Aqdam أقدام

Companion of the Prophet ﷺ

أم هانئ بنت أبي طالب

رضي الله عنها

Umm Hani bint Abi Talib

Fakhitah (also reported as Hind) bint Abi Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib al-Hashimiyyah

The Prophet's cousin and sister of Ali who sheltered a man at the Conquest of Mecca and is the main narrator of the Prophet's Duha prayer.

A day in her footsteps
  • KunyaUmm Hani
  • Family and tribeQuraysh (Banu Hashim)
  • BornNot recorded (before the Hijrah, Mecca)
  • DiedNot recorded (after 661 CE; she outlived her brother Ali)
  • Resting placeNot recorded
  • Counted amongAhl al-Bayt

Introduction

Umm Hani, whose personal name is given as Fakhitah or Hind, was the daughter of Abu Talib, the Prophet's uncle and protector, and the sister of Ali and Ja'far. In his youth the Prophet is reported to have wished to marry her; her father instead married her to Hubayra ibn Abi Wahb of the Makhzum, with whom she had children.

At the Conquest of Mecca, her husband Hubayra fled to Najran rather than accept Islam, while she accepted it. On the day of the conquest the Prophet came to her house, took a bath and prayed eight rak'ahs. Her account of this is the best-known report of the Duha prayer in the Sunnah.

That same day she gave protection to a man from the idolaters whom her brother Ali wanted to kill, and the Prophet said that he gave security to those whom she had secured. She is remembered for her generosity, her courage in standing for protection of a person, and for her careful recollection of what she saw in the Prophet's company.

The story

  1. Before 622 CE, Mecca

    Daughter of Abu Talib, sister of Ali and Ja'far; married Hubayra ibn Abi Wahb.

  2. 8 AH / 630 CE, Conquest of Mecca

    The Prophet visited her home, took a bath and prayed eight rak'ahs in the forenoon.

    Read the wording
    Sahih al-Bukhari 1103Sahih
    Arabic text

    قَالَ مَا أَنْبَأَ أَحَدٌ، أَنَّهُ رَأَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَلَّى الضُّحَى غَيْرُ أُمِّ هَانِئٍ ذَكَرَتْ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَ فَتْحِ مَكَّةَ اغْتَسَلَ فِي بَيْتِهَا، فَصَلَّى ثَمَانِ رَكَعَاتٍ، فَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ صَلَّى صَلاَةً أَخَفَّ مِنْهَا، غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ يُتِمُّ الرُّكُوعَ وَالسُّجُودَ.

    “On the day of the conquest of Mecca, the Prophet (ﷺ) took a bath in my house and offered eight rak`at”

    Grade: Sahih (al-Bukhari)

  3. 8 AH / 630 CE

    Gave protection to a man from the idolaters and the Prophet honoured her pledge.

    Read the wording
    Sunan Abi Dawud 2763Sahih
    Arabic text

    قَالَ حَدَّثَتْنِي أُمُّ هَانِئٍ بِنْتُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، أَنَّهَا أَجَارَتْ رَجُلاً مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ يَوْمَ الْفَتْحِ فَأَتَتِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَتْ لَهُ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ " قَدْ أَجَرْنَا مَنْ أَجَرْتِ وَأَمَّنَّا مَنْ أَمَّنْتِ".

    “We have given security to those to whom you have given it”

    Grade: Sahih (Al-Albani); Sahih (Muhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid)

  4. After the Prophet's death

    Narrated hadith to Companions and successors; outlived her brother Ali.

A day in their footsteps

5 small, repeatable practices from Umm Hani bint Abi Talib's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.

  1. Observing the Duha prayer and teaching others about it

    She told the community that she saw the Prophet pray eight rak'ahs in the forenoon at her home after the conquest of Mecca, noting how light yet complete his prayer was with its bowing and prostration.

    Try this today

    Pray two rak'ahs of Duha each morning and keep them short but complete.

    Sit with this

    Could two rak'ahs of Duha become part of your morning?

    Source

    Sahih al-Bukhari 1103Sahih

    قَالَ مَا أَنْبَأَ أَحَدٌ، أَنَّهُ رَأَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَلَّى الضُّحَى غَيْرُ أُمِّ هَانِئٍ ذَكَرَتْ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَ فَتْحِ مَكَّةَ اغْتَسَلَ فِي بَيْتِهَا، فَصَلَّى ثَمَانِ رَكَعَاتٍ، فَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ صَلَّى صَلاَةً أَخَفَّ مِنْهَا، غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ يُتِمُّ الرُّكُوعَ وَالسُّجُودَ.

    “I never saw him praying such a light prayer but he performed perfect prostration and bowing”

    Grade: Sahih (al-Bukhari)

  2. Giving protection to someone in danger

    On the day of the conquest she gave asylum to a man, and when her brother Ali wanted to kill him she took the matter to the Prophet, who upheld her pledge. A believer's promise of protection counts.

    Try this today

    Stand up for a person who has put their trust in you and keep your word to them.

    Sit with this

    Who has put their trust in you, and will you keep your word to them?

