Wife of the Prophet
Habibah Ramlah bint Abu Sufyan
Umm Habibah was among the wives of the Prophet Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam who was still alive when he died.
His full name is Umm Habibah bint Abi Sufyan Shakr bin Harb bin Umayyah bin ‘Abdu Shams bin ‘Abdu Manaf bin Qushay bin Kilab bin Murrah bin Ka’ab bin Luay bin Ghalib bin Fihr bin Malik Al - Qurasyiyah Al - Umawiyah. His mother is Shafiyah bint Abul’Ash bin Umayyah bin ‘Abdu Syams, is the aunt of ‘Utsman bin ‘Affan.
As for the original name, there is a difference of opinion among the scholars, some say Hindun and some say Ramlah. Ibn ‘Abdil Barr states that the famous, real name of Umm Habibah is Ramlah. This is the opinion that is considered shahih by jumhur ulama based on nasab research, history, and hadith. As Ibn Hajar also mentioned that the original name of Umm Habibah more shahih is Ramlah. But Umm Habibah is more famous with his chewing name than his real name as stated by Ibn Hajar in Al-Ishabah, 4:305.
Umm Habibah was born 17 years before the Prophet Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam was sent. Umm Habibah includes the daughter of the Prophet's uncle Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. However, there is the wife of the Prophet Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam who has the closeness of nasab with him like Zainab bint Jahsy from her mother's path (mother Zainab is the aunt of Nabi shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam from her father's path).
Umm Habibah's husband before marrying Nabi shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam was ‘Ubaidullah bin Jahsy bin Riab bin Ya’mar bin Shabirah bin Murrah bin Katsir bin Ghanm bin Dawdan bin Asad bin Khuzaimah.
She and her husband had migrated to Habashah to escape the evil of the polytheists in Makkah led by her own father, Abu Sufyan ibn Harb. His father Abu Sufyan was very angry when he learned that his daughter had converted to Islam and abandoned the teachings of their ancestors. When migrated to Habashah, Umm Habibah was destined to become pregnant and give birth to her child during the journey in the path of Allah. He was given sustenance by the birth of his son named Habibah (he eventually chewed with the name of this child), who was the first child while in Habasyah. There is also a story that says that the child was born in Makkah.
When in Habasyah her husband ‘Ubaidullah apostatized, entered Nasrani and wanted to invite his wife also to embrace the teachings of Nashrani. But the call did not work. Her husband also died in a state of Nashrani in a state previously drunk because of drinking khamar. Finally, Umm Habibah lived alone with her daughter (Habibah) until the Prophet Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam sent ‘Amr bin Umayyah Adh-Dhamri to King Najashi to ask the king to marry Umm Habibah to him Rasulullah shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. The guardian of his marriage was the son of his uncle, Khalid bin Sa’id bin Al-‘Ash bin Umayyah, according to the strongest opinion. While the king of Najasyi represents the Prophet Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. As for the marriage contract, some say it took place in Medina after Umm Habibah returned from Habashah, some also stated in Habashah. The cost at that time was 400 dinars (if it is currently paid about 800 million rupiah, pen.).
From the wives of the Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam whose most expensive dowry was Umm Habibah. His most distant marriage was to Umm Habibah. The marriage took place in the sixth year of the Hijri. While Rasulullah shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam had him recently in the year seven Hijriyah.
Umm Habibah died in Medina in the year 44 Hijri during the caliph Mu’awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan as this is confirmed by most scholars.