Umm Kulthum bint Uqbah: The Courageous Pioneer of Hijrah
The Story of the First Woman to Migrate Alone from Makkah to Madinah
Umm Kulthum bint Uqbah ibn Abi Mu’ayt was a noble Companion of the Prophet ﷺ from the Quraysh tribe. She was known for her extraordinary beauty, intelligence, love for knowledge, and her remarkable courage in embracing Islam during its most challenging early days.
Family Lineage
- Father: Uqbah ibn Abi Mu’ayt (a leader of the hypocrites)
- Mother: Arwa bint Kurayz ibn Rabi’ah (sister of Caliph Uthman ibn Affan)
- Maternal Grandmother: Al-Bayda’ bint Abdul Muttalib (aunt of the Prophet ﷺ)
- Brothers: Al-Walid ibn Uqbah (governor of Kufa), Amarah ibn Uqbah, Khalid ibn Uqbah
- Sisters: Umm Hakim bint Uqbah, Hind bint Uqbah
- Maternal Brothers: Caliph Uthman ibn Affan, Amina bint Affan
Early Life and Conversion
Umm Kulthum grew up in Makkah and was distinguished by her exceptional beauty, intelligence, and love for reading and knowledge. At a time when literacy was rare among Quraysh women, she was proficient in reading and writing.
When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ began his mission, Umm Kulthum was among the first to embrace Islam. She gave her pledge of allegiance (bay’ah) to the Prophet ﷺ at Dar al-Arqam, but unlike her father Uqbah and brothers Walid and Amarah who showed strong enmity toward the Prophet ﷺ, she kept her faith secret.
The Historic Hijrah
Umm Kulthum couldn’t migrate to Madinah until the 7th year after Hijrah (629 CE), after the Prophet ﷺ made the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah with the Quraysh polytheists. Her father Uqbah had been killed in the Battle of Badr, and her brothers’ hostility toward Islam had increased.
Determined to migrate for the sake of Allah and His Messenger, Umm Kulthum narrates her hijrah story:
“I would go out to the desert where my family was, near At-Taneem, and stay for three or four nights. My family didn’t object to these trips. Allah had guided me to Islam. One day I went out as if heading to the desert I usually visited, but when my companions returned, I stayed behind. A man from Khaza’ah (a tribe) passed by and asked, ‘Where are you going, O daughter of the Arabs?’ I said, ‘What concern is it of yours? Who are you?’ He said, ‘A man from Khaza’ah.’ When he mentioned Khaza’ah, I felt at ease because they had entered into a treaty with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ after the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. I said, ‘I am a Quraysh woman wanting to join the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, but I don’t know the way.'”
“He said: ‘We are his allies, I will accompany you until I deliver you to Madinah.’ Then he brought me a camel with a howdah (litter), which I rode. He led the camel, and by Allah, he never looked back at me nor spoke a word to me. When he would stop the camel, he would move away from me to the shade of a tree to rest. When it was time to continue, he would prepare the howdah, bring it close, secure it on the camel, turn away from me, and when I mounted, he would take the reins and we would continue without him looking back until we dismounted.”
This man from Khaza’ah continued to accompany her with this noble conduct until they reached Madinah. When Umm Kulthum arrived in Madinah, she first went to Umm Salama (RA), the wife of the Prophet ﷺ. She was veiled with a traveler’s niqab, so Umm Salama didn’t recognize her. When she removed her veil, Umm Salama embraced her and said: “You migrated for the sake of Allah and His Messenger?”
Umm Kulthum replied: “Yes, but I fear the Messenger of Allah ﷺ might return me as he returned Abu Jandal ibn Suhayl and Abu Basir. My situation as a woman is different from that of men. My people have been without me for five days since I left them, and I fear they might follow my tracks and demand my return from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, as is the case with women like me whose menfolk pursue them.”
When the Prophet ﷺ entered upon Umm Salama, she informed him about Umm Kulthum. The Prophet ﷺ welcomed her and put her at ease. Then Allah revealed the verse about testing believing women who migrate:
“O you who have believed, when the believing women come to you as emigrants, examine them. Allah is most knowing of their faith. And if you know them to be believers, then do not return them to the disbelievers; they are not lawful [wives] for them, nor are they lawful [husbands] for them. But give the disbelievers what they have spent. And there is no blame upon you if you marry them when you have given them their due compensation. And hold not to marriage bonds with disbelieving women, but ask for what you have spent and let them ask for what they have spent. That is the judgement of Allah; He judges between you. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.”
— Qur’an 60:10
The Prophet ﷺ tested Umm Kulthum and said: “By Allah, you only left because of your love for Allah, His Messenger, and Islam, and not for a husband or wealth.” When she confirmed this, she was allowed to stay and not returned to her family. Thus, Umm Kulthum became the first woman to migrate alone from Makkah to Madinah.
Later Life and Legacy
Umm Kulthum remained in Madinah after the Prophet ﷺ refused to return her to her brothers Walid and Amarah. There is some difference of opinion about the date of her death:
- Ibn Abd al-Barr and Ibn al-Athir mentioned she died one month after her marriage to Amr ibn al-Aas during the caliphate of her brother Uthman ibn Affan (RA)
- Shams al-Din al-Dhahabi mentioned she died during the caliphate of Ali ibn Abi Talib (35-40 AH)
- Some sources mention she died in 40 AH while with her husband Amr ibn al-Aas in Egypt
Umm Kulthum’s story teaches us several important lessons:
- Courage in Faith: She embraced Islam despite her family’s opposition
- Determination: She was the first woman to migrate alone from Makkah to Madinah
- Trust in Allah: She put her complete trust in Allah during her dangerous journey
- Patience: She endured hardships for the sake of her faith
- Divine Protection: Allah revealed a Qur’anic verse specifically for her situation
Her story stands as a testament to the strength of faith and the rewards of sincere devotion to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.
Al-Isti’ab fi Ma’rifat al-Ashab by Ibn Abd al-Barr · Usd al-Ghabah by Ibn al-Athir · Siyar A’lam al-Nubala’ by al-Dhahabi · Al-Isabah fi Tamyiz al-Sahabah
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