Introduction
Ramlah bint Abi Sufyan, known as Umm Habibah, was born into the leading family of Quraysh, whose father opposed the Prophet for years. She accepted Islam early with her husband Ubaydullah ibn Jahsh and emigrated with him to Abyssinia. In exile, she was left alone when he left Islam, yet she held to her faith.
The Negus of Abyssinia acted as the Prophet's representative in her marriage, giving her a dower on the Prophet's behalf. She then travelled to Madinah and joined the Prophet's household. Years later, when her father came to Madinah to ask for renewal of the treaty, she is reported to have folded the Prophet's bedding away rather than let him sit on it as a non-Muslim; this report is found in classical biographies, not in the major hadith books.
Among hadith narrators she is best known for the report that whoever prays twelve voluntary rak'ahs a day will have a house built in Paradise. She said she never abandoned them after hearing it. She died in Madinah in the time of Mu'awiyah, her brother.
The story
Early Makkan period
Accepted Islam, and later emigrated to Abyssinia with her husband.
c. 6-7 AH
The Negus married her to the Prophet and sent her to him in Madinah.
Read the wording
Sunan Abi Dawud 2107Sahih Arabic text
أَنَّهَا كَانَتْ تَحْتَ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَحْشٍ فَمَاتَ بِأَرْضِ الْحَبَشَةِ فَزَوَّجَهَا النَّجَاشِيُّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَمْهَرَهَا عنه أَرْبَعَةَ آلاَفٍ وَبَعَثَ بِهَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَعَ شُرَحْبِيلَ ابْنِ حَسَنَةَ. قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ حَسَنَةُ هِيَ أُمُّهُ.
“the Negus married her to the Prophet giving her on his behalf a dower of four thousand (dirhams)”
8 AH / 630 CE
Her father Abu Sufyan, after accepting Islam, asked the Prophet for three things, one of them marriage to Umm Habibah (scholars have discussed the details of this report).
Read the wording
Sahih Muslim 2501Sahih Arabic text
… إِلَى أَبِي سُفْيَانَ وَلاَ يُقَاعِدُونَهُ فَقَالَ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ ثَلاَثٌ أَعْطِنِيهِنَّ قَالَ" نَعَمْ". قَالَ عِنْدِي أَحْسَنُ الْعَرَبِ وَأَجْمَلُهُ أُمُّ حَبِيبَةَ بِنْتُ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ أُزَوِّجُكَهَا قَالَ" نَعَمْ". قَالَ وَمُعَاوِيَةُ تَجْعَلُهُ كَاتِبًا بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ. قَالَ" نَعَمْ". قَالَ وَتُؤَمِّرُنِي حَتَّى أُقَاتِلَ الْكُفَّارَ كَمَا كُنْتُ …
“I have with me the most handsome and the best (woman) Umm Habiba, daughter of Abu Sufyan”
c. 44 AH
Died in Madinah.
A day in their footsteps
5 small, repeatable practices from Umm Habibah bint Abi Sufyan's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.
Twelve rak'ahs of sunnah every day
Umm Habibah narrated that whoever prays twelve voluntary rak'ahs in a day and night will have a house built for him in Paradise, and she said she never abandoned them after hearing it.
Try this today
Make the twelve rak'ahs of the Sunnah prayers a daily habit.
Sit with this
Which of the twelve sunnah rak'ahs are you missing most often?
Sources
Sahih Muslim 728Sahih … بَيْتٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ". قَالَتْ أُمُّ حَبِيبَةَ فَمَا تَرَكْتُهُنَّ مُنْذُ سَمِعْتُهُنَّ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم. وَقَالَ عَنْبَسَةُ فَمَا تَرَكْتُهُنَّ مُنْذُ سَمِعْتُهُنَّ مِنْ أُمِّ حَبِيبَةَ. وَقَالَ عَمْرُو بْنُ أَوْسٍ مَا تَرَكْتُهُنَّ مُنْذُ سَمِعْتُهُنَّ مِنْ عَنْبَسَةَ. وَقَالَ النُّعْمَانُ بْنُ سَالِمٍ مَا تَرَكْتُهُنَّ مُنْذُ سَمِعْتُهُنَّ مِنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ …
“I have never abandoned (observing them) since I heard it from the Messenger of Allah”
Jami at-Tirmidhi 415Sahih … فِي يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ ثِنْتَىْ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً بُنِيَ لَهُ بَيْتٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ أَرْبَعًا قَبْلَ الظُّهْرِ وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ بَعْدَهَا وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ بَعْدَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ بَعْدَ الْعِشَاءِ وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ". قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَحَدِيثُ عَنْبَسَةَ عَنْ أُمِّ حَبِيبَةَ فِي هَذَا الْبَابِ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ وَقَدْ رُوِيَ عَنْ عَنْبَسَةَ مِنْ غَيْرِ …
“Whoever prays twelve Rak'ah in a day and night, a house will be built from him in Paradise”
Four before and four after Zuhr
She heard the Prophet say that whoever maintains four rak'ahs before Zuhr and four after is protected from the Fire.
