Marriage to Ummi Salamah(ra) - Shawwāl 4 A.H.

The very same year, in the month of Shawwāl, the Holy Prophet(sa) married Ummi Salamah(ra).1 Ummi Salamah(ra) belonged to a noble family of the Quraish and prior to this, was married to Abū Salamah bin ‘Abdul-Asad(ra), who was a very faithful and pioneer Companion and had passed away this year. When the ‘Iddat (i.e., a fixed time period appointed by the Islāmic Sharī‘at, which must elapse before a widow or divorced woman can marry again) had passed, since Ummi Salamah was a very wise, well-mannered and able lady, Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr(ra) desired to marry her,2 but she did not accept. Finally, the Holy Prophet(sa) thought to marry her, because in addition to her personal qualities, due to which she was worthy of becoming the wife of a law-giving Prophet, she was the widow of a very eminent and pioneer Companion. Then she also had children, due to which it was necessary to make special arrangements for her. In addition to all this, Abū Salamah bin ‘Abdullāh(ra) was also the foster-brother of the Holy Prophet(sa),3 and for this reason, the Holy Prophet(sa) was especially concerned for his bereaved family. In any case, the Holy Prophet(sa) sent a proposal of marriage to Ummi Salamah(ra). At first, she was somewhat reluctant on account of various difficulties and excused herself saying, “I have grown old and am no longer able to bear children.”4 However, since the purpose of the Holy Prophet(sa) was different, she ultimately accepted. Her son acted as the guardian of his mother and married her to the Holy Prophet(sa). As it has already been mentioned, Ummi Salamah(ra) was a lady of distinct stature and in addition to being extremely intelligent and sharp, she possessed a lofty rank in sincerity and faith. She was among those people who had migrated to Abyssinia on the instruction of the Holy Prophet(sa) in the early days. Even in migrating to Madīnah, she was the very first among the ladies.5 Ḥaḍrat Ummi Salamah(ra) knew how to read as well,6 and played a significant role in educating and training the Muslim women. Many narrations and Aḥādīth are related by her in the books of Ḥadīth, and in this respect she stands second among the wives of the Holy Prophet(sa), and twelfth among all the Companions in total (including both men and women). Ḥaḍrat Ummi Salamah(ra) was blessed with a very long life and passed away in the era of Yazīd bin Mu‘āwiyyah at the age of eighty-four.7 She was the last among the Ummahātul-Mu’minīn8 to pass away.9 At the time of her marriage since Ḥaḍrat Ummi Salamah(ra) was eldest among the wives of the Holy Prophet(sa), to the extent that she could not even bear children, when performing his daily round after ‘Asr to inquire of the well-being of his wives, the Holy Prophet(sa) would visit Ḥaḍrat Ummi Salamah(ra) first; and Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah(ra) last, who was the youngest of all. Then, he would proceed to the home of the wife whose turn it would be for that respective day.10