MB07-Umm Habibah Ramlah (ra), Bint Abi Sufyan (ra)

Umm Habibah-03/03

Abu Sufyan (ra), and his son Mu’awiyah (ra), accepts Islam.

It was the earnest desire of Umm Habibah (ra), that her father and brother should come into fold of Islam and earn the reward of a blessed Paradise.She did not want them to pass away from this world in a state of disbelief like Abu Jahl, Waleed bin Mughairah and others.

It was on the day of the conquest of Makkah, that Abu Sufyan (ra), and Mu’awiyah (ra), accepted Islam, her (ra), joy knew no bounds
The following Ayah was revealed. Mumtahinah 60:7
Al-Mumtahinah 60:7

“Perhaps Allah will make friendship between you and those whom you hold as enemies. And Allah has power (over all things), and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

Abdulla bin Abbas (ra), says that this particular verse revealed on the occasion of Umm Habibah’s marriage to the Prophet (saw)
This marriage influenced important chieftains and prominent leaders like Abu Sufyan to understand Islam and join the ranks of the Prophet (saw) and become remarkable Muslims.

The Prophet (saw), gives good news of paradise to both sister and brother (ra),

Once Mu’awiyah was visiting the Prophet (saw), while the Prophet (saw) and Umm Habibah (ra), were both sitting together.On seeing them together, Mu’awiyah turned around to leave them both in their privacy .When he turned to leave, the Prophet (saw), called out to him and invited him to sit with him .He (ra), then told him that he sincerely wished that they three should sit together and have the pure drink of Paradise ,These words imply that they will all three, Allah willing, be in Paradise

Najashi passes away as believing Muslim

Najashi (ra), the ruler of Abyssinia was a very generous man who was always giving gifts to the distressed and needy. He was a kind and sympathetic ruler. He became a Muslim after he saw the Islamic way of life of the refugees from Makkah.He not only promptly solemnized the marriage of Umm Habibah (ra), to the Prophet (saw), but he also hosted a wedding banquet and provided boats for their journey back .It was the angel Jibril as, who informed the Prophet (saw), when he passed away due to natural causes
The Prophet (saw), prayed to Allah (swt) for the forgiveness of his sins
All the refugees including the male and the female companions prayed for his forgiveness and remembered his sympathy, his kindness, his cooperation and the protection he provided them in difficult times

Umm Habibah (ra), a scholar of Ahadith

Umm Habibah (ra), due to her knowledge, mastery over Hadith and eloquence was ranked third among the Mothers of the Believers, first being Aishah (ra) and second being Umm Salamah (ra)
There are sixty five Ahadith narrated by her (ra)

One of them is regarding ‘the forbiddance of mourning for more than three days for a dead person except for her husband, which is four months and ten days.’

Another Hadith associated with her (ra), is regarding Miswak; where the Prophet (saw), ‘would have liked his Ummah to clean their teeth with Miswak before every prayer just as they perform the ablution.’

And another hadith she narrated is; ‘whoever prays four voluntary Rakah of prayer before and after the compulsory noon prayer Allah (swt), will make hell-fire forbidden for him.’

Allah (swt), answers Umm Habibah’s prayer against the murderer of Uthman bin Affan (ra)
When someone conveyed the message that Uthman bin Affan (ra), was martyred in his house after being besieged, she (ra), was so upset that she prayed the killer’s hands be cut off and that he should be disgraced and shamed in public.

And Allah (swt) fulfilled her prayer. A man entered the murderer’s house and attacked him with a sword; and when the murderer tried to protect himself with his right hand, it got cut off.
Then he tried to flee from him and ran into the street, holding his sheet with his teeth. But he could not manage it, the sheet fell, and he was left standing naked in front of all the people on the street disgraced and shamed.

Umm Habibah (ra), passes away in peace

During her brother Mu’awiyah’s rule Umm Habibah (ra), visited Damascus, and it was during his caliphate that she passed away in the year 44th after Hijrah

Before her death Umm Habibah (ra), sent messages to Aishah (ra), and Umm Salamah (ra), apologizing for any offense she (ra), might have caused them when disagreements or differences might have occurred
Both Aishah (ra), and Umm Salamah (ra), were very touched by this gesture Allah gives good news to them in Al-Fajr 89:28-30

“O the one in (complete) rest and satisfaction! Come back to your Lord-well pleased and well pleasing. Enter you then among My (honored) servants, and enter you my Paradise.”

MB07-Umm Habibah Ramlah (ra), Bint Abi Sufyan (ra)

Umm Habibah-02/03

The Prophet (saw ), proposes marriage to Umm Habibah (ra),

One night Umm Habibah dreamt someone called out to her, “Mother of the Believers”
When she woke up she felt a great sense of well-being and not just happiness but ecstasy
During the time , the Prophet (saw), had migrated to Al-Madinah and the first Islamic State had been established .

