Hafsah was the daughter of Sirin al-Ansari al-Basri. She was also known as Umm al-Hudhayl. She was one of the followers of the companions of the Prophet (S). Her mother was Safiyyah, her brothers Muhammad and Yahya, and her sisters Karimah and Umm Salim.1

Her Merits

She was an erudite, learned woman and one of those who memorized the Holy Qur'an since she was twelve years old. Whenever people had a question about the recitation of Qur'an, her brother Muhammad would refer them to her. Iyas Ibn Mu'awiyah2 said, "I know of no one more knowledgeable than her."3

She was very successful in her worship acts, and spent most of her time in prayer and worship. It is said that she spent most of the hours of the day in her place of worship. She would only leave that place for essential jobs. She fasted every day except for the two feast days ('Id al-Fitr and 'Id al-Adha) and the Tashriq days (11th, 12^th and 13^th of Dhu'l-Hijjah). She would recite half of Qur'an every night. She advised the youth to use their time and opportunities well.4

'Umar Ridha Kahhalah said, "She was distinguished among the women followers of the companions." Ibn Hajar said, "Ibn Habban5 and Ibn Mu'in6 have said that she is trustworthy and her narration is acceptable."7

She has narrated traditions from Umm Sulayman, Yahya Ibn Sirin (her brother), Anas Ibn Malik, Umm 'Atiyyah al-Ansariyyah, al-Rabab Umm'l­ Ra'ih, Abu al-'Aliyah al-Riyahi, Abu Dhubiyan, Khalifah Ibn Ka'b al-Tamimi, Rabi' Ibn Ziyad al-Harithi, Khayyirah the mother of al-Hasan al-Basri, and Salman Ibn 'Amir al-Dabbi.8

People who have transmitted traditions from her are Abu Bashir, Muhammad Ibn Sirin, Qutadah Ibn Da'amah Ibn Qutadah al-Sadusi, Asim al-Ahwal, Ayyub al-Sakhtiyani, 'Abdullah Ibn 'Awn, Khalid al-Hadhdha', Hisham Ibn al-Hasan al-Azdi, Abu Na'amah al-Adawi, and 'A'ishah Bint Sa'd al-Basri.9

Shaykh al-Tusi has quoted from his documents from Abu Bashir from Hafsah Bint Sirin, from Umm Sulayman, from Umm Anas Ibn Malik, from the Messenger of God (S) that he said, "When a woman passes away and they want to wash her body, start from her stomach. If she isn't pregnant, wash her stomach gently and carefully. But, if she is pregnant, don't move her stomach. When the one who washes her wants to start, begin from her lower parts and cover her private parts with a cloth. Then, take a washcloth and wash her well. After that, wash her private parts three times with the washcloth from beneath the cloth covering her before rinsing her off. Then, rinse with lotus water (cedar)."10

Al-Majlisi has quoted from his documents from Asim al-Ahwal from Hafsah Bint Sirin from Anas Ibn Malik that the Messenger of God (S) said, "There are twelve leaders (Imams) after me." Then, he lowered his voice and said, "All of them are from the tribe of Quraysh."11

AI-Tabarani has recorded forty-seven traditions from Hafsah Bint Sirin from Umm 'Atiyyah from the Messenger of God (S).12 The al-Sihah al-Sittah books contain narrations reported from Hafsah Bint Sirin.13

• 1. Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 484.
• 2. Iyas Ibn Mu'awiyah Ibn Qurrah Ibn Iyas Ibn Hilal al-Muzani, Abu Wa'ilah al-Basri, was a judge in al-Basrah. He related traditions from Anas and Sa'id Ibn al-Musayyab. Ibn Sa'd has said, "He was wise and reliable. He has related traditions." Ibn Mu'in, al­Nassa'i, and Ibn Habban have regarded him as reliable. [Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 1, p. 390].
• 3. Tahdhib al-Kamal, p. 152.
• 4. Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 12, p. 409; A'lam al-Nisa', vol. 1, p. 272.
• 5. Abu Hatam Muhammad Ibn Habban (270 – 354 A.H.L) was a transmitter of traditions, a Shafi'i jurisprudent, and historian. He learned traditions in the city of Nayshabur. He also traveled to various cities in Khurasan, Mawara'annahr, Iraq, al-Hijaz, Damascus, and Egypt. He wrote many melodies. [Da'irat al-Ma'arif Buzurg Islami].
• 6. Yahya Ibn Mu'in Ibn 'Awn Ibn Ziyad al-Baghdadi, Abu Zakariyya (158 – 233 A.H.L) was a leader in traditions and a historian on the transmitters of traditions. Al-Dhahbi called him Sayyid al-Huffaz (master of Qur'an memorizers), and al-'Asqalani has said that he was a leader in modification. He was originally from the city of Sarakhs. He lived in Baghdad, and passed away in al-Madinah on his way to the ritual Hajj pilgrimage. [Al-A'lam by al-Zarkali].
• 7. Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 12, p. 409.
• 8. Tahdhib al-Kamal, p. 152.
• 9. Tahdhib al-Kamal, p. 152.
• 10. Tahdhib al-Ahkam, vol. 1, p. 302, Hadith 880; al-Istibsar, vol. 1, p. 207.
• 11. Kifayat al-Athar, p. 11 ; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 36, p. 313.
• 12. Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, vol. 25, pp. 55-68.
• 13. 'Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 12, p. 409.