Ayn-al-Hayat Riffat Hanim

Ayn al-Hayat Ahmad (; ; 5 October 1858 – 12 August 1910; meaning "Spring of life" ) was an Egyptian princess and a member of the Muhammad Ali dynasty. She was the first wife of Sultan Hussein Kamel of Egypt.

Early life Princess Ayn-al-Hayat was born on 5 October 1858, and was the only daughter of Prince Ahmad Rifaat Pasha (1825 — 1858) and his consort Dilbar Jihan Qadin (died 1900). She had two elder half-brothers, Prince Ibrahim Fahmi Pasha (1847 — 1893) and Prince Ahmad Kamal Pasha (1857 — 1907). Prince Ahmad Kamal was a man greatly esteemed for his love of justice and the austerity of his life. Ayn al-Hayat, was still a child when her father met his tragic end. a son, Prince Kamal el Dine Hussein, born on 20 December 1874, and a daughter, Princess Kazima Hanim, born on 16 July 1876. While the youngest two children, a daughter, Princess Kamila Hanim, and a son, Prince Ahmed Kazim died young. Then quite suddenly she insisted on a divorce and obtained her freedom. Princess Ayn-al-Hayat never remarried. The funds were chiefly supplied from the Princess's own resources and by donations from the Khedival family, as it then existed. According to the rules of the society, the president was always to be a princess of the ruling family. She was followed by Princess Fawzia, who was the president of the organization to come from the royal house.

Issue Together with Hussein Kamil, Ayn al-Hayat had four children: Prince Kamal el Dine Hussein (Cairo, 20 December 1874 – Toulouse, France, 6 August 1932 and buried in a mausoleum in the Muqattam Hills), married and had issue; Princess Kazima Hanim (16 July 1876 – Rome, 29 January 1921 and buried in ar-Rifai Mosque, Cairo), unmarried and without issue; Princess Kamila Hanim (died young); Prince Ahmed Kazim (died young);

Ancestry