Hafsa bint Umar ibn Al-Khattab

Lineage of Lady Hafsa (May Allah be Pleased with Her) and Her Birth

Lady Hafsa, the mother of the believers, is the daughter of Omar ibn Al-Khattab ibn Nufayl ibn Abdul-Uzza ibn Rabbah ibn Abdullah ibn Qurt ibn Rizah ibn Adi ibn Kaab ibn Lu'ay. Her mother is Zainab bint Mazh'un, the sister of Uthman ibn Mazh'un. She was among the early converts to Islam in Mecca.

Her brother was Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), who was six years younger than her. She also had a brother named Abdur-Rahman al-Akbar, and all of them were the children of Zainab bint Mazh'un.

Lady Hafsa's Marriage to Khunais Al-Sahmi

Lady Hafsa was married to Khunais ibn Hudhaifah ibn Qais Al-Sahmi, and she remained with him until his death after their migration to Medina. This marriage took place upon their return from the Battle of Badr, and Khunais was her first husband. He was the only man from the tribe of Bani Sahm who participated in the Battle of Badr alongside the Prophet (peace be upon him). He was also one of the companions who made both migrations (to Abyssinia and to Medina).

The Marriage of the Prophet Muhammad to Lady Hafsa

Lady Hafsa became a widow after the death of her husband, Khunais. Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) proposed her marriage to both Abu Bakr and Uthman, but they both declined. Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) then brought this matter to the attention of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Prophet informed him that Lady Hafsa would marry someone better than Uthman, and Uthman would marry someone better than her.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) married Lady Hafsa, who was indeed a better match for him than Uthman. Later, when Abu Bakr and Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) met, Abu Bakr informed Umar that the Prophet had mentioned the idea of marrying Lady Hafsa to him as well. Umar feared that he might reveal the Prophet's secret, and had the Prophet not married her; he would have married Lady Hafsa himself. He also gave her a dowry of four hundred silver coins.

Honoring the Prophet's Treatment of Lady Hafsa

The Prophet (peace be upon him) was just and fair in his treatment of his wives. When he intended to go on an expedition or journey, he would draw lots among his wives. The wife whose name was drawn would accompany him. On one occasion during a campaign, Lady Hafsa's name was drawn, and she went with him. She stayed in her tent during the battle.

After the battle ended, she went to provide water to the thirsty, tend to the wounded, and alleviate the suffering of the injured. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) saw her dedication and efforts, he granted her eighty camel-loads of wheat as a gesture of honor and recognition of her service.

Lady Hafsa's Life After the Prophet

After the passing of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Lady Hafsa (may Allah be pleased with her) continued to live a life as she wished and desired. She had preserved some of the hadiths and sayings of the Prophet (peace be upon him) that were directed towards her and the Ummah, and she followed them diligently.

When the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed away, she grieved deeply, stayed in her home, and rarely left it except for performing the Hajj pilgrimage. She remained committed to obeying Allah, engaging in worship, and giving charity to the poor and needy.

Lady Hafsa During the Caliphate of the Two Caliphs

Lady Hafsa continued to be held in high esteem and respect during the reigns of the two caliphs, Abu Bakr, and her father, Umar ibn Al-Khattab. This was done as an honor to her and in recognition of her status as the wife of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Her home and person were respected just as the household of the Prophet (peace be upon him) was, and her chamber served as a place to safeguard the scrolls and boards upon which the Quranic verses were written for safekeeping.

When the Quran was compiled during the caliphate of Abu Bakr, with the insistence of Umar ibn Al-Khattab, the companions relied on the written material that Lady Hafsa had in her possession to compile and review the Quranic text.

Lady Hafsa's Hadith Narrations and Her Disciples

Lady Hafsa (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated a number of hadiths from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and the count of her narrations in the six major hadith collections is twenty-eight. Both Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim narrated four hadiths from her. However, Imam Muslim narrated six hadiths from her, and she has a separate collection of sixty hadiths in the book of Bqay bin Mukhlad that is attributed to her.

Here is a brief overview of the content of some of Lady Hafsa's narrations:

• Purity: Lady Hafsa narrated hadiths about the obligation of performing ghusl (ritual bath) on Friday for every adult and the use of the right hand for eating and drinking.
• Prayer: She narrated a hadith about the two rak'ahs (units of prayer) offered when the call to Fajr (dawn) prayer is given. These two rak'ahs are part of the confirmed sunnah prayers of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
• Fasting: Lady Hafsa narrated hadiths regarding the necessity of forming the intention for fasting before dawn, the Prophet's practice of fasting three days in every month, the ruling on kissing one's spouse while fasting, completing the fast for those who wake up in a state of junub (ritual impurity), fasting on Mondays and Thursdays, and fasting on the day of Ashura.
• Rituals and Acts of Worship: She narrated hadiths regarding the animals whose killing is permissible, the ruling on men wearing a turban, the physical features of the Prophet (peace be upon him), the etiquettes of sleeping, and dream interpretation.
• Medicine: Lady Hafsa narrated a hadith about interpreting dreams and treating ant bites.
• End of Times: She narrated a hadith in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) spoke about Ibn As-Sa'id and the coming of the Dajjal (the Antichrist) in the context of his anger.

It is noteworthy that many of Lady Hafsa's narrations focused on her description of the Prophet's actions, which were also narrated by other wives of the Prophet (may Allah be pleased with them). However, she had a unique set of hadiths, including those related to Ibn As-Sa'id, the Dajjal, dream interpretation, and the animals whose killing is permissible.

Virtues of Lady Hafsa (May Allah Be Pleased with Her)

Lady Hafsa, the Mother of the Believers, had numerous virtues, including the following:

1. Participation in the Migration: Lady Hafsa had the honor of participating in the migration (Hijrah) to Medina alongside her husband Khunais ibn Hudhaifah Al-Sahmi. This migration was a significant event in early Islamic history.
2. Abundance of Fasting and Night Prayers: She was known for her frequent fasting and night prayers. She often blamed herself and felt she fell short in her worship. It is even said that she did not pass away until she had fasted.
3. Literacy: Lady Hafsa had knowledge of reading and writing, and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) took interest in teaching her. This is evident in the hadith where he asked her if she could read and write, and she affirmed her ability.
4. Eloquence: Lady Hafsa was known for her eloquence and linguistic skills. There is a narration where she used eloquent words to console her father during his illness.
5. Preservation of the Quran: One of her greatest virtues was being one of the keepers of the comprehensive collection of the Quran during her lifetime. This collection was significant in the early stages of preserving the Quranic revelations.

Lady Hafsa (may Allah be pleased with her) was indeed a remarkable woman, known for her piety, knowledge, and dedication to Islam, and her contributions to the early Muslim community were highly esteemed.

The Death of Lady Hafsa

Lady Hafsa (may Allah be pleased with her) passed away in the month of Sha'ban in the forty-fifth year after the Hijrah (migration) during the caliphate of Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan (may Allah be pleased with him). She was sixty years old at the time of her death.