Her name and lineage
Hind was her first name and Umm-e-Salmah was her surname.  She was the daughter of Abi Umayyah Suhail who belonged to the Makhzoom family of the Quraish tribe.  Her mother’s name was Aatikah and belonged to the family of Banu Faras.  Hazrat Umm-e-Salmah was brought up in affluence and prosperity under the affectionate care of her father.

Marriage to the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam)
Her first marriage was to Abdullah who was better known as Abu Salmah.  He was a cousin of Umm-e-Salmah (Radi’Allahu Anha) and a foster brother of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam).  Abu Salmah (Radi’Allahu Anhu) was a great horseman; he had fought in the Battles of Badr and Uhud.  In the Battle of Uhud, he received severe injuries and could not survive.  Umm-e-Salmah (Radi’Allahu Anha) was distressed and very sad.  The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) personally led the funeral prayer of Abu Salmah (Radi’Allahu Anhu).

Umm-e-Salmah (Radi’Allahu Anha) was pregnant at the time.  After delivery and passing the legal time of Iddat, Abu Bakr (Radi’Allahu Anhu) proposed to her but she declined.  Thereafter, Umar (Radi’Allahu Anhu) bought the proposal of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) to her, to which she raised a few points.  She said, ‘I am a very proud woman, I am having dependent children and I am advanced in age.’  The Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) agreed and acknowledged these points and agreed for the re-marriage.  She was therefore married in 4AH.

Her features and Excellence
Umm-e-Salmah (Radi’Allahu Anha) was exceedingly beautiful and her hair was very thick.  As regards to her intellectual qualities and scholarship, no one excelled Umm-e-Salmah (Radi’Allahu Anha) and Hazrat Aisha (Radi’Allahu Anha).  Both ladies were a store house of the Traditions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam).
She recited the Qur’aan in the same way as the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam).  When asked, how did the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) recite the Holy Qur’aan, she demonstrated in her own voice and said that he (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) recited the verses clearly and singularly.

In the Science of Hadith, she had no rival except Aisha (Radi’Allahu Anha).  It has been reported that she narrated as many as 378 Traditions.  She was very eager to hear the speech, discourse and Traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam), as well as being well-versed in Islamic Jurisprudence.

Her Conduct and Character
Every month, Umm-e-Salmah (Radi’Allahu Anha) would fast on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.  She was always in search of virtues and looked after her children with utmost affection.  She was very generous and advised others to be generous.  Once some women came to her and started begging repeatedly.  Umm-ul-Hasan (Radi’Allahu Anha) was sitting nearby and disliked this and admonished them.  Umm-e-Salmah (Radi’Allahu Anha) asked her not to admonish them because Allah had not asked us to do so.  She asked her maid servant to give them something, even a single date to each.

Once she was sitting with the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) when Hazrat Jibra’il (as) came down and had a conversion with the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam).  After he left, the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) asked her if she knew who the stranger was.  She replied, ‘He was Dihya (in whose surveillance Jibra’il (as) used to visit the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam)).  Later she came to know that he was actually Jibra’il (as).  This incidence was indicative of her high spiritual status.