Hafsa Bint Umar - Biography

Biography

She was married to Khunais ibn Hudhaifa, but became a widow when she was eighteen and according to Islamic tradition her father offered her hand to Abu Bakr and Uthman Ibn 'Affan. They both refused to marry her.When her father, Umar, went to Muhammad to complain about their behavior, Muhammad replied, "Hafsa will marry one better than Uthman and Uthman will marry one better than Hafsa."

Muhammad married her after the battle of Badr in 2 AH. At the time of the marriage, Hafsa was around twenty years old and Muhammad fifty-six. With this marriage, Muhammad strengthened his ties to Umar, who now became his father-in-law.

According to Islamic tradition, Hafsa had memorized the Qur'an. The copy of Zayd ibn Thabit which was recorded by the instructions of Abu Bakr was given to Hafsa. Uthman Ibn 'Affan, when he became Caliph, used Hafsa's copy when he authorized a single text of the Qur'an to be designated.

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