Marriage to Hazrat Usman (ra)

Meanwhile, at the Battle of Badr, the son-in-law of Hazrat Umar (ra), Khunais bin Hazafah (ra) (who was married to of Hazrat Hafsah (ra)) was martyred. Hazrat Hafsah (ra) was just eighteen years of age at the time. Hazrat Umar (ra) was deeply pained by the fact that she was widowed at such a young age.

After some time, Hazrat Umar (ra) asked Hazrat Usman (ra), who had also been widowed recently, to marry Hazrat Hafsah (ra). But Hazrat Usman (ra) did not reply. Upon this Hazrat Umar (ra) then explained his daughter’s situation to the Holy Prophet (sas). The Holy Prophet (sas) said:

I will tell you about a person that is even better for Hafsah than Usman (ra). And I will tell you of an even better match for Usman (ra) than Hafsah (ra). You should marry Hafsah (ra) to me and I will give my daughter Umme Kulsoom (ra) in marriage to Hazrat Usman (ra) who is grieving the loss of Ruqayyah (ra).1

This way Hazrat Umme Kulsoom (ra) and Hazrat Usman (ra) were married. The Holy Prophet (sas) fixed the same dowry of Hazrat Umme Kulsoom (ra) as was fixed for Hazrat Ruqayyah (ra). He said at the time of the nikah:

Allah has instructed me through the Angel Gabriel that I should marry my daughter, Hazrat Umme Kulsoom (ra) to you [Hazrat Usman (ra)] with the same dowry that was fixed for Hazrat Ruqayyah (ra).2

Hazrat Usman (ra) had the honour of becoming the son-in-law of the Holy Prophet (sas) for the second time and because of this, Hazrat Usman (ra) is also known as Dhun-Noorain (Possessor of Two Lights).

Out of all those who migrated to Madinah from Makkah, Hazrat Usman (ra) was the wealthiest. He had been blessed with a lot of money and so every imaginable worldly luxury that was available those days was at the disposal of Hazrat Umme Kulsoom (ra). Hazrat Anas bin Malik (ra) narrates that he saw Hazrat Umme Kulsoom (ra) in a pure silk dress once, and at another time he saw her wearing an extremely expensive striped silk shawl, which was a part of her dress.