The Emotions & Patience of his Wife on his Martyrdom

When the Holy Prophet (sa) returned to Medina after the Battle of Uhud, he met Hazrat Hamnah bint Jahsh (ra), the wife of Hazrat Mus‘ab (ra) bin Umair. The people had informed her that her brother Hazrat Abdullah bin Jahsh (ra) had been martyred. She replied by saying Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji‘un [To Allah do we belong and to Him shall we return] and prayed for him to be granted forgiveness. Then they informed her of the martyrdom of her maternal uncle, Hazrat Hamza (ra), to which she again replied Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji‘un, and prayed for his forgiveness. Thereafter, the people informed her that her husband, Hazrat Mus‘ab (ra) bin Umair, had also been martyred, upon which she began to weep and became anxious. The Holy Prophet (sa) then said, “A husband holds a special status in the eyes of his wife.”

(al-Sirat al-Nabawiyyah li Ibn Hisham, p. 396, Ghazwah Uhud, Dar Ibn Hazm, Beirut, 2009)

There is another tradition in which Hazrat Hamnah bint Jahsh (ra) is mentioned. It stated that when she was told that her brother was martyred she replied, “May Allah have mercy on him” and said Inna lillahi wa Inna ilaihi raji‘un. The people then said that her husband had also been martyred, to which she said, “Woe be unto me!”. The Holy Prophet (sa) then said, “A relationship between a wife and her husband is like no other.”

(Sunan Ibn Majah, Kitabul Jana’iz, Ma Ja’a fil Bukaa, Hadith 1590)

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV (rh) has mentioned this incident of the martyrdom of Hazrat Mus‘ab (ra) bin Umair and the emotions of his wife, in his own words. He states:

“The male and female companions who had more than one close relative [martyred], would be told gradually to avoid being overwhelmed with the sudden news. When Hazrat Hamnah bint Jahsh (ra), sister of Hazrat Abdullah bin Jahsh (ra) came to the Holy Prophet (sa), he told her, ‘O Hamnah, be patient and seek the reward of God Almighty.’ She replied, ‘O Messenger (sa) of Allah, what should I seek the reward for?’ He said, ‘For your uncle Hamza.’ Hazrat Hamnah (ra) then replied, ‘Inna lillahi wa Inna ilaihi raji‘un’ (may Allah have mercy on him and grant him forgiveness through this martyrdom).’ Thereafter, the Holy Prophet (sa) repeated, ‘O Hamnah, be patient and seek the reward of God Almighty.’ She replied, ‘What should I seek the reward for?’ He said, ‘For your brother Abdullah.’ Hazrat Hamnah (ra) then replied, ‘Inna lillahi wa Inna ilaihi raji‘un (may Allah have mercy on him and grant him forgiveness by means of this martyrdom). The Holy Prophet (sa) once again repeated, ‘O Hamnah, be patient and seek the reward of God Almighty.’ She replied, ‘O Messenger (sa) of Allah, what should I seek the reward for?’ He said, ‘For Mus‘ab bin Umair’, to which she said, ‘Woe be unto me!’ After hearing this, the Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘Indeed, the husband has a right over his wife that no one else possesses, however why did you utter such words?’ Hazrat Hamnah (ra) answered, ‘O Messenger (sa) of Allah! It occurred to me that his children have become orphans, which worried me, and it was in this state that I uttered these words.’ Having listened to this, the Holy Prophet (sa) prayed for the children of Hazrat Mus‘ab (ra) bin Umair, saying, ‘O Allah, be their Guardian and Protector, treat them with kindness and affection and take good care of them.’”

(Khutbaat-e-Tahir, Qabl az Khilafat, p. 363)