Sayyidatuna Ummul Fadl Lubabah Kubra

Name and introduction

After the mother of believers, Sayyidatuna Khadija-tul-Kubra رَضِیَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهَا, the first woman who was blessed with the honour of Iman was the respected Sahabiyyah Sayyidatuna Umm-e-Fadl Lubabah [اُمِّ فَضْل لُبَابَە] رَضِیَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهَا. She رَضِیَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهَا was an eloquent and articulate lady from the tribe of Quraysh. Her name was Lubabah Bint-e-Haris, her Kunyah was Umm-e-Fadl, given to her in relation to the name of her eldest son and her title was Kubra.

She رَضِیَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهَا was the wife of paternal uncle of Rasoolullah صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. She was also the sister of the mother of believers, Sayyidatuna Maymunah Bint-e-Haris رَضِیَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهَا and was also the mother of the Imam-ul-Mufassireen, Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin ‘Abbas رَضِیَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُمَا. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 8, pp. 72)

Marriage and offspring

She رَضِیَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهَا was the wife of Sayyiduna ‘Abbas Bin ‘Abdul Muttalib رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ who was the uncle of Rasoolullah صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, She رَضِیَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهَا had six sons whose names were ‘Abdullah, ‘Ubaidullah, Ma’bad, Qusam, ‘Abdur Rahman, Fadl and she رَضِیَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهَا also had one daughter, Umm-e-Habibah (رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُم).

Once, Rasoolullah صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم went to the house of Sayyiduna ‘Abbas رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ and wrapped Sayyiduna ‘Abbas رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ and his children in a shawl and made Du’a: O Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! They are substitutes for my uncle and my father and their children are from my Ahl-e-Bayt. Hide all of them from the fire of Hell as I have hidden them under my shawl. (Madarij-un-Nubuwwah – translated, vol. 2, pp. 579)

It is said that she had borne Sayyiduna ‘Abbas رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ six sons. No other woman had such wonderful sons. (Tahzeeb-ul-Asma wal-Lughaat, vol. 2, pp. 618)

Migration

When Rasoolullah صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was coming to Makkah for conquering it, Umm-e-Fadl رَضِیَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهَا along with her family migrated. Sayyiduna ‘Abbas رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ joined the army of Rasoolullah صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم whilst Umm-e-Fadl رَضِیَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهَا arrived in Madinah with her family. (Madarij-un-Nubuwwah – translated, vol. 2, pp. 578)

Blessed dream

Once, Umm-e-Fadl رَضِیَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهَا humbly said in the court of Rasoolullah صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم: O Rasoolullah صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! I have seen a dream that one of your blessed body parts is at my home. Rasoolullah صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied: You have seen a very blessed dream. A son will be born to Fatimah and you will breastfeed him along with your son, Qusam. So, she breastfed Sayyiduna Imam Husain رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ. (Tabqat Ibn Sa’d, vol. 8, pp. 218)

Narrating Ahadees

Sayyidatuna Umm-e-Fadl رَضِیَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهَا has also the honour of narrating Ahadees. She رَضِیَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهَا narrated thirty Ahadees from Rasoolallah صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Those who narrated Ahadees from her included: Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin ‘Abbas, Sayyiduna Anas Bin Maalik and Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin Haris رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُم. (Siyar A’laam-un-Nubala, vol. 3, pp. 543)

Intelligence

She رَضِیَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهَا had immense enthusiasm for religious knowledge and was an exceptionally intelligent woman. At the time of Hajja-tul-Wada’, blessed companions were uncertain whether a fast should be kept or not   on the day of ‘Arafah, i.e. the 9^th of Zul-Hijjah. Sayyidatuna Umm-e-Fadl رَضِیَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهَا cleared up this confusion by presenting a bowl of milk to Rasoolullah صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم who consumed the milk while sitting on his female camel. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 1, pp. 555, Hadees 1661)

Zeal for worship

Not only was Sayyidatuna Umm-e-Fadl رَضِیَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهَا among those who embraced Islam in its early period but she was also blessed with the qualities of piety and fear of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. Her son, Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin ‘Abbas رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُمَا says: My respected and honourable mother would keep fast on every Monday and Thursday. (Tabqat Ibn Sa’d, vol. 8, pp. 217)

Death

The date of her demise has not been recorded in books, but she رَضِیَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهَا passed away during the caliphate of Sayyiduna ‘Usman-e-Ghani رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ. At that time, Sayyiduna ‘Abbas رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ was alive. Her funeral Salah was led by Sayyiduna ‘Usman-e-Ghani رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ.