Umama bint Hamza

Umama bint Hamza was a companion and first cousin of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

Biography

She was the daughter of Hamza ibn Abdul-Muttalib, an uncle of Muhammad, and of Salma bint Umays, who was from the Khath'am tribe.[1][2] Her parents both converted to Islam in late 615 or early 616.[3][4][5]

The family joined the emigration to Medina in 622.[6][7] They lived there for about three years, until Hamza was killed in the Battle of Uhud.[8][9] Salma then took Umama back to Mecca, where they lived for the next four years.[10]

In 629 Muhammad came to Mecca for the Minor Pilgrimage. When he was about to depart, Umama ran after his camels calling to him. Ali put her on Fatima's camel, telling Muhammad that they should not leave their cousin among the polytheists. Muhammad agreed to take Umama to Medina.[11][12]

Umama's relatives quarrelled over who was the correct guardian for her.[13] Zayd ibn Harithah based his claim on his having been Hamza's "brother in Islam". Ja'far ibn Abi Talib claimed Umama on the grounds that he was married to her mother’s sister. Ali said that he took priority because it had been his idea to bring Umama to Medina. Muhammad settled the quarrel in favour of Ja'far because "a girl cannot marry her aunt's husband."[14][15]

Later Ali proposed that Muhammad himself should marry Umama, for "she is the most beautiful girl in Quraysh." Muhammad replied that this would be impossible; since Hamza had been his foster-brother, Umama was counted as his niece.[16][17][18] Instead, Muhammad married her off to his stepson, Salama ibn Abi Salama.[19]

References

  1. ↑ Muhammad ibn Saad. Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir, vol. 3. Translated by Bewley, A. (2013). The Companions of Badr, p. 3. London: Ta-Ha Publishers.
  2. ↑ Muhammad ibn Saad. Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir, vol. 8. Translated by Bewley, A. (1995). The Women of Madina, pp. 35, 199. London: Ta-Ha Publishers.
  3. ↑ Muhammad ibn Ishaq. Sirat Rasul Allah. Translated by Guillaume, A. (1955). The Life of Muhammad, pp. 131-132. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  4. ↑ Ibn Saad/Bewley vol. 3 pp. 3.
  5. ↑ Ibn Saad/Bewley vol. 8 pp. 196, 199.
  6. ↑ Ibn Ishaq/Guillaume p. 218.
  7. ↑ Ibn Saad/Bewley vol. 3 p. 3.
  8. ↑ Ibn Ishaq/Guillaume pp. 375-377, 389, 401.
  9. ↑ Ibn Saad/Bewley vol. 3 p. 4.
  10. ↑ Ibn Saad/Bewley vol. 8 p. 115.
  11. ↑ Muhammad ibn Umar al-Waqidi. Kitab al-Maghazi. Translated by Faizer, R., Ismail, A., & Tayob, A. K. (2011). The Life of Muhammad, pp. 363-364. London & New York: Routledge.
  12. ↑ Bukhari 3:49:863; 5:59:553.
  13. ↑ Muhammad ibn Saad. Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir. Translated by Haq, S. M. (1972). Ibn Sa’d’s Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir Volume II Parts I & II, p. 152. Delhi: Kitab Bhavan.
  14. ↑ Waqidi/Faizer pp. 363-364.
  15. ↑ Bukhari 3:49:863; 5:59:553.
  16. ↑ Ibn Saad/Bewley vol. 8 p. 115.
  17. ↑ Bukhari 3:48:813; 5:59:553.
  18. ↑ Muslim 8:3407, 3409, 3411.
  19. ↑ Waqidi/Faizer p. 364.
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