Sayyidah Hafsah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) hailed from a blessed family; her father was none other than the second khaleefah of Islam, Sayyiduna ‘Umar bin Khattaab (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and her mother was Sayyidah Zainab bintu Maz‘oon (radhiyallahu ‘anha), the sister of the illustrious Sahaabi, Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan bin Maz‘oon (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). Finally, she was the sister of the great Sahaabi, Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma). (Tabaqaat Ibni Sa’d vol. 8, pg. 81)
However, the greatest honour and privilege that she was blessed with, was that she was the respected wife of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and therefore, the mother of the believers.
Sayyidah Hafsah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) was born during the year when the Quraish were renovating the Ka’bah, which happened to be five years before Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) received nubuwwah (prophethood). (Tabaqaat Ibni Sa’d vol. 8, pg. 81)
Initially, she was married to Sayyiduna Khunais bin Huzaafah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) who was the brother of Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin Huzaafah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). He was one of the forerunners of Islam and among those Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) who had migrated twice; first to Abyssinia and then to Madeenah Munawwarah. During the Battle of Badr, he sustained severe injuries due to which he subsequently passed away on his return to Madeenah Munawwarah. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) performed his Janaazah Salaah and he was buried in Jannatul Baqee’ next to Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan bin Maz‘oon (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). According to another report, he passed away after sustaining injuries during the Battle of Uhud. (Tabaqaat Ibni Sa’d vol. 3, pg. 392 & vol. 8, pg. 81, Usdul Ghaabah vol. 2, pg. 130 and Sharhuz Zurqaani vol. 4, pg. 393)
Sayyidah Hafsah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) was now widowed. Thus, when her ‘iddah ended, her father, Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), began to search for a suitable spouse for her. At that time, Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had also lost his respected wife, Sayyidah Ruqayyah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), the beloved daughter of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), who had passed away in Madeenah Munawwarah whilst the Battle of Badr was taking place. As a result, he was in sorrow and grief.
Therefore, Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) approached him and offered Sayyidah Hafsah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) to him in marriage. Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “I will think about it.” A few days later, when they met, he informed Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) of his decision saying, “(After consideration,) I feel that I should not get married at the moment.”
Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) next approached Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). However, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) remained silent and did not respond. Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was naturally upset by this. In fact, he explains that he was more upset at the silence of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) than with the refusal of Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).[1]
According to one narration, Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) even informed Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) regarding Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan’s (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) refusal. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) remarked, “Allah will marry ‘Uthmaan to someone better than your daughter and He will marry your daughter to someone better than ‘Uthmaan.”
Soon this statement of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) became true; Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) married Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to his third daughter, Sayyidah Ummu Kulthoom, and He (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) himself proposed for Sayyidah Hafsah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) and married her, making her one the mothers of the believers.
After this marriage, when Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) met Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), he asked him, “Perhaps you got upset with me when you offered Hafsah to me and I did not give any response?” Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied in the affirmative. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then clarified the matter saying, “The only reason why I did not respond to your proposal was because I knew that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was considering her (for marriage). I thus did not want to disclose the secret of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). However, had Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) withdrawn from it (i.e. getting married to her), I would have accepted her (in marriage).” (Saheeh Bukhaari # 5122 & Fat-hul Baari and Tabaqaat Ibni Sa’d vol. 8, pg. 83)
Sayyidah Hafsah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) was very devoted to nafl ‘ibaadah. In fact, even Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) attested to this on one occasion when he informed Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) regarding her, “Indeed she fasts often, stands (in salaah) regularly and she is your wife in Jannah.” Moreover, she remained so firm on this habit of fasting that she was even fasting on the day of her demise. (Tabraani – Majma‘uz Zawaa-id #15324 and Tabaqaat Ibni Sa’d vol. 8, pg. 86)
She passed away in Madeenah Munawwarah during the reign of Sayyiduna Mu‘aawiyah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) in the year 41 A.H. or 45 A.H. according to different narrations. Hence, she was 60 years of age, or slightly more at the time of her demise. Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah and Sayyiduna Abu Sa‘eed Khudri (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) were also among those who accompanied her janaazah to Jannatul Baqee’. Her brothers, Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and ‘Aasim (rahimahullah), and her nephews, Saalim, ‘Abdullah and Hamzah (rahimahumullah), lowered her blessed body into her grave. (Al-Isaabah vol. 8, pg. 86, and Sharhuz Zurqaani vol. 4, pg. 395)
Lessons:
1. In life, at times we feel that something is good for us and we strive to acquire it. Thereafter, if perchance, it does not materialize, we become dejected and depressed. What we fail to realize is that sometimes Allah Ta‘ala closes one door only to open many others. In this incident, Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was looking for a suitable spouse for his daughter and therefore approached Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan and Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) thinking that they will be the best possible suitors. However, Allah Ta‘ala had a better plan and granted him the best son-in-law.
2. A very important aspect of Deen is that if someone entrusts a person with something, be it an item or some information, then that trust must be fulfilled. When it comes to tangible items, people tend to be more particular in keeping the trust. However, keeping a person’s secret, which is also an amaanah, is something unheard of nowadays. It all starts off by saying, “Don’t tell anyone…” and eventually the news spreads quicker than if it had been publicly announced. This is totally against the spirit of a believer. Despite Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) having a very close bond with Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), he did not disclose what he heard from Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) even though he anticipated that Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) may become upset with him.
3. When a misunderstanding occurs between two people, then it is important to clarify the misunderstanding when the time is right and to make amends. Otherwise, that misunderstanding might remain in the person’s mind indefinitely and ultimately result in more issues. Moreover, when clarity is made and someone wishes to make amends, the other person must be clean-hearted and willing to accept.
4. Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) informing Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) that Sayyidah Hafsah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) will also be his wife in Jannah, is a clear proof that even after the demise of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) she spent her life in total conformity to his blessed sunnah and noble teachings. Hence, there is absolutely no truth to the baseless allegations made by the Shi‘ah against this illustrious mother of the believers.
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[1] This was perhaps because firstly, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was much closer to Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). Therefore, the closer the person is, the more hurt a person will feel. Secondly, Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) gave an answer, although negative; whereas, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) did not even respond.