Hafsa bint Umar: Mothers of the Faithful

Hafsa bint Umar was one of the few lucky individuals to have grown up in a purely religious environment. Her father Umar bin Khattab (RA) was a staunch believer and her aunts and uncles too believed in the message of Islam and as a result, she grew up with strong religious beliefs.

Prior to her marriage with the Holy Prophet PBUH, Hafsa (RA) was married to Khunais bin Hazafa Sahmi, who was also one of the earlier Muslims. Given the circumstances at the time, suffering at the hand of unbelievers for the sake of Islam was inevitable. Hence, Hafsa (RA) and Khunais (RA) both endured many trials and tribulations: they migrated for the sake of Islam multiple times. Khunais (RA) was also one of the men who fought in the Battle of Badr; he endured many injuries and later succumbed to the wounds and lost his life, leaving Hafsa (RA) a widowed woman.

She was only 18 years of age when she lost her husband and naturally Umar bin Khattab (RA) feared for her safety and wanted to find her a suitable husband soon. He asked Usman bin Affan (RA) to marry her but he had recently lost his wife and told Umar (RA) that he had no intention of marrying anyone; he then went to Abu Bakr Siddiq, who too refused. Alas he went to the beloved Prophet (PBUH) with his plea who reassured him that Hafsa (RA) would find a better suitor than Usman (RA). In time, Umar (RA) found that the Holy Prophet intended to marry his lovely daughter and so in 3 Hijri Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Hafsa bint Umar got married.

At the time of her marriage to the Prophet (PBUH), Aisha (RA) and Sawda (RA) were already the wives of the Prophet (PBUH). Aisha (RA) and Hafsa (RA) were closer in age and Aisha (RA) was initially not very fond of Hafsa (RA) thinking that Hafsa (RA) might replace her in the life of the Prophet (PBUH). Umar bin Khattab was aware that a situation such as this might arise, so he advised Hafsa (RA) to never think of herself in competition with Aisha (RA). Eventually, both Aisha and Hafsa (RA) ended up becoming very close to each other, almost like sisters.

They spent a lot of time together and according to a hadith in Sahih Bukhari, both Aisha and Hafsa (RA) once led the Prophet (PBUH) to believe that he should not have honey as it makes his mouth smell bad. Upon hearing it from his wife, the Prophet took an oath to never taste honey again. It is in regard to this incident then, that Allah Almighty revealed a few verses from Surah Tahrim. In it the Lord says:

“O Prophet, why do you prohibit [yourself from] what Allah has made lawful for you, seeking the approval of your wives? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. Allah has already ordained for you [Muslims] the dissolution of your oaths. And Allah is your protector, and He is the Knowing, the Wise” (Quran 66:1-2)

Both of them made a mistake and the Lord Almighty was sure to remind them that it’s only Him who is all knowing and All Wise and only He is the one to decide what is allowed and what is prohibited for man. He also warned the two wives saying:

“Perhaps his Lord, if he divorced you [all], would substitute for him wives better than you - submitting [to Allah ], believing, devoutly obedient, repentant, worshipping, and traveling - [ones] previously married and virgins” (Quran 66:5)

The Mothers were sure to realize their mistake and were careful in the future.

Hafsa bint Umar was a devoted Muslim and a pious woman. She spent her days reciting the Quran; she also kept fasts during the day and spent her nights in the remembrance of Allah and praying to the Lord Almighty. Although she was a pious woman and a staunch believer, she had a strong personality and was also rather inquisitive. In one such event where she showcased her strong personality, it is reported that the Prophet (PBUH) divorced Hafsa (RA) but had to take the divorce back because Allah sent the angel Jibril who reminded the Prophet (PBUH) of her devotion to Allah and of her pious nature. In addition to this, the divorce was also taken back as a favor to Umar bin Khattab who had been a faithful servant of Islam.

Hafsa (RA) is also known as custodian of the book of Allah. She was one of the few women who could read or write at the time and so she was entrusted with the verses of the Quran. She had saved them in writing as well as preserved them in her heart. From the time of the Prophet (PBUH) to the caliphate of Usman (RA) – when the Quran was finally compiled in a book form – the task of safekeeping of the Quranic verses was given to Hafsa (RA). This preservation of Quran (in writing and in heart) is one of her greatest services to the religion of Islam. In addition to this, Hafsa (RA) has narrated around 60 ahadith in the years that she resided with the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Hafsa (RA) lived with the Holy Prophet (PBUH) for eight years in Madina. She outlived the Holy Prophet (PBUH) for many years and witnessed the expansion of Islam and the many victories it had until the caliphate of her father Umar bin Khattab and also the trials faced by the Muslims following the demise of Usman bin Affan. At the time of her death, Hafsa (RA) was around 60 years old. She had spent her life as a pious, noble and charitable woman and we too should aspire to follow in her footsteps.