Umm Salamah- II

11/02/2019| IslamWeb

Her widowhood and marriage to the Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ).

In the third year of Hijrah (Migration of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) from Makkah to Madeenah), Abu Salamah  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  him fought in the Battle of Uhud. In that historic and crucial battle, his arm was wounded by a poisoned arrow shot by the enemy. He  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  him later recovered after treatment, but could survive only for a few months. His wound relapsed and ultimately he  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  him died.

Umm Salamah  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  her was immensely grief-stricken at the demise of her loving husband. When the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) heard about this, he  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) went to offer condolences to her  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  her and asked her to have patience and bear the calamity with fortitude.

According to one narration, when the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) paid a condolence visit to Umm Salamah  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  her after the death of her husband, he  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) asked her to pray Allah to grant Abu Salamah the lofty rank of the righteous and grant her a better husband than him.

At this, Umm Salamah  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  her wondered who could be a better husband for her than Abu Salamah  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  him. Seeing the forlorn state of Umm Salamah  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  her after she was widowed, Abu Bakr  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  him sent her a proposal for marriage, which Umm Salamah  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  her declined.

The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) was greatly impressed with the courage, which Umm Salamah  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  her displayed in facing the misfortunes and adversities of life. He  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) was also highly moved for her tragic situation and sent the proposal for marriage to her through 'Umar Ibn Al-Khattab  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  him. Umm Salamah  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  her consented, and in Shawwal, the 4th year of Hijrah, her marriage to the Noble Prophet, sallallaahu  alayhi wa sallam, took place.

 

A Historical example of her wisdom

In the 6th Hijrah year, the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) accompanied by his 1,400 companions  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  them decided to perform 'Umrah (minor Pilgrimage). When Quraysh learned about this, they decided to stop the Muslims from performing the pilgrimage; but when the Muslims decided to fight them they feared and signed a treaty with the Muslims, which consisted of several terms and conditions which appeared to be unfair for the Muslims as it prevented them from performing 'Umrah that year.

The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) accepted these conditions in adherence to the Divine Command instructing him  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) to do so. Then the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) ordered the Muslims to slaughter animals in sacrifice (indicating the end of the 'Umrah rites). But the Muslims hesitated in offering the sacrifice, which grieved the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ).

Umm Salamah  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  her who was with the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) on this journey, heard this and suggested to the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) to offer the sacrifice, shave his head and take off the Ihram. The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) did so acting on her advice. When the companions  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  them saw that the Prophet’s command was irrevocable, they at once sacrificed their animals and shaved their heads.

 

Her character:

Umm Salamah  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  her led a very simple and austere life. She  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  her was a devout worshiper. Every month, she may Allah be pleased with her fasted for three days (other than the fasting of Ramadan). Once, she  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  her wore a necklace, which had a little amount of gold in it. The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) did not like her wearing even this little amount of gold. So Umm Salamah  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  her immediately took it out.

Umm Salamah  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  her was very generous. She  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  her implored others also to give away in the cause of Allah. Whatever she  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  her had, she  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  her would readily give away to a beggar or a needy person.

Once, a few destitute people came to her begging for charity importunately. Umm Salamah, may Alalah be pleased with her, ordered her maid not to send them back empty-handed, and if there was nothing in the houses, she should give them just a few dates.

Umm Salamah  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  her has narrated 378 Hadeeths of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ). In moral excellence and nobility of conduct, she ranks, among the Prophet’s wives, next only to 'Aa'ishah  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  her. She, may Allah be pleased with he,r was an excellent reciter of the Quran, and her style was much similar to the Prophet’s. She  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  her was endowed with exceptionally beautiful countenance, deep knowledge, intelligence and sound judgment.

Her death:

After a life filled with faith and righteous deeds, the Mother of the Believers, Umm Salamah may Allah be pleased with her died in the year 61 A.H., aged 84 and the venerable Companion, Abu Hurayrah  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  him led the people in her funeral prayer, after which she  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  her was buried in Al-Baqee' Cemetery in Madeenah.

Umm Salamah- I

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