Hazrat Hafsa’s (ra) marriage (Daughter of Hazrat Umar (ra))

With regard to Hazrat Umar’s (ra) daughter, Hazrat Hafsa’s (ra) marriage to the Holy Prophet (sa), it is stated that Hazrat Hafsa’s (ra) husband participated in the Battle of Badr and on the way back from the battle, he became unwell and passed away. After this, the Holy Prophet (sa) married Hazrat Hafsa (ra). The details of this are mentioned in Bukhari as follows:

Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (ra) narrates that Hafsa bint Umar (ra) became a widow after the death of [her husband], Khunais (ra) bin Hudhafah Sahmi, who was a companion of the Holy Prophet (sa) and had participated in the Battle of Badr”; he passed away in Medina.

“Hazrat Umar (ra) stated, ‘I met with Uthman bin Affan and mentioned to him the proposal of Hafsa stating, “If you wish, I will give Hafsa bint Umar in marriage to you.” Hazrat Uthma (ra) stated, “I will think over this matter”. (Hazrat Umar (ra) says) I waited for a few days, after which Hazrat Uthman (ra) said, “It seems that it is not possible for me to marry at present.”’”

Hazrat Umar (ra) states, “I went to Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and asked him if he wished, I would give Hafsa in marriage to him. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) remained quiet and did not give me an answer. I felt more aggrieved by Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) than Uthman”, i.e. that he refused the proposal. “I then waited for a few days, during which time the Holy Prophet (sa) asked for her hand in marriage and I gave her in marriage to him.

“When the nikah took place, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) met me and said, ‘Perhaps you were angry with me when you presented Hafsa’s (ra) hand in marriage and I did not give you a reply?’ I said, ‘Yes, I felt aggrieved,’ to which he said, ‘Nothing stopped me from giving you a reply except that I knew that Allah’s Messenger (sa) had mentioned Hazrat Hafsa (ra), and I did not wish to reveal a confidential matter of Allah’s Messenger (sa).’” i.e. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was aware that the Holy Prophet (sa) wished to send a proposal of marriage to Hazrat Hafsa (ra).

Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) said, “I could not reveal a confidential matter of the Holy Prophet (sa) and if he decided against marrying her, I would certainly have accepted your proposal.” This was the response of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra).

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Maghazi, Hadith 4005)

Some details of this incident have been mentioned in Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin by Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra), who writes:

“Hazrat Umar (ra) had a daughter by the name of Hafsa (ra), who was married to a faithful Companion, Khunais bin Hudhafah, who had taken part in the Battle of Badr. After Badr, upon returning to Medina, Khunais fell ill and was unable to recover from his illness. Sometime after his demise, Hazrat Umar (ra) began to feel a sense of concern for her second marriage. At the time, Hafsa (ra) was over 20 years of age. Due to his simplicity in nature, Hazrat Umar (ra) met Uthma (ra) bin Affan himself and mentioned that his daughter Hafsa (ra) was now a widow, and that if he was interested, he could marry her. However, Hazrat Uthma (ra) avoided the subject.

“After this, Hazrat Umar (ra) mentioned it to Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), but he too remained silent and did not respond. At this Hazrat Umar (ra) was deeply saddened, and in this very state of dismay, he presented himself before the Holy Prophet (sa) and submitted the entire account.

“The Holy Prophet (sa) responded, ‘O Umar! Do not worry at all; if Allah so wills, Hafsa shall find a better husband than Uthman and Abu Bakr; and Uthman shall receive a better wife than Hafsa.’

“The Holy Prophet (sa) said this because he had already intended to marry Hafsa (ra) and to give his own daughter, Umm Kulthum (ra), to Hazrat Uthman (ra) in marriage. Both Hazrat Uthman (ra) and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) were aware of this and this is why they turned down the proposal of Hazrat Umar (ra).

“Sometime thereafter, the Holy Prophet (sa) married his daughter Umm Kulthum (ra) to Hazrat Uthman (ra) […] Following this, the Holy Prophet (sa) sent a proposal himself to Hazrat Umar (ra) for Hafsa (ra). What more could Hazrat Umar (ra) have asked for? He very happily accepted this proposal. In Sha‘ban 3 AH, Hazrat Hafsa (ra) was married to the Holy Prophet (sa) and became a part of his household. When this marriage had taken place, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) said to Hazrat Umar (ra), ‘Perhaps your heart has been saddened on my account. The fact is, that I was already aware of the intention of the Holy Prophet (sa), but I could not reveal a confidential matter without permission. Of course, if the Holy Prophet (sa) had not intended so, I would have most gladly married Hafsa.’

“One special wisdom in marrying Hafsa (ra) was that she was the daughter of Hazrat Umar (ra), who one could say was considered to be the most eminent Companion after Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), and he was from among the most intimate friends of the Holy Prophet (sa). Hence, in order to further strengthen mutual relations and to compensate the grief of Hazrat Umar (ra) and Hafsa (ra), which they had sustained by the untimely demise of Khunais bin Hudhafahra, the Holy Prophet (sa) deemed it appropriate to marry Hafsa (ra) himself.

“Another general wisdom under consideration was that if the Holy Prophet (sa) had a greater number of wives, the tasks of preaching and propagation, as well as education and training, could be performed on a much wider scale with greater ease, and in a more excellent manner among the women – who constitute half, if not more than half, of the world’s population in some respects.”

(Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra), pp. 477-478)