أُمُّ سَلَمَة
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا
Umm Salamah
Counsel at Hudaybiyyah · Of the Hijrah · Narrator
may Allah be pleased with her
Quraysh — Banu Makhzum · Makkah, Abyssinia and Madinah, up to about 60 AH
She emigrated twice, was separated from her husband and her son for a year in the attempt, and later gave the advice at Hudaybiyyah that broke a dangerous deadlock. She was among the longest-lived and most consulted of her generation.
Known for
Her advice broke the deadlock at Hudaybiyyah
When the Companions did not move to end the pilgrimage state, she told the Prophet ﷺ to go out, say nothing to anyone, and do it himself. They followed.
She emigrated to Abyssinia and then to Madinah
She was kept from following her husband for about a year
When she set out for Madinah her husband's people and her own took her son and her mount from her. The reports describe her going out to the same spot each day until she was let go.
Among the women most relied on as a narrator
Her story in moments
Short episodes from her life, in order. Read one at a time.
Life & legacy
Makkah and Abyssinia
Umm Salamah — her name was Hind bint Abi Umayyah — was of Banu Makhzum, one of the strongest clans in Makkah. She and her husband Abu Salamah were among those who left for Abyssinia during the persecution.
When the Muslims began moving to Madinah, the attempt to travel as a family was stopped: her husband's people and her own each took a part of the household, and she was left behind without him and without her son. The reports describe her going out to the edge of Makkah each day for the best part of a year before she was allowed to leave.
Madinah
Abu Salamah died in Madinah of a wound. She was later married to the Prophet ﷺ.
She was present at Hudaybiyyah, where the advice she gave is the thing she is best remembered for, and it is set out in the moment below.
She outlived nearly all of that generation and was consulted for decades. A great deal of what is known about the household comes through her. The sources differ over the year of her death.
How the sources describe her
She was asked, and she answered plainly
She waited out what she could not force
Connect
People around her
Family
- The Prophet Muhammad ﷺSpouse
She was married to him after Abu Salamah died, and advised him at Hudaybiyyah.
Alongside
Both were wives of the Prophet ﷺ and both became major sources for what is known of the household.
Full timeline
- The Makkan years, before the Hijrah
Emigrates to Abyssinia
- 1 AH approximate
Prevented from leaving Makkah, and separated from her husband and son
- 6 AH
Gives the advice that ends the deadlock at Hudaybiyyah
- Around 60 AH approximate, reports differReports give 59, 61 and 62 AH.
Dies in Madinah
Part of
Sources & review
In reviewBased on the listed sources. See something to correct? Tell us.
Sahih al-Bukhariصحيح البخاري
Hadith collection · Muhammad ibn Isma'il al-Bukhari
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
References follow the citation detail available in the source material.
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