Mother of the believers Umm Salama (May Allah be pleased with her) -

The mother of the believers Umm Salama (May Allah be pleased with her) was one of the women Allah honored with beauty and noble lineage, along with the wisdom of her mind and her love for jurisprudence. Let’s learn some brilliant lessons from her.

Her Family

Hind, the daughter of Abu Umayya Ibn Al-Mugeerah al-Makhzumiah, came from a distinguished lineage. Her father was a highly respected leader within the Quraish tribe, known by the nickname “Zad Ar-Rakb” (provision for the traveler) because he generously ensured that his companions had all they needed during their journeys.

Her mother, Atika, was the daughter of Amir Ibn Rabi’ah al-Kananiyyah, belonging to the Banu Firas clan.

Her Struggle

Umm Salama, originally married to Abdullah Ibn Abdel-Asad al Makhzumi (Abu Salama), faced numerous hardships in her early life. Both Umm Salama and her husband were among the first to embrace Islam during its early days in Mecca. This decision brought them significant suffering at the hands of the Quraish, who tried to force them to renounce their newfound faith. Seeking relief from this persecution, they were among the first Muslims to seek refuge under the protection of the Negus in Abyssinia.

Upon their return to Mecca, hopeful that the situation for Muslims had improved, they found the hostility had only worsened. Instead of returning to Abyssinia, they sought and received the Prophet’s permission to migrate to Medina. However, this journey proved to be more challenging than they had anticipated.

Umm Salama recounted her ordeal, explaining, “When Abu Salama decided to set out for Medina, he prepared a camel for me and our son. He led the camel towards Medina, but men from my tribe, Banu Makhzum, saw us and intervened. They said, ‘We could not control you, Abu Salama. What about your wife? Why did we let you wander with her in the land?’ They seized the camel’s rein from his hand and took me back. In their anger, Banu Abdel Asad took my son and said to my husband’s family, ‘By Allah, we would not leave our son in her custody after you had taken him from our kin.’

They forcibly took my son from me, leaving me alone. My husband continued his journey to Medina by himself; his tribe had taken my son from me; and my own tribe had overpowered me, forcing me to stay with them. From the day my husband and son were taken from me, I went out at noon every day to the spot where this tragedy had occurred. I would remember those terrifying moments and weep until nightfall.”

“For about a year, I continued in this state until one day a man from the Banu Umayya passed by and saw my plight. He approached my tribe and said, ‘Why don’t you release this woman? You have separated her from her husband and her son.’ He kept appealing to their emotions and softening their hearts until they finally said to me, ‘Go and join your husband if you wish.’

But how could I leave for Medina to join my husband while my son, my own flesh and blood, remained in Mecca with the Banu Abdul Asad? How could I be free from anguish and my eyes from tears if I were to reach the place of hijrah not knowing the fate of my little son left behind in Mecca?

“Some kind-hearted people recognized my suffering and sympathized with me. They spoke to the Banu Abdul Asad on my behalf and persuaded them to return my son. I did not want to stay in Mecca any longer; I was eager to find someone to travel with me, fearing that any delay could prevent me from reaching my husband.”

So, without hesitation, I prepared my camel, placed my son on my lap, and set off toward Medina. Umm Salama was a courageous woman, undeterred by the dangers of the desert, where travelers could easily be misled by mirages, attacked by wild animals, or sold into slavery by highwaymen. Even seasoned men avoided traveling alone for such long distances. But Umm Salama feared more that her relatives might change their minds and use force to keep her back. Trusting in Allah, she set off with her little son.

She continued, “I had just reached Tan’im (three miles from Mecca) when I encountered Uthman ibn Talha. He was responsible for the care of the Ka’ba but had not embraced Islam until the Conquest of Mecca. ‘Where are you going, Bint Zad ar Rakib?’ he asked. ‘I am going to my husband in Medina,’ I replied. ‘And isn’t there anyone accompanying you?’ ‘No, by Allah, except Allah and my little boy here.’ ‘By Allah,’ he vowed, ‘I will not leave you until you reach Medina.’

He then took the reins of my camel and led us on our journey. By Allah, I have never met an Arab more generous and noble than he. Whenever we reached a resting place, he would make my camel kneel down, wait until I had dismounted, and then lead the camel to a tree and tether it. He would rest in the shade of a different tree from mine. When we were ready to resume, he would prepare the camel again and lead us onward. He did this every day until we reached Medina.”

When we arrived at a village near Quba (about two miles from Medina) that belonged to the Banu Amr ibn Awf, Uthman ibn Talha said, ‘Your husband is in this village. Enter it with Allah’s blessings.’ Then he turned back and headed to Mecca.”

Umm Salama was the first woman to emigrate to both Medina and Abyssinia.

