Umm Salamah was a great Islamic lady. The real name of Umm Salamah Was ‘Hind’. Her husband was ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abd al-Asad (RA), and they both accepted Islam. And were among those who accepted Islam very early. When non-believers heard about their conversion to Islam, they reacted angrily and forced umm Salamah to quit Islam, but both husband and wife remained steadfast in their faith.
Migration to Abyssinia
The situation became unbearable for believers in Makah, so Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) asked them to migrate to Abyssinia. Umm Salamah and her husband were also among those Muslims that went to Abyssinia. After some time, they heard the news that the number of Muslims had increased in Makah, and Hamzah ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib and ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) were among the new Muslims, so this urged them to strengthen their faith. They decided to return to Makah.
When non-believers heard the news of the acceptance of Islam by Hamzah and Umer, they increased the torture to a pitch and intensity not known before, so the Prophet asked the Muslims to migrate to Madinah. Umm Salamah and her husband were among the first to leave.
Umm Salamah at theTime of Migration
She said that my husband prepared a camel for me at the time of migration. And hoisted me on the camel and placed my son on my lap, then he took the lead and went on. When we were going, some people stopped us and said to my husband.
You are free to do anything but have no power over your wife. She is our daughter. We do not allow taking her with you. They pulled my son away from me. They forced me to stay with them because I could not do anything. My husband headed to Madina.
Every day I went to the place where this tragedy occurred and recalled what happened. one day, a man asked my tribe why are you forcing this lady, and they asked me if I wanted to go to my husband, then you are free.
So I took my son and prepared the camel and traveled towards Madina. When I reached three miles away from Makah, I met ‘Uthman ibn Talhah. Bint Zad ar-Rakib asked me where you are going. I said that I was going to my husband in Madina. Then asked there isn’t anyone with you?” I said nobody was with me except Allah and my son.
He vowed that I should never abandon you until you reach Madina. When we reached the village near Quba, he said your husband is in this village, enter this village with the blessings of God. Then He turned back and headed for Makah. Umm Salamah and her son and husband were pleased to meet again. Time passed, and her husband fought in the battle of Badr, a battle of Uhud. Once umm Salamah was nursing her husband, he said to her.
“I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) saying, ‘Whenever a calamity afflicts anyone, he should say,
‘Surely from Allah we are, and to Him, we shall certainly return.’ And he would pray, ‘O Lord, give me in return something better from it which only You, Exalted and Mighty, can give.'”
After the Death of her Husband:
Her husband died. She left now alone everyone was sad for her. She had no one in Madina except for her son. When she completed the iddah Abu Bakr proposed marriage, but she refused. Then Umer asked her, but she again refused. The Prophet (PBUH) approached her, and she said
“O Messenger of Allah, I have three characteristics. I am an extremely jealous woman. And I am afraid that you will see in me something that will anger you and cause Allah (swt) to punish me. Women who are already advanced and have a young family.”
TheProphett (saw) replied:
“Regarding the jealousy you mentioned, I pray to Allah to let it go away from you. Regarding the age question you mentioned, I am afflicted with the same problem as you. Regarding the dependent family you have mentioned, your family is my family.”
They were both married, and so Allah gave her a better husband.
