Al-Khansa' was the daughter of Khidam Ibn Khalid al-Ansari from the family of 'Amr Ibn 'Awf or al-Khansa' the daughter of Hizam Ibn Wadi'ah. The name of her father has been reported in several ways, such as: Khidham,1 Khidam,2 Hizam3 and Khuzam.4

Her father chose a husband for her and had her married. However, since al-Khansa' did not want this marriage, she complained to the Messenger of God (S). He (S) decreed their marriage to be invalid. Malik Ibn Anas has reported that she was a widow. But, in other places it has been reported that she was previously unmarried.5 The Messenger of God (S) told her father, "Marry al-Khansa' to someone that she is agreeable to." After that she was married to Abu Lubabah (Rifa'ah) Ibn 'Abd al-Mundhir, a famous companion of the Prophet (S).

Her Merits

Al-Khansa' became Muslim and pledged allegiance with the Messenger of God (S). She was one of the companions of the Prophet, and related traditions from him. Her and her husband had a high position before the Prophet (S). Her husband was one of the chief assistants of the Messenger of God (S), and participated in some of the battles alongside the Prophet. In the battle of Badr, after being present in the battlefield, the Prophet sent him back to al-Madinah to protect those who had remained behind.

Shaykh al-Tusi, Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Ibn 'Abd al-Barr, Ibn al-Athir, Ibn Hajar, and Mamqani consider al-Khansa' to be among the companions and transmitters of traditions from the Messenger of God.6 Mamqani says that her circumstances are unclear.7

She has related traditions from the Messenger of God (S). Al-Sa'ib Ibn Abi­Lubabah (her son), 'Abd al-Rahman Ibn Yazid Ibn Jariyah, Majma' Ibn Yazid Ibn Jariyah, 'Abdullah Ibn Yazid Ibn Wadi'ah, and al-Hajjaj Ibn al-Sa'ib Ibn Abi Lubabah (her grandson) have related traditions from her.

Al-Tabarani based on his documents has related from 'Abdullah Ibn Yazid Ibn Wadi'ah from al-Khansa' Bint Khidam as saying, "My father married me to someone whom I did not like at the time when I was previously unmarried, I complained to the Messenger of God (S), and he said, 'When she dislikes him, do not have them married."8

• 1. Usd al-Ghabah, vol. 5, p. 44; Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 456; Mu'jam Rijal al­Hadith, vol. 23, p. 189; Manhaj al-Maqal, p. 400.
• 2. Al-Isti'ab, vol. 4, p. 1826; al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, vol. 24, p. 251; Jami'al-Ruwat, vol. 2, p. 457; Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 12, p. 413.
• 3. Rijal al-Tusi, p. 34; Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 77.
• 4. Majma' al-Rijal, vol. 7, p. 173.
• 5. Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 456; al-Isti'ab, vol. 4, p. 1826; al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, vol. 24, p. 251.
• 6. Rijal al-Tusi; p. 34; al-Jami' fi'l-'Ilal..., p. 245; al-Isti'ab, vol. 4, p. 1826; Usd al­Ghabah, vol. 5, p. 44; al-Isabah, vol. 4, p. 279.
• 7. Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 77.
• 8. Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, vol. 24, p. 251.