In Medina, she dedicated herself to her family. Her husband, Abu Salama, fought valiantly in the battles of Badr and Uhud, sustaining a severe injury to his arm. Two months after the battle of Uhud, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, received news that the Banu Asad were planning an attack on Medina. He appointed Abu Salama to lead a squad of about 150 men, including notable companions Abu Ubaidah and Saad ibn Abu Waqqas, to confront them at Qutn (a mount).

During this mission, Abu Salama’s old wound reopened, confining him to bed for treatment.

While Umm Salama was caring for him, he once said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say that when faced with a calamity, one should recite what Allah has commanded: ‘Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un!’ (Meaning: Surely we come from Allah and surely to Him we return!) and then say, ‘O Lord, reward me for my affliction and give me something better in return, which only You, the Exalted, the Mighty, can give.'”

Abu Salama remained bedridden for several days. One morning, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, visited him. The visit was longer than usual, and while the Prophet was still there, Abu Salama passed away. The Prophet closed Abu Salama’s eyes with his blessed hands, looked towards the sky, and prayed:

“O Allah, forgive Abu Salama; elevate him among those who are near to You; take care of his family always; forgive us and him, O Lord of the worlds; make his grave spacious and fill it with light.”

Umm Salama faced this loss with unwavering faith.

She recalled what her husband had narrated from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and said, “O Allah, reward me for my calamity…” She paused for a moment, then continued, “…and replace it with something better.” She wondered who could be better than her beloved husband, Abu Salama.

After her mourning period ended, many prominent companions proposed marriage to her. It was customary among the Muslims to marry the widows of their fallen brethren to care for their families. Umm Salama was not the only widow after the battle of Uhud, and this tradition allowed many companions to follow the Prophet’s example, marrying widows and integrating them and their children into their families, rather than leaving them to fend for themselves.

The Prophet’s Proposal

Umm Salama, the Mother of the Believers, was one of the women whom Allah honored with beauty and noble lineage, along with the wisdom of her mind and her love for jurisprudence. When her husband, Abu Salama (may Allah be pleased with him), passed away, and her waiting period ended, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) sent a proposal to marry her.

She was astonished and immediately recalled the Hadith related by Abu Salama: “and replace my catastrophe with something better.”

She recognized that this was indeed the best possible replacement. Being an honest woman, she did not hesitate to disclose her concerns to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. “O Messenger of Allah,” Umm Salama said, “I have three main concerns: I am extremely jealous, and I fear you may see something in me that displeases you and causes Allah to punish me; I am already advanced in age; and I have many children.”

The Prophet reassured her, saying, “As for your jealousy, I pray to Allah the Almighty to remove it from you. As for your age, I am older than you. As for your many children, Allah and His Messenger will suffice for them.”

His words eased her heart, and they were married in Shawwal, 4 AH. Thus, Allah answered Umm Salama’s prayer and gave her someone better than Abu Salama. From that day on, Umm Salama was not only the mother of Salama but also became the ‘Mother of the Believers,’ ‘Umm al-Mu’minin.’

The wisdom behind the Prophet’s marriage to her was to encourage Muslims to marry widows who had lost their husbands and to show compassion to them, and take responsibility for their children. The Prophet generously took care of her four children.

One of her notable moments in Islamic history is the revelation of a verse in Surah At-Tahrim (66:5) as narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari. Umm Salama played a role in this event when the Prophet’s wives had gathered, and she responded to Umar ibn al-Khattab‘s comments about the possibility of the Prophet divorcing his wives. She quoted the verse, and this event is a testament to her wisdom and her role as one of the Mothers of the Believers.

The Rational Woman

As the pilgrims approached Mecca, they were intercepted by representatives of the Quraish, who told them to turn back as they would not be allowed to enter the city. The Messenger of Allah, seeking to avoid an armed conflict, asked the Muslims to set up camp while he negotiated with the Quraish.

He later sent Uthman into the city to negotiate with the city council. The council members suggested that Uthman perform the rituals of Umrah himself before returning to the Messenger of Allah and his companions, hoping to win his sympathy. Uthman refused their suggestion.

Meanwhile, the Muslims grew anxious because Uthman had been gone for a long time. They feared that the Quraish had treacherously killed him. All the Muslims, men and women, went to the Messenger of Allah and vowed to stand by his side in case of war, even though it would have been a conflict between unequal parties since the Muslims had not brought their weapons while the idolaters had full access to their armor. Eventually, Uthman returned unharmed, accompanied by a messenger named Suhail, who was to negotiate a treaty with the Muslims.

The Quraish had vowed not to let the Muslims enter Mecca that year and did not want to break their promise. The Muslims were disappointed when the Messenger of Allah suggested returning and coming back the next year. However, the Quraish were ready to negotiate a peace treaty.

The Messenger of Allah called Ali to draft the text and began dictating, “In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.”

“Stop!” Suhail interrupted. “I do not recognize any Beneficent and Merciful. Write instead, ‘In Your Name, O Allah.'”

