Sayyidatuna Layla Bint Abi Ḥathma رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا

Pious Women

Sayyidatunā Laylā bint Abī Ḥathma رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ

Mawlana Wasim Akram Attari Madani

Sayyidatunā Layla bint Abi Ḥathma رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا is a prime example of female strength and unwavering commitment. She is the daughter of the Companion Sayyidunā Abū Ḥathma ibn Ḥuzayfa رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ and the sister of the Companion Sayyidunā Sulaymān ibn Abī Ḥathma رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ.^[1]

Hailing from the powerful and esteemed Banū ʿAdī clan of Quraysh, she married the Companion Sayyidunā ʿĀmir ibn Rabīʿa رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ. Her husband was renowned for having participated in both migrations—to Abyssinia and Madina—and for having accompanied the final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in every military expedition.^[2]

She bore the teknonym Umm ʿAbd Allah, in respect to her son, Sayyidunā ʿAbd Allah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ.^[3]

As one of the earliest people to embrace Islam,^[4] she was from the privileged few who prayed towards both the Jerusalemite and Makkan qiblas.^[5]

In Rajab, five years after the announcement of prophethood, Sayyidatunā Laylā and her husband joined ten men and three women to migrate to Abyssinia for Allah’s sake during the momentous First Migration.  According to one report, she was the first woman to migrate to Madina, accompanied by her husband.^[6] Another report suggests that the first woman to migrate was the mother of the believers, Sayyidatunā Umm Salama رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا.^[7] Imam al-Zurqānī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه harmonised both reports by explaining that Sayyidutunā Laylā رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا was the first to migrate with her husband, while Sayyidatunā Umm Salama رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا was the first to do so by herself.^[8]

Before Sayyidunā ʿUmar رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ embraced Islam, she underwent a host of great difficulties and hardships. Hence, when she was about to migrate to Abyssinia, Sayyidunā ʿUmar said, ‘‘Umm ʿAbd Allah! You are now gaining freedom?’’ to which she replied, ‘’You persecuted and oppressed us greatly. In the end, Allah Almighty has made a way out for us.’’^[9]

Morality and virtuous principles were her hallmarks. She did not lie to even her infant children. She once said to her son, “Come, let me give you something.” Hearing this, the final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked, “What do you intend to give?” She replied, “A date fruit,” to which the final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “If you did not give anything to him, this would have been written as a lie from you.”^[10]