Umm Salama

 

Umm Salama was the daughter of Suhayl bin Mugira.  She was married to Abu Salama.  They were among the first people to accept Islam.  Only Abu Bakr and a few others became Muslim before them. 

The pagans heard about the new Muslims.  They became very angry.  They tortured the new Muslims.  They beat them and left them in the hot sun without water.  Life became more and more difficult for the Muslims in Mecca.  The Prophet gave them permission to emigrate to Abyssinia (now Ethiopia).  Umm Salama and her husband were in the first group to leave.  They left their home and family for God’s sake. 

The king of Abyssinia was Christian.  He was a just man.  The Prophet said, “If you go to Abyssinia you’ll be safe from the pagans.”

The pagan leaders sent a message to the king.  They asked him to send the Muslims back to Mecca.  But the king didn’t send them.  “They are free to stay in my country,” he said.

The Muslim refugees didn’t want to stay for long in Abyssinia.  They wanted to be near the Prophet.  They had heard that Umar, Hamza and others had become Muslims.  They had also heard that the Muslims were praying at the Ka’ba as a group.  This news made the Muhajirin happy.  They decided to return to Mecca.

In Mecca the number of Muslims was increasing.  But the pagan’s persecution was increasing as well.  The pagans didn’t sell anything to the Muslims.  They broke into their houses and took their food and other goods.  They beat the women and other weak ones.  But they ran from Umar and Hamza. 

The Prophet gave permission to the Muslims to emigrate to Medina.  Umm Salama and her husband were among the first group to leave. 

The experience was very difficult for Umm Salama.  She and her son Salama were on one camel.  Her husband was on another camel leading the group.  Before long some men from Umm Salama’s tribe stopped them.  “You are free to do what you like,” they said to Umm Salama’s husband.  “But your wife is our daughter.  Do you expect us to allow her to leave?”

Her husband’s tribe saw them taking Umm Salama and the child.  They became very angry.  “We will not leave the boy.  He is our son.  We have first claim over him.”  They took the child and pulled him away from his mother.

Suddenly Umm Salama found herself alone.  Her husband continued to Medina.  His tribe took her son.  Umm Salama’s tribe prevented her from going.

Umm Salama was very sad about what had happened.  Every day after that, she went to that same spot and cried until night.  She continued like that for about one year.

Then one day, a man from her tribe said to the others, “Why don’t you free this poor woman?  You’ve separated her from her husband and son.”  He continued to reason with them.

Finally they said, “You can join your husband if you wish.”

But Umm Salama’s heart was torn between Mecca and Medina.  Her husband was in Medina, but her son was in Mecca.  She didn’t want to leave her child behind.  Some of her husband’s tribesmen understood this.  They gave her son, Salama, back to her.

Umm Salama immediately put her son on her camel and they started off for Medina.  About three miles from Mecca Umm Salama met Uthman.  He was a keeper of the Ka’ba.  “Where are you going?” asked Uthman. 

“I’m going to my husband in Medina,” Umm Salama answered.

“Are you traveling alone?” he said.

“Yes, except for God and my little boy,” she replied.

Uthman said, “By God, I won’t leave you until we reach Medina.”  Then he took the reins of Umm Salama’s camel and led them on. 

Uthman was very kind to Umm Salama.  He took care of her camel when they stopped to rest.  He did this every day until they reached Medina. 

At a village near Quba, Uthman said, “Your husband is in this village.  Enter it with God’s blessing.”  Then he returned to Mecca.  After a long separation Umm Salama and her husband were reunited.  They were very happy to see each other.

Great events followed shortly after that.  Abu Salama fought in the Battle of Badr.  It was a great victory for the Muslims.  But at the Battle of Uhud the Muslims were tested.  Abu Salama was wounded at this battle.

Umm Salama was nursing her husband’s wounds.  Abu Salama said, “I heard the Prophet say that in case of calamity we should say:  ‘Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajiun.  We have come from God and we shall return to Him.’  Then he would pray to receive something better.”

Abu Salama remained in bed for several days.  One morning the Prophet came to see him.  The visit lasted longer than usual.  While the Prophet was at his bedside, Abu Salama passed away. 

The Prophet closed the eyes of his dead companion with his hands.  Then he prayed:

O Lord, grant forgiveness to Abu Salama.  Raise him to those who are close to You.  Take care of his family at all times.  Forgive us and him.  O Lord of the Worlds, widen his grave and make it full of light for him.

Umm Salama remembered the prayer her husband had told her:

‘We have come from God and we shall return to Him.’ 

She said the prayer, but she couldn’t ask for something better.  She thought, Who could be better than my husband?

Later both Abu Bakr and Umar asked Umm Salama to marry them.  But she refused them both.  Then the Prophet sent a marriage offer to her.

Umm Salama replied, “Tell the Prophet I am a jealous woman and I have children.  I have no parents here as my witnesses.  Also I’m an older woman.”

The Prophet replied, “I’ll pray for God to take your jealousy.  Also God will provide for your children.  If your witnesses are ready or not, they’ll accept me.  As for your age, I’m older than you are.”

The Prophet and Umm Salama were married.   From that day on she was not only the mother of Salama.  She was the mother of all Muslims