Rayhana bint Zayd

Rayhana bint Zayd ibn Amr (died ca. 10 AH) was a Jewish woman from the Banu Qurayza tribe who became part of the Prophet's household following the dissolution of that tribe in 5 AH after their treachery during the Battle of the Trench. She was married or taken as a concubine by the Prophet ﷺ after the event, and she is counted among the notable women of his household.

The historical sources differ on her precise status — some accounts say she accepted Islam and was freed and married to the Prophet ﷺ as a wife, while others say she preferred to remain as an umm walad (mother of a child by her master), though she had no known children from the Prophet. The question of her status became a matter of scholarly discussion in later biographical literature.

She is reported to have accepted Islam eventually, and the Prophet ﷺ treated her well. Her brother, a member of Banu Qurayza, had been killed, and the dislocation of her situation is acknowledged in the early sources. Her story is one of several examples of women from conquered communities who entered the Prophet's household.

She died before the Prophet ﷺ, around 10 AH, and was buried in the Baqi' cemetery. Her life is largely seen through the lens of the Banu Qurayza event rather than through her own actions, as the historical record is sparse. She represents the complex human stories within the early Islamic community's expansion.