Divorce

Fātimah bint Qays (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that Abu ‘Amr ibn Hafs divorced her irrevocably, while he was not present (and in another narration: “divorced her thrice”). He sent some barley to her with his representative and she was displeased with it. So he said: “By Allah, you are not entitled to receive anything from me.” She came to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and mentioned that to him. He said: “No financial maintenance is due to you upon him. (In another narration: 'or accommodation’)” Then the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) ordered her to observe her ‘Iddah (post-divorce waiting period) in the house of Umm Sharīk; then he said: “This is a woman whom my Companions frequently visit, so observe your ‘Iddah at the house of Ibn Umm Maktūm. He is a blind man and you can disrobe in his house. Then when you complete your ‘Iddah, inform me.” She said: “When I completed my ‘Iddah, I mentioned to him that both Mu‘āwiyah ibn Abu Sufyān and Abu Jahm proposed to me. Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