The Messenger of Allah continued, “This is a treaty between Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, and Suhail bin Amr…”

“Stop!” Suhail interrupted again. “If I believed you were the Messenger of Allah, I would not have fought against you. Write your name and your father’s name.”

At this moment, the Muslims wanted to protest loudly, but the Messenger of Allah quietly instructed Ali, “Write: ‘This is a treaty between Muhammad bin Abdullah and Suhail bin Amr.'” Ali, feeling a deep sense of shame for what seemed like a humiliating compromise for the beloved Prophet, held back his tears and continued writing as dictated: “… they agree not to make war against each other for ten years. During this period, people should feel safe and refrain from hostilities. Muhammad is obliged to return to the Quraish anyone who comes to him without his patron’s permission, while the Quraish are not obliged to send back anyone coming to them from Muhammad’s side. There should be no hostility, secret theft, or cheating between us. Anyone is free to make agreements with Muhammad or the Quraish.”

The Muslims felt a deep sense of disappointment and sadness. They had eagerly anticipated performing Umrah, and although they were relieved at the prospect of peace, they found the conditions of the treaty humiliating and unfair. Consequently, they hesitated to follow the Prophet’s instruction to slaughter their sacrificial animals and cut their hair as if they had performed Umrah. Exhausted, the Messenger of Allah retreated to his tent.

Umm Salama asked him, “What is the matter with you?”

“Well,” he replied, “they are too disappointed to listen to me.”

Umm Salama pondered for a while. Though she was deeply saddened herself, she understood the Prophet’s disappointment. However, she believed that Allah would certainly turn this situation into something beneficial for the Muslims. She also thought that the Prophet, being an experienced and wise man, would not have agreed to a treaty that was entirely disadvantageous. She recognized that a prolonged peace was more valuable than a short pilgrimage.

She finally suggested, “If you want them to follow your instructions, why don’t you go out yourself and, without speaking to anyone, slaughter your animal and then call someone to cut your hair?”

Taking her advice, the Messenger of Allah went out, slaughtered his animal, and had his hair cut. Seeing this, the Muslims followed his example, slaughtering their sacrificial animals and cutting their hair. Then, they set off for Medina. At this time, the following verses were revealed:

“We have granted you an obvious victory so that Allah may protect you against your earlier and later faults, and that He may perfect His grace towards you and guide you on the straight path, and that Allah may help you with a powerful help. He is the One who sends tranquility into the hearts of the faithful, adding faith to their faith – and to Allah belong the hosts of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is knowing, wise.” (Surah 48:1-4)

“You and Your Daughter Are Among the People of the House”:

Umm Salama provided a loving home for her four children: Salama, Umar, Zaynab, and Durra, who were also considered the foster children of the Prophet. One day, she was with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) along with her daughter Zaynab when Fatima arrived with her sons, Hasan and Husayn (peace and blessings be upon them all). The Prophet embraced his grandsons and said, “May the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you, People of the House. He is Praiseworthy, Glorious.”

Umm Salama began to weep. Seeing her tears, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) gently asked, “Why are you weeping?” She replied, “O Messenger of Allah, you singled them out and left me and my daughter!” He reassured her, saying, “You and your daughter are among the People of the House.”

A’isha, may Allah be pleased with her, once said, “When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, married Umm Salama, I felt very unhappy when he mentioned her beauty to us. I waited until I saw her and she was even more beautiful than her description.” Umm Salama was also from a very noble family and was known for her keen intelligence. On several occasions, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sought her advice in difficult situations.

Like A’isha and Hafsa, Umm Salama memorized the entire Qur’an. She held a high station with Allah, evident from the fact that she was permitted to see the angel Jibril in human form. It has been related by Salman that Jibril came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) while Umm Salama was with him, and they conversed.

After Jibril left, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked Umm Salama, “Do you know who that was?” She replied, thinking it was a man named Dihya al-Kalbi. “By Allah,” said Umm Salama, “I didn’t think it was anyone else until the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) told me who it really was.”

Her daughter Zaynab, who grew up in the care of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), became one of the most intelligent women of her time. Once, while the Prophet was bathing, he splashed water on Zaynab’s face. As a result, her face retained its youthful appearance well into old age.

Her son Salama later married Umama, the daughter of Hamza, the martyred uncle of the Prophet. Umm Salama was married to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) for seven years until his death in 10 AH, and she accompanied him on many expeditions: Hudaybiyya, Khaybar, the Conquest of Mecca, the siege of Ta’if, the expedition against Hawazin and Thaqif, and the Farewell Hajj.

She lived a long life, outliving all the other wives of the Prophet (may Allah be pleased with them), until she passed away in 59 AH at the age of eighty-four. Abu Hurairah led her funeral prayer. May Allah be pleased with her.

Umm Salama’s position and contributions to the early Islamic community were highly significant, and she remains a respected figure in Islamic history.