Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … Sayyidah Umm Sulaym bint Milhan radi Allahu anha was a distinguished Ansari female Companion. She was the mother of the servant of the Messenger, Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik radi Allahu anhu. She is more widely known by her kunyah (honorific title). There is a difference of opinion regarding her actual name: among the reported names are Sahla, Zamilah, Anisah, Rumaythah, Rumaysa, and Umaysa. In the pre-Islamic era of ignorance, she married Malik bin Nadr, from whom Sayyiduna Anas radi Allahu anhu was born. Among the Ansar who were among the earliest to enter the fold of Islam, she too embraced Islam along with them. Her husband became angry with her for this and departed for the land of Sham, where he died. After that, Sayyidah Umm Sulaym radi Allahu anha married Abu Talhah.

It is mentioned in Sunan al-Nasa’i and other sources that when Abu Talhah sent her a marriage proposal, Umm Sulaym radi Allahu anha sent a reply: “It is not appropriate to refuse marriage to a man like you, but the difficulty is that I am a Muslim and you are a disbeliever; it is not lawful for me to marry you. If you accept Islam, that alone will be my bridal gift (mahr), and I will not demand anything else as mahr.” Thus, he accepted Islam, and this act became her mahr. Thabit says: “I have not heard of any woman whose mahr was better than that of Umm Sulaym radi Allahu anha.”

Sayyidah Umm Sulaym radi Allahu anha used to participate in the military expeditions (ghazawat) with the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. She has many achievements that indicate her perfect faith, her wisdom, and her decisiveness. She was a foster maternal aunt (rada‘i khala) of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.