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Who she was:
Umm Sulaym, may Allah be pleased with her, was an Ansaari woman from Madeenah. She embraced Islam with the early Muslims. The historians disagree over her real name; some said her name was Sahlah, some said it was Rumaylah, others say it is Maleekah and some say it is Ghumaysa or Rumaysah. Perhaps this difference over her name was caused due to the popularity of her nick name, Umm Sulaym.

She came from an illustrious family who sacrificed its all for Islam. Her son was the famous Companion Anas bin Malik and her brother was the eminent Companion Haram bin Milhan.

Her Home:
Milhan’s house which was also the home of Umm Sulaym (radhiAllahu ‘anha) and Umm Haram (radhiAllahu ‘anha) was the only house that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to enter besides the apartments of his wives, for which there was a reason. Anas (radhiAllahu ‘anhu) spoke about this when he said, "The Prophet (sallalahu ‘alayhi wasallam) would visit Umm Sulaym who would present him with something she specially made for him." He added, "The Messenger of Allah (sallalahu ‘alayhi wasallam) did not use to enter any house except that of Umm Sulaym, and of course, those of his wives. When he was asked of that he said, "Her brother was killed while he was fighting on my side."

Ibn Hajar said in al-Isabah: "And I say that the reason for his visiting Umm Haram and her sister, Umm Sulaym, is that both sisters lived in the same apartment."

Her merits:
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "When I entered the Paradise, I heard someone's footsteps - It was explained to me that she was Ghumiysa' bint Milhan."

Her first marriage:
When Umm Sulaym, may Allah be pleased with her, embraced Islam she was married to Maalik ibn Nadr; he disagreed with her regarding Islam and continued in his polytheism. Her husband, Malik bin Nadhar, tried his very best make her recant and give up the new religion to which she had vowed allegiance, but he failed and she remained loyal to her new faith. On the other hand she started persuading her son, Anas as well to convert to Islam. Her persistence finally paid off, and Anas read the words signifying acceptance of Allah as the One Supreme Being and Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, as His Messenger. Finally her husband left her and migrated to Syria where he was murdered.

Her second marriage:
The rich Abu Talhah al-Ansaari came to ask for her hand in marriage, although he was then still a polytheist. She said with faith and certainty, "Abu Talhah, don’t you know that your deity that you worship grew from the earth?"
He answered in the affirmative. She said, "Are you then not ashamed of worshipping a tree?"
After this severe rebuke of the wooden deity, without fearing Abu Talhah who was known for his bravery, strength and position among his people, Umm Sulaym, may Allah be pleased with her, then spoke gently and said, "I have embraced Islam and I do not want any sadaq (bridal gift) more than your acceptance of Islam."
Abu Talhah said, "Let me think over it."
He came back after a while and said, "I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah!"
Umm Sulaym, may Allah be pleased with her, then told her young son Anas, "Anas give me in marriage to Abu Talhah."

Umm Sulaim had a happy second marriage and soon the couple was blessed with a son, Abu 'Umair. One day the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, visited the house and found Abu 'Umair looking very dejected. He asked why the little boy was upset. Umm Sulaim told him that his pet bird, which he loved to play with, had died. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, caressed him and tried to console him lovingly.

Her Faith:
She brought her son, Anas who was only a ten-year old boy to the Messenger of Allah (sallalahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and said, "O Allah’s Messenger! This is Anas, I brought him to serve you!" The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, excellently received him and accepted him into his household.

Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, remained with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, serving him throughout the ten years which the Prophet spent in Madeenah after his migration from Makkah until he died. Never did he leave his company whether he was at home or on a journey. No wonder that he was able to memorize many aHaadeeth (Prophetic Narrations) about the Prophet’s, peace and blessings be upon him, deeds and sayings. He was in fact, an authority and a treasure of this blessed knowledge.

It is authentically reported that a son of hers born to Abu Talhah, may Allah be pleased with him, who died. He had been sick and was being treated. When Abu Talhah, may Allah be pleased with him, came back from a journey she requested members of the household that they must not inform him of the death of his son until she herself had done so. When Abu Talhah, may Allah be pleased with him, came and he asked of the boy, she said: "He has never been as relaxed and quiet as he is now."

Abu Talhah was happy to hear this apparent improvement in his health and stood up and ate his food. After that, Umm Sulaym, may Allah be pleased with her, adorned herself for her husband and wore perfume and he had relations with her. When it was morning, she told him: "Seek your reward from Allah. Your son is now with Allah!"

Abu Talhah, may Allah be pleased with him, went to the Messenger of Allah ,peace and blessings be upon him, sorrow visible and apparent from his face. He informed him of what had happened. Upon that, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "May Allah bless your night for you both!"

Umm Sulaym, may Allah be pleased with her, then became pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy named ‘Abdullah ibn Abu Talhah. Abdullah was blessed with many children, ten of whom memorized the Qur’an completely!

Participation in Battles:
The Historians unanimously agree that Umm Sulaym, may Allah be pleased with her, used to participate with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and the Muslims in their battles. She struggled and fought in the way of Allah and strove with all her abilities and capabilities which can be seen in a number of battles, although her participation in the battle of Hunayn is the most famously mentioned.

The Battle of Hunayn chronologically took place after the conquest of Makkah and before the Battle of Ta’if. Umm Sulaym, may Allah be pleased with her, was among the Muslim army throughout the Battle and hard journey.

Ibn Sa’d narrated with a authentic chain of transmission that Umm Sulaym , may Allah be pleased with her, took a dagger in the Battle of Hunayn. When Abu Talhah , may Allah be pleased with him, saw her he went to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and told him, "Allah’s Messenger here is Umm Sulaym holding a dagger!" To which she retorted, "I am taking it to rip the belly of one of the polytheists with it!"

Her Generosity:
Anas narrates that his mother had a goat. One day she made ghee from its milk and collected it in a little leather bowl. When it was full she sent it as a gift for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) with her adopted daughter. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), told his family to empty the bowl and return it with the little girl. She brought back the empty bowl and hung it by a nail on the kitchen wall.

Umm Sulaim saw that the bowl was still hanging and it was full - in fact it was overflowing and dripping. She asked her daughter why she did not carry out her instructions. The little girl said that she had taken the' ghee to the Prophet's house as instructed and brought back the empty bowl and hung it. Umm Sulaim was amazed by this mystery.

She went to the Prophet's house and told him about this strange incident. He said the little girl brought the gift which he accepted and left with an empty bowl.

Umm Sulaim swore by Allah Who sent him as a Messenger of the one True Religion that the bowl was full and dripping even then. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) then told her that she should not be amazed; she had sent a gift for Allah's Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), so He in turn had sent a gift for her. She should eat it and feed others also with it. Umm Sulaim says she emptied this bowl of ghee into a larger vessel. It lasted them for two months and others also ate from it.

Anas narrates that one day Abu Talhah came home and told Umm Sulaim that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sounded very weak, possibly he was hungry. If there was some food in the house they could have the honour of having him over for a meal. She answered that she had some bread wrapped up in cloth. Abu Talhah went to the mosque and invited the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to join him.

He accepted and invited the people sitting there to join him at the house of Abu Talhah. All of them rose to go with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). When Abu Talhah (peace and blessings be upon him) saw this he became nervous, because he did not have enough food for so many people. When he went home he expressed this fear to his wife Umm Sulaim She smiled and told him not to worry; they would just put out all the food they had in the house. And this was what she did. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came in and made a supplication to Allah for plenitude. Then he asked Abu Talhah to call in ten people from outside. So ten people came in to a satisfying meal. After they finished he asked Abu Talhah, to call in ten more. And so it went on till about seventy or eighty had taken their fill of the delicious food. And there was food still left over!

When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) got married to Zaynab bint Jahash, Umm Sulaim made a special dish of dates and ghee and sent it to him as a gift. And after the battle of Khaybar when he married Safiyyah it was Umm Sulaim who dressed her up as a bride. She also played a very active role in the battlefields of Islam. Anas says that in the Battle of Uhud his mother and 'A'ishah used to fill leather bottles with water and give it to the thirsty wounded soldiers. Umm Sulaim was pregnant at the time but that did not deter her in any way. She took an active part in the Battle of Hunayn as well. She carried a spear and when Abu Talhah saw this he told the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about it. He asked her why she was carrying a spear. She answered that if any enemy soldier came before her she would slit his belly. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) smiled at her spirit.

Anas reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to visit them often. When someone asked him for the reason, he said he felt pity for her ever since he saw her brother, Haram bin Milhan killed before his eyes. His last words have become immortal in Islamic history. He said, "I swear by the Sustainer of the Ka'bah I have become successful." His brother Sulaim bin Milhan also was martyred in the same battle.

In Sahih Muslim, the Book of Fada'il talks about the beads of perspiration of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). One afternoon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) went to visit Umm Sulaim; she was out and he dropped off to sleep white waiting for her. When she came home she found him sleeping and in the heat his perspiration was dripping on a small piece of leather. She was very happy to see him in her house and started collecting the beads of perspiration in a small bottle to preserve them. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) woke up to find her doing this. He asked her what she was doing. She replied she was collecting the drops of his perspiration to put them into some perfume. If the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed on a road or street he left a trail of perfume in the atmosphere and people would sense that he had passed that way. When Anas realized he was dying he made a will that some of these drops should be added to the water with which his body would be bathed.

On the occasion of the final pilgrimage, when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) shaved his head, Abu Talhah collected his hair and took it back to Al-Madinah. There he gave it to Umm Sulaim to preserve it. She put it away safely as a memento.

Anas mentioned that one day when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), visited their house he took a drink of water from a leather bowl kept in the courtyard. His mother cut out the section that his lips had touched and preserved it as well.

On another occasion when he visited them Umm Sulaim offered him dates and ghee. He said she should put them away as he was fasting that day. He stood in a corner of the room to pray, then he spent a long time making supplications to Allah to bless the members of the family both in this world and the next. Umm Sulaim then requested him to pray for her son. He prayed so long for his welfare both here and in the Hereafter that Anas felt he must have asked Allah for the best possible good for him in both this world and the next.

Sources

The web site Islam's Women

The web site Ideal Muslimah

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