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Umm Salama, Hind bint Abi Umayya, was a wife of the Prophet ﷺ whom the Shia tradition holds in particular honour for her loyalty to his family. She lived until after Karbala and was, by most reports, the last of his wives to die.
Early Muslim and emigrant
Umm Salama and her first husband, Abu Salama ibn Abd al-Asad, were among the early Muslims of Mecca and emigrated to Abyssinia with the group led by Ja‘far ibn Abi Talib. They later moved to Medina, where Abu Salama died of a wound received at Uhud. The Prophet ﷺ married her in 4 AH.
Witness to the Verse of Purification
In reports recorded by al-Tirmidhi, Umm Salama relates that the Verse of Purification (33:33) was revealed in her house, when the Prophet ﷺ gathered Ali عليه السلام, Fatima سلام اللہ علیہا, al-Hasan عليه السلام and al-Husayn عليه السلام under a cloak. When she asked whether she was with them, he told her that she remained in her own place and was upon good.
Loyal to the family of the Prophet
When Imam Ali عليه السلام marched to Basra, al-Hakim records that Umm Salama told him he was with the truth and the truth was with him, and sent her son Umar with him in her stead. According to al-Kulayni, Imam al-Husayn عليه السلام left his books and testament with her when he set out for Iraq, and she handed them to Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn عليه السلام on his return. Al-Tirmidhi records her report that, on the day al-Husayn was killed, she saw the Prophet ﷺ in a dream with dust on his head and beard.
Differing reports
- Year of death: reports range from 59 to 62 AH; the later dates fit the reports that she outlived Imam al-Husayn عليه السلام.
Sources
- I‘lam al-Wara bi-A‘lam al-Huda — al-Tabrisi, al-Fadl ibn al-Hasan (d. 548 AH / 1153 CE). chapter on his wives and children
- al-Jami‘ (Sunan al-Tirmidhi) — al-Tirmidhi, Muhammad ibn ‘Isa (d. 279 AH / 892 CE). Abwab al-Tafsir, Surat al-Ahzab; Abwab al-Manaqib
- al-Mustadrak ‘ala al-Sahihayn — al-Hakim al-Naysaburi, Muhammad ibn Abd Allah (d. 405 AH / 1014 CE). Kitab Ma‘rifat al-Sahaba
- al-Kafi — al-Kulayni, Muhammad ibn Ya‘qub (d. 329 AH / 941 CE). Kitab al-Hujja, Bab al-ishara wa al-nass ‘ala Ali ibn al-Husayn