    Sources

    Sahih al-Bukhari 3171Sahih

    … طَالِبٍ. فَقَالَ" مَرْحَبًا بِأُمِّ هَانِئٍ". فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنْ غُسْلِهِ قَامَ، فَصَلَّى ثَمَانَ رَكَعَاتٍ مُلْتَحِفًا فِي ثَوْبٍ وَاحِدٍ، فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، زَعَمَ ابْنُ أُمِّي عَلِيٌّ أَنَّهُ قَاتِلٌ رَجُلاً قَدْ أَجَرْتُهُ فُلاَنُ بْنُ هُبَيْرَةَ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم" قَدْ أَجَرْنَا مَنْ أَجَرْتِ يَا أُمَّ هَانِئٍ". قَالَتْ أُمُّ هَانِئٍ وَذَلِكَ …

    “We will grant asylum to the one whom you have granted asylum”

    Grade: Sahih (al-Bukhari)

    Sunan Abi Dawud 2763Sahih

    قَالَ حَدَّثَتْنِي أُمُّ هَانِئٍ بِنْتُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، أَنَّهَا أَجَارَتْ رَجُلاً مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ يَوْمَ الْفَتْحِ فَأَتَتِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَتْ لَهُ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ " قَدْ أَجَرْنَا مَنْ أَجَرْتِ وَأَمَّنَّا مَنْ أَمَّنْتِ".

    “We have given security to those to whom you have given it”

    Grade: Sahih (Al-Albani); Sahih (Muhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid)

  3. Greeting and seeking permission with courtesy

    She found the Prophet bathing, with his daughter Fatimah screening him. She greeted him, and when he asked who it was she gave her name plainly. He welcomed her warmly.

    Try this today

    Introduce yourself clearly and gently when you visit, and give people their privacy.

    Sit with this

    Do you visit with courtesy and give people their privacy?

    Source

    Sahih al-Bukhari 3171Sahih

    … رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَامَ الْفَتْحِ فَوَجَدْتُهُ يَغْتَسِلُ، وَفَاطِمَةُ ابْنَتُهُ تَسْتُرُهُ، فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ" مَنْ هَذِهِ". فَقُلْتُ أَنَا أُمُّ هَانِئٍ بِنْتُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ. فَقَالَ" مَرْحَبًا بِأُمِّ هَانِئٍ". فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنْ غُسْلِهِ قَامَ، فَصَلَّى ثَمَانَ رَكَعَاتٍ مُلْتَحِفًا فِي ثَوْبٍ وَاحِدٍ، فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، زَعَمَ ابْنُ أُمِّي عَلِيٌّ …

    “I greeted him and he asked, "Who is that?" I said, "I, Um Hani bint Abi Talib."”

    Grade: Sahih (al-Bukhari)

  4. Listening to the Quran at night

    From her roof she used to hear the Prophet reciting the Quran at night, and she remembered it.

    Try this today

    Make time to listen to Quran recitation at night, even if only a few minutes.

    Sit with this

    Could you listen to a few minutes of Quran recitation tonight?

    Source

    Sunan Ibn Majah 1349Hasan Sahih

    قَالَتْ كُنْتُ أَسْمَعُ قِرَاءَةَ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ بِاللَّيْلِ وَأَنَا عَلَى عَرِيشِي.

    “I used to hear the Prophet (ﷺ) reciting at night when I was on the roof of my house”

    Grade: Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani); Hasan Sahih (Muhammad Fouad Abd al-Baqi)

  5. Keeping a small, blessed source of livelihood

    The Prophet advised her to keep sheep and told her that there is blessing in them. She took the advice as simple, practical guidance.

    Try this today

    Take simple, honest work seriously, and see the blessing in what Allah has given you.

    Sit with this

    Do you see the blessing in the simple, honest work you have?

    Source

    Sunan Ibn Majah 2304Sahih

    أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ لَهَا " اتَّخِذِي غَنَمًا فَإِنَّ فِيهَا بَرَكَةً".

    “Keep sheep, for in them is blessing”

    Grade: Sahih (Al-Albani); Sahih (Muhammad Fouad Abd al-Baqi)

Virtues

  • The Prophet honoured the protection she granted, and welcomed her warmly at the Conquest.

    “Welcome, O Um Hani”

    Arabic text

    … تَسْتُرُهُ، فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ" مَنْ هَذِهِ". فَقُلْتُ أَنَا أُمُّ هَانِئٍ بِنْتُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ. فَقَالَ" مَرْحَبًا بِأُمِّ هَانِئٍ". فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنْ غُسْلِهِ قَامَ، فَصَلَّى ثَمَانَ رَكَعَاتٍ مُلْتَحِفًا فِي ثَوْبٍ وَاحِدٍ، فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، زَعَمَ ابْنُ أُمِّي عَلِيٌّ أَنَّهُ قَاتِلٌ رَجُلاً قَدْ أَجَرْتُهُ فُلاَنُ بْنُ هُبَيْرَةَ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ …

    Sahih al-Bukhari 3171Sahih

  • She is the only Companion who narrated that the Prophet prayed the Duha prayer, according to Ibn Abi Layla.

    “Only Um Hani told us that she had seen the Prophet (ﷺ) offering the Duha (forenoon prayer)”

    Arabic text

    قَالَ مَا أَنْبَأَ أَحَدٌ، أَنَّهُ رَأَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَلَّى الضُّحَى غَيْرُ أُمِّ هَانِئٍ ذَكَرَتْ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَ فَتْحِ مَكَّةَ اغْتَسَلَ فِي بَيْتِهَا، فَصَلَّى ثَمَانِ رَكَعَاتٍ، فَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ صَلَّى صَلاَةً أَخَفَّ مِنْهَا، غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ يُتِمُّ الرُّكُوعَ وَالسُّجُودَ.

    Sahih al-Bukhari 1103Sahih

Words on this page

Duhaالضحى
The voluntary forenoon prayer, prayed after the sun has risen well above the horizon and before midday, usually two or more rak'ahs.
Hadithحديث
A report of what the Prophet ﷺ said, did or approved, passed down through a chain of narrators.
Makkahمكة
The city of the Ka'bah, where the Prophet ﷺ was born and revelation began.
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.

The full glossary

Sources and review

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.

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