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  Abu Sufyan Bin Harb was not an ordinary man. He was the Chieftain of Quraysh, the tribe that dwelled and controlled Mecca for many years, gaining a very prominent status among Arab tribes. This explains why he could not accept that anyone would dare challenge his authority or go against his will. He was after all, the Master of Mekkah whose orders must be obeyed and followed without hesitation.

  But it was destined that His power and leadership would be challenged by one of his own family, his daughter, Ramlah, known as Umm Habibah. She in fact challenged not only her father, but his whole tribe when she rejected their deities and their idolatrous ways. Together with her husband, Ubaydullah Binn Jahsh, she embraced Islam, put her faith in Allah alone and accepted the message of His prophet, Mohammed.

  Abu Sufyan tried with all the power and force at his disposal to bring back his daughter and her husband to the religion of their forefathers; but he failed. Her faith was so deeply rooted that her father’s fury and attempts were useless.

  The father was not only furious. He was as well worried that he would not be able to face Quraysh after Ramlah had disobeyed him, and his obvious failure to prevent her from following Mohammed.  However, the fury of Abu Sufyan served only to further inflame Quraysh who began to treat Ramlah and her husband savagely. Consequently, life in Mekkah became unbearable and the two had no other option but to leave the city.

  In the fifth year of his mission, the Prophet, peace be on him, gave permission to the Muslims to migrate to Abyssinia. Ramlah, her little daughter Habibah, and her husband were among those who left.

  Abu Sufyan and Quraysh leaders found it difficult to accept that a group of Muslims had slipped out of their reach and found haven somewhere else, where they were enjoying the freedom to hold their beliefs and practice their religion, in the land of the Negus. They sent a delegation to the Negus to seek their extradition.

  The messengers tried to incite the ruler against the Muslims. However, after examining the Muslims beliefs and listening to the Quran being recited, his verdict was simple: "What has been revealed to your Prophet Muhammad and what Jesus the son of Mary preached came from the same source." He also announced his determination to protect the Muslim emigrants.

  However, Umm Habibah did not know that the new-found freedom and tranquility were destined to be shattered. And she was about to be put through a horrible test of the most severe kind.  

  One night, Umm Habibah had a dream in which she saw her husband in the midst of a fathomless ocean covered by wave upon wave of darkness. He was in a most perilous situation. She woke up, frightened, but did not tell her husband what she had dreamt.

  The day after that ominous night was not yet through when the husband announced his rejection of Islam and embracing of Christianity. Ramlah's sense of peace was shattered. She did not expect this from her husband who presented her forthwith with the choice of a divorce or of following his suit. Umm Habibah had three options before her: she could remain with her husband and accept his call to become a Christian. This was something she resolved she would never do even if she were subjected to the most horrible torture. Or, she could return to her father's house - but she knew he remained a citadel of hostility to Islam and she would be forced to live there subdued and suppressing her faith. Last, she could stay alone in the land of the Negus as a displaced fugitive - without country, without family and without a provider.

  She did not think long. She made up her mind to stay in Abyssinia until such time as God wills. She divorced her husband who lived only a short while after accepting his new religion.

  Umm Habibah stayed in Abyssinia for about ten years. Towards the end of this time, relief and happiness came from an unexpected quarter.

  One morning bright and early, there was a loud knocking on her door. It was Abrahah, the special maid-servant of the Negus. Abrahah was beaming with joy as she greeted Umm Habibah and said: "The Negus sends his greetings and says to you that Mohammed, (PBUH) wants you to marry him and that he has sent a letter to appoint the Negus as his attorney to make the contract the marriage between you and him. If you agree, you are to appoint an attorney to act on your behalf."

  Umm Habibah was extremely happy. She took off her jewelry, and gave them to Abrahah. Finally she said to Abrahah: "I appoint Khalid ibn Saeed ibn al-Aass to act on my behalf for he is the closest person to me."

  In the palace of the Negus, set in the midst of beautiful gardens and in one of the lavishly decorated, sumptuously furnished and brightly lit halls, the group of the Muslims living in Abyssinia gathered to celebrate. They included Jafar ibn Abi Talib, Khalid ibn Said, Abdullah ibn Hudhafah al-Sahmi and others.

  When the marriage was finalized, the Negus addressed the gathering: "The Messenger of God, peace be on him, has requested me to conclude the marriage contract between him and Umm Habibah the daughter of Abu Sufyan. I agreed to do what he requested and on his behalf I give her a mahr (dowry) of four hundred gold dinars." He handed over the amount to Khalid ibn Saeed who took the mahr and handed it over to Umm Habibah. The Sahabah thereupon got up and prepared to leave but the Negus said to them: "Sit down for it is the practice of the Prophets to serve food at marriages."

  There was general rejoicing at the court of the Negus as the guests sat down again to eat and celebrate the joyous occasion. Umm Habibah especially could hardly believe her good fortune and she later described how she was eager to share her happiness. She said: "When I received the money as mahr, I sent some gold to Abrahah who had brought me the good news.

  "Shortly afterwards, Abrahah came to me and returned the gold. She also produced a case which contained the necklace I had given to her. She returned that to me and said: “The King has instructed me not to take anything from you and he has commanded the women in his household to present you with gifts of perfume.”

  "On the following day, she brought me ambergris, saffron and aloes and said: 'I have a favor to ask of you.' 'What is it?' I asked. 'I have accepted Islam,' she said, 'and now follow the religion of Mohammed. Convey to him my salutation of peace and let him know that I believe in Allah and His Prophet. Please don't forget.' She then helped me to get ready for my journey to the Prophet.

  "When I met the Prophet, peace be on him, I told him all about the arrangements that were made for the marriage and about my relationship with Abrahah. I told him she had become a Muslim and conveyed to him her greetings of peace.”

   

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