Someone while talking to him about Abyssinia mentioned that Umm Habibah the daughter of the Chief of Quraish from wealthy and noble family was living from hand to mouth, after her husband Obaidullah apostated and died.On hearing this the Prophet (saw) sent word to Najashi with the message that if Umm Habibah (ra), liked he would marry him.

Umm Habibah (ra), accepts the Prophet’s Proposal

Najashi received the Prophet’s (saw), proposal and sent his slave girl Abraha to Umm Habibah (ra), Umm Habibah (ra), was overjoyed when she heard of the proposal
She was so happy that she removed what ever silver jewelry she was wearing and gave it to Abraha as a gift ,Umm Habibah (ra), nominated her relative Khalid bin Sa’eed bin Aas for performing the ceremony .That very evening Najashi sent a message to Jafar bin Abi Talib asking him to bring all his Muslim friends to his palace
And he asked her relative Khalid bin Sa’eed bin Aas to perform the ceremony and gave four hundred dinars as Mahr to Umm Habibah on behalf of the Prophet (saw) .

Abraha the slave girl of Najashi accepts Islam

Umm Habibah (ra), was so grateful to Allah (swt), for the honor bestowed on her by making her one of the Mothers of the Believers that she sent for Abraha and once again gave her fifty Dinars and apologized for not having rewarded her earlier in a suitable manner.Abraha respectfully presented Umm Habibah (ra), with a little bag, which contained some very expensive perfume as gift from Najashi’s wives, and then Abraha herself gifted to Umm Habibah (ra), the same jewelry she had received earlier from her, apologizing for her lack of resources.
Abraha also sent a message to the Prophet (saw) informing him that she had accepted Islam in secret .And requested Umm Habibah (ra), to convey her greetings to the Prophet (saw), when she met with him saying, that this would be the greatest favor she could do for a poor woman.

Umm Habibah (ra), joins the Prophet ( saw), in Al-Madinah

When Umm Habibah (ra) reached Al-Madinah she told the Prophet (saw) , about the happenings in Abyssinia and about the goodness of Najashi and how generously the wedding had been organized .She gave him Abraha’s good news of her becoming Muslim and her ardent greetings. The Prophet (saw), was very pleased with her message and returning her greetings, he prayed that Allah (swt), should bless her with plenitude.

Abu Sufyan’s reaction to his daughters wedding

Abu Sufyan heard about his daughter’s marriage and he expressed happiness in spite of the fact that he had not yet accepted Islam .He said the Prophet (saw), was the youth who would never lose face, and always be honored.

Abu Sufyan visits his daughter Umm Habibah (ra), in Al-Madinah

When the Quraish broke the Treaty of Hudaibiyah, he Abu Sufyan came to Al-Madinah to renew the treaty. He visited his daughter; just as he was about to sit down Umm Habibah rolled up the light mattress which was spread out .He was surprised and asked her if he was worthy of the mattress, or the mattress was not worthy of him .She replied, ‘that actually it was a mattress used by a very pure and clean Prophet (saw), and no idol worshipper could sit on it, as he was unclean, hence she rolled up the mattress.’

Abu Sufyan was very embarrassed and said ‘she had forgotten the manners since moving away from him. She answered;

‘that the manners of Islam had taught her different values and cleanliness had a different meaning for her now’, of coarse Abu Sufyan was not happy with what his daughter had told him and left his daughter’s house .

She narrates;
I was thankful that Allah (swt), guided me to the path of Islam and wondered how come my father as chieftain of Quraish, and of such high standards had not yet seen the truth and accepted Islam

MB07-Umm Habibah Ramlah (ra), Bint Abi Sufyan (ra)

Umm Habibah -01/03

Umm Habibah Ramlah (ra), bint Abi Sufyan (ra)

Pointing towards Amir Mu’awiyah ( ra), and Umm Habibah (ra), Allah’s Messenger (saw), said, “By Allah, I wish by heart that she, you and I might drink the clean wine in Paradise together.”

The story of the four lost friends

Waraqah bin Naufil, Uthman bin Haweerath bin Asad, Zaid bin Amr bin Nafeel and Obaidullah bin Jahash were four friends who often used to get together and discuss how this terrible evil could be eradicated from their people.

They could not talk about it openly, so they used to have their sessions late at night when the entire world was silent and asleep.

The Quraish, lost their way to idolatry and these four friends decided they had to find the way to pure and prestine religion of Ibrahim (as), for themselves

The four friends find their separate ways

The first friend Waraqah bin Nawfal, cousin of Khadijah (ra), had given up idol worship right from barbaric times and had given up eating the flesh of animals sacrificed in the name of idols. He knew the Torah and the Injil by heart.

