Khawla bint Hakim

ProfileKhawla bint Hakim

Khawla (may Allah be pleased with her) was the daughter of Hakim ibn Umayyah, of the Banu Sulaym, and the wife of Uthman ibn Madhun. According to the early biographies, she accepted Islam soon after her husband did, and was one of the early Muslims. She was known for her intelligence and her good sense, and was a close friend of Khadijah, and a friend of the Prophet's ﷺ family. She and Uthman were close to the Prophet ﷺ all their lives.

According to the early biographies, after Khadijah died, Khawla used to visit the Prophet ﷺ and bring him food, and she saw how hard it was for him to look after his young daughters and the work of calling people to Islam. She told him that he should marry again, and when he asked whom, she named two women: Sawdah bint Zam'ah, a Muslim widow, and Aishah, the daughter of Abu Bakr, the man he loved most in the world. He was modest, and only told her to speak to their families and see how they felt. According to the early biographies, she went to Sawdah's father first and told him who the suitor was, and since he knew how the Arabs valued noble lineage, he was delighted and agreed, if Sawdah was willing. Then she went to Umm Ruman, Aishah's mother, and began by telling her how blessed her family was, and when she explained what the Prophet ﷺ had said, Umm Ruman was glad and went to ask Abu Bakr. The Prophet ﷺ married Sawdah, and later Aishah, and so Khawla had a share in the home from which so much knowledge of his life came to us.

It is reported in Sahih al-Bukhari that Khawla bint Hakim was one of the women who offered themselves in marriage to the Prophet ﷺ. Aishah had thought it shameful for a woman to do that, but when the verse was revealed giving the Prophet ﷺ the choice whether to receive any of them, she said that his Lord was quick to please him. According to the early biographies, he did not marry Khawla. She narrated hadith, and told that she heard the Prophet ﷺ say that whoever stops at a place and seeks refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He created, nothing will harm him until he moves on from that place (Sahih Muslim). A report in Ibn Majah about the Prophet ﷺ and a woman's dream is graded weak, and is left out. According to the early biographies, she spent her widowhood teaching.

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