Sawda bint Zam'a belonged to the Banu Amir ibn Lu'ayy branch of Quraysh. With her first husband, al-Sakran ibn Amr, she was among the early emigrants to Abyssinia. After her husband's death she became the first woman the Prophet married following the death of Khadija, thus marrying before Aisha among the Mothers of the Believers. She was known as an older, compassionate and generous woman. Her gifting of her allotted day to Aisha in her old age is recounted as an example of noble character. She died in Medina during the caliphate of Umar, most reliably in 23 AH (644 CE); a report of 54 AH is not considered accurate. Umar led her funeral prayer and she was buried in Jannat al-Baqi. Her grave, like the others in Baqi, is unmarked.