Umāma bint Ḥamza was a

companion Companion may refer to: Relationships Currently * Any of several interpersonal relationships such as friend or acquaintance * A domestic partner, akin to a spouse * Sober companion, an addiction treatment coach * Companion (caregiving), a caregive ...

and first cousin of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

Biography

She was the daughter of Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib, an uncle of Muhammad, and of

Salma bint Umays Salmā bint ʿUmays ( ar, سلمى بنت عميس) was a sahaba of Muhammad. She was from the Khath'am tribe. Her father was Umays ibn Maadd, and her mother was Hind bint Awf from the Himyar tribe. Her full siblings were Asma bint Umays and Awn i ...

, who was from the Khath'am tribe.Muhammad ibn Saad. ''Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir'', vol. 3. Translated by Bewley, A. (2013). ''The Companions of Badr''. London: Ta-Ha Publishers.Muhammad ibn Saad. ''Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir'', vol. 8. Translated by Bewley, A. (1995). ''The Women of Madina''. London: Ta-Ha Publishers. Her parents both converted to Islam in late 615 or early 616.Muhammad ibn Ishaq. ''Sirat Rasul Allah''. Translated by Guillaume, A. (1955). ''The Life of Muhammad''. Oxford: Oxford University Press. The family joined the emigration to Medina in 622. They lived there for about three years, until Hamza was killed in the

Battle of Uhud The Battle of Uhud ( ar, غَزْوَة أُحُد, ) was fought on Saturday, 23 March 625 AD (7 Shawwal, 3 AH), in the valley north of Mount Uhud.Watt (1974) p. 136. The Qurayshi Meccans, led by Abu Sufyan ibn Harb, commanded an army of 3,000 m ...

. Salma then took Umama back to Mecca, where they lived for the next four years. 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 Fāṭima bint Muḥammad ( ar, فَاطِمَة ٱبْنَت مُحَمَّد}, 605/15–632 CE), commonly known as Fāṭima al-Zahrāʾ (), was the daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his wife Khadija. Fatima's husband was Ali, th ...

's camel, telling Muhammad that they should not leave their cousin among the polytheists. Muhammad agreed to take Umama to Medina.Muhammad ibn Umar al-Waqidi. ''Kitab al-Maghazi''. Translated by Faizer, R., Ismail, A., & Tayob, A. K. (2011). ''The Life of Muhammad''. London & New York: Routledge.Bukhari 3:49:863; 5:59:553. Umama's relatives debated over who was the correct guardian for her.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''. Delhi: Kitab Bhavan. Zayd ibn Haritha 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." 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. Instead, Muhammad married her off to his stepson, Salama ibn Abi Salama. Muhammad used to ask Umama a cryptic question, variously translated as, "Have I rewarded Salama yet?" or, "Hast thou rewarded Salama yet?" It is said, however, that the marriage was not consummated as long as "he" lived. It is not clear whether "he" referred to Muhammad or to Salama himself. According to another tradition, Umama also married Salama's brother Umar,Ahmed ibn Yahya al-Baladhuri. ''Ansab al-Ashraf'' #1283. suggesting (if this is not a mistake with the name) that Salama eventually divorced her.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Umama bint Hamza Women companions of the Prophet