Sayyidah Hafsah bint ‘Umar

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Sayyidah Hafsah bint ‘Umar

Name and lineage

Hafsah bint ‘Umar ibn al Khattab ibn Nufayl ibn ‘Abdul ‘Uzza. Her mother is Zainab bint Maz’un, the sister of ‘Uthman ibn Maz’un ibn Habib ibn Wahb ibn Hudhafah radiya Llahu ‘anhu.

The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam married her in the third year after Hijrah after her husband Khunays ibn Hudhafah al Badri radiya Llahu ‘anhu passed away on account of the wounds he sustained during the Battle of Uhud.

She fasted often and would perform Salah diligently, hence she was known as Sawwamah Qawwamah (lit. one who fasts regularly and performs Salah abundantly).

She was born five years before Nubuwwah and passed away in Sha’ban 45 AH; may Allah be pleased with her.

Merits and Status

1. She performed Hijrah with her husband. Ibn Sa’d reports from Abu Huwayrith:

تزوج خنيس بن حذافة من حفصة بنت عمر فكانت عنده وهاجرت معه إلى المدينة

Khunays ibn Hudhafah^[1] married Hafsah bint ‘Umar. She remained with him and they emigrated to Madinah.^[2]

2. She fasted often and performed abundant Salah, and will be the wife of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam in Jannat. Al Tabarani reports the narration from Qais ibn Zaid:

أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم طلق حفصة تطليقة … فجاء النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فدخل فتجلببت فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أتاني جبريل عليه السلام فقال راجع حفصة فإنها صوامة قوامة وإنها زوجتك في الجنة

The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam gave Hafsah a single divorce… The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam then came to her. When he entered, she covered herself. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam then said to her, “Jibril came to me and instructed, ‘Take Hafsah back as she fasts often and performs Salah abundantly, and she will be your wife in Jannat.’”^[3]

3. When the Mushaf was compiled during the Caliphate of Sayyidina Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu, it remained with him until his demise. It then remained with Sayyidina ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu during his Caliphate. After he passed away, it passed on to Sayyidah Hafsah radiya Llahu ‘anha. It was borrowed from her when Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu compiled it during his Caliphate and was subsequently returned to her. It then remained with her until she passed away.^[4]

NEXT⇒ Sayyidah Zainab bint Khuzaymah

^[1]  Khunays ibn Hudhafah radiya Llahu ‘anhu is among the early Muhajirin. He emigrated to Abyssinia and Madinah. He participated in the Battle of Badr and the Battle of Uhud, where he sustained a fatal injury and passed away shortly thereafter in Madinah. (Al Isti’ab, vol. 1 pg. 134, al Isabah, vol. 2 pg. 345.)

^[2]  Al Tabaqat al Kubra, vol. 8 pg. 81.

^[3]  Al Mu’jam al Kabir, vol. 18 pg. 365, Hadith: 934; Mustadrak al Hakim, vol. 4 pg. 16, Hadith: 6753; al Silsilah al Sahihah, Hadith: 2007; Sahih al Jami’ al Saghir, Hadith: 4351, al Albani graded it hasan.

^[4]  Sahih Ibn Hibban, Hadith: 4506, Shu’ayb al Arna’ut graded it sahih.