Aqdam أقدام

Companion of the Prophet ﷺ

أم ورقة بنت عبد الله

رضي الله عنها

Umm Waraqah bint Abdullah

Umm Waraqah bint Abdullah ibn al-Harith al-Ansariyyah

Umm Waraqah bint Abdullah, Ansari reciter of the Qur'an whom the Prophet named the martyr: her household prayer and generosity, with hadith citations.

  • al-Shahidah (the Martyr)
A day in her footsteps
  • KunyaUmm Waraqah
  • Family and tribeAnsar of Medina
  • DiedDuring the caliphate of Umar (13-23 AH / 634-644 CE)
  • Resting placeMedina (not specified in the sources I could open)
  • Counted amongAnsar, Scholars and narrators

Introduction

Umm Waraqah was a woman of the Ansar in Medina who learnt the Qur'an and kept it as part of her daily worship. The sources describe her as one of the few who were known to have memorised it.

When the Prophet marched to Badr she asked to go with him to nurse the sick and wounded, hoping that Allah would grant her martyrdom. He told her to stay at home and that Allah would grant her martyrdom, so she became known as the martyr.

The Prophet used to visit her house and appointed a muezzin for her, and he told her to lead the people of her household in prayer. She announced that her male and female slaves would be freed after her death, and in the caliphate of Umar they killed her; Umar had them punished. Her story is one of the main early reports about women and prayer in the home.

The story

  1. 2 AH / 624 CE

    Asked to accompany the Prophet to Badr to nurse the wounded; he told her to stay in her home, and that she would be given martyrdom.

    Read the wording
    Sunan Abi Dawud 591Hasan
    Arabic text

    … أَنْ يَرْزُقَنِي شَهَادَةً. قَالَ " قِرِّي فِي بَيْتِكِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَرْزُقُكِ الشَّهَادَةَ". قَالَ فَكَانَتْ تُسَمَّى الشَّهِيدَةَ. قَالَ وَكَانَتْ قَدْ قَرَأَتِ الْقُرْآنَ فَاسْتَأْذَنَتِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ تَتَّخِذَ فِي دَارِهَا مُؤَذِّنًا فَأَذِنَ لَهَا قَالَ وَكَانَتْ دَبَّرَتْ غُلاَمًا لَهَا وَجَارِيَةً فَقَامَا إِلَيْهَا بِاللَّيْلِ فَغَمَّاهَا بِقَطِيفَةٍ …

    “Stay at your home. Allah, the Almighty , will bestow martyrdom upon you”

    Grade: Hasan (al-Albani)

  2. Prophet's lifetime

    Given a muezzin for her house and told to lead her household in prayer.

    Read the wording
    Sunan Abi Dawud 592Hasan
    Arabic text

    … عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ جُمَيْعٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ خَلاَّدٍ، عَنْ أُمِّ وَرَقَةَ بِنْتِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ وَالأَوَّلُ أَتَمُّ قَالَ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَزُورُهَا فِي بَيْتِهَا وَجَعَلَ لَهَا مُؤَذِّنًا يُؤَذِّنُ لَهَا وَأَمَرَهَا أَنْ تَؤُمَّ أَهْلَ دَارِهَا. قَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ فَأَنَا رَأَيْتُ مُؤَذِّنَهَا شَيْخًا …

    “he commanded her to lead the inmates of her house in prayer”

    Grade: Hasan (al-Albani)

  3. Caliphate of Umar (634-644 CE)

    Killed by her slave and slave-girl, who were then caught and punished on Umar's orders.

    Read the wording
    Sunan Abi Dawud 591Hasan
    Arabic text

    … عليه وسلم أَنْ تَتَّخِذَ فِي دَارِهَا مُؤَذِّنًا فَأَذِنَ لَهَا قَالَ وَكَانَتْ دَبَّرَتْ غُلاَمًا لَهَا وَجَارِيَةً فَقَامَا إِلَيْهَا بِاللَّيْلِ فَغَمَّاهَا بِقَطِيفَةٍ لَهَا حَتَّى مَاتَتْ وَذَهَبَا فَأَصْبَحَ عُمَرُ فَقَامَ فِي النَّاسِ فَقَالَ مَنْ كَانَ عِنْدَهُ مِنْ هَذَيْنِ عِلْمٌ أَوْ مَنْ رَآهُمَا فَلْيَجِئْ بِهِمَا فَأَمَرَ بِهِمَا فَصُلِبَا فَكَانَا أَوَّلَ مَصْلُوبٍ …

    “Umar announced among the people”

    Grade: Hasan (al-Albani)

A day in their footsteps

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

  1. Keeping the Qur'an as a daily companion

    Umm Waraqah is described as someone who read the Qur'an and sought the Prophet's permission to have a muezzin in her house, which suggests her home was organised around prayer and recitation.

    Try this today

    Make Qur'an part of your home routine, not just a thing you do at the masjid.

    Sit with this

    Is the Quran part of your home routine, or only the masjid's?

    Source

    Sunan Abi Dawud 591Hasan

    … قَالَ فَكَانَتْ تُسَمَّى الشَّهِيدَةَ. قَالَ وَكَانَتْ قَدْ قَرَأَتِ الْقُرْآنَ فَاسْتَأْذَنَتِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ تَتَّخِذَ فِي دَارِهَا مُؤَذِّنًا فَأَذِنَ لَهَا قَالَ وَكَانَتْ دَبَّرَتْ غُلاَمًا لَهَا وَجَارِيَةً فَقَامَا إِلَيْهَا بِاللَّيْلِ فَغَمَّاهَا بِقَطِيفَةٍ لَهَا حَتَّى مَاتَتْ وَذَهَبَا فَأَصْبَحَ عُمَرُ فَقَامَ فِي النَّاسِ فَقَالَ مَنْ كَانَ عِنْدَهُ …

    “She read the Qur'an”

    Grade: Hasan (al-Albani)

  2. Making her home a place of prayer

    The Prophet used to visit her at home. He appointed a muezzin to call the adhan for her, and told her to lead the people of her household in prayer. The narrator saw her muezzin, an old man.

    Try this today

    Call your household to prayer; make the adhan and prayer a part of the home.

    Sit with this

    Does your household hear the call to prayer at home?

    Source

    Sunan Abi Dawud 592Hasan

    … عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ جُمَيْعٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ خَلاَّدٍ، عَنْ أُمِّ وَرَقَةَ بِنْتِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ وَالأَوَّلُ أَتَمُّ قَالَ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَزُورُهَا فِي بَيْتِهَا وَجَعَلَ لَهَا مُؤَذِّنًا يُؤَذِّنُ لَهَا وَأَمَرَهَا أَنْ تَؤُمَّ أَهْلَ دَارِهَا. قَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ فَأَنَا رَأَيْتُ مُؤَذِّنَهَا شَيْخًا …

    “He appointed a mu’adhdhin to call adhan for her”

    Grade: Hasan (al-Albani)

  3. Offering service in the hardest hour

    When the Muslims marched to Badr, she asked the Prophet's permission to go and nurse the sick, hoping Allah might make her a martyr. She was told to stay and that Allah would give her martyrdom.

    Try this today

    Volunteer your skills where they are needed, and be content when the answer is to serve from home.

    Sit with this

    Can you be content when the answer is to serve from where you are?

    Source

    Sunan Abi Dawud 591Hasan

    … رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ائْذَنْ لِي فِي الْغَزْوِ مَعَكَ أُمَرِّضُ مَرْضَاكُمْ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ أَنْ يَرْزُقَنِي شَهَادَةً. قَالَ " قِرِّي فِي بَيْتِكِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَرْزُقُكِ الشَّهَادَةَ". قَالَ فَكَانَتْ تُسَمَّى الشَّهِيدَةَ. قَالَ وَكَانَتْ قَدْ قَرَأَتِ الْقُرْآنَ فَاسْتَأْذَنَتِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ تَتَّخِذَ فِي دَارِهَا مُؤَذِّنًا فَأَذِنَ لَهَا قَالَ وَكَانَتْ …

    “I shall act as a nurse for patients”

    Grade: Hasan (al-Albani)

  4. Planning for freedom of those who served her

    She announced that her slave and slave-girl would be free after her death, a will to free two people at the end of her life.

    Try this today

    Plan acts of generosity and justice into your will.

    Sit with this

    What generosity or justice could you plan into your will?

    Source

    Sunan Abi Dawud 591Hasan

    … صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ تَتَّخِذَ فِي دَارِهَا مُؤَذِّنًا فَأَذِنَ لَهَا قَالَ وَكَانَتْ دَبَّرَتْ غُلاَمًا لَهَا وَجَارِيَةً فَقَامَا إِلَيْهَا بِاللَّيْلِ فَغَمَّاهَا بِقَطِيفَةٍ لَهَا حَتَّى مَاتَتْ وَذَهَبَا فَأَصْبَحَ عُمَرُ فَقَامَ فِي النَّاسِ فَقَالَ مَنْ كَانَ عِنْدَهُ مِنْ هَذَيْنِ عِلْمٌ أَوْ مَنْ رَآهُمَا فَلْيَجِئْ بِهِمَا فَأَمَرَ بِهِمَا فَصُلِبَا فَكَانَا أَوَّلَ مَصْلُوبٍ …

    “She announced that her slave and slave-girl would be free after her death”

    Grade: Hasan (al-Albani)

Virtues

  • The Prophet gave her the title of martyr, and she was called by it from then on.

    “Hence she was called martyr”

    Arabic text

    … يَرْزُقُكِ الشَّهَادَةَ". قَالَ فَكَانَتْ تُسَمَّى الشَّهِيدَةَ. قَالَ وَكَانَتْ قَدْ قَرَأَتِ الْقُرْآنَ فَاسْتَأْذَنَتِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ تَتَّخِذَ فِي دَارِهَا مُؤَذِّنًا فَأَذِنَ لَهَا قَالَ وَكَانَتْ دَبَّرَتْ غُلاَمًا لَهَا وَجَارِيَةً فَقَامَا إِلَيْهَا بِاللَّيْلِ فَغَمَّاهَا بِقَطِيفَةٍ لَهَا حَتَّى مَاتَتْ وَذَهَبَا فَأَصْبَحَ عُمَرُ فَقَامَ فِي النَّاسِ …

    Sunan Abi Dawud 591Hasan

  • The Prophet used to visit her in her house and gave her a muezzin.

    “The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) used to visit her at her house”

    Arabic text

    … عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ جُمَيْعٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ خَلاَّدٍ، عَنْ أُمِّ وَرَقَةَ بِنْتِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ وَالأَوَّلُ أَتَمُّ قَالَ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَزُورُهَا فِي بَيْتِهَا وَجَعَلَ لَهَا مُؤَذِّنًا يُؤَذِّنُ لَهَا وَأَمَرَهَا أَنْ تَؤُمَّ أَهْلَ دَارِهَا. قَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ فَأَنَا رَأَيْتُ مُؤَذِّنَهَا شَيْخًا …

    Sunan Abi Dawud 592Hasan

Sayings and moments

  • To the Prophet, as the army set out for Badr: Allow me to accompany you; I shall act as a nurse for the patients, and it is possible that Allah might bestow martyrdom upon me.

    “allow me to accompany you in the battle”

    Arabic text

    … بَدْرًا قَالَتْ قُلْتُ لَهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ائْذَنْ لِي فِي الْغَزْوِ مَعَكَ أُمَرِّضُ مَرْضَاكُمْ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ أَنْ يَرْزُقَنِي شَهَادَةً. قَالَ " قِرِّي فِي بَيْتِكِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَرْزُقُكِ الشَّهَادَةَ". قَالَ فَكَانَتْ تُسَمَّى الشَّهِيدَةَ. قَالَ وَكَانَتْ قَدْ قَرَأَتِ الْقُرْآنَ فَاسْتَأْذَنَتِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ تَتَّخِذَ فِي دَارِهَا مُؤَذِّنًا …

    Sunan Abi Dawud 591Hasan

Words on this page

Adhanأذان
The call to prayer, given aloud before each of the five daily prayers.
Ansarالأنصار
"The Helpers": the Muslims of Madinah, from the Aws and Khazraj tribes, who welcomed and sheltered the Prophet ﷺ and the emigrants from Makkah.
Badrبدر
The first major battle between the Muslims and Quraysh, in 2 AH. Those who fought there hold a special rank among the Companions.
Hadithحديث
A report of what the Prophet ﷺ said, did or approved, passed down through a chain of narrators.
Madinahالمدينة
The city, formerly Yathrib, to which the Prophet ﷺ migrated and where the first Muslim community was built.
Mu'adhdhinمؤذن
The person who gives the adhan. Bilal ibn Rabah was the first.

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.

Suggest a correction

← All companions