The sound position is what Yūnus has transmitted from Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq, who said: “It has reached me that the one who acted as her guardian in the marriage was her cousin Khālid ibn Saʿīd ibn al-ʿĀṣ.”

I say: The person who served as the Messenger of Allah’s ﷺ proxy in accepting the contract was Aṣḥama the Negus, king of Abyssinia, as Yūnus likewise related from Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq: Abū Jaʿfar Muḥammad ibn ʿAlī ibn al-Ḥusayn told me that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ dispatched ʿAmr ibn Umayya al-Ḍamrī to the Negus, who married him to Umm Ḥabībah bint Abī Sufyān and paid on his behalf four hundred dinars.

Al-Zubayr ibn Bakkār (1) narrated: Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥasan told me, from his father, from ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAmr ibn Zuhayr, from Ismāʿīl ibn ʿAmr, that Umm Ḥabībah bint Abī Sufyān said:

“I was unaware of anything while in the land of Abyssinia until the Negus’s messenger—a maidservant named Abraha, who tended his clothes and perfume—came to me. She asked permission to enter, and I permitted her. She said, ‘The king says to you: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ has written to me asking that I marry you to him.’ I replied, ‘May Allah give you glad tidings of good.’ She then added, ‘The king says: Appoint someone to act as your guardian for the marriage.’ Accordingly, I sent for Khālid ibn Saʿīd ibn al-ʿĀṣ and appointed him as my proxy. Out of joy at the news, I gave Abraha two silver bracelets, two silver anklets, and silver rings that adorned every toe of my feet.

“When evening came, the Negus summoned Jaʿfar ibn Abī Ṭālib and the Muslims who were present. He delivered an address, saying:

‘Praise be to Allah, the King, the Most Holy, the Source of Peace, the Faithful, the Guardian, the Mighty, the Compeller. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muḥammad is His servant and Messenger, the one about whom Jesus son of Mary gave glad tidings. To proceed: the Messenger of Allah ﷺ has written to me asking that I marry him Umm Ḥabībah bint Abī Sufyān. I have responded to the request of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and I have given her a dowry of four hundred dinars.’

“He then poured the dinars before the assembly. Khālid ibn Saʿīd spoke, saying:

‘Praise be to Allah; I praise Him and seek His forgiveness. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muḥammad is His servant and Messenger, whom He sent with guidance and the religion of truth so that He might make it prevail over all religion, even though the idolaters detest it. To proceed: I have complied with the request of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and have married him Umm Ḥabībah bint Abī Sufyān. May Allah bless the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.’

“The Negus handed the dinars to Khālid ibn Saʿīd, and he accepted them. When the people wished to rise, the Negus said, ‘Remain seated, for it is from the prophets’ Sunnah that when they marry, food is served on the occasion.’ He then called for food; they ate, and thereafter dispersed.”

I say: Perhaps when ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ saw ʿAmr ibn Umayya leaving the Negus after the Battle of the Trench, it was concerning the matter of Umm Ḥabībah. Allah knows best.

Yet al-Ḥāfiẓ al-Bayhaqī (3) stated that Abū ʿAbd Allāh ibn Mandah reported the Prophet’s ﷺ marriage to Umm Ḥabībah as occurring in year six, and his marriage to Umm Salamah in year four.