Introduction
Hafsa was the eldest daughter of Umar ibn al-Khattab. She was first married to Khunays ibn Hudhafa, a companion who fought at Badr and died in Medina, and when Umar offered her hand to others who declined, the Prophet himself married her.
She is remembered for her seriousness about religion. She narrated hadith about prayer, fasting and Hajj, and she asked the Prophet pointed questions about the rites so that she could learn them first-hand.
After Umar's death the pages of the Qur'an collected under Abu Bakr were kept with her, and these were later used for the standard copies made in the time of Uthman. She died in Medina around the mid-660s CE.
The story
c. 605 CE
Born in Mecca, the eldest child of Umar ibn al-Khattab (approx.).
Before 624 CE
Married to Khunays ibn Hudhafa, who died after Badr.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 4005Sahih Arabic text
… عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ يُحَدِّثُ أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ حِينَ تَأَيَّمَتْ حَفْصَةُ بِنْتُ عُمَرَ مِنْ خُنَيْسِ بْنِ حُذَافَةَ السَّهْمِيِّ وَكَانَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدْ شَهِدَ بَدْرًا تُوُفِّيَ بِالْمَدِينَةِ قَالَ عُمَرُ فَلَقِيتُ عُثْمَانَ بْنَ عَفَّانَ فَعَرَضْتُ عَلَيْهِ حَفْصَةَ فَقُلْتُ إِنْ شِئْتَ أَنْكَحْتُكَ حَفْصَةَ بِنْتَ عُمَرَ. قَالَ …
“lost her husband Khunais bin Hudhaifa”
c. 625 CE / 3 AH
Married the Prophet after Umar had offered her to others.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 4005Sahih Arabic text
… أَبُو بَكْرٍ، فَلَمْ يَرْجِعْ إِلَىَّ شَيْئًا، فَكُنْتُ عَلَيْهِ أَوْجَدَ مِنِّي عَلَى عُثْمَانَ، فَلَبِثْتُ لَيَالِيَ، ثُمَّ خَطَبَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَنْكَحْتُهَا إِيَّاهُ، فَلَقِيَنِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَقَالَ لَعَلَّكَ وَجَدْتَ عَلَىَّ حِينَ عَرَضْتَ عَلَىَّ حَفْصَةَ فَلَمْ أَرْجِعْ إِلَيْكَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ. قَالَ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَمْنَعْنِي أَنْ أَرْجِعَ إِلَيْكَ …
“Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) demanded her hand in marriage”
After Umar's death (644 CE)
Kept the first complete written copy of the Qur'an.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 4986Sahih Arabic text
… وَصُدُورِ الرِّجَالِ حَتَّى وَجَدْتُ آخِرَ سُورَةِ التَّوْبَةِ مَعَ أَبِي خُزَيْمَةَ الأَنْصَارِيِّ لَمْ أَجِدْهَا مَعَ أَحَدٍ غَيْرَهُ{لَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ} حَتَّى خَاتِمَةِ بَرَاءَةَ، فَكَانَتِ الصُّحُفُ عِنْدَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ حَتَّى تَوَفَّاهُ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ عِنْدَ عُمَرَ حَيَاتَهُ ثُمَّ عِنْدَ حَفْصَةَ بِنْتِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنه …
“then with Hafsa, the daughter of `Umar”
Sahih al-Bukhari 4987Sahih Arabic text
… أَنْ يَخْتَلِفُوا فِي الْكِتَابِ اخْتِلاَفَ الْيَهُودِ وَالنَّصَارَى فَأَرْسَلَ عُثْمَانُ إِلَى حَفْصَةَ أَنْ أَرْسِلِي إِلَيْنَا بِالصُّحُفِ نَنْسَخُهَا فِي الْمَصَاحِفِ ثُمَّ نَرُدُّهَا إِلَيْكِ فَأَرْسَلَتْ بِهَا حَفْصَةُ إِلَى عُثْمَانَ فَأَمَرَ زَيْدَ بْنَ ثَابِتٍ وَعَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ الزُّبَيْرِ وَسَعِيدَ بْنَ الْعَاصِ وَعَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ فَنَسَخُوهَا …
“Send us the manuscripts of the Qur'an”
c. 665 CE / 45 AH
Died in Medina and was buried at al-Baqi.
