By: Jamiatul Ulama
Source: Jamiatul Ulama
Lady Hafsah (Allah be pleased with her) was the daughter of ‘Our master Umar (Allah be pleased with him) who was born in Makkah five years before the prophet-hood. She was first married to Our master Khunais bin Huzaifah (Allah be pleased with him), who was one of the very early Muslims. He first emigrated to Abyssinia and then to Madinah. He participated in Badr, and was fatally wounded in Badr (or in Uhud) and died of the wound in the year l or 2 A. H. Lady Hafsah (Allah be pleased with her) had also emigrated to Madinah with her husband. When her husband died, Our master Umar (Allah be pleased with him) went to Our master Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him) and said:
“I want to give Hafsah in marriage to you.” Our master Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him) kept quiet and said nothing. Meanwhile Ruqayyah (Allah be pleased with her) the daughter of the Prophet Mohammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and the wife of Our master Usman (Allah be pleased with him) died.
Our master Umar (Allah be pleased with her) went to Our master Usman (Allah be pleased with him) and offered Lady Hafsah’s (Allah be pleased with her) hand to him. He declined by saying, “I have no mind to marry for the present.” Our master Umar (Allah be pleased with him) complained of this to the Prophet Mohammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
The Prophet Mohammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “I tell you of a husband for Hafsah better than Usman and of a wife for Usman better than Hafsah.”
He then took Lady Hafsah (Allah be pleased with her) as (next wife), and gave his own daughter Lady Umme Kulsum (Allah be pleased with her) in marriage to Our master Usman (Allah be pleased with him). Our master Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him) later said to Our master Umar (Allah be pleased with him):
“When you offered Hafsah’s hand to me, I kept quiet as the Prophet Mohammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had expressed to me his intention of marrying her. I could neither accept your offer nor disclose the Prophet Mohammad’s (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) secret to you. I, therefore, kept quiet. If the Prophet Mohammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had changed his mind, I would have gladly married her.”
Our master Umar (Allah be pleased with him) says: “Abu Bakr’s silence over the offer was in fact more shocking to me than ‘Usman’s rejection.”
Lady Hafsah (Allah be pleased with her) was a very pious woman, and very much devoted to Salaat. She would often fast during the day and spend the night in prayers. Once the Prophet Mohammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), for some reason, was displeased with Hafsah and even pronounced the first divorce to her. Our master Umar (Radhlyallaho anho) was naturally very much shocked over this. Jibraeel Alayhis came to the Prophet Mohammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said: Allah wants you to take Hafsah back, as she is fasting often and spending her nights in Salaat, and also Allah wants it for Our master Umar’s (Allah be pleased with him) sake.
The Prophet Mohammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) therefore took her back.
Lady Hafsah (Allah be pleased with her) died in Jamadil Oola, 45 AH, at the age of 63.
