Chief of the Prophets

Chief of the Prophets — Page 191

Chapter Eight 191 even centuries later in the Muslim nations. This is a strong moral point, from which nations could learn a valuable lesson. Thereafter, Muḥammad sa wrote letters to the other chieftains of Arabia, but the details are being skipped in this brief treatise. Detailed Account of Ummi Ḥabībah ra Ummi Ḥabībah ra was the daughter of Abū Sufyān. Her first marriage was with ‘Ubaidullāh bin Jaḥsh, cousin of Muḥammad sa. After the arrival of Islam, both she and her husband accepted Islam and migrated to Abyssinia. The real name of Ummi Ḥabībah ra was Ramlah bint Abī-Sufyān, but after having a baby girl she came to be known by the name of Ummi Ḥabībah ra (the Mother of Ḥabībah). At the time of the demise of ‘Ubaidullāh ra in Abyssinia, Ummi Ḥabībah ra showed great steadfastness and remained resolute in her faith inspite of the hardships. Considering her sincerity and steadfastness, Muḥammad sa sent a proposal of marrige through ‘Amr bin Umayyah famrī as an expression of care for her. Negus performed the Nikāḥ after consulting Ummi Ḥabībah ra. This Nikāḥ took place either in the 6 A. H. or 7 A. H. Thereafter, Negus boarded Ummi Ḥabībah ra and other Muslims on a ship to Madīnah with great honour according to the instructions of Muḥammad sa. Ummi Ḥabībah ra was 37 years old at the time of this marriage. When she landed on the coast of Arabia, Muḥammad sa was in Khaibar. When the Quraish violated the Treaty of Ḥudaibiyyah, Abū Sufyān came to Madīnah for the renewal of the treaty assuming that Muḥammad sa did not know about the violation. He stayed at the house of his daughter Ummi Ḥabībah ra , and unintentionally sat on the prayer mat of Muḥammad sa. Ummi Ḥabībah ra , who was meeting her father after so many years, made him get up from the prayer mat of Muḥammad sa not tolerating that an idolater (even her own father) would sit upon the mat which Muḥammad sa used to offer prayers. Abū Sufyān was amazed at the devotion of his daughter.