Umm Salamah
Hind bint Abi Umayya was well-known as Umm Salamah after she had a son called Salamah.
Umm Salamah was married to Abu Salamah and they were both part of the early Muslims who migrated to Abyssinia to avoid being tortured by the Quraysh.
After living in Abyssinia for a period of time, they decided to head back to Makkah as they felt that the oppression that the Muslims were facing had eased.
However, when they arrived in Makkah, they realised that the situation had not improved.
Migration to Madinah:
Abu Salamah and Umm Salamah now decided to migrate to Madinah.
Abu Salamah prepared a camel and he placed his wife and son on it. However, when Umm Salamah’s tribe (Banu Mughirah) witnessed this, they stopped Abu Salamah from leaving.
The tribe of Banu Mughirah said: You are determined to go in spite of us? Do you think that we will let you take our daughter wherever you want?
They took Umm Salamah and her son, and when Abu Salamah’s tribe (Banu Abd al-Asad) saw this, they said: By Allah, we will not leave our son with her, if you separate her from our companion (referring to Abu Salamah).
The tribe of Banu Abd al-Asad then took Umm Salamah’s son, Salamah with them.
Separated From Her Family:
At this point, Umm Salamah was taken by her tribe (Banu Mughirah), her son Salamah was taken by the tribe of Banu Abd al-Asad, and her husband Abu Salamah left for Madinah.
Umm Salamah would go to an area called Al-Abtah where she would grieve about being separated from her family and she would sit there, crying until the evening.
After witnessing this, one of her cousins went to her tribe and said: Will you not let this poor woman go to her husband? You have split her from her husband and her son.
The tribe of Banu Mughirah granted Umm Salamah permission to go to her husband in Madinah and she was also reunited with her son.
Umm Salamah then left for Madinah alone and when she passed by the area of Tan’im, she met Uthman ibn Talhah, who asked her: Where are you going O daughter of Abu Umayyah?
Umm Salamah replied: I am going to find my husband in Madinah. Uthman asked: Is there anyone with you?
Umm Salamah responded: No, by Allah, except this, and my son. Uthman replied: By Allah, you will not be left alone.
Uthman ibn Talhah then accompanied Umm Salamah on her journey to Madinah and he took the reins of her camel.
Eventually, Umm Salamah was reunited with her family in Madinah.
Umm Salamah was one of the few people who participated in the migration to Abyssinia and the migration to Madinah.
It was also stated that she was the first woman to complete both migrations as well
Abu Salamah’s Death:
Umm Salamah’s husband, Abu Salamah, was well-renowned as one of the strongest and bravest fighters in battle.
Abu Salamah participated in both the Battle of Badr and the Battle of Uhud, where he was significantly injured.
However, two months after the Battle of Uhud, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ ordered him to lead an army to fight the tribe of Banu Asad.
Abu Salamah was victorious, but the wound that he suffered at Uhud opened up during this battle, which ultimately led to his death.
When Umm Salamah was nursing him, Abu Salamah said to her: I heard the Messenger of Allah saying: Whenever a calamity affects anyone, they should say: Surely from Allah we are and to Him we shall certainly return.
He would also pray: O Lord, give me in return something better from it which only You, Exalted and Mighty, can give.
The Prophet’s Proposal:
Umm Salamah remembered the prayer of her late husband that was taught to him by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
She would repeat this Dua and would ask herself: Who could be better than Abu Salamah?
After completing her waiting period, she received many proposals from the leaders and most prominent men of Madinah, including Abu Bakr and Umar ibn al-Khattab, but she refused to marry them.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ then sent a proposal to Umm Salamah, who told the messenger of the Prophet: Inform the Messenger of Allah that I am a very jealous woman and I am a woman with children, and none of my guardians are present.
After the messenger informed the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ of what Umm Salamah had said, the Prophet replied: Say to her, as for your saying that you are a very jealous woman, I will supplicate to Allah and your jealousy will depart. As for your saying that you are a woman with children, you will find one who is willing and able to support them and take care of them. As for your saying that none of your guardians is present, no one among them, whether present or absent, will dislike that (this marriage should take place). (Ahmad)
Marriage to the Prophet:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ then married Umm Salamah and she became one of the ‘Mothers of the Believers.’
Allah SWT had answered Umm Salamah’s Dua, as He blessed her with someone better than Abu Salamah.
Character of Umm Salamah:
In terms of remembering Hadith, it was said among the Prophet’s wives that none equalled Umm Salamah and Aisha bint Abi Bakr.
Umm Salamah was known to be a beautiful woman, who was God-fearing and she was well-known for her frequent worshipping and her devotion to please Allah SWT and His Messenger.
Death of Umm Salamah:
Umm Salamah passed away in the year 61 AH, at the age of 84.
Abu Hurayrah led her funeral prayer and she was buried in the Jannat al-Baqi graveyard.