Hafsah Bint ‘Umar

Hafsah Bint ‘Umar  was born five years before the Messenger of Allaah  became a Prophet. She was six years older than her brother 'Abdullaah . She was a beautiful and pious woman.

Her first marriage was to Khunays Ibn Huthaafah Ibn Qays as-Sahami  who was from Quraysh. He took part in the two emigrations (to Abyssinia and Al-Madeenah). He fought in the battles of Badr and Uhud. In the latter battle he was fatally wounded and died shortly thereafter in Al-Madeenah. Hafsah  was 18 years old at that time.
'Umar  was depressed because of his daughter's affliction, since she had become a widow at such a young age. Whenever he went home and saw his sad daughter, he grieved. After thinking for a long period, he decided to choose a husband for her, to provide her with what she had lost of repose for six months or more.  

‘Umar  approached Abu Bakr  the dearest person to the Prophet  and offered her hand in marriage to him.

‘Umar  thought that Abu Bakr  would not refuse to marry a young, pious woman who was the daughter of the man by whom Allaah supported Islam. Having sympathetically listened to him, Abu Bakr  did not respond.

‘Umar went back with a broken heart and almost did not believe what had happened. He then went to 'Uthmaan Ibn 'Affaan  whose wife, Ruqayyah  the daughter of the Prophet  had recently died.
‘Umar  offered him his daughter in marriage, but 'Uthmaan apologized by saying: "I think I would not like to marry at the present time."

‘Umar's gloom increased by 'Uthmaan's refusal. He became upset and angry with his two companions, mentioning it to the Prophet complaining about Abu Bakr and ‘Uthmaan .

Thereupon the Prophet  smiled and said: "Hafsah will get a husband who is better than 'Uthmaan and 'Uthmaan will get a wife better than Hafsah." [Al-Bukhaari]
After that, the Prophet  himself married Hafsah   and 'Uthmaan in turn married Umm Kulthoom, the Prophet 's other daughter .

Accordingly, ‘Umar  was elated to receive such a great honor which he had never imagined possible, earlier. He went off to tell the good news to whomever he met.

When Abu Bakr  met him, he realized the source of his joy. ‘Umar told him of his unhappiness at Abu Bakr's refusal to reply when he had offered Hafsah's hand to him.
Abu Bakr  congratulated him and apologized by saying: "Do not be angry with me, ‘Umar, the Prophet  mentioned Hafsah before, and I could not disclose the secret of the Prophet . Had he left her, I would have married her."
Since the Prophet  had mentioned Hafsah to him, he did not want to disclose the Prophet’s 's secret.

The people of Al-Madeenah were pleased with the Prophet’s  marriage to Hafsah Bint ‘Umar . It was contracted in the month of Sha'baan in the 3rd year of Hijrah.
Thus, Hafsah  joined the rank of the pure wives of the Prophet  the Mothers of the Believers, who were by then, Sawdah and 'Aa’ishah ; and became a member of the household of the Prophet .

Sawdah  was happy to see her but 'Aa’ishah, may Allaah be please with her, was upset because Hafsah was within her age group and she feared that Hafsah  would share the love of the Prophet .

‘Umar   knew very well that the Prophet  loved 'Aa’ishah  more than any of the other wives and at times tried to make his daughter aware of this fact. He once said to her: "You are not like 'Aa’ishah and your father is not like her father."

When the Prophet  deserted his wives because they became too demanding, ‘Umar  once again advised Hafsah  to be careful saying: "You should not be deceived by the one who has been motivated by her beauty and the love of the Prophet  for her (referring to 'Aa’ishah)."

When the Prophet  married his other wives ‘Aa’ishah  began to realize that her protestations were in vain and she made a friend of Hafsah .

Among the other wives of the Prophet  'Aa’ishah  was the most intimate and the closest one to Hafsah . It was Hafsah and 'Aa’ishah  who supported each other against the Prophet  in a domestic intrigue which is mentioned in the Quran.

It is also mentioned in a tradition reported in the book of Imaam Al-Bukhaari :

'Aa’ishah  narrated: “Allaah's Messenger  used to drink honey in the house of Zaynab Bint Jahsh and would stay there with her. So Hafsah and I agreed secretly that if he comes to either of us she would say to him: 'It seems you have eaten Maghaafir (a kind of flower whose nectar is sucked by the honey bee, and has slightly bad smell) for I smell in you the smell of Maghaafir,' (we did so) and he replied: 'No, but I was drinking honey in the house of Zaynab, the daughter of Jahsh, and I shall never take it again. I have taken an oath as to that, and you should not tell anybody about it.’” [Al-Bukhaari]
The idea was to suggest to him that this bad smell came from his mouth because of his taking that particular honey.

The Prophet  has always disliked strong smells especially on his breath. He then forbade honey unto himself for which Allaah revealed (what means): "O Prophet, why do you prohibit (yourself from) what Allaah has made lawful for you, seeking the approval of your wives? And Allaah is Forgiving and Merciful. Allaah has already ordained for you (Muslims) the dissolution of your oaths. And Allaah is your Protector, and He is The Knowing, The Wise." [Quran 66: 1-2]

We learn from the book of Imaam Al-Bukhaari  that Hafsah was a bit short-tempered and sometimes would even answer the Prophet  back. One day, her father, ‘Umar bin al-Khattaab  who had come to know this, went to her and asked: "I have heard that you talk to the Noble Prophet  as if you were on an equal footing with him. Is it true?" Hafsah  replied: "Of course! I do".

’Umar  said: "My daughter, I warn you of Allaah's punishment. Do not compete with ‘Aa'ishah, who is proud of her beauty due to the Prophet’s  love for her."

Hafsah  would never hesitate in asking the Noble Prophet questions on any topic or problem. Once the Prophet  said: “The companions of Badr and Hudaibiyyah will not enter Hell.”

Hafsah  quickly said: "O Prophet ! Allaah Says that everyone of you will pass over Hell."

The Prophet  answered her: “Yes! But Allaah also says in Soorah Maryam (what means): "Then We will save those who feared Allaah and leave the wrongdoers within it, on their knees.” [Quran 19:72]
The Prophet  divorced Hafsah  once when she sided against him and disclosed his secret (mentioned before, in the story regarding ‘Aa’ishah  and the Prophet ’s oath not to drink honey). But Jibreel came to him, and told him to take her back and said: “Take Hafsah back because she is keeping fasts and is observing prayer in the last parts of the night, and she is going to be your wife in Paradise.”
Allaah Says (what means): “And (remember) when the Prophet confided to one of his wives a statement; and when she informed (another) of it and Allaah showed it to him, he made known part of it and ignored a part. And when he informed her about it, she said: ‘Who told you this?’ He said: ‘I was informed by the All-Knowing, the Acquainted.’ If you two (wives) repent to Allaah, (it is best), for your hearts have deviated. But if you cooperate against him – then indeed Allaah is his Protector, and Gabriel and the righteous of the believers and the angels, moreover, are (his) assistants.” [Quran 66: 3-4]

Ibn 'Abbaas  narrated: “For the whole year I had the desire to ask ‘Umar bin al-Khattaab  regarding the explanation of a verse (in Soorah At-Tahreem), but I could not ask him because I respected him very much. When he went to perform Hajj, I too went along with him. On our return while we were still on the way home ‘Umar  went aside to answer the call of nature by the Arak trees. I waited until he had finished then I proceeded with him and asked him: ‘O Chief of the Believers, who were the two wives of the Prophet  who aided one another against him?’ He said: ‘They were Hafsah and ‘Aa'ishah.'  Then I said to him: 'By Allaah. I wanted to ask you about this a year ago, but I could not do so owing to my respect for you.' 'Umar  said: 'Do not refrain from asking me. If you think that I have knowledge (about a certain matter), ask me; and if I know (something about it), I will tell you.'

Hafsah  realized the gravity of what she had done to her noble husband when she disclosed his secret. However, after the Prophet forgave her, she lived in tranquility and repose again.

Hafsah  seemed to be very attached and close to her father, who used to consult her in matters relating to women. Once he noticed a woman reciting poetry about her husband who was away on Jihaad. 'Umar was disturbed, and asked Hafsah  how long a woman may remain without her husband. She said six months, upon which 'Umar  issued a decree to all of his commanders to relieve every warrior after every six months.

When the Prophet  died and Abu Bakr  succeeded him, it was Hafsah  who was chosen to keep the first copy of the Noble Quran.

She continued worshipping Allaah devoutly, fasting, praying, and keeping the copy of the Muslims’ constitution, the immortal miracle and the source of legislation and belief: the Quran.

When the second compilation of the Quran was made during the caliphate of 'Uthmaan  she was asked to bring that copy, which she did, after putting the condition that when the work was completed, her copy would be returned to her.

After the standard copy was made, 'Uthmaan  had decided that all the different versions of the Quran should be destroyed, but he was unable to do it with Hafsah's copy because of the condition she had attached. It was only after her death that the copy was discovered and destroyed.
Hafsah  occupies a high position as far as scholarship and piety are concerned. She reported 60 Ahaadeeth from the Prophet . Out of these, four are agreed upon, six are in the book of Imaam Muslim  and the remaining are in the other books of traditions.
When her father, the Caliph of the Muslims, felt he was about to die after being stabbed by Abu Lu'lu'ah the Zoroastrian in the month of Thul-Hijjah 23 AH, Hafsah  was the guardian of what he left of inheritance.

Hafsah  took custody of all his important documents including his copy of the Glorious Quran, which was compiled during the time of Abu Bakr's Caliphate.

Before her death, she made a will to ‘Abdullaah bin 'Umar  that her property at Gahba should be donated in charity. Hafsah  had no children from the Prophet .

Hafsah, may Allaah be pleased her, lived with the Prophet  in Al-Madeenah for eight years, and lived on for another thirty-four years after his death; witnessing with joy the victories and expansion of Islam under her father's guidance, and with sorrow the troubles that beset the Muslim community after the murder of 'Uthmaan . She passed away during the reign of Mu'aawiyyah bin Abu Sufyaan  in 47 AH at the age of sixty-three. 


Allah Knows Best.

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