Wives and children of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
Last updated: 4 October 2017 From the section Biography of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
Fourth wife: Hafsah bint Umar ibn al-Khattab
Prophet Muhammad's fourth wife was Hafsah, the daughter of his close companion Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second Caliph after the Prophet's death.
First husband killed in Battle of Uhud
Hafsah was probably born few years before the prophethood began. She was married at a very young age, probably 12, to one of the early converts named Khanis bin Hudhafah As-Sahmi. She migrated to Abyssinia with her husband. Khanis fought in both the battles of Badr and Uhud, and was severely injured in the latter battle. He was carried back to Madinah but died a shaheed (martyr). Hafsah was traumatised. Thus, barely 19 - 20 years old, Hafsah became a widow and childless. But rather than grieve, Hafsah dedicated herself even more to prayer and meditation.
Hafsah was an extremely pious lady, known for offering voluntary night salah (prayer) and devoted from an early age to fasting and meditation. Unlike many women and even men of that time, Hafsah could read and write. She was an excellent writer and orator and an ardent follower of Islam.
Calip Uthman (ra) and Abu Bakr (ra) reject Umar's (ra) proposal as Muhammad (pbuh) wanted to marry Hafsah
Concerned by the plight of his daughter, Umar asked Uthman ibn Affan (later the third Caliph what he thought of Hafsa. In those days it was normal custom for the wali (e.g. father or brother) of the bride to go and find a good suitor. Men could also ask for the hand in marriage but generally it was initiated by the female side.
Uthman was the Prophet's son-in-law. His first wife was Ruqaiyah, the daughter of Muhammad (pbuh) who had passed away at Badr. When Umar had offered Hafsah to the grieving Uthman, Uthman asked him to give him time to contemplate it. After few days, he said he wasn't ready to get married now. Umar felt dejected since Uthman was a nobleman, a Qurayshi, wealthy, and single.
Umar then turned to Abu Bakr who was already married. Umar desperately wanted a noble husband for his daughter. But Abu Bakr too asked for few days to contemplate the proposal. But unlike Uthman, he didn't respond. This hurt Umar even more than Uthman's rejection.
Finally a proposal came from the Prophet that he wanted to marry Hafsah. Abu Bakr came and explained to Umar that the Prophet had mentioned about marrying Hafsah to him and Uthman hence the reason why they both backed out. Else he would've happily accepted it.
This shows that the Prophet (pbuh) was seeking the advice of others before contemplating a marriage. And by marrying Hafsah he was giving equal honours to both of his friends, having already married Abu Bakr's daughter A'ishah. The Prophet's marriage to Hafsah further strengthened his political alliance with Umar. Meanwhile, the Prophet (pbuh) gave another of his daughter, Umm Kulthoom, to Uthman (ra).
Saved from divorce by Angel Jibrail
Aishah considered Hafsa her main competition since they were similar age and just as bold, witty and strong characters, much like their respective fathers.
However, after one bad incident, the Prophet (pbuh) was contemplating divorcing Hafsa – in some report he had even given her 1 talaq (first of three warning of divorce). Naturally, this saddened Umar. But Angel Jibrail came and told him not to divorce Hafsah as she was a very pious woman who "fasts all the time and prays all the time and she shall be your wife in Jannah (Paradise)". So the Prophet (pbuh) took her back.
Allah intervened in their relationship and it was her piety that saved her.
Preserved the mus'haf (written Qur'an) following her father's death
The original grand mus'haf - the collection of papers containing the chapters of Qur'an - that was written at the time of Abu Bakr was passed on to Umar following Abu Bakr's death. But when Umar passed away, there was a period when the Muslim ummah had not yet selected a caliph. During this period Hafsah kept hold of the mus'haf. She kept it with her until she passed away.
When Uthman wanted to copy the mus'haf, he had to get the original from Hafsah. After copying and assembling into one volume, it was sent to the rest of the Islamic world. This formed the basis of all written copies of the Qur'an to the present day.