أُمُّ حَبِيبَة
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا
Umm Habibah
Of Abyssinia · Daughter of Abu Sufyan · Early Muslim
may Allah be pleased with her
Quraysh — Banu Umayyah · Makkah, Abyssinia and Madinah, up to about 44 AH
She accepted Islam while her father led the opposition to it, emigrated to Abyssinia, and held to her faith there after her husband left it. Her marriage to the Prophet ﷺ was conducted in her absence from Arabia.
Known for
She emigrated to Abyssinia and stayed a Muslim when her husband did not
Her husband became a Christian there and died. She remained, alone, with a young daughter.
Her marriage to the Prophet ﷺ was conducted in Abyssinia
The Negus concluded it on his behalf while she was still there.
She accepted Islam while her father was leading the opposition to it
Abu Sufyan was at that time the foremost of the Quraysh against the Muslims.
She would not let her father sit on the Prophet's ﷺ bedding
When Abu Sufyan came to Madinah before Makkah was opened, and was still an idolater, she folded it away before he could sit.
Story
Her story in moments
Short episodes from her life, in order. Read one at a time.
In full
Life & legacy
Abyssinia
Umm Habibah — Ramlah bint Abi Sufyan — was of Banu Umayyah, and her father was the leading figure of Quraysh's opposition to the Muslims. She accepted Islam anyway, and she and her husband were among those who left for Abyssinia.
There her husband became a Christian and left Islam. He died in Abyssinia. She was left in a foreign country with a small daughter, no husband, and a father at home who was at war with the community she belonged to.
She stayed. The marriage to the Prophet ﷺ was concluded for her in Abyssinia by the Negus, and she travelled to Madinah afterwards.
Madinah
Before Makkah was opened, her father came to Madinah to try to shore up the treaty. The sira records him going to her house and reaching to sit down, and her pulling the bedding away so he would not sit on it — telling him that he was an idolater and it was the Prophet's ﷺ.
Her father accepted Islam at the opening of Makkah.
She remained in Madinah and narrated. The sources give her death as around 44 AH.
How the sources describe her
She did not follow the people she was closest to
She held out a long way from anyone who could help her
Connect
People around her
Family
- Abu Sufyan ibn Harbأَبُو سُفْيَانParent
Her father, and the leading figure of Quraysh's opposition to the Muslims until he accepted Islam at the opening of Makkah.
- The Prophet Muhammad ﷺSpouse
Their marriage was concluded in Abyssinia by the Negus, in his absence.
Full timeline
- The Makkan years, before the Hijrah
Emigrates to Abyssinia
- Around 7 AH approximate, reports differThe reports differ over the year.
Her marriage to the Prophet ﷺ is concluded in Abyssinia
- 8 AH approximate
Refuses her father a seat on the Prophet's ﷺ bedding
- Around 44 AH approximate
Dies in Madinah
Part of
Sources & review
Draft content — undergoing reviewThis content was written for SahabaMate and has not yet been checked by a reviewer against the works below. Treat it as a starting point, not a citation.
As-Sirah an-Nabawiyyahالسيرة النبوية
Classical biography · Ibn Hisham, from the recension of Ibn Ishaq
Kitab at-Tabaqat al-Kabirالطبقات الكبرى
Classical biography · Ibn Sa'd
Al-Isabah fi Tamyiz as-Sahabahالإصابة في تمييز الصحابة
Classical biography · Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani
Siyar A'lam an-Nubalaسير أعلام النبلاء
Classical biography · Shams ad-Din adh-Dhahabi
SahabaMate editorial summary
Editorial summary
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