Hafsa bint Umar

Hafsa, the daughter of the Prophet’s (pbuh) sincere friend and second caliph, Umar, married the Prophet in the 3rd year after the Hijrah (emigration).

Hafsa was born in Mecca in 605. Previously she had been married to Khunais bin Hudhafa. However, her husband became ill on the return journey from the Battle of Badr, and passed away a little later in Medina. In accordance with the tradition of giving one’s daughter or sister to a virtuous person in marriage, Umar offered her to Uthman, who had lost his wife (Ruqiyyah, the daughter of the Prophet) a short time before. When Uthman stated that he had no intention to marry, Umar went with the same offer to Abu Bakr. When Abu Bakr remained silent, Umar was hurt and he shared his feelings with the Prophet. Prophet Muhammad told him, “Hafsa will marry one better than Uthman and Uthman will marry one better than Hafsa.” Prophet Muhammad married Hafsa in Sha’aban of the 3rd year after the emigration. Uthman married the daughter of the Prophet, Umm Qulsum.

Aisha was the closest friend of Hafsa among the wives; it is even reported that the other wives were sometimes jealous of them. Hafsa, one of the few literate women of her time, had a distinguished place before Prophet Muhammad.

Hafsa passed away when she was 60, in 41 A.H, and she was buried in the Jannat al-Baqi Cemetery.