Ramlah Bint Abi Sufyan was brave and fearless creature. She was the one who challenged her father Abu Sufyan ibn Harb, one of the chieftains of Makkah. She believed in one God and rejected the idolatrous ways of Quresh. She was married to Ubaydullah ibn Jahsh who brought Islam along with her.
Abu Sufyan, her father, tried everything in his might to bring them back, his daughter and her husband, to worship deities and idolatry. But, they were both too headstrong and their faith never moved an inch.
Abu Sufyan remained unhappy and dejected due to his daughter and husband’s acceptance of Islam. Ramlah and her husband were treated harshly and life in Makkah became miserable and unbearable for them. When the first group of Muslims was allowed to migrate to Abyssinia, they were among those who left behind.
Upon finding the news of Muslims, fleeing away to Abyssinia made the chieftains of Makkah including Abu Sufyan very angry. The tribal chiefs tried their best to bring them back but the Abyssinian king Negus also embraced Islam and gave protection to the migrated Muslims. Ramlah Bint Abi Sufyan also known as Umm Habibah and her husband took refuge in Abyssinia. But her problems were not coming to an end yet.
Ubaydallah ibn Jahsh accepted Christianity. It was a terrible blow for Ramlah Bint Abi Sufyan. The brave lady refused to live with a non Muslim and divorced him. She rejected the idea of going to back to her father’s place, a citadel of Kuffar. So, she stayed in Abyssinia for the next ten years alone with her daughter.
She was rewarded in a great way for all her bearings and sufferings. Allah’s Apostle sent her the proposal of marriage. Umm Habibah is one of the Umhatal Momineen and much respected wife of our beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallalaho alayhi wasalam.
