Hafsa bint Umar: The Guardian of the Holy Quran
In a world rife with temptations, distractions, and conflicting values, Muslim women often face immense challenges in finding true role models. Today’s materialistic society constantly pulls them toward its own standards. Therefore, it is crucial for every woman to find an exemplary figure to follow. The lives of the Mothers of the Believers offer the exact guidance and inspiration that every Muslimah seeks. Today’s article sheds light on our mother, Lady Hafsa bint Umar ibn Al-Khattab. Lady Hafsa (may Allah be pleased with her) was the fourth wife of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). She was the daughter of our master Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) and the female companion Zaynab bint Maz’un, who was the sister of the great companion Uthman ibn Maz’un (may Allah be pleased with them both).
Her Early Life
Lady Hafsa was born five years before the prophetic mission of our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The Messenger of Allah married her in the third year of the Hijra calendar, when she was 22 years old, while his honorable age was fifty-five. She married the great companion Khunais ibn Hudhafa ibn Adi al-Sahmi, who was among the earliest converts to Islam. In fact, He embraced Islam before the Prophet met with his companions in Dar al-Arqam. After Khunais returned from the migration to Abyssinia, he married Hafsa bint Umar. Following the migration of Muslims to Medina, Lady Hafsa (may Allah be pleased with her) migrated with her husband. He participated in the battles of Badr and Uhud, and then passed away in the third year of Hijra. It was said that he was wounded in Uhud, and others said he was wounded in Badr and died from his wounds. He was buried in Al-Baqi’, and Lady Hafsa did not have any children with him.
Marriage to the Prophet Muhammad.
It was narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): “When Hafsa bint Umar became a widow after the death of her husband, Khunais ibn Hudhafa al-Sahmi—who was one of the companions of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and had fought in the Battle of Badr, and passed away in Medina—Umar said:
I met Uthman ibn Affan and offered Hafsa to him in marriage, saying: ‘If you wish, I can marry Hafsa bint Umar to you.’ He replied: ‘I will think it over.’ I waited for a few nights, and then he met me and said: ‘It has become clear to me that I should not marry at this time.’
Umar continued: Then I met Abu Bakr and said: ‘If you wish, I can marry Hafsa bint Umar to you.’ Abu Bakr remained silent and gave me no reply, and I was more upset with him than I was with Uthman.
I waited for a few more nights, and then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) proposed to her, and I married her to him. Afterwards, Abu Bakr met me and asked: ‘Perhaps you were upset with me when you offered Hafsa to me and I did not reply to you?’ I said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘Nothing prevented me from responding to your offer except that I knew the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had mentioned her, and I was not going to disclose the secret of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Had the Prophet (ﷺ) left her, I would have certainly accepted your offer.'” [Narrated by Al-Bukhari]
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) married her in approximately 3 AH, following his marriage to Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her). Lady Hafsa narrated a number of Hadiths from the Prophet (ﷺ). Reflecting on her prominent status among the Prophet’s wives. Lady Aisha once remarked: ‘She was the one who used to emulate me in status among the wives of the Prophet.
The Separation and Return
Scholars note that the reason behind the Prophet’s (ﷺ) divorce of Lady Hafsa was her disclosing of the secret he had entrusted to her. It was when she found Umm Ibrahim (Maria al-Qibtiyya) in her house on her designated day. Allah, the Exalted, says in the Quran:
“And [remember] when the Prophet confided to one of his wives a statement; and when she informed [another] of it and Allah showed it to him, he made known part of it and ignored a part. And when he informed her of it, she said, ‘Who informed you of this?’ He said, ‘I was informed by the Knowing, the Acquainted.'” [Surah At-Tahrim: 3]
Uqbah ibn Amir reported: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) divorced Hafsa once. When this news reached Umar, he threw dust over his head and lamented: ‘Allah will no longer care for Umar and his daughter after this!’ Then, Jibril (Angel Gabriel), peace be upon him, descended and said to the Prophet (ﷺ): ‘Indeed, Allah commands you to take Hafsa bint Umar back, as a mercy to Umar.’” In a different narration, Angel Jibril (Gabriel), peace be upon him, came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: “Do not divorce her, for she is a frequent faster and one who stands often in night prayer, and she is your wife in Paradise.”
The Virtues of Lady Hafsa
Lady Hafsa, the wife of the Messenger of Allah, knew how to read and write, having learned at the hands of the female companion Al-Shifa bint Abdullah. Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) used to praise her, saying: ‘I have never seen anyone as skilled as Hafsa; she is truly her father’s daughter. She (may Allah be pleased with her) used to fast and pray extensively at night, and she gave charity and spent generously on the poor.
The Guardian of the Quran
After the first compilation of the Quran, the original manuscript was entrusted to Sayyidah Hafsa. She securely preserved it in her home until her passing. This sacred copy remained under her dedicated guardianship, serving as the definitive reference that protected the holy text for all generations. Lady Hafsah preserved this copy of the Quran until Sayyiduna Uthman ibn Affan asked for it to compile the Mushaf. As a guardian of the Holy Quran, Lady Hafsa memorized the entire Quran, and her lifelong devotion was sealed by the fact that she was fasting on the very day she passed away.
Her Death
She (may Allah be pleased with her) lived spending her nights in worship, reciting the Quran, and remembering Allah. Her death overtook her in the year 41 AH in Medina, during the Year of the Community (Aam al-Jama’ah). May Allah be pleased with her and with all the Mothers of the Believers.
