(Hafsah bint Umar (RA

موضوع: (Hafsah bint Umar (RA السبت مارس 02, 2013 10:43 am

Hafsah bint Umar (RA)

She was the daughter of Umar, the second khaleefah - caliph - of Islaam. She was married to Khanees bin Hathaafah Sahmi. He fought courageously in the battle of Badr and was rewarded with martyrdom when he succumbed to his injuries a few days after the battle was over. Hafsah was very sad and devoted herself to worship even more than before.

It was very heartbreaking for Umar to see his daughter so sad. He offered her to Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan, whose wife Ruqayyah, daughter of the Prophet had passed away. He felt this would be good for both his daughter and Uthmaan, but the latter said he needed time to think it over. A few days later Uthmaan informed Umar that he was not planning to get married just yet. Then he put the proposal to Abu Bakr, but got no reply. Umar felt deeply offended that these two companions had no interest in marrying his daughter; he felt it was an insult to his status. He complained to the Prophet who smilingly told him not to worry, that he would find a man better than Uthmaan for Hafsah, and for Uthmaan a better wife than Hafsah. A few days later the Prophet married his daughter, Umm Kulthoom to Uthman. Thus Uthmaan got a wife better than Hafsah. Later the Prophet married Hafsah and she got a husband better than Uthmaan. This was in the third year of the Hujrah before the Battle of Uhud. Hafsah was twenty two years old at the time. Umar advised his daughter not to try and compete with Aishah as she was the favourite wife of the Prophet. Abu Bakr later informed Umar that he knew that the Prophet wanted to marry Hafsah, that was why he did not accept Umar’s proposal.

After joining the household of the Prophet, Hafsah was closer to the source of the Deen and memorized all the Quraan aayaat as they were revealed, eventually becoming one of only two of the prophet’s wives who were haafithatul Quraan (reciters). Hafsah was very outspoken, but often overzealous. Once she annoyed the Prophet by disputing with him the application of an aayah. When her father heard about it he scolded her. Her reply was that Aishah also differed with the Prophet sometimes, and her father reminded her not to be in competition with Aishah.

Hafsah was known for her devotion to prayer and fasting. One day Jibreel visited the Prophet and told him about Hafsah: ’She is an oft fasting and worshipping lady and she will be your wife in paradise too’” Hafsah died in the 41st year of the Hijrah at the age of fifty nine. She was fasting when she passed away.