Sayyidah Umm Salamah bint Abi Umayyah (R.A)
Sayyidah Umm Salamah’s Name and lineage
Umm Salamah Hind bint Abi Umayyah (Hudhayfah) al Makhzumiyyah al Qurshiyyah.
Her father on account of his generosity was nicknamed Zad al Rakib (provision of the rider) 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, from the family of Banu Firas of the Kinaniyyah tribe.
The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam married her after her husband, Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abd al Asad—her paternal cousin—passed away. Abu Salamah and Umm Salamah migrated together to Abyssinia and thereafter to Madinah.
It has been said 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.
Sayyidah Umm Salamah’s Virtues and Status
The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam married her and supplicated for her. Muslim reports from Sayyidah Umm Salamah radiya Llahu ‘anha:
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 for her we will ask Allah to remove her possessiveness.”[Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 918.]
The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam gave her the glad tidings that she will be in Jannat. Ahmed reports from Sayyidah Umm Salamah radiya Llahu ‘anha:
The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam wrapped ‘Ali, Fatimah, Hassan, and Hussain in a black shawl. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam then said, “O Allah, Take them towards You not towards the Fire. My Ahlul Bayt and I.”
I said, “And me, O Messengers of Allah.”
The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “And you.”[Musnad Ahmed, vol. 6 p. 296, vol. 6 p. 304, Hadith: 26582, categorised as weak by Sheikh Shu’ayb Arna’ut. In another narration reported by ‘Umar ibn Abi Salamah, the step-son of the Prophet salla Llahu ”alayhi wa sallam, it is narrated, “Umm Salamah said, ‘Am I with them, O Messenger of Allah?’ The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam replied, “You are upon your station, you are upon goodness.” This narration is Sahih as reported by al Tirmidhi (Hadith: 3812) and contains a clear virtue for Sayyidah Umm Salamah radiya Llahu ‘anha.]
Her wisdom and foresight was displayed on the Day of Hudaybiyyah when the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam instructed his Companions to slaughter their animals and shave their heads. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam issued this instruction three times but the Companions still clinging on to the hope that they may yet 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?”
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 then left and without speaking to anyone slaughtered his animal and shaved his head. As soon as the Companions saw this they too slaughtered their animals and shaved their heads.
Surah al Fath was revealed a short while later on the return journey; halfway between Makkah and Madinah.[Musnad Ahmed, vol. 4 p. 323.]
The advice which she offered to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam on this occasion indicates the intelligence and wisdom she was blessed with.
Umm Salamah Hind bint Abi Umayyah (Hudhayfah) al Makhzumiyyah al Qurshiyyah.
Her father on account of his generosity was nicknamed Zad al Rakib (provision of the rider) 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, from the family of Banu Firas of the Kinaniyyah tribe.
The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam married her after her husband, Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abd al Asad—her paternal cousin—passed away. Abu Salamah and Umm Salamah migrated together to Abyssinia and thereafter to Madinah.
It has been said 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.
Sayyidah Umm Salamah’s Virtues and Status
The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam married her and supplicated for her. Muslim reports from Sayyidah Umm Salamah radiya Llahu ‘anha:
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 for her we will ask Allah to remove her possessiveness.”[Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 918.]
The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam gave her the glad tidings that she will be in Jannat. Ahmed reports from Sayyidah Umm Salamah radiya Llahu ‘anha:
The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam wrapped ‘Ali, Fatimah, Hassan, and Hussain in a black shawl. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam then said, “O Allah, Take them towards You not towards the Fire. My Ahlul Bayt and I.”
I said, “And me, O Messengers of Allah.”
The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “And you.”[Musnad Ahmed, vol. 6 p. 296, vol. 6 p. 304, Hadith: 26582, categorised as weak by Sheikh Shu’ayb Arna’ut. In another narration reported by ‘Umar ibn Abi Salamah, the step-son of the Prophet salla Llahu ”alayhi wa sallam, it is narrated, “Umm Salamah said, ‘Am I with them, O Messenger of Allah?’ The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam replied, “You are upon your station, you are upon goodness.” This narration is Sahih as reported by al Tirmidhi (Hadith: 3812) and contains a clear virtue for Sayyidah Umm Salamah radiya Llahu ‘anha.]
Her wisdom and foresight was displayed on the Day of Hudaybiyyah when the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam instructed his Companions to slaughter their animals and shave their heads. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam issued this instruction three times but the Companions still clinging on to the hope that they may yet 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?”
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 then left and without speaking to anyone slaughtered his animal and shaved his head. As soon as the Companions saw this they too slaughtered their animals and shaved their heads.
Surah al Fath was revealed a short while later on the return journey; halfway between Makkah and Madinah.[Musnad Ahmed, vol. 4 p. 323.]
The advice which she offered to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam on this occasion indicates the intelligence and wisdom she was blessed with.