A day in their footsteps
6 small, repeatable practices from Hafsa bint Umar's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.
Never skipping the two light rak'ahs before Fajr
Hafsa reported that when the muezzin finished the dawn adhan and the dawn became clear, the Prophet prayed two short rak'ahs before the obligatory prayer. She told this to her brother Abdullah ibn Umar, who passed it on.
Try this today
Pray the two quick sunnah rak'ahs before Fajr.
Sit with this
Do you guard the two short rak'ahs before Fajr?
Sources
Sahih al-Bukhari 618Sahih قَالَ أَخْبَرَتْنِي حَفْصَةُ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ إِذَا اعْتَكَفَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ لِلصُّبْحِ وَبَدَا الصُّبْحُ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُقَامَ الصَّلاَةُ.
“the Prophet ordered a two rak`at light prayer”
Sahih Muslim 723Sahih أَنَّ حَفْصَةَ أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، أَخْبَرَتْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ إِذَا سَكَتَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ مِنَ الأَذَانِ لِصَلاَةِ الصُّبْحِ وَبَدَا الصُّبْحُ رَكَعَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُقَامَ الصَّلاَةُ.
“two short rak'ahs”
Learning the sunnah of fasting and keeping it
She narrated that the Prophet used to fast three days a month: Monday, Thursday and the following Monday. She also reported that there is no fast for the one who did not intend it before dawn.
Try this today
Plan your voluntary fast the night before, and make Monday and Thursday your regular days.
Sit with this
Will you make the intention tonight for a fast this week?
Sources
Sunan Abi Dawud 2451Hasan قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَصُومُ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيسِ وَالاِثْنَيْنِ مِنَ الْجُمُعَةِ الأُخْرَى.
“used to fast three days every month”
Sunan Ibn Majah 1700Sahih قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " لاَ صِيَامَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَفْرِضْهُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ".
“There is no fast for the one who did not make it incumbent upon himself from the night before”
Asking the Prophet directly
During the Farewell Pilgrimage Hafsa asked the Prophet why the people had left ihram while he had not. He explained that he had matted his hair and garlanded his sacrificial animal. She carried this answer forward to others.
Try this today
Ask about the things you do not understand, and pass on the answer.
Sit with this
What have you seen others do in worship that you have never asked about?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 1697Sahih قَالَتْ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا شَأْنُ النَّاسِ حَلُّوا وَلَمْ تَحْلِلْ أَنْتَ قَالَ " إِنِّي لَبَّدْتُ رَأْسِي، وَقَلَّدْتُ هَدْيِي، فَلاَ أَحِلُّ حَتَّى أَحِلَّ مِنَ الْحَجِّ".
“What is wrong with the people, they have finished their Ihram but you have not”
Relaying a dream and the advice to pray at night
When her brother Abdullah ibn Umar dreamt of being taken to the Fire, he told Hafsa, who told the Prophet. The Prophet said he is a good man and that he wished he prayed at night, and Abdullah afterwards slept very little at night.
Try this today
Pass on good counsel, and let it move you to qiyam.
Sit with this
Whose good counsel could you pass on to someone you love?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 1122Sahih … لَهَا قَرْنَانِ، وَإِذَا فِيهَا أُنَاسٌ قَدْ عَرَفْتُهُمْ فَجَعَلْتُ أَقُولُ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ النَّارِ ـ قَالَ ـ فَلَقِيَنَا مَلَكٌ آخَرُ فَقَالَ لِي لَمْ تُرَعْ. فَقَصَصْتُهَا عَلَى حَفْصَةَ فَقَصَّتْهَا حَفْصَةُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " نِعْمَ الرَّجُلُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، لَوْ كَانَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ". فَكَانَ بَعْدُ لاَ يَنَامُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ إِلاَّ …
“Abdullah is a good man. I wish he prayed Tahajjud”
Guarding the Qur'an
The pages collected in the time of Abu Bakr passed to Umar and then to Hafsa, who kept them safely. When Uthman asked to borrow them to make standard copies, she sent them to him.
Try this today
Treasure the Book of Allah and be generous in sharing it.
Sit with this
How do you care for the copy of the Quran in your home?
Sources
Sahih al-Bukhari 4986Sahih … وَصُدُورِ الرِّجَالِ حَتَّى وَجَدْتُ آخِرَ سُورَةِ التَّوْبَةِ مَعَ أَبِي خُزَيْمَةَ الأَنْصَارِيِّ لَمْ أَجِدْهَا مَعَ أَحَدٍ غَيْرَهُ{لَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ} حَتَّى خَاتِمَةِ بَرَاءَةَ، فَكَانَتِ الصُّحُفُ عِنْدَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ حَتَّى تَوَفَّاهُ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ عِنْدَ عُمَرَ حَيَاتَهُ ثُمَّ عِنْدَ حَفْصَةَ بِنْتِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنه …
“then with Hafsa, the daughter of `Umar”
Sahih al-Bukhari 4987Sahih … أَنْ يَخْتَلِفُوا فِي الْكِتَابِ اخْتِلاَفَ الْيَهُودِ وَالنَّصَارَى فَأَرْسَلَ عُثْمَانُ إِلَى حَفْصَةَ أَنْ أَرْسِلِي إِلَيْنَا بِالصُّحُفِ نَنْسَخُهَا فِي الْمَصَاحِفِ ثُمَّ نَرُدُّهَا إِلَيْكِ فَأَرْسَلَتْ بِهَا حَفْصَةُ إِلَى عُثْمَانَ فَأَمَرَ زَيْدَ بْنَ ثَابِتٍ وَعَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ الزُّبَيْرِ وَسَعِيدَ بْنَ الْعَاصِ وَعَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ فَنَسَخُوهَا …
“Send us the manuscripts of the Qur'an”
Seeking the last ten nights of Ramadan
Hafsa asked Aisha to ask permission for her to pitch a tent in the mosque for i'tikaf in the last ten nights, showing her eagerness to take part in this worship.
Try this today
Plan some time in the last ten nights, even a day or night in the masjid.
Sit with this
How will you set aside time in the last ten nights of Ramadan?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 2033Sahih … أَضْرِبُ لَهُ خِبَاءً فَيُصَلِّي الصُّبْحَ ثُمَّ يَدْخُلُهُ، فَاسْتَأْذَنَتْ حَفْصَةُ عَائِشَةَ أَنْ تَضْرِبَ خِبَاءً فَأَذِنَتْ لَهَا، فَضَرَبَتْ خِبَاءً، فَلَمَّا رَأَتْهُ زَيْنَبُ ابْنَةُ جَحْشٍ ضَرَبَتْ خِبَاءً آخَرَ، فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَأَى الأَخْبِيَةَ فَقَالَ" مَا هَذَا". فَأُخْبِرَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم" آلْبِرُّ تُرَوْنَ بِهِنَّ". فَتَرَكَ …
“Hafsa asked the permission of `Aisha to pitch a tent for her”
Virtues
The Prophet himself asked for Hafsa's hand after her first husband died at Medina, and Abu Bakr later said he would have accepted her had the Prophet not intended her.
“Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) demanded her hand in marriage”
Arabic text
… أَبُو بَكْرٍ، فَلَمْ يَرْجِعْ إِلَىَّ شَيْئًا، فَكُنْتُ عَلَيْهِ أَوْجَدَ مِنِّي عَلَى عُثْمَانَ، فَلَبِثْتُ لَيَالِيَ، ثُمَّ خَطَبَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَنْكَحْتُهَا إِيَّاهُ، فَلَقِيَنِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَقَالَ لَعَلَّكَ وَجَدْتَ عَلَىَّ حِينَ عَرَضْتَ عَلَىَّ حَفْصَةَ فَلَمْ أَرْجِعْ إِلَيْكَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ. قَالَ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَمْنَعْنِي أَنْ أَرْجِعَ إِلَيْكَ …
Sahih al-Bukhari 4005Sahih
Allah addressed her and Aisha directly in the Qur'an, calling them to turn to Him in repentance.
“If ye twain turn unto Allah repentant”
Arabic text
إِن تَتُوبَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ صَغَتْ قُلُوبُكُمَا وَإِن تَظَٰهَرَا عَلَيْهِ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ مَوْلَىٰهُ وَجِبْرِيلُ وَصَٰلِحُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ ظَهِيرٌ
Quran 66:4Quran
- Read on quran.com (opens in a new tab)
- Tafsir Ibn Kathir (opens in a new tab)
- Read on Tanzil (opens in a new tab)
More sources (1)
Sahih al-Bukhari 4913Sahih Arabic text
… عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ أَزْوَاجِهِ فَقَالَ تِلْكَ حَفْصَةُ وَعَائِشَةُ. قَالَ فَقُلْتُ وَاللَّهِ إِنْ كُنْتُ لأُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ عَنْ هَذَا مُنْذُ سَنَةٍ، فَمَا أَسْتَطِيعُ هَيْبَةً لَكَ. قَالَ فَلاَ تَفْعَلْ مَا ظَنَنْتَ أَنَّ عِنْدِي مِنْ عِلْمٍ فَاسْأَلْنِي، فَإِنْ كَانَ لِي عِلْمٌ خَبَّرْتُكَ بِهِ ـ قَالَ ـ ثُمَّ قَالَ عُمَرُ وَاللَّهِ إِنْ كُنَّا فِي …
“They were Hafsa and `Aisha”
Sayings and moments
Hafsa reported the Prophet's words that there is no fast for one who did not intend it before dawn.
“There is no fast for the one who did not make it incumbent upon himself from the night before”
Arabic text
قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " لاَ صِيَامَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَفْرِضْهُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ".
Sunan Ibn Majah 1700Sahih
Words on this page
- Adhanأذان
- The call to prayer, given aloud before each of the five daily prayers.
- Badrبدر
- The first major battle between the Muslims and Quraysh, in 2 AH. Those who fought there hold a special rank among the Companions.
- Fajrالفجر
- The dawn prayer, prayed between first light and sunrise. It is preceded by two short voluntary rak'ahs.
- Hadithحديث
- A report of what the Prophet ﷺ said, did or approved, passed down through a chain of narrators.
- Hajjالحج
- The pilgrimage to Makkah in the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, required once in a lifetime of every adult Muslim who is able.
- Ihramإحرام
- The sacred state a pilgrim enters for Hajj or Umrah, with its own dress and restrictions.
- I'tikafاعتكاف
- A retreat in the mosque for worship, especially in the last ten nights of Ramadan.
- Madinahالمدينة
- The city, formerly Yathrib, to which the Prophet ﷺ migrated and where the first Muslim community was built.
- Makkahمكة
- The city of the Ka'bah, where the Prophet ﷺ was born and revelation began.
- Mu'adhdhinمؤذن
- The person who gives the adhan. Bilal ibn Rabah was the first.
- Rak'ahركعة
- One unit of the prayer: standing and reciting, bowing, and two prostrations.
- Ramadanرمضان
- The ninth month of the Islamic calendar, in which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset.
- Sunnahالسنة
- The way of the Prophet ﷺ: his words, actions and approvals. Also used for a recommended act.
- Tahajjudتهجد
- Voluntary prayer at night after waking from sleep, especially in the last third of the night.
Related companions
- عمر بن الخطابUmar ibn al-KhattabUmar ibn al-Khattab, al-Faruq and second caliph: his night prayer, justice, generosity and respect for the Bo…
- عبد الله بن عمرAbdullah ibn UmarSon of Umar and brother of Hafsa; renowned for following the Prophet's every action, his night prayer, his ge…
- عائشة بنت أبي بكرAisha bint Abi BakrWife of the Prophet and daughter of Abu Bakr, a leading scholar of the first generation who asked, learned an…
- أبو بكر الصديقAbu Bakr al-SiddiqThe Prophet's closest companion and first caliph, remembered for truthfulness, tender-hearted worship and giv…
Sources and review
- Hafsa bint Umar - Wikipedia (biography, dates) (opens in a new tab)
- hadith-api, English hadith editions mirroring sunnah.com numbering and grades (opens in a new tab)
Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com. Each report links to sunnah.com, and, where the numbering matches, to al-Hadees or HadithUnlocked as well. Quran verses link to quran.com, Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Tanzil. The Arabic is taken from the hadith editions and trimmed around the quoted words, so read the full report at the source before relying on it. Grades are the ones those editions give.
This page is pending scholar review. It was compiled from public sources, and its citations were last checked on 7 October 2026. If you notice a mistake or a missing source, please tell us.