Hafsa bint Umar RA

Hafsah Bint ‘Umar may Allaah be pleased with her was born five years before the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, became a Prophet. She was six years older than her brother 'Abdullaah may Allaah be pleased with him. She was a beautiful and pious woman.

Her first marriage was to Khunays Ibn Huthaafah Ibn Qays as-Sahami may Allaah be pleased with him 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 sholtry thereafter in Al-Madeenah. Hafsah may Allaah be pleased with her was 18 years old at that time.

‘Umar may Allaah be pleased with him 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 may Allaah be pleased with him approached Abu Bakr may Allaah be pleased with him the dearest person to the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and offered her hand in marriage to him.

‘Umar may Allaah be pleased with him thought that Abu Bakr may Allaah be pleased with him 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 may Allaah be pleased with him 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 may Allaah be pleased with him whose wife, Ruqayyah may Allaah be pleased with her the daughter of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, had recently died.
‘Umar may Allaah be pleased with him offered him his daughter in marriage, but 'Uthmaan may Allaah be pleased with him 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, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, complaining about Abu Bakr and ‘Uthmaan may Allaah be pleased with them.

Thereupon the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, 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, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, himself married Hafsah may Allaah be pleased with her and 'Uthmaan may Allaah be pleased with him in turn married Umm Kulthoom, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam's other daughter may Allaah be pleased with her.


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

Since the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, had mentioned Hafsah to him, he did not want to disclose the Prophet’s, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam's secret.


The people of Al-Madeenah were pleased with the Prophet’s, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, marriage to Hafsah Bint ‘Umar may Allaah be pleased with her. It was contracted in the month of Sha'baan in the 3rd year of Hijrah.

Thus, Hafsah may Allaah be pleased with her joined the rank of the pure wives of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, the Mothers of the Believers, who were by then, Sawdah and 'Aa’ishah may Allaah be pleased with them; and became a member of the household of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.


Sawdah may Allaah be pleased with her 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 may Allaah be pleased with her would share the love of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

‘Umar may Allaah be pleased with him knew very well that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, loved 'Aa’ishah may Allaah be pleased with her 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, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, deserted his wives because they became too demanding, ‘Umar may Allaah be pleased with him once again advised Hafsah may Allaah be pleased with her 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, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, for her (referring to 'Aa’ishah)."

When the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, married his other wives ‘Aa’ishah may Allaah be pleased with her began to realize that her protestations were in vain and she made a friend of Hafsah may Allaah be pleased with her.


Among the other wives of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, 'Aa’ishah may Allaah be pleased with her was the most intimate and the closest one to Hafsah may Allaah be pleased with her. It was Hafsah and 'Aa’ishah may Allaah be pleased with them who supported each other against the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, 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 may Allaah have mercy upon him:

'Aa’ishah may Allaah be pleased with her narrated: “Allaah's Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, 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, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, 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]