The correct answer is Ummul Mumineen Hazrat Hafsah bint-e-Umar (R.A.). In the early Islamic era, the preservation of the Divine Message was a collective effort of the Sahaba, but the role of women was particularly foundational. Hazrat Hafsah (R.A.), the... Read More
The correct answer is Ummul Mumineen Hazrat Hafsah bint-e-Umar (R.A.). In the early Islamic era, the preservation of the Divine Message was a collective effort of the Sahaba, but the role of women was particularly foundational. Hazrat Hafsah (R.A.), the daughter of the second Caliph, Hazrat Umar ibn al-Khattab (R.A.), holds the unique distinction of being the first woman to commit the entire Holy Quran to memory. Her contribution, however, extended far beyond personal memorization; she became the literal custodian of the written word during a period of great transition for the Muslim Ummah.
Hazrat Hafsah (R.A.) was born in Makkah approximately five years before the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) received his first revelation. From a young age, she displayed an intellect and temperament that mirrored her father’s—firm, dedicated, and deeply principled. Unlike many of her contemporaries, she was literate, having been taught to read and write by a woman named Ash-Shifa bint Abdullah. This literacy was rare in 7th-century Arabia and served as the precursor to her future role as a protector of the Quranic manuscripts.
She was among the early converts to Islam and participated in the migration (Hijrah) to Madinah with her first husband, Khunais ibn Hudhaifa. After her husband was martyred during the Battle of Badr, she was eventually wed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), joining his household as an "Ummul Mumineen" (Mother of the Believers).
Living within the household of the Prophet (PBUH) provided Hazrat Hafsah (R.A.) with a unique vantage point. As verses were revealed, she was often present to hear them firsthand. Her commitment to the Quran was not merely academic; it was a spiritual discipline. She spent her nights in prayer and her days in study, meticulously memorizing the verses and ensuring her understanding of the context behind each revelation. Her sharp memory made her one of the primary sources for the companions when they needed to verify specific wording or the order of the Surahs.
The most critical chapter in her life began after the passing of the Prophet (PBUH). During the Caliphate of Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A.), the Battle of Yamama resulted in the martyrdom of many Huffaz (memorizers). Fearing that parts of the Quran might be lost, the Caliph ordered the first official compilation of the Quran into a single written volume.
After the death of Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A.), this master copy—known as the Mushaf—was passed to Hazrat Umar (R.A.). Upon his martyrdom, the responsibility of guarding this sacred treasure did not pass to the next Caliph or a male relative, but to Hazrat Hafsah (R.A.). She kept this original manuscript in her home for years, protecting it from damage or alteration.
When Hazrat Usman (R.A.) later decided to standardize the Quranic script to prevent regional variations in recitation, he requested the master copy from Hazrat Hafsah (R.A.). This original manuscript served as the primary reference point for the standardized versions sent across the Islamic world. Without her diligent guardianship, the textual integrity of the Quran during its most vulnerable transition period would have been at risk.
Hazrat Hafsah (R.A.) passed away in Madinah around 45 A.H. (665 A.D.), leaving behind a legacy of scholarship. She narrated approximately 60 Ahadith and remained a central figure of guidance for the community until her final breath. Her life remains a powerful testament to the intellectual and spiritual authority held by women in the early days of Islam.
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