The second friend Uthman bin Haweerath bin Asad, traveled to Syria, and worked as a missionary to spread Christianity. He became a close friend of the Roman Emperor Caesar and was finally elevated to the papal position

The third friend, Zaid bin Amr bin Nafeel stopped worshipping idols, eating dead animals and drinking their blood and hated eating sacrificed animals. He often talked of the pure Abrahamic religion. He too died before the Prophet’s (saw), messenger ship

The fourth friend Obaidullah bin Jahash, regrettably, fell into such doubts and perplexity that he vacillated between right and wrong. He married the beautiful intelligent and educated daughter of the Quraish chieftain, Abu Sufyan Sakhr bin Harb. Her name was Ramlah bint Abu Sufyan.

Ramlah (ra), bint Abu Sufyan accepts Islam.

It was around this time in Makkah that Muhammad (saw) rejected the idols and invited people to worship the one true God and also proclaimed he was Allah’s (swt) last Prophet and Messenger

The leader of the Quraish were furious and the community was split into two factions
Some people became Muslims while the others became sworn enemies of Islam and Muslims
But the intelligent and wise daughter of Abu Sufyan, Ramlah accepted Islam and so did her (ra), husband Obaidullah bin Jahash

Obaidullah apostates from Islam and passes away

The whole family of Obaidullah was fortunate to have obeyed the call to Islam, but while in Abyssinia Obaidullah had the misfortunate to reject Islam after having accepted it.
He became an apostate and heretic and turned to Christianity
He started drinking and died on the same belief. However, his wife Ramlah (ra), remained faithful to Islam, in fact her love and support for it grew stronger. And ultimately she joined the ranks of the Mother of the Believers
Her (ra), life is a study in loyalty and steadfastness, in her love for the truth.

Ramlah (ra), bint Abu Sufyan accepts Islam

Abu Sufyan Sakhr bin Harb was a chief of the Quraish, who led them in many of their wars
Besides Ramlah (ra), he had two sons, Yazid and Mu’awiyah.
Both of them were renowned for their services to Islam.
Ramlah (ra),accepted Islam when the Muslims were facing a lot of opposition and were being cruelly persecuted
Abu Sufyan was a very powerful man, but he was helpless in the matter of his daughter
Ramlah (ra), who was a frail girl
In spite of all his efforts Abu Sufyan could not make his daughter recant

Ramlah and Obaidullah migrate to Abyssinia

The Prophet (saw) decided that the staunch supporters of Islam had taken enough torture and oppression from the Quraish, and he ordered them to leave for Abyssinia, where the ruler was known for his kindness and hospitality to refugees from tyrannical rule .Ramlah (ra), and her husband Obaidullah bin Jahash were among the second group of migrants who left for Abyssinia .There Ramlah (ra), gave birth to a girl who they named Habibah: hence Ramlah was now known as Umm Habibah (ra), So the days passed swiftly for her as she kept busy seeing to the upbringing for her little daughter; all her free time was spent in prayer and meditation

Umm Habiba’s (ra), husband Obaidullah apostates

One night Umm Habibah dreamt that her husband’s face was mutilated.
She woke up panic stricken, but was too nervous to talk about her dream to her husband.
A few days later he told her that he originally had been a Christian and then converted to Islam, but since coming to Abyssinia he gave a great deal of thought and finally came to the conclusion that Christianity offered the best system of beliefs, hence he was reverting and going back to the fold of Christianity .He advised her to do the same and become a Christian
Immediately it struck Ramlah that this was what her dream meant
The mutilation of her husbands face meant that he had lost his identity as a Muslim.
Then she told him about her dream, hoping that this would instill the fear of Allah( ) in his heart.
But he was too far gone on the downward road.

Obaidullah passes away as an apostate

Obaidullah was so lost that not only his face but his heart had been mutilated as well.
He was not bothered in fact he started drinking alcohol and was so addicted that he was drunk for most of the time .Umm Habibah (ra), was now growing desperate, worrying about the future of both her daughter and herself .She prayed to Allah (swt), to give her the strength to remain steadfast in her faith. Obaidullah died due to heavy drinking, he was in a sorry state of kufr at that time

Umm Habibah’s (ra), life as a widow in Abyssinia

Umm Habibah (ra), was relieved, of coarse, but was she to do now, how was she to survive? Only two activities kept her occupied- the upbringing of her daughter and her prayers
She would sometimes get together with the other Muslim ladies in Abyssinia to talk of the latest developments.

Ruqayyah (ra), the daughter of the Prophet (saw), Asma bint Omais (ra), and Laila bint Hashmah (ra), were the great ladies with whom she would spend her free time, however these ladies also soon returned home. Years passed and Al-Madinah was attacked and battles continued to be fought .The treaty of Hudaibiyah was signed, and the Quraish thought that this unequal treaty restrained the growing power and influence of Islam