Try this today
Add the four rak'ahs before and after Zuhr to your sunnah routine.
Sit with this
Could you add the rak'ahs around Zuhr to your routine?
Source
Jami at-Tirmidhi 428Sahih … " مَنْ حَافَظَ عَلَى أَرْبَعِ رَكَعَاتٍ قَبْلَ الظُّهْرِ وَأَرْبَعٍ بَعْدَهَا حَرَّمَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى النَّارِ". قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ صَحِيحٌ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ. وَالْقَاسِمُ هُوَ ابْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ يُكْنَى أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ وَهُوَ مَوْلَى عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ خَالِدِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ بْنِ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَهُوَ ثِقَةٌ شَأْمِيٌّ وَهُوَ صَاحِبُ أَبِي …
“Whoever maintains four Rak'ah before Az-Zuhr”
Keeping the limit of mourning, even for a father
When news of her father Abu Sufyan's death reached her, she waited until the third day, then asked for perfume and applied it, saying she did it only because the Prophet had limited mourning to three days except for a husband.
Try this today
Honour grief with limits, following the guidance you heard.
Sit with this
How do you honour grief within the limits given?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 1280Sahih … ـ رضى الله عنها ـ بِصُفْرَةٍ فِي الْيَوْمِ الثَّالِثِ، فَمَسَحَتْ عَارِضَيْهَا وَذِرَاعَيْهَا وَقَالَتْ إِنِّي كُنْتُ عَنْ هَذَا لَغَنِيَّةً، لَوْلاَ أَنِّي سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " لاَ يَحِلُّ لاِمْرَأَةٍ تُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ أَنْ تُحِدَّ عَلَى مَيِّتٍ فَوْقَ ثَلاَثٍ، إِلاَّ عَلَى زَوْجٍ، فَإِنَّهَا تُحِدُّ عَلَيْهِ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ …
“It is not legal for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to mourn for more than three days”
Asking the Prophet about permissible family matters
She asked the Prophet to marry her sister, wanting good for her family. He explained it was not lawful to marry two sisters at once, and told her not to offer him daughters or sisters.
Try this today
Ask before acting on a family wish, and accept the ruling.
Sit with this
Before acting on a family wish, have you asked what is permitted?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 5107Sahih … لاَ يَحِلُّ لِي". قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَوَاللَّهِ إِنَّا لَنَتَحَدَّثُ أَنَّكَ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تَنْكِحَ دُرَّةَ بِنْتَ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ. قَالَ" بِنْتَ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ". فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ. قَالَ" فَوَاللَّهِ لَوْ لَمْ تَكُنْ فِي حَجْرِي مَا حَلَّتْ لِي إِنَّهَا لاَبْنَةُ أَخِي مِنَ الرَّضَاعَةِ، أَرْضَعَتْنِي وَأَبَا سَلَمَةَ ثُوَيْبَةُ فَلاَ تَعْرِضْنَ عَلَىَّ بَنَاتِكُنَّ وَلاَ …
“you should neither present your daughters, nor your sisters to me”
Using the Prophet's concession for the weak at Muzdalifah
She narrated that the Prophet sent her from Muzdalifah in the night, and that they set out before dawn while it was still dark.
Try this today
Know the rulings of Hajj and use the concessions for weak travellers.
Sit with this
Do you know the concessions available to the weak and elderly?
Source
Sahih Muslim 1292Sahih أَنَّ ابْنَ شَوَّالٍ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ، دَخَلَ عَلَى أُمِّ حَبِيبَةَ فَأَخْبَرَتْهُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعَثَ بِهَا مِنْ جَمْعٍ بِلَيْلٍ.
“Allah's Apostle sent her from Muzdalifa during the night”
Virtues
Her marriage to the Prophet in Abyssinia was conducted through the Negus, who gave her a dower of four thousand dirhams.
“the Negus married her to the Prophet”
Arabic text
أَنَّهَا كَانَتْ تَحْتَ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَحْشٍ فَمَاتَ بِأَرْضِ الْحَبَشَةِ فَزَوَّجَهَا النَّجَاشِيُّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَمْهَرَهَا عنه أَرْبَعَةَ آلاَفٍ وَبَعَثَ بِهَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَعَ شُرَحْبِيلَ ابْنِ حَسَنَةَ. قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ حَسَنَةُ هِيَ أُمُّهُ.
Sunan Abi Dawud 2107Sahih
Her father, newly Muslim, asked the Prophet for three things, including her marriage; the report shows the high regard in which he held her.
“Umm Habiba, daughter of Abu Sufyan; marry her”
Arabic text
… لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ ثَلاَثٌ أَعْطِنِيهِنَّ قَالَ" نَعَمْ". قَالَ عِنْدِي أَحْسَنُ الْعَرَبِ وَأَجْمَلُهُ أُمُّ حَبِيبَةَ بِنْتُ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ أُزَوِّجُكَهَا قَالَ" نَعَمْ". قَالَ وَمُعَاوِيَةُ تَجْعَلُهُ كَاتِبًا بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ. قَالَ" نَعَمْ". قَالَ وَتُؤَمِّرُنِي حَتَّى أُقَاتِلَ الْكُفَّارَ كَمَا كُنْتُ أُقَاتِلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ. قَالَ" نَعَمْ". قَالَ أَبُو …
Sahih Muslim 2501Sahih
Sayings and moments
She said she had never given up the twelve rak'ahs since she heard of their reward.
“I have never abandoned (observing them) since I heard it from the Messenger of Allah”
Arabic text
… بَيْتٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ". قَالَتْ أُمُّ حَبِيبَةَ فَمَا تَرَكْتُهُنَّ مُنْذُ سَمِعْتُهُنَّ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم. وَقَالَ عَنْبَسَةُ فَمَا تَرَكْتُهُنَّ مُنْذُ سَمِعْتُهُنَّ مِنْ أُمِّ حَبِيبَةَ. وَقَالَ عَمْرُو بْنُ أَوْسٍ مَا تَرَكْتُهُنَّ مُنْذُ سَمِعْتُهُنَّ مِنْ عَنْبَسَةَ. وَقَالَ النُّعْمَانُ بْنُ سَالِمٍ مَا تَرَكْتُهُنَّ مُنْذُ سَمِعْتُهُنَّ مِنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ …
Sahih Muslim 728Sahih
Words on this page
- 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.
- Madinahالمدينة
- The city, formerly Yathrib, to which the Prophet ﷺ migrated and where the first Muslim community was built.
- Muzdalifahمزدلفة
- An open area between Arafah and Mina where pilgrims spend the night after the day of Arafah.
- Qurayshقريش
- The leading tribe of Makkah, to which the Prophet ﷺ belonged, and which opposed him for most of his mission.
- Rak'ahركعة
- One unit of the prayer: standing and reciting, bowing, and two prostrations.
- Sunnahالسنة
- The way of the Prophet ﷺ: his words, actions and approvals. Also used for a recommended act.
Related companions
- جويرية بنت الحارثJuwayriyyah bint al-HarithChief's daughter and Mother of the Believers, remembered for her long morning dhikr and for the freedom her m…
- 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…
- أم سلمةUmm SalamahUmm Salamah (Hind bint Abi Umayyah), an early emigrant to Abyssinia and Madinah, then Mother of the Believers…
Sources and review
- Ramla bint Abi Sufyan (Wikipedia, dates only) (opens in a new tab)
- Hadith texts and grades checked via the sunnah.com-numbered Hadith API (fawazahmed0/hadith-api) (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.