In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
She is
the daughter of 'Umar ibn al-Khatab RA. In Arabic language, Hafs is one of the
names of the lion. The Messenger of Allah SAW, would often address Umar RA as Abu
Hafs.
There
is a story for behind her entering the household of Prophethood as a wife of
the Messenger of Allah (SAW).
She was
married to a man known as Hisn ibn Hudafah who witnessed the Battle of Badr and
then fell ill at Madeenah and passed away. Hafsa (RA) then became a widow. It
had been part of Arab culture, either in the age of ignorance or after the
emergence of Islam, that a man makes efforts to marry off his daughter, sister
or any woman in his guardianship without any inconvenience - to someone he
believed was good and suitable. This is because; her continuous stay in his
house as an unmarried girl or a widow was regarded a great shame.
So when
Hafsa (RA) became a widow, it pained Umar and he was distressed. He went out
one day heading for the house of the nearest person to him who was Abu Bakr as
Siddeeq RA. He informed him of what is in his mind and offered him Hafsa RA in
marriage. Abu Bakr kept silent and did not utter a word. Umar left his house
greatly distressed and embittered.
Then Uthman
RA came to his mind. Since his wife, Ruqayyah, the Prophet's daughter had
passed away; he was in a better position to respond favourably to his offer. So
he made for his house, Mother of the Faithful for his house and offered him his
daughter in marriage. But Uthman RA told him, "I do not want to marry
today."
Who was
she that can replace Ruqayyah in Uthman's house after both of them have enjoyed
the life with each other for many years? And 'Uthman was in a psychological
state that could not allow him to propose marriage or to marry. Umar RA’s
distress increased.
The
Messenger of Allah SAW then saw him in that condition. He SAW asked him about
what ws troubling him and Umar RA told him of his encounter with Abu Bakr and Uthman.
Bitterness and rage against them could be noticed in his speech and the way he
talked. The Messenger of Allah SAW calmed him down and then said, "Hafsa RA
shall marry someone who is better than Uthman RA and Uthman RA shall marry someone
who is better than Hafsa RA."
Umar
stood up, somewhat calmed, but he was still scratching his head over the
meaning of the Prophet's statement. When Abu Bakr RA met him, he approached him
and they talked with each other. Umar RA informed him of what he heard from the
Messenger of Allah SAW and he told Abu Bakr that he could not understand the
statement.
Abu
Bakr smiled and said, "I have heard the Messenger of Allah SAW mentioning Hafsa.
But I would not like to reveal his secret. If he had not shown his interest in
marrying her I would have married her. So do not bear any grudge against
me."
Uthman
came to the Messenger of Allah SAW in his softness, bashfulness and sorrow. He
was tearful and gloomy. He said, "My marriage relationship with you has
come to an end with the death of Ruqayyah, Oh Messenger of Allah!"
The
noble Messenger SAW sympathised with him and then said, "I have given you
her sister, Umm Kulthoom, in marriage. If I had had ten daughters, I would have
given them to you in marriage (one after the other)."
That is
how the Messenger of Allah SAW married Hafsa RA and Uthman married Umm
Kulthoom. And that is how Hafsa enter the household of the Prophet SAWas one of
the mothers of the faithful.
Hafsa
RA was a devoted worshipper, very pious, always fasting and praying in the
night. She was the closest to 'A'ishah among the Prophet's wife. It is as if
they were two sisters. They were always in agreement and never disagreed.
However,
Hafsa had in her nature an aspect of the meaning of her name: She was somewhat
stern and tough. Perhaps, she inherited that from her father 'Umar, al-Farooq.
This sternness was increased by the death of her first husband, making her
easily irritated.
It was
this nature of hers that caused the Messenger of Allah (SAW) to divorce her
once after which he took her back.
Ibn
Sa'd recorded that the Messenger of Allah SAW divorced Hafsa once and then took
her back because the Angel Gabriel told him, "Take Hafsa back, for she
frequently fasts and prays in the night. And she is your wife in
Paradise."
Humayd
ibn Anas narrated that, "The Prophet SAW divorced Hafsa and he was
thereafter commanded to take her back, and he did so."
'Uqbah
ibn 'Amir narrated that the Messenger of Allah divorced Hafsa, 'Umar's
daughter. When 'Umar heard this, he strewed sand over his head and said,
"Allah will no more care about Umar and his daughter after she has been
divorced [by the Prophet (SAW)]." So Angel Gabriel came to the Messenger
of Allah the following day and told him, "Allah commands you to take back
Hafsa as a way of showing compassion to Umar (her father)."
Abu Salih
in his version of the narration said, “Umar entered the place of Hafsah while
she was crying and he asked her whether the Messenger of Allah SAW has divorced
her. He said to her, 'He had divorced you once and took you back only because
of me. If he divorces you again, I will never speak: to you again.' After that, Hafsa was keen never to annoy the
Prophet (SAW) again until he died.
Here, dear
reader, we need to point to a new and illuminating aspect of Hafsa’s personality
in addition to her other values and qualities.
Angel
Gabriel described her for the Prophet SAW that she was frequently performing
(voluntary) fasting and night prayers, and that she is one of his wives in
Paradise. These are degrees and ranks, as well as practical attributes and spiritual
activities.
Another
quality you can add to her credit is the fact that she could read and write, a
quality that was very rare among womenfolk then, even among men. The new thing
that attracts our attention here is that her house was the place in which the
revealed verses of Qur'an written on palm branches, slates and other materials
were kept.
She was
entrusted with the most honourable and the greatest thing. And she deserved
that.
This
was the case since the time of the Messenger of Allah SAW up to the time of
Uthman. When Uthman was compiling the Qur'an and copying it in a single book
form, those kept with Hafsa was the primary sources in doing so.
This
role played by Hafsa, transcended her life in the house of the Prophet, unto
Islam itself. It was full of religiosity, activities, orderliness and a course
of action.
We
cannot but make a stop, as a means of honouring the mother of the faithful, Hafsa.
For, she was the custodian of the Book of Allah. She preserved it in her heart
and in her house.
Whenever
we open a copy of the Quran to read it, we have to remember the Angel entrusted
with the Revelation (Gabriel) and his reverberating sound, the impact the
verses had on the heart of the Messenger of Allah SAW and the scribes of the
Revelations: 'Ali, Zayd and others. We have to remember Abu Bakr and 'Umar and their
compilations of the Qur'an; and Uthman and his resoluteness, trustworthiness
and sense of duty; and finally Hafsa and her preservation of the Book.
We have
to remember and seek guidance from Allah, the Great in His Majesty.
At the
beginning of the year 44 A.H., Hafsa departed from this world and joined the
company of the loved ones, Muhammad (SAW) and his Companions.
TAKEN
FROM WOMEN AROUND THE MESSENGER (SAW)
ALLAH - This is the greatest name and it is
the sign of the cause of all existence. Allah is only Allah’s name and no one
can share it. Whoever reads الله
1,000 times daily, all doubt will be removed from his heart and determination
and faith will replace it all.
