Umm Salim was the daughter of Milhan Ibn Khalid al-Khazraji al-Ansari, and the seventh descendant from 'Adi Ibn al-Najjar. Her name was al-Ghumaysa' or al-Rumaysa·. She was also called Sahlah, Rumaylah, Anifah, and Rumaythah. Her mother was Malikah Bint Malik, and her sister was Umm Haram.1

She married Malik Ibn al-Nadr, and together they had Anas Ibn Malik. After Malik's death, Umm Salim remained unmarried for some time. Then, she became Muslim and swore allegiance to the Messenger of God (S). Abu Talhah al-Ansari, who was from her tribe, asked for her hand in marriage. Because Abu Talhah was still a polytheist, she rejected and invited him to become Muslim.

Umm Salim's words impressed Abu Talhah, and he converted to Islam. They married, and Abu Talhah's conversion to Islam was Umm­Salim's dowry. Their children were 'Abdullah and Abu 'Umayr. Umm Salim died in 25 A.H.L.

Her Merits

With regard to her courage and struggle in war, Ibn Sa'd, relying on his own sources, quotes Anas as saying, "On the day of the Battle of Hunayn, Umm­Salim armed herself with a dagger..." He also writes, "She took part in the Battle of Hunayn, although she was pregnant at the time. Before that, she had also taken part in the battle of Uhud, where she distributed water to the thirsty and treated the wounded."2

With regards to her patience and forbearance, Umm Salim's and Abu­Talhah's son, Abu 'Umayr, became ill and died. Without wailing, Umm Salim washed and embalmed his body, covered him with a cloth, and put him in a corner. Then she told everyone not to tell her husband until she herself told him. Then, she told her husband about the death of their son with deliberation and tranquility.3

As to her understanding and discernment, Umm Salim is generally said to have been a very wise woman. From the traditions that were narrated about her, her extreme depth of understanding is evident. It has been narrated that when Abu Talhah' came to her and asked for her hand in marriage, Umm Salim said to him, "Do you not know that the God whom you worship makes the plants grow out of the earth?"

Abu Talhah' answered, "Yes, (I know)." Whereupon Umm Salim asked him, "Are you not then ashamed to worship wood?"4

Concerning the Holy Prophet's (S) esteem for Umm Salim, he respected and sometimes came to see her. Ibn Sa'd, relying on his own sources, narrated a number of traditions about this quoting Anas and others. One of them is, "He said, 'The messenger of God (S) went to see Umm Salim and prayed in her house..."'

Another tradition says, "Anas Ibn Malik5 told me that the Holy Prophet (S) used to visit his (Anas') mother, Umm Salim, and that she would welcome him with something she had made for him."

In another tradition, Anas said, "The Holy Prophet would not enter any house (belonging to a woman) other than those of his wives except for the house of Umm Salim. When the Prophet (S) was asked as to the reason, he said, 'I feel compassion for her. Her brother was killed when he was with me.'"6

According to a third tradition, Anas narrated, “The Holy Prophet (S) said, ‘I entered Paradise and perceived the sounds of movement just in front of me. Suddenly, I saw al-Ghumaysa’ the daughter of Milhan.” Al-Bukhari7 and Muslim8 have also narrated this tradition.9

There is a similar tradition from the Holy Prophet (S) concerning Bilal.10 We can conclude that al-Ghumaysa' (Umm Salim) is among the residents of Paradise and enjoyed the high regards of the Holy Prophet (S).

Ibn Sa'd, relying on his own sources, also quotes Anas as saying that every time the Holy Prophet (S) visited Umm Salim, she welcomed him by placing dates and oil (the sweets of those times) before him. She also used to send her son Anas to the Prophet's house to take him a pot of dates.11 From the traditions narrated about Umm Salim we can conclude that she was one of those who loved and supported the family of the Holy Prophet (S).

Abu Talhah was Umm Salim's husband. His name was Zayd Ibn Sahl, and he was from the Banu' l-Najjar tribe. He was one of the leaders who were present during the oath of allegiance of 'Aqabah, the Battles of Badr, Uhud, al-Khandaq and others. The scholars of eminent personalities during early Islam (scholars of 'Ilm al­Rijal) extol his praises.12

Shaykh al-Tusi and Ahmad Ibn Hanbal consider Umm Salim to be among the companions and narrators of traditions from the Holy Prophet (S).13 Shaykh Mahallati14 has written about her, "She was one of those who served the Holy Prophet, and excelled in worship, devout obedience and gnostic knowledge."15

Ibn 'Abd al-Barr and Ibn al-Athir count her among the companions of the Holy Prophet (S) and write about her, "She was a wise woman."16

'Umar Ridha Kahhalah says about her, "She fought for the cause of God, possessed wisdom and authority and was one of the first to accept Islam. She swore allegiance to the Holy Prophet (S) and transmitted fourteen traditions from him."17

Ayatullah Khu'i mentions her by the name of Umm Anas Ibn Malik in one place, and as Umm Salim in another place.18

Meanwhile Shaykh al-Tusi only mentions the name Umm Salim among the companions of the Holy Prophet (S).19

'Allamah Mamqani writes about her, "I consider her to be good and dependable (as a transmitter of traditions)."20

She has related traditions from the Holy Prophet (S). Anas Ibn Malik (her son), 'Abdullah Ibn 'Abbas, 'Amr Ibn 'Asim al-Ansari, Abu Salamah Ibn 'Abd al­ Rahman Ibn 'Awf, 'Abdullah Ibn Abi Talhah, and Umm Sulayman have related traditions from her.

Anas Ibn Malik narrates that he had asked his mother about the characteristics of Lady Fatimah ('a), and she said, 'She was like the full moon, or like the sun cloaked by black clouds, or like the sun emerging from behind a cloud. She was white-skinned with a fine complexion. '"21

Al-Tabarani, relying on his own sources, quotes Mirba' from Anas, who quoted Umm Salim as saying, "O Messenger of God, advise me." The Messenger of God (S) said, "Flee from sin, for this is the best form of migration. Be diligent in performing the recommended actions, because this is the best form of struggle in the way of God. And, constantly remember God, for nothing is more beloved to God than that he should be constantly called to mind."'22

Al-Tabarani, relying on his own sources, quotes 'Amr Ibn 'Umar al-Ansari as saying, "I heard Umm Salim say that the Messenger of God (S) said, 'If a Muslim mother and father lose three of their children to death before they reach the age of maturity, these parents are admitted to Paradise through God's mercy.' I said, 'And if they lose two children?' He said, 'It is the same for two.'"23

Al­Tabarani has related 22 traditions from Umm Salim (Umm Anas), some of which are similar in content.24 Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud,25al-Tirmidhi26and al-Nasa'i27 also narrate traditions from Umm Salim in their books of traditions28

• 1. The book at-Tabaqat al-Kubra does not mention 'Malikah' as one of Umm-Salim's names. However, other books such as Usd al-Ghabah, Tanqi al-Maqal, A'lam al­Nisa' and Rayahin al-Shari’ah mention this name as one of her other names. We know that Malikah is the name of her mother.
• 2. Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 425.
• 3. Ibid, vol. 8, p 433; Rayahin al-Shari'ah, vol. 3, p. 408.
• 4. Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 73, from the chapter about women.
• 5. Abu Thumamah Anas Ibn Malik Ibn al-Nadr Ibn Damdam al-Najjari al-Ansari, was a companion and servant of the Prophet (S). He was born in al-Madinah ten years before the Prophet (S) migrated there. He became a Muslim at an early age and served the Prophet (S). He lived a long life and passed away in the year 93 A.H.L. [Al-A'lam by al­Zarkali, Lughat Nama Dihkhuda].
• 6. Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 8, pp. 427 and 428.
• 7. Muhammad Ibn Isma'il Ibn Ibrahim Ibn al-Mughirah Ibn Ahnaf al-Ja'fari, Abu­'Abdullah, was renowned as Imam Bukhari. He passed away in the year 253 or 256 A.H.L. He was the author of the books, Jami'a al-Sahih, al-Asma' wal-Kuna, al-Tarikh al-Awsat, al-Tarikh al-Saghir and al-Tarikh al-Kabir.
• 8. Muslim Ibn al-Hajjaj Ibn Muslim al-Qushayri al-Nayshaburi (204 -261 A.H.L) had the nickname of Abu al-Husayn. He was one of the great transmitters of traditions in the third century. He was the author of several books including Sahih.
• 9. Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 430.
• 10. Taj al-'Arus, Chapter al-Fa', section al-Kha'.
• 11. Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 429.
• 12. Rayahin al-Shari'ah, vol. 3, p. 407; A'yan al-Shi'ah, vol. 2, p. 307.
• 13. Rijal al-Tusi, p. 33.
• 14. Shaykh Dhabihullah Ibn Muhammad 'Ali Ibn 'Ali Akbar Mahallati was one of the recent authors and scientists who was born in the year 1310 A.H. He wrote the book Rayahin al-Shari'ah.
• 15. Rayahin al-Shari'ah, vol. 3, p 406.
• 16. al-Isti 'ab, vol. 4, p. 1940; Usd al-Ghabah, vol. 5, p 598.
• 17. A'lam al-Nisa', vol. 2, p. 256.
• 18. Mu'jam Rijal al-Hadith, vol. 23, pp. 174, 178.
• 19. Rijal al-Tusi, p. 34.
• 20. Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 73.
• 21. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 43, p. 6.
• 22. Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, vol. 25, p. 129.
• 23. Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, vol. 25, p. 126.
• 24. Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, vol. 25, pp. 120 - 129.
• 25. Sulaymam Ibn Ash'ab Ibn lshaq Ibn Bashir Ibn Shaddad Ibn 'Amr al-Sajistani al-Azdi (202-275 A.H.) was from the city of Sistan. He went to Iraq to study under the auspices of some of the religious authorities on traditions such as Ahmad Ibn Hanbal. His book is one of the Sunni's most reliable reference books of hadith.
• 26. Muhammad Ibn Isa Ibn Sawrah Ibn Musa Ibn al-Dahhak al-Salami Darir Bughi al­Tirmidhi was nicknamed Abu Isa. He passed away in the year 279 A.H. in Tirmidh, one of the cities in Mawara' al-Nahr. He had memorized the Qur'an. He was one of the Sunni leaders who was followed in the science of traditions. He was the student of al­Bukhari and other mentors. He was the author of such books as, Jami' al-‘Ilal, Jami' al-Sahih, Jami' al-Tirmidhi and others. [Al-A'lam by al-Zarkali].
• 27. Ahmad Ibn 'Ali Ibn Shu'ayb Abu 'Abd al-Rahman al-Nasa'i was born in 315 A.H.L in Khurasan. He was a transmitter of traditions, had memorized the Qur'an, and wrote the books al-Sunan al-Kubra, al-Sunan al-Sughra and al-Di’af wa'l-Matrukin.
• 28. Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 12, p. 471.