Hazrat Umm Habiba Ramlah bint Abu Sufyan (RA)
Introduction
Hazrat
Umm Habiba (RA) was the daughter of Hazrat Abu Sufyan bin Harb bin Umayya Abd
Shams from the Umayyad family. Hazrat Muawiya (RA) was her half-brother on her
father’s side. Her real name was Ramlah. She was given the name Umm Habiba
(mother of Habiba) because her daughter from her first marriage was called Habiba.
Early life
Hazrat
Umm Habibah (RA) and her husband Ubaydullah ibn Jahsh were among the first
people to accept Islam. They migrated to Abyssinia in order to escape the
persecution and oppression of the polytheists. However, her husband abandoned
Islam there. (It is recorded that he died or they divorced shortly afterwards.)
When the Prophet (SAW) learned about what had happened to Umm Habiba, and
how she had stood fast in her religion and endured oppression for its sake, He
(SAW) sent a messenger to Abyssinia to tell her that he wanted to marry her.
She gladly accepted the proposal, and Negus performed the marriage ceremony
(with the wakalah (agency)
given by the Prophet).
This
event occurred in 6 A.H, and the marriage was regarded as a reward for Umm
Habiba’s adherence to the religion. Moreover, this marriage went a long way to
eliminating the hostility felt by Abu Sufyan towards the Prophet (SAW), and
making him approach Islam in a more positive manner. In fact, Abu Sufyan
converted to Islam during the conquest of Mecca.
She breathed her
last
Hazrat Umm Habiba, reporter of 65 hadiths from the
Prophet, passed away at the age of 73 in 70 A.H.
