. Attributes that distinguish Umm Salama from the rest of the wives of Muhammad include the following: Her role in Fatimah upbringing (most prominent daughter of Muhammad, whom Umm Salama proclaimed displayed more knowledge than ever herself in all affairs), her political activism, her accounts of Muhammad's narrations (378 total narrations of Hadith), and her unwavering defense of Ali's personality and leadership following Muhammad's death. The greatest attribute of the wives of Muhammad is demonstrated as being known as the "Mothers of