2/67. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 591 — Umm Waraqah and Home Worship
On Women Action As Imam
Hadith of Umm Waraqah: Qur'an, Home Worship, and Martyrdom
Sunan Abi Dawud : 591
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 591
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعُ بْنُ الْجَرَّاحِ، حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جُمَيْعٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَتْنِي جَدَّتِي، وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ خَلاَّدٍ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، عَنْ أُمِّ وَرَقَةَ بِنْتِ نَوْفَلٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَمَّا غَزَا بَدْرًا قَالَتْ قُلْتُ لَهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ائْذَنْ لِي فِي الْغَزْوِ مَعَكَ أُمَرِّضُ مَرْضَاكُمْ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ أَنْ يَرْزُقَنِي شَهَادَةً . قَالَ " قِرِّي فِي بَيْتِكِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَرْزُقُكِ الشَّهَادَةَ " . قَالَ فَكَانَتْ تُسَمَّى الشَّهِيدَةَ . قَالَ وَكَانَتْ قَدْ قَرَأَتِ الْقُرْآنَ فَاسْتَأْذَنَتِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ تَتَّخِذَ فِي دَارِهَا مُؤَذِّنًا فَأَذِنَ لَهَا قَالَ وَكَانَتْ دَبَّرَتْ غُلاَمًا لَهَا وَجَارِيَةً فَقَامَا إِلَيْهَا بِاللَّيْلِ فَغَمَّاهَا بِقَطِيفَةٍ لَهَا حَتَّى مَاتَتْ وَذَهَبَا فَأَصْبَحَ عُمَرُ فَقَامَ فِي النَّاسِ فَقَالَ مَنْ كَانَ عِنْدَهُ مِنْ هَذَيْنِ عِلْمٌ أَوْ مَنْ رَآهُمَا فَلْيَجِئْ بِهِمَا فَأَمَرَ بِهِمَا فَصُلِبَا فَكَانَا أَوَّلَ مَصْلُوبٍ بِالْمَدِينَةِ .
Umm Waraqah daughter of Nawfal Narrated from:
When the Prophet (ﷺ) proceeded for the Battle of Badr, I said to him: Messenger of Allah allow me to accompany you in the battle. I shall act as a nurse for patients. It is possible that Allah might bestow martyrdom upon me. He said: Stay at your home. Allah, the Almighty, will bestow martyrdom upon you. The narrator said: Hence she was called martyr. She read the Qur'an. She sought permission from the Prophet (ﷺ) to have a mu'adhdhin in her house. He, therefore, permitted her (to do so). She announced that her slave and slave-girl would be free after her death.One night they went to her and strangled her with a sheet of cloth until she died, and they ran away. Next day Umar announced among the people, "Anyone who has knowledge about them, or has seen them, should bring them (to him)." Umar (after their arrest) ordered (to crucify them) and they were crucified. This was the first crucifixion at Medina.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 591In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 201English translation : Book 2, Hadith 591
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 591
This Hadith tells about Umm Waraqah daughter of Nawfal. When the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) went for Badr, she asked to join so she could nurse the wounded, hoping Allah might grant her martyrdom. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) told her to stay at home and said Allah would grant her martyrdom. Because of this, she was called the martyr. The narration also says she read the Qur'an and asked permission to have a mu'adhdhin in her house, and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) allowed it. Later, her slave and slave-girl killed her at night, then ran away. This Hadith about Umm Waraqah focuses on her Qur'an reading, worship at home, and the martyrdom mentioned in the report.
What we learn from this hadith
- Umm Waraqah wanted to serve by nursing the wounded.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) told her to stay at home and mentioned martyrdom for her.
- She read the Qur'an and was allowed to have a mu'adhdhin in her house.
- The narration records that she became known as the martyr.
