Khawlah was the daughter of Hakim Ibn Umayyah Ibn Harithah al-Salami and the wife of 'Uthman Ibn Maz'un. Her mother was Da'ifah Bint al-'As Ibn Umayyah Ibn 'Abd-Shams (different from Khawlah Bint Hakim al-Ansari). She has also been called Khuwaylah, and her nickname was Umm Sharik. Ibn al-Athir has mentioned her with the nickname Umm Hakim.1 Her husband passed away during her lifetime.

Her Merits

Khawlah was a pious woman, virtuous, and of the best women of Thaqif. After the death of her husband, 'Uthman Ibn Maz'un, she gave herself to the Prophet (S) and served him. She is the woman which verse 50 of Surah al-Ahzab says about her:2

يَآ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ إِنَّآ أَحْلَلْنَا لَكَ أَزْوَاجَكَ اللاَّتِي ءَاتَيْتَ اُجُورَهُنَ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ يَمِينُكَ مِمَّآ أَفَآءَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ وَبَنَاتِ عَمّـِك َوَبَنَاتِ عَمَّاتِكَ وَبَنَاتِ خَالِكَ وَبَنَاتِ خَالاَتِكَ اللاَّتِي هَاجَرْنَ مَعَكَ وَامْرَأَةً مُّؤْمِنَةً اِن وَهَبَتْ نَفْسَهَا لِلنَّبِيّ‌ِ اِنْ أَرَادَ النَّبِيُّ أَن يَسْتَنكِحَهَا خَالِصَةً لَّكَ مِن دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَدْ عَلِمْنَا مَا فَرَضْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِي أَزْوَاجِهِمْ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ لِكَيْلاَ يَكُونَ عَلَيْكَ حَرَجٌ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُوراً رَّحِيماً

“O’ Prophet! Verily We have made lawful to you the wives whom you have paid their dowries, and those whom your right hand possesses of those whom Allah has assigned to you, and (marriage with) the daughters of your paternal uncle, and the daughters of your paternal aunts, and daughters of your maternal uncle, and the daughters of your maternal aunts who have emigrated with you, and a believing woman if she gives herself unto the Prophet, if the Prophet desires to wed her, for you exclusively, not for the (rest of the) believers. Indeed We know what We have ordained for them about their wives and those whom their right hands possess in order that there should be no difficulty for you. And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”

(Surah Al-‘Ahzab, 33:50).

Khawlah is a transmitter of traditions from the Prophet (S). She has related 15 traditions from him.3 Her husband was one of the pious companions of the Prophet (S) and of the best of them. He was one of the first to accept Islam, and was present in the battle at Badr. He was the first of the companions of the Prophet (S) to leave this world. The Messenger of God (S) came to his burial, kissed him, and had him buried in the Baqi' cemetery.

Al-Kulayni relates, "When the Messenger of God's daughter, Ruqayyah, passed away, the Prophet (S) said, 'Join one of our good ancestors, 'Uthman Ibn Maz’un, and his helpers.'4 He also relates, "When Ibrahim the son of the Messenger of God (S) passed away, the Prophet (S) while crying much said, 'Join one of my your good ancestors, 'Uthman Ibn Maz’un'.5 Al-Majlisi writes about this tradition in the book al-Kafi, "'Uthman Ibn Maz’un is one of the people of Heaven."6

Shaykh al-Saduq quotes Imam al-Sadiq ('a) as saying, "The Prophet (S) kissed 'Uthman Ibn Maz’un after he passed away."7 This tradition shows the Prophet's fondness for 'Uthman Ibn Maz’un and his high position before the Messenger of God (S).

Shaykh al-Tusi, Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Ibn Mandah, Abu Na'im, Ibn 'Abd al-Barr, Ibn al-Athir, Ibn Hajar, and Mamqani have listed Khawlah among the companions and relaters of traditions from the Messenger of God (S).8

Bashir Ibn Sa'd, Sa'id Ibn al-Musayyab, Sa'd Ibn Abi Waqqas, 'Urwah Ibn al-Zubayr, 'Umar Ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz (with reliable documentation), Muhammad Ibn Yahya Ibn Habban, and Ibn Munqidh (with reliable documentation) have related traditions from her.

Sa'd Ibn Abi Waqqas quotes Khawlah Bint Hakim al-Salami as saying, "I heard the Messenger of God (S) say, 'Whoever enters a place and says: I take refuge to God's names from what He has created. While he is in that place nothing will hurt him."9

Muslim, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nassa'i, and Ibn Majah have related traditions from Khawlah Bint Hakim.10

It has been related from 'Umar Ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz that Khawlah, the daughter of Hakim and a pious woman, said, "The Prophet (S) went out carrying one of the sons of his daughter - either al-Hasan or al-Husayn. He said, 'You will be put aside, misunderstood, and envied; but, you are the sweet smell of God.'"11

• 1. Al-Isti’ab, vol. 4, p. 1832; Usd al-Ghabah, vol. 5, p. 578.
• 2. Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 78.
• 3. A'lam al-Nisa', vol. 1, p. 384.
• 4. Al-Kafi, vol. 3, p. 241.
• 5. Al-Kafi, vol. 3, p. 262.
• 6. Mir'at al-'Uqul, vol. 14, p. 267, tradition no. 45.
• 7. Al-Faqih, vol. 1, p. 161, tradition no. 450.
• 8. Rijal al-Tusi, p. 34; al-Jami' fi'l-'Ilal..... p. 245; Al-Isti’ab, vol. 4, p. 1832; Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 78; Usd al-Ghabah, vol. 5, p. 578 and 444; Al-Isabah, vol. 4, p. 284.
• 9. Usd al-Ghabah, vol. 5, p. 444; al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, vol. 24, p. 237-239.
• 10. Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 12, p. 415; A'lam al-Nisa', vol. 1, p. 384.
• 11. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 43, p. 280.