Hafsah bint Umar (RU) - Daughter of Umar Bin Khattab ♥ ♥ ♥

One day the Angel Jibril told Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about Hafsah:

"She is an often fasting and worshipping lady and she will be your wife in Paradise too." [Mustadrak Al-Hakim 4/15]

Hafsah was the daughter of 'Umar Faruq, and the niece of another famous Sahabi, 'Uthman bin Maz'un. Her uncle from the paternal side was Zayd bin Khattab. 'Abdullah bin 'Umar was her brother.

Hafsah was an extremely religious lady who used to spend her time in prayer and fasting. An excellent writer and orator, an ardent follower of Islam.

Hafsah had such noble qualities and such an amiable nature that 'A'ishah remarked that among wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) only she could compare with her. Her life is exemplary, brought up as she was by a Companion of the calibre of 'Umar bin Khattab.

Hafsah was born in the family of a great warrior and wrestler, 'Umar bin Khattab who was well known for his martial skills. In her growing years she was brought up in an Islamic environment, both her parents and her aunts and uncles having already converted to the new religion. When she was old enough, she was married to Khanis bin Huthafah As-Sahmi. He was influenced by the teaching of Abu Bakr Siddiq and had accepted Islam.

Hafsah bint Umar (RA). She was the daughter of Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA). She was beautiful and a pious woman. She got married to Khunis ibn Hudhafa Ibn Qays as-Sahami (RA) who was from Quraish.

 He was a part of the two emigrations (Abyssinia and Madina). He fought in Badr and Uhud. In the latter battle he was fatally wounded and died shortly thereafter. Hafsah was 18 years old by that time.

 Umar (RA) was depressed for his daughter's affliction who became a widow at such a young age. Whenever he went home and saw his sad daughter, he grieved. After a long period of thinking he decided to choose a husband for her to provide her with what she had lost of repose a long 6 months or more.

 He first choose Abu Bakr (RA) the dearest person to the Prophet (SAW). Umar (RA) at once went to Abu Bakr (RA) to offer him his daughter for marriage. Umar (RA) thought that Abu Bakr (RA) would not refuse to marry a young pious woman who was the daughter of the man by whom Allah (SWT) supported Islam. Having sympathetically listened to him, Abu Bakr (RA) did not respond.

 Umar (RA) went back with a broken heart and almost did not believe what had happened. He then went to Uthman Ibn Affan (RA) whose wife, Ruqayya (RA), the daughter of the Prophet (SAW) had recently died. Having offered him his daughter to marry, he apologized by saying, "I think I would not like to marry at the present time."

 Umar's (RA) gloom increased by Uthman's (RA) refusal, which followed by Abu Bakr's (RA). He became angry with his to companions. He then went to the Prophet of Allah (SAW) complaining about Abu Bakr and Uthman (RU). Thereupon the Prophet (SAW) smiled and said "Hafsah will get married to someone who is better than Uthman and Uthman will get married to someone who is better than Hafsah." (Bukhari)

Accordingly Umar (RA) was elated to receive such a great honor which he never thought about. He went off to tell whomever he met. When Abu Bakr (RA) met him, he realized the source of his joy. Therefore, he congratulated him and apologized by saying, "Do not be angry with me ya Umar. The Prophet (SAW) has mentioned Hafsah before and I could not disclose the Prophet's (SAW) secret. Had he left her, I would have married her. "

All people in Madina was pleased with the Prophet's (SAW) marriage to Hafsah bint Umar (RU). It was contracted in the month of Sha'ban in the 3rd year of Hijrah. They blessed the marriage of Uthman to Umm Kulthum bint Muhammad (SAW) in the month of Jumada al-Akhirah in the same ear as well. Thus, Hafsah (RA) joined the rank of the Prophet's (SAW) pure wives, mothers of the faithful who were by then, Sawdah and Aisha (RU).

 Among the other wives of the Prophet (SAW), Aisha (RA) was the most intimate and closest one to Hafsah (RA). Her father, once said to her, "How would you be like Aisha and how would your father be like hers?

 It is Hafsah and Aisha (RU) who backed up each other against the Prophet (SAW). Consequently Allah the almighty said: "If you two [wives of the Prophet (SAW), namely Aisha and Hafsa (RU)] turn in repentance to Allah (it will be better for you), your hearts are indeed so inclined [to oppose what the Prophet (SAW) likes]; but of you help one another against him [Muhammad (SAW)], then verily, Allah is his Maula (Lord, or Master, or Protector, etc.), and Gabriel, and the righteous among the believers, - and furthermore, the angels - are his helpers." (Tahrim 66:4)

It is narrated that the Prophet (SAW) divorced Hafsah once when she backed up against him. Then he (SAW) took her back according to Jibreel's (AS) command: "Take Hafsah back; she fasts and prays in the night all the time." Hafsah realized the gravity of what she had done to her noble husband when she disclosed his secret. But after the Prophet (SAW) forgave her, she lived in tranquility and repose again.

When the Prophet (SAW) died and Abu Bakr (RA) succeeded him, it was Hafsah who was chosen to keepthe first copy of the Noble Quran. She kept on worshipping Allah (SWT) devoutly, fasting, praying,and keeping the copy of the Muslims constitution, the immortal miracle and the source of legislation and belief.

 When her father the caliph of the Muslims felt he was about to die after he was stabbed by Abu Lu'Lu'a the Zoroastrian in the month of Dhul-Hijjah 23 AH, Hafsah was the guard of what he left of inheritance.

 Hafsah (RA) died in Mu'awiyah ibn Sufyan's (RA) era after she commanded her brother Abdullah (RA) with what she had been commanded by her father.

 May Allah be pleased with their guard of the Quran, A