Umm AlFadl, Lubabah bint Al-Harith
أم الفضل , لبابة بنت الحارث بن مزن الهلالية

One source of great support and consolation for the Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) and one who was among the first people to support Islam was Lubabah bint al-Harith, the full-sister of the Messenger's (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) wife Maymunah.

She was known as Umm AlFadl. She became Muslim after Khadijah, thus, becoming the second woman to embrace Islam (radiAllahu anhuma).


Lubabah, her husband Al-'Abbas, and their sons used to hide their Islam, in obedience to the Messenger's (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) command and in accordance with a well-thought-out plan. They were able to learn the secrets of the idolaters in order to convey them to the Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam).

When the battle of Badr took place between the Muslims and the idolaters and news came of the defeat of Quraysh, Umm AlFadl urged her sons and her freed slave Abu Rafi' to hide their celebrated feeling at this defeat, because she was aware that the idolaters such as Abu Lahab, who was filled with hatred towards the Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), his companions and his message, would harm them.


However, her freed slave Abu Rafi' could not contain his joy and happiness, and expressed his emotions at the Muslims' victory in front of Abu Lahab.
Abu Lahab became extremely angry and vented his fury on him, beating him in the presence of Umm AlFadl.

Umm AlFadl came and attacked Abu Lahab shouting, "You pick on him when his master is absent!" She struck him with one of the (wooden) pillars of the house with a fatal blow to the head. Abu Lahab did not live more than seven days after that.


The Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) commanded that Al'Abbas should stay in Makkah, and she should migrate to Madinah. Thus, Umm AlFadl became separated from her husband Al-'Abbas, and withstood it with patience, for the sake of Allah (subhanahu wa Ta'ala).

Their separation was a lengthy and difficult one, but Umm AlFadl bore it patiently, hoping for reward and seeking help from Allah (subhanahu wa Ta'ala) through prayer and fasting, waiting for her beloved husband's arrival in Madinah. He was one of the last to migrate to Madinah.

The only thing that helped to ease the pain of this separation was seeing her eldest son 'Abdullah, accompanying the Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) daily.


Um Al-Fadl had several children, including, Abdullah ibn al Abbas - born 3 years before Hijrah, Ubaydullaah ibn Al Abbas, Qutham ibn al Abbas, Ma'bad ibn Al Abbas, Abdur Rahman ibn Al Abbas.
She was to be the great mother of the great authority on Islamic teaching and the interpretation of the Qur'an, since she was the mother of Abdullah ibn al-Abbas (radhi Allahu anhu)

RadiAllahu anha.

Resources:
Seerah of Ibn Hisham
Kitab at-Tabaqat al-Kabir - Muhammad Ibn Sa'd
The Women of Madina - Translated by Aisha Bewley