After Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) married Hadhrat Juwairia (radhiAllaahu anha), he (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) married the daughter of Hadhrat Abu Sufyaan (radhiAllaahu anhu), Hadhrat Umme Habiba (radhiAllaahu anha). Her mother, Safiyya binti Abil Aas, was the paternal aunt of Hadhrat Uthmaan bin Affaan (radhiAllaahu anhu). Her father Abu Sufyaan, is the same Abu Sufyaan, who had opposed Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) for many years. He accepted Islaam later. His name was Sakhar. Hadhrat Mu`aawiya (radhiAllaahu anhu), who is better known as Ameer Mu`aawiya, was the brother of Hadhrat Umme Habiba (radhiAllaahu anha).
MIGRATION TO ABYSSINIA
Hadhrat Umme Habiba (radhiAllaahu anha)’s name was Ramla. Some have said that it was Hind. Her first husband’s name was Ubaidullah Bin Jahsh . Both of them accepted Islaam in the initial stages. And due to the difficulties imposed upon the believers by the Mushrikeen, they migrated to Abyssinia. There she gave birth to a daughter, who was named Habiba. Hadhrat Umme Habiba (radhiAllaahu anha) became known by this title, because of this daughter of hers. Her husband, Ubaidullah accepted the christian faith and he left the fold of Islaam. He also tried to convince Hadhrat Umme Habiba (radhiAllaahu anha) to leave Islaam, but Allaah Ta`ala kept her Imaan strong and firm upon Islaam.
Hadhrat Umme Habiba (radhiAllaahu anha) says: “I once saw my (first) husband in a dream, in a very evil form and I became frightened. When I awoke in the morning then I realised that he had become a christian. Now I understood what my dream meant. I related my dream to him and encouraged him to accept Islaam, but he refused, and started drinking (alcohol) excessively. He died as a Kaafir.”
HER COMING INTO THE SANCTUARY OF NABUWWAT
Hadhrat Umme Habiba (radhiAllaahu anha) says: “I saw a dream in which someone was repeatedly saying ; ‘Yaa Ummul Mu`mineen’. When I saw this dream, I became scared. Later the interpretation of this dream became a reality, when the Abyssinian king, Najjaashi, sent his special (female) attendant to me with the news that Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) had sent a proposal for marriage, and that he should perform the Nikah. When I heard this I made a du`aa for the servant; ‘May Allaah Ta`ala also give you glad tidings!’ She then told me to get a Wakeel (representative). I appointed Khalid bin Saeed bin Aas (radhiAllaahu anhu) as my Wakeel, since he was a relative of mine, who had also come to Abyssinia. Out of happiness, I gave this slave of the king my two bangles and rings, etc. which I had on me at that time, they were made of silver.
When evening came then Najjaashi called Hadhrat Ja`far bin Abi Talib (radhiAllaahu anhu) and all the others who had made Hijrat to Abyssinia, and were now resident there. Najjaashi then commenced with the Khutbah, after reciting the Khutbah, he said: “Muhammed (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) has requested that I marry him to Umme Habiba, the daughter of Abu Sufyaan, hence I have agreed to do so. Saying this Najjaashi stipulated an amount of 400 dinars (gold coins) as Mehr, and he gave this amount, in cash, in front of the group that were present.
Thereafter Hadhrat Khalid bin Saeed bin Aas (radhiAllaahu anhu) gave a Khutbah and said: “I have accepted the proposal (on behalf of Hadhrat Umme Habiba (radhiAllaahu anha)) and give Umme Habiba binti Sufyaan in Nikah to Rasulullaah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam).” Thereafter, he took the dinars given in Mehr by Najjaashi and left. All the others also left. Najjaashi told them to wait as he wished to feed them after the Nikah. Food was served and they all ate. Thereafter they all left. This occurred in the year 7 A.H. According to some it was the 6th year A.H.
Hadhrat Umme Habiba (radhiAllaahu anha) says that after she received the Mehr, she gave fifty dinars to the slave girl of Najjaashi. She returned it saying that Najjaashi has forbidden her from taking these gifts of hers. She also returned the other things given to her by Hadhrat Umme Habiba (radhiAllaahu anha). When Abu Sufyaan (radhiAllaahu anhu) heard this news he was shattered, because at that time he was not yet a Muslim, and he still harboured antagonism for Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). He considered this a victory for Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) that he (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), although being pursued and hounded by the Maccans, has made Nikah to the daughter of Abu Sufyaan.
ARRIVAL IN MADINAH FROM ABYSSINIA
HONOUR FOR NABI (SALLALLAHU ALAIHI WASALLAM)
Hadhrat Umme Habiba (radhiAllaahu anha) used to honour and respect Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) greatly. When she reached Madinah Shareef, her father also came there to conclude some of the details with regard to the peace treaty of Hudaibia. When he came there, he intended to see his daughter, Hadhrat Umme Habiba (radhiAllaahu anha) as well. When he came to her house, he was about to sit down on the bed, when Hadhrat Umme Habiba (radhiAllaahu anha) folded it up and said that he cannot sit down. He asked her: “What are you doing? Am I not worthy of this bed?”
Hadhrat Umme Habiba (radhiAllaahu anha) told him that it was the bed of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and that he (her father) being a Mushrik cannot sit thereupon. Hearing this, her father said that she has become spoilt and evil.
Hadhrat Abu Sufyaan (radhiAllaahu anhu) became a Muslim on the occasion of the conquest of Macca. Because of his severe opposition to Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) upto then, the Muslims grew to dislike him and they did not even want to sit next to him. Once he went to Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and said: “I have three requests, will you accept it?” Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) asked him to explain. He said: “O Rasulullaah, I have a lovely daughter, Umme Habiba, who i give to you in Nikah.” Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) replied: “That is fine.” Then Abu Sufyaan said that he makes his son the scribe of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) accepted this. The third request that he made was that Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) make him the leader of one of his (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)’s army, so that: “I may fight with the Kuffaar, like how I fought with the Muslims.” Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) accepted this also. This is a narration in Muslim Shareef. From here it appears that Hadhrat Umme Habiba (radhiAllaahu anha) was given in Nikah to Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) by her father, in Madinah Shareef. This is incorrect, because when Hadhrat Umme Habiba (radhiAllaahu anha) was married to Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), her father was still a Kaafir. The Muhadditheen (commentators of Hadith) have mentioned this portion in Muslim Shareef as incorrect.
CONFORMITY TO THE HADITH
Hadhrat Umme Habiba (radhiAllaahu anha) used to follow the orders and instructions of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) very diligently.
Once Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said that if a person reads 12 Rakaats during the day and night, Allaah Ta`ala will build for him a beautiful palace in Jannat. These 12 Rakaats are: 4 Rakaats before Zuhr Salaat, 2 after Zuhr Salaat, 2 after Maghrib Salaat, 2 after Esha Salaat and 2 before Fajr. This is narrated in Tirmidhi Shareef. These Rakaats are known as Sunnat-e-Muakkadah. Hadhrat Umme Habiba (radhiAllaahu anha) reported this Hadith and she remained steadfast on these instructions.
It is reported in Musnad-e-Ahmed, that Hadhrat Umme Habiba (radhiAllaahu anha) said: “I always read these Rakaats, after I had heard Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) saying it.”
Hadhrat Umme Habiba (radhiAllaahu anha) reports that Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said that if a woman believes in Allaah Ta`ala and the last day, it is not Halaal for her to mourn the death of anyone for more than three days and three nights, except her husband, whose death she may mourn for four months and ten days.
When her father, Hadhrat Abu Sufyaan (radhiAllaahu anhu) passed away, she put on scent on the third day, and said: “I do not have a desire for putting on scent, however, by my putting this on, it cannot be construed that I am in mourning.”
Hadhrat Aisha (radhiAllaahu anha) reports that when Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was on his death bed, some of his wives were speaking and one of them mentioned about a christian library, in Abyssinia, by the name of Maria. Since Hadhrat Umme Habiba and Umme Salma (radhiAllaahu anhuma) were in Abyssinia and they saw this library, and they related about its beautiful structure and about the pictures that are inside it. Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) lifted his head said that these people would build a structure around the grave of any of their pious predecessors. Then they would place pictures of that person therein. Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “These (people who do this type of thing) are the worst of Allaah Ta`ala’s creation.” [Mishkaat]
CONCERN FOR THE HEREAFTER
Hadhrat Umme Habiba (radhiAllaahu anha) used to perform Ibaadat in abundance. She also practised abstinence. She had a great concern for the hereafter. When she was on her death bed, she called for Hadhrat Aisha (radhiAllaahu anha) and asked her to forgive her for any trouble she may have caused her during their lifetimes, due to the two of them being on ‘opposing’ sides from the co-wives of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). Hadhrat Aisha (radhiAllaahu anha) forgave her and made du`aa for her forgiveness. Thereafter, Hadhrat Umme Habiba (radhiAllaahu anha) said: “May Allaah Ta`ala make you happy, just as you have made me happy now.” Thereafter she called for Hadhrat Umme Salma (radhiAllaahu anha) and the same type of exchange took place between the two of them.
DEMISE
Hadhrat Umme Habiba (radhiAllaahu anha) passed away in the year 44 A.H.
Some have reported it to be in the year 42 A.H., while others have shown it to be 56 A.H. ‘Al-Isaaba’ has not authenticated this opinion.
Hadhrat Ali bin Hussein (radhiAllaahu anhuma) reports that once, owing to some work, he dug up a corner of his home, which was adjoining the home of Hadhrat Ali (radhiAllaahu anhu). There he found a stone, which had the following written thereupon: “This is the grave of Ramla binti Sakhar”. This stone was left there and covered in sand.
May Allaah Ta`ala be pleased with her.
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