Our Beloved Master, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sas), was of such a pure and holy nature that countless Arabs were drawn towards him, experiencing a spiritual rebirth at his hands. Among those righteous souls we find historical references to one influential person known as Umme Haani (ra). Her real name was Faakhtah, but some sources refer to her as Hind.
Hazrat Umme Haani (ra) was born to Hazrat Abu Taalib, son of Hazrat Abdul Muttalib, and Hazrat Faatimah (ra), daughter of Asad Bin Haashim.1 She was privileged to be the first cousin of the Holy Prophet (sas). Her father, Hazrat Abu Taalib, was the paternal uncle of the Holy Prophet (sas) and had raised him from the age of eight. Treating the Holy Prophet (sas) with utmost kindness and love, Hazrat Abu Taalib kept his cherished nephew close to him. Hazrat Abu Taalib was there for Prophet Muhammad (sas) in all circumstances. At the time of his declaration of prophethood, while the righteous accepted the Holy Prophet (sas) wholeheartedly, most of the Meccans forcefully opposed him. In these hard times, Hazrat Abu Taalib stood firm as the Holy Prophet’s (sas) protector against all enemies. Even though Hazrat Abu Taalib did not accept Islam openly, his actions showed that he believed in all of the virtues of Islam. His wife, Hazrat Faatimah (ra), and all his children gained spiritual fulfilment through Islam. In fact, his son Hazrat Ali (ra) eventually became the fourth Khalifah of Islam.
1 At-Tabaqaatul-Kubraa, Muhammad bin Sa‘d, Vol. 8, p. 266, Dhikru Banaati ‘Umoomati Rasoolillaah (sas)—Umme Haani, published by Daaru Ihyaa’it-Turaathil-‘Arabiyyi, Beirut (1996); see also Usdul-Ghaabati Fi Ma‘rifatil-Ashaab, ‘Aliyyubnu Muhammad Al-Jazriyyu, vol. 7, p. 420, Umme Haani binti Abi Taalib, published by Daarul-Fikr, Beirut (2003)