Umm Haram bint Milhan (RA) was the maternal aunt of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the wife of Amr ibn Qais bin Zayd (RA). Her husband and son were martyred at the Battle of Uhud. Later, she married Ubadah bin as-Samit (RA).
Umm Haram (RA) and Ubadah (RA) lived in a large and beautiful date palm grove in the city of Quba, which was just outside Medina. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) held Umm Haram (RA) in high esteem, and whenever he went to Quba, he would visit Umm Haram bint Milhan (RA).
One day, he went to her house and she offered him a meal. Then he slept, and then woke up smiling. She asked him, « What makes you laugh, O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)? » The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, « Some of my followers presented themselves to me as warriors fighting in the cause of Allah and sailing on the sea, like kings on thrones. » Umm Haram (may Allah be pleased with her) said, « O Messenger of Allah! Invoke Allah that He may make me one of them. » He invoked Allah for her and those who had slept, and then woke up smiling. She asked, « What makes you laugh, O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)? » He said, « Some of my followers appeared before me as warriors fighting for the cause of Allah and sailing on the sea, like kings on thrones, » repeating the same dream. Umm Haram (RA) said, « O Messenger of Allah (PBUH)! Invoke Allah to make me one of them. » He said, « You will be among the first. » [1]
She was very happy with this news.
Several years later, after the Prophet’s (PBUH) passing, Umm Haram (RA) accompanied her husband on his travels. A request was made to Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) for a scholar to be stationed in what is now Palestine to educate the people and serve as a judge among them. Ubadah (RA) was appointed by Umar (RA) for this task, and he settled in Palestine itself with his wife.
By the time the third caliph, Uthman ibn Affan (RA), was in power, Muslims had liberated lands far and wide. Yet, the Byzantines continued to launch illegal naval raids against civilians, usually from what is now Cyprus.
At that time, the governor in Damascus was Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan (RA). After requesting permission from Caliph Uthman (RA), Muawiyah (RA) decided to launch a naval expedition and put an end to Byzantine treachery. A fleet was sent to Cyprus, and Ubadah (RA) and Umm Haram (RA) were part of this undertaking (this was the first official Muslim navy).
It was at this moment that Umm Haram (RA) recalled the words of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). With tears in her eyes, she noticed that the boats were indeed sailing through the waves like kings on their thrones! Therefore, she witnessed the Prophet’s (PBUH) words being fulfilled right before her eyes, and she was also one of the first to set out on a boat.
The Muslim navy did not need to become involved in the war, as the local Cypriot population was already weary of Byzantine atrocities and welcomed the Muslims with open arms. Cyprus was peacefully liberated. Unfortunately, the horse of Umm Haram (RA) panicked while disembarking from the ship and she suffered fatal injuries.
She was buried in Cyprus itself, and to this day, her burial site serves as a memorial to a great Muslim woman. There is also a mosque there, the Hala Sultan Masjid, which was built by the Ottomans as a sign of respect for Umm Haram (RA).
References
- Sahih Bukhari Vol 8, Book 74, Hadith 299