Umm Salamah- I

Her real name was Hind; while her title was Umm Salamah. Shecame from
the family of Makhzoom, which belongs to the Quraysh tribe. Her
father's name was Abu Mugheerah Ibn 'Abdullaah Ibn 'Umar Ibn Makhzoom
and her mother was 'Aatikah Bint 'Aamir who belonged to the family of
Faraas.
Umm Salamahwas first married to her cousin Abu Salamah Ibn
'Abdul-Asad. He was a young man with exceptionally good nature and
unblemished conduct. It was improbable for this young man of
exceptionally lofty moralsto remain unmoved by the noble and
life-giving message of the Noble Prophet, Muhammad sallalaahu alayhi
wa sallam.
Defying his tribesmen, Abu Salamahembraced the new faith and entered
the fold of Islam. Umm Salamahfollowed suit.
Thus, the couple joined the rank of those noble souls, who had won the
unique distinction of embracing the new faith in its early phase.
These noble souls suffered all kinds of hardships and harassment in
the cause of Islam, but they did not budge even an inch from the right
path. As the number of the people who had embraced the new life-giving
faith increased, the persecution and torture meted out to them also
increased in intensity.
When this persecution reached intolerable levels, the Noble Prophet
sallalaahu alayhi wa sallam gave permission to his followers to
migrate toAbyssinia, which was ruled at that time by a kind-hearted
king, in order to protect their lives and preserve their religion.
According to an authentic narration, Abu Salamahand Umm Salamahwho has
already enteredthe fold of Islam, also migrated toAbyssinia. Theycame
back to Makkah after spending some time in exile. From Makkah,
theyleft for Madeenah on their second migration. Those days, Abu
Salamahhad only one camel with him. He theyseated Umm Salamahand his
young son, Salamah, at the saddle. Holding the reins of his camel,
hestarted his long journey on foot.
When her family came to know about the couple's planned destination,
theyintercepted the camel and told Abu Salamahthat he could proceed,
but they would not allowtheir daughter )Umm Salamah(. They took away
the reins of the camel from Abu Salamahand forced Umm Salamahto
dismount. In the meantime, Banu 'Abdul-Asad, the members of Abu
Salamah's clan, appearedon the scene and snatched Umm Salamah's child
from his mother and threatened Banu Mugheerah that if they did not
allow their daughter to accompany her husband, they would also not
allow the child to accompany his mother. As for Abu Salamahthey said
thathe was free to go anywhere liked.
By this time, the Noble Prophet, sallalaahu alayhiwa sallam, had given
permission to his Companionsto migrate to Madeenah, where they could
live in peace and safety from the torture of Quraysh. Abu Salamahleft
for Madeenah, leaving his wife and child behind. Umm Salamahwas
staying with Banu Mugheerah while her child was in the custody of Banu
'Abdul-Asad. Thus, the three of them – the father, the mother and the
child – were undergoing the pain of living separately.
Umm Salamahwas grief-stricken due the separation from her childand
husband. Everyday shewould go and sit forlorn on a hillock, crying and
longing to join her husband and son. A whole one year passed like
this.
One day, a kind-hearted and influential man from the clan of Banu
Mugheerah saw her pathetic condition and was moved by her agony.He
called out the people of his tribe and said: "This woman is our own
flesh and blood, how long will we keep her away from her husband and
child? By Allaah! Our tribe is very brave and honorable; we can't
tolerate persecution of innocent people."
Hearing this, her tribesmen gave permission to Umm Salamah theyto join
her husband in Madeenah. When Banu 'Abdul-Asad heard of this,they also
took pity and sent her child, Salamah, to her. Shetook the child and a
camel to ride alone to Madeenah. At At-Tan'eem )in the outskirts of
Makkah(, she met 'Uthmaan Ibn Talhah Ibn Abu Talhaha chivalrous and
decent man of Makkah. When hesaw Umm Salamahtraveling alone with a
small baby, he thought: "How unbecoming of me,if I did not escort this
lonely woman traveler of Quraysh to Madeenah!"
Hetook the reins of Umm Salamah's camel and started for Madeenah.
Whenever they stopped on the way,'Uthmaanwould withdraw to rest under
the shade of a tree. Whenthey reached Qubaa', where Abu Salamahwas
staying, 'Uthmaanreturned to Makkah and Umm Salamahrejoined her
husband, who thanked Allaah for once again reuniting his family.
Umm Salmahalways remained grateful to 'Uthmaanfor his thoughtful and
kind gesture. Sheused to say: "I have never seen a more gallant and
compassionate man than 'Uthmaan Ibn Talhah."