(Friday Sermon - February 15, 2019 )

Background

Hazrat Khunais^(ra) bin Huzafah’s title was Abu Huzafah. His mother’s name was Za‘ifah bint Hizyam. He belonged to the Bani Saham bin Amr tribe. He accepted Islam before the Holy Prophet^(sa) went to Dar-e-Arqam. Hazrat Khunais^(ra) was the brother of Hazrat Abdullah bin Huzafah^(ra). Hazrat Khunais^(ra) was among those Muslims who participated in the second migration to Abyssinia. He is considered among the foremost of the Muhajireen. When Hazrat Khunais^(ra) first migrated to Medina, he stayed with Hazrat Rifa‘ah bin Abdul Munzir^(ra). The Holy Prophet^(sa) established a bond of brotherhood between Hazrat Khunais^(ra) and Hazrat Abu Abs bin Jabar^(ra). Hazrat Khunais^(ra) participated in the Battle of Badr. Ummul Momineen, Hazrat Hafsah^(ra) was married to Hazrat Khunais^(ra) before she married the Holy Prophet^(sa) (Al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra, Vol. 3, p. 300, Khunais bin Huzafah^(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990) (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 2, p. 188, Khunais bin Huzafah^(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003).

The Holy Prophet’s^(sa) Marriage to Hazrat Hafsah^(ra)

The details of this are recorded in Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin [The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets by Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad^(ra)] as follows:

“Hazrat Umar^(ra) had a daughter by the name of Hafsah^(ra) who was married to a faithful companion, Khunais bin Huzafah, who had taken part in the Battle of Badr. After Badr, upon returning to Medina, Khunais fell ill. He was unable to recover from his illness and passed away. Sometime after his demise, Hazrat Umar^(ra) began to feel a sense of concern for her second marriage. At the time, Hafsah^(ra) was over twenty years of age. Due to his simplicity in nature, Hazrat Umar^(ra) met Uthman bin Affan^(ra) himself and mentioned that his daughter Hafsah^(ra) was now a widow, and that if he was interested, he could marry her. However, Hazrat Uthman^(ra) avoided the subject. After this, Hazrat Umar^(ra) mentioned it to Hazrat Abu Bakr^(ra), but he too remained silent and did not respond. At this, Hazrat Umar^(ra) was deeply saddened, and in this very state of dismay, he presented himself before the Holy Prophet^(sa) and submitted the entire account. The Holy Prophet^(sa) responded, ‘O Umar! Do not worry at all, if Allah so wills, Hafsah shall find a better husband than Uthman and Abu Bakr; and Uthman shall receive a better wife than Hafsah.’ The Holy Prophet^(sa) said this because he had already intended to marry Hafsah^(ra) and to give his own daughter Umme Kulthum^(ra) to Hazrat Uthman^(ra) in marriage.  Both Hazrat Uthman^(ra) and Hazrat Abu Bakr^(ra) were aware of this (they had already been told) and this is why they turned down the proposal of Hazrat Umar^(ra). Sometime thereafter, the Holy Prophet^(sa) married his daughter Umme Kulthum^(ra) to Hazrat Uthman^(ra), and this has already been mentioned above.  Following this, the Holy Prophet^(sa) sent a proposal himself to Hazrat Umar^(ra) for Hafsah^(ra). What more could Hazrat Umar^(ra) have asked for? He very happily accepted this proposal. In Sha‘ban 3 AH, Hazrat Hafsah^(ra) was married to the Holy Prophet^(sa) and became a part of his household. When this marriage had taken place, Hazrat Abu Bakr^(ra) said to Hazrat Umar^(ra):

‘Perhaps your heart has been saddened on my account.’” (Perhaps due to some grief and a feeling of resentment had formed in his heart). “‘The fact is, that I was already aware of the intention of the Holy Prophet^(sa), but I could not reveal his secret without permission (of the Holy Prophet^(sa)). Of course, if the Holy Prophet^(sa) had not intended so, I would have most gladly married Hafsah.’

One special wisdom in marrying Hafsah^(ra) was that she was the daughter of Hazrat Umar^(ra), who one could say was considered to be the most eminent companion after Hazrat Abu Bakr^(ra), and he was from among the most intimate friends of the Holy Prophet^(sa). Hence, in order to further strengthen mutual relations and to alleviate the grief of Hazrat Umar^(ra) and Hafsah^(ra), which they had sustained by the untimely demise of Khuanis bin Huzafah^(ra), the Holy Prophet^(sa) deemed it appropriate to marry Hafsah^(ra) himself.” (Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad^(ra), pp. 477-478)

Demise

According to another narration, Hazrat Khuanis bin Huzafah^(ra) was wounded during the battle of Uhud and sometime later, he passed away in Medina as a result of these wounds. The Holy Prophet^(sa) led his funeral prayer and he was buried in Jannat-ul-Baqi, next to Hazrat Uthman bin Maz‘un^(ra). (Al-Isti‘aab Fi Ma’rifati Al-Sahaba, Vol. 2, p. 452, Khuanis bin Huzafah^(ra), Dar-ul-Jeel, Beirut, 1992) (Al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra, Vol. 3, p. 300, Khunais bin Huzafah^(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990)