Umm Salama

Hind bint Abi Umayya (, Hind ʾibnat ʾAbī ʾUmayya, 580 or 596 – 680 or 683), better known as Umm Salama or Hind al-Makhzūmiyya was the sixth wife of Muhammad.

"Umm Salama" was her kunya meaning, "mother of Salama". She was one of the most influential female companions of Muhammad. She is recognized largely for recalling numerous Hadiths, or sayings and narrations attributed to Muhammad. Twelver Shia Muslims believe that Umm Salama was Muhammad's most important wife after Khadija.

Before marriage with Muhammad

Umm Salama's birth name was Hind. Her father was Abu Umayya ibn Al-Mughira ibn Abdullah ibn Umar ibn Makhzum ibn Yaqazah also known as Suhayl or Zad ar-Rakib. He was an elite member of the Quraysh tribe, known for his great generosity, especially to travelers. Her mother was 'Ātikah bint 'Āmir ibn Rabī'ah, of the Firas ibn Ghanam branch of the Kinana.

Marriage to Abu Salama Before her marriage to Muhammad, Umm Salama was married to Abu Salama Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Asad, whose mother was Barrah bint Abdul Muttalib. Abu Salama was Muhammad's foster brother and one of his close companions. Umm Salama bore with Abu Salama four children: Salama, Umar, Zaynab and Ruqayyah.

Conversion to Islam Umm Salama and her husband Abu Salama were among the first who converted to Islam.

Umm Salama recounted this story:

Abu Salama made the trip to Medina alone, leaving his wife and child in Mecca. After some time, Umm Salama was permitted by the Quraysh to leave Mecca, and was given her son back by her husband's tribe. With her son, she completed the hijra and was reconnected with her husband.

Death of Abu Salama

During her marriage to Abu Salamah, Umm Salamah (in a story related by Ziyad ibn Abi Maryam) is said to have asked her husband to make agreement that when either of them died, the other would not remarry. However, in this tradition, Abu Salamah responded by instructing Umm Salamah to remarry after his death. He then prayed, "O God, provide Umm Salamah after me with a better man than me who will not grieve her or injure her!"

During the Battle of Uhud (March 625), Abu Salamah was severely injured. While Abu Salamah was dying due to these wounds, he recalled a story to Umm Salamah involving a message he had heard from Muhammad: "I heard the Messenger of God saying, 'Whenever a calamity afflicts anyone he should say, "Surely from God we are and to Him we shall certainly return."' And he would pray, 'O Lord, give me in return something better from it which only You, Exalted and Mighty can give'". This traditional story has been transmitted with various differences, but the fundamental principles of the hadith remain intact.

Her husband eventually died from the wounds he received in the Battle of Uhud. Abu Bakr and then Umar asked to marry her, but she declined. Umm Salamah was a widow with 3 children and a fourth born almost immediately after their marriage.

When Fatimah bint Asad (mother of the 4th Caliph Ali) died, Muhammad is said to have chosen Umm Salama as the guardian of Fatimah bint Muhammad.

Umm Salama and the wives of Muhammad In the fourth year following the migration to Medina (4 AH), Umm Salama accepted a marriage proposal from Muhammad . After sharing her three reservations about the marriage, and hearing the response from Muhammad, Umm Salama was so pleased that she accepted the proposal. Umm Salama became the eldest of all of Muhammad's wives. She became the second highest-ranking wife of Muhammad along Ayesha, only behind Khadija. Her elevated status among the rest of the wives was a result of her presence in many wars and her defense of the household of Muhammad. Attributes that distinguish Umm Salama from the rest of the wives of Muhammad include the following: Her role in Fatimah's upbringing (who Umm Salama proclaimed displayed more knowledge than ever herself in all affairs), her political activism, her accounts of Muhammad's narrations, and her unwavering defense of Ali's personality and leadership following Muhammad's death. Umm Salama was a woman most gifted in judgment. She was active in the movement for women's rights in early Islamic society too. She once asked Muhammad a very political question, "Why are men mentioned in the Quran and why are we not?" Umm Salama possessed very good judgment, rapid powers of reasoning, and unparalleled ability to formulate correct opinions.

Treaty of Hudaybiyya Umm Salama acted as Muhammad's advisor during negotiations concerning the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah with the Meccans in 628 CE (6 AH)

Umm Salama also took a strong position in the Battle of the Camel, in which the factions of Aisha and Ali were in direct opposition. Umm Salama openly disagreed with the involvement of Aisha in the battle. She strongly supported the faction of Ali, and is said to have recalled stories in which Muhammad favors Ali and Fatimah to back up her opinions on the battle.

Umm Salama even sent her son, Umar, to fight for Ali's victory. Among the [Hadith] she narrated are:

Verse of purification 33:33

Settle in your homes, and do not display yourselves as women did in the days of ˹pre-Islamic˺ ignorance. Establish prayer, pay alms-tax, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah only intends to keep ˹the causes of˺ evil away from you and purify you completely, O members of the ˹Prophet’s˺ family!

The verse of purification (Ayat al-Tathir) is given its name due to the mentioning of purity in the last line. According to Umm Salama, the verse of purification was revealed in her home when only Muhammad, Ali, Fatimah, Hasan, and Husayn were present. Scholars such as Tarbasi and Tha'labi have described Umm Salama narrating: "One day Lady Fatima having cooked some food brought it to my house for the Prophet. The Prophet said, 'O the light of my eyes, call Ali and your sons so that we may eat this food together.'" When all had gathered and they had eaten from that food, Angel Jibra'eel descended and revealed the following verse: Indeed God desires to repel all impurity from you, O People of the Household, and purify you with a thorough purification.

33:35

This verse from the Quran lists ten categories of people who are promised forgiveness and a religious reward. The text applies these qualities equally to both men and women. These include those who identify as Muslims and believers, as well as those who are devout, truthful, and patient, who are humble, charitable, and who participate in fasting. It also mentions those who maintain sexual modesty and control chastity and those who regularly engage in the remembrance of God. According to Quran, Individuals who meet these criteria are promised forgiveness and a religious reward. She is quoted narrating, "I had asked the Prophet why the Koran did not speak of us as it did of men. And what was my surprise one afternoon, when I was combing my hair, to hear his voice from the minbar. I hastily did up my hair and ran to one of the apartments from where I could hear better"