Umm Khabiba Ramlah bint Abu Sufyan

Umm Khabiba was the daughter of Ebu Sufyan bin Harb from the Umayyad family. Muawiya was her half brother on her father’s side. Her real name was Ramlah. She was given the name Umm Khabiba (mother of Khabiba) because her daughter from her first marriage was called Khabiba.

Umm Khabiba, a former Hanif, and her husband Ubaydullah ibn Jahsh were among the first people to accept Islam. They migrated to Abyssinia in order to escape the persecution and oppression of the polytheists. However, her husband abandoned Islam there. (It is recorded that he died or they divorced shortly afterwards.) When the Prophet (pbuh) learned about what had happened to Umm Khabiba, and how she had stood fast in her religion and endured oppression for its sake, he sent a messenger to Abyssinia to tell her that he wanted to marry her. She gladly accepted the proposal, and Negus performed the marriage ceremony (with the wakalah (agency) given by the Prophet).

This event occurred in 6 or 7 A.H, and the marriage was regarded as a reward for Umm Khabiba’s adherence to the religion. Moreover, this marriage went a long way to eliminating the hostility felt by Abu Sufyan towards the Prophet, and making him approach Islam in a more positive manner. In fact, Abu Sufyan converted to Islam during the conquest of Mecca.

Umm Khabiba, reporter of 65 hadiths from the Prophet, passed away at the age of 44 in 70 A.H.