Umm Hakeem in the battle of Marj as-Sufr

Umm Hakeem bint al-Harith ibn Hisham was married to 'Ikrimah ibn Abi Jahl, who was killed during the battle of al-Yarmook. She observed the 'iddah of four months & ten days, then Yazeed ibn Abi Sufyan propsed to her, but Khalid ibn Sa'eed had sent word to her hinting at marriage. She got engaged to Khalid ibn Sa'eed and he married her. When the Muslims camped in Marj as-Sufr, Khalid wanted to spend the wedding night with Umm Hakeem. She said: "Why don't you delay it until this battle is over." He said: "I have a feeling that I will be killed." She said, "It is up to you." So he spent the wedding night with her at the bridge in Marj as-Sufr, hence the bridge became known as the bridge of Umm Hakeem. And he gave a wedding feast for her and invited his companions to come and eat. When they had finished eating, the Romans drew up ranks and Khalid ibn Sa'eed went out for single combat and was killed. Umm Hakeem tied up her garments and went out, ready to fight, still with traces of perfume on her. They fought a fierce battle at the river and both sides endured with patience, exchanging blows with their swords. On that day, Umm Hakeem killed seven men with the pole of the tent which she had spent her wedding night with Khalid.

[al-Isti'ab fee Ma'rifatil Ashab, 4/486 & Dawr al-Mar'ah as-Siyasi p. 313]

jazakAllahu khayr for sharing.