Sayyidah Umm Salamah bint Abi Umayyah

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Sayyidah Umm Salamah bint Abi Umayyah

Name and lineage

Umm Salamah Hind bint Abi Umayyah (Hudhayfah) al Makhzumiyyah al Qurashiyyah. Her father was nicknamed Zad al Rakib (Provision for the Rider) on account of his generosity as he would take care of those who travelled with him, leaving them with no need to carry any provisions. Her mother is ‘Atikah bint ‘Amir al Kinaniyyah, from the family of the Banu Firas.

The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam married her after her husband, Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abdul Asad radiya Llahu ‘anhu—her paternal cousin^[1]—passed away. Abu Salamah and Umm Salamah radiya Llahu ‘anhuma emigrated together to Abyssinia and thereafter to Madinah. A weak report suggests that she was the first woman to enter Madinah in a camel carriage. She was one of the most beautiful women, having the noblest of lineages.

Merits and Status

1. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam married her and supplicated for her. Muslim reports from Sayyidah Umm Salamah radiya Llahu ‘anha:

أرسل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم حاطب بن أبي بلتعة يخطبني له فقلت إن لي بنتا وأنا غيور فقال أما ابنتها فندعو الله أن يغنيها عنها وأدعو الله أن يذهب بالغيرة

The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam sent Hatib ibn Abi Balta’ah to ask for my hand in marriage. I said to him, “I have a daughter and I am very possessive.”

The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam replied, “As for her daughter, we will ask Allah to make her independent of her mother; and I will ask Allah to remove her possessiveness.”^[2]

2. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam gave her the glad tidings of Jannat. Ahmed reports from Sayyidah Umm Salamah radiya Llahu ‘anha:

أغدف رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم على علي وفاطمة والحسن والحسين رضي الله تعالى عنهم خميصة سوداء ثم قال اللهم إليك لا إلى النار أنا وأهل بيتي قالت قلت وأنا يا رسول الله قال وأنت

The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam wrapped ‘Ali, Fatimah, al Hasan, and al Hussain in a black shawl. He then supplicated, “O Allah, take my Ahlul Bayt and me towards You; not towards the Fire.”

I entreated, “And me, O Messengers of Allah?”

The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “And you.”^[3]

3. Her wisdom and foresight were displayed on the Day of al Hudaybiyyah when the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam instructed his Sahabah to slaughter their animals and shave their heads. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam issued this instruction three times but the Sahabah, still clinging on to the hope that they may enter Makkah, did not carry out this instruction immediately. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam returned to Umm Salamah radiya Llahu ‘anha and said, “O Umm Salamah, what is the matter with the people?”

قالت يا رسول الله قد دخلهم ما رأيت فلا تكلمن منهم إنسانا واعمد إلى هديك حيث كان فانحره واحلق فلو قد فعلت ذلك فعل الناس ذلك

She replied, “O Messenger of Allah, the conditions you have witnessed have come upon them. Do not speak to any of them; but proceed to your animal and sacrifice it, thereafter shave your head. When they see that you have done so, they will follow suit.”

The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam left and, without speaking to anyone, slaughtered his animal and shaved his head. As soon as the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum saw this, they too slaughtered their animals and shaved their heads. Surah al Fath was revealed a short while later on their return journey; halfway between Makkah and Madinah.^[4] The advice she offered to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam on this occasion indicates to the intelligence and wisdom she was blessed with.

NEXT⇒ Sayyidah Zainab bint Jahsh

^[1]  He is also the cousin of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam; his mother is Umaymah bint ‘Abdul Muttalib, the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam paternal aunt.

^[2]  Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 918.

^[3]  Musnad Ahmed, vol. 6 pg. 296, 304, Hadith: 26582, Shu’ayb al Arna’ut graded the chain weak. In another narration reported by ‘Umar ibn Abi Salamah radiya Llahu ‘anhuma, the step-son of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, Umm Salamah radiya Llahu ‘anha asked, “Am I with them, O Messenger of Allah?” The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam replied, “You are upon your station and you are upon goodness.” (Jami’ al Tirmidhi, Hadith: 3205, 3787, al Albani graded it sahih.) This narration contains a clear virtue for Sayyidah Umm Salamah radiya Llahu ‘anha.

^[4]  Musnad Ahmed, vol. 4 pg. 323, Shu’ayb al Arna’ut graded the chain hasan.