In every generation, Allah (SWT) chooses certain individuals whose faith, intellect, and presence serve as guiding lights for the rest of the Ummah. One such radiant figure is Lady Umm Salamah bint Abi Umayyah, and she was a woman of profound courage, grace, and insight. Often remembered as one of the noble Mother of the Believers, her contributions to Islam extend far beyond her title. She was a woman of vision, a pillar of strength, and one of the most articulate voices in the early Muslim world. To speak of Lady Umm Salamah bint Abi Umayyah is to enter a world of both beauty and hardship, a life that is shaped by sacrifice, sharpened by her patience, and crowned with wisdom.
Lady Umm Salamah bint Abi Umayyah, known before marriage as Hind bint Abi Umayyah, came from a noble Quraysh family. Her father was known as Zad al-Rakib (the one who provisions the traveler) due to his generosity, and she inherited his strength of character. She married the noble Abu Salamah and, together, they were among the earliest converts of Islam.
Their journey of faith was one of trial upon trial. The emigration to Abyssinia, the hardship in Makkah, the hijrah to Madinah, and one of the most heart-wrenching moments of her life came when she and her husband attempted to migrate to Madinah and were violently separated from each other and their child. Lady Umm Salamah bint Abi Umayyah was forced to endure over a year alone, crying every day at the same place, until her family finally relented.
Her perseverance during this period is one of the most emotionally striking episodes in the seerah not just as a wife or a mother, but as a Muslim woman who refused to break even as her world was torn apart.
When Abu Salamah was later martyred after the Battle of Uhud, Umm Salamah was devastated. The love between them was deep and sincere. She once said of him, “I have never seen a man more virtuous than Abu Salamah.” As she mourned, the Prophet (SAW) taught her a powerful dua and that was, “Oh Allah, reward me for my calamity and grant me better than it.” She said it, though in her heart she couldn’t imagine anyone better than Abu Salamah. But Allah (SWT) answers the sincere with His infinite wisdom. Soon after, the Messenger of Allah (SWT) himself proposed to her. And so, the woman who thought she had lost everything was elevated to the rank of the Mother of the Believers.
Lady Umm Salamah bint Abi Umayyah was not only a wife of the Prophet (SAW), but also a trusted counselor, an intellectual authority, and a teacher to the Ummah.
One of her most famous moments came during the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, when the Prophet (SAW) instructed the companions to shave their heads and end the state of ihram. The companions hesitated, shocked and disheartened by the terms of the treaty. The Prophet (SAW) entered his tent, concerned. It was Lady Umm Salamah bint Abi Umayyah who advised him, “O Messenger of Allah, go out and do not speak a word to anyone. Then shave your head and sacrifice your animal. They will follow you.”
He followed her counsel and, indeed, the companions complied immediately.
Long after the Prophet (SAW)’s passing, Lady Umm Salamah bint Abi Umayyah continued to serve the Ummah. She was among the most knowledgeable of the Mothers of the Believers, particularly in matters of fiqh and hadith. Major companions and tabi’un would seek her insight. She narrated over 300 ahadith, including many with deep legal and theological implications. Her home became a place of scholarship and her voice shaped the transmission of knowledge for generations to come.
In an age where women are often silenced or sidelined, Lady Umm Salmah bint Abi Umayyah’s legacy rings clear that Islam uplifts the intelligent, the faithful, and the courageous regardless of gender. She was not just the Prophet (SAW)’s wife. She was his advisor, a leader in her own right, and a fierce advocate for justice and truth. She raised her children with patience, bore grief with faith, and offered the world a model of dignified strength.
If you are a woman balancing your intellect, your heart, and your deen, Lady Umm Salamah bint Abi Umayyah is your example. If you are a man seeking to understand the value of women in Islam, look no further than her life. If you are a believer trying to trust Allah (SWT) through hardship, her dua is yours.
May Allah (SWT) be pleased with Lady Umm Salamah bint Abi Umayyah and allow her story to be told, honored, and lived by those who seek His pleasure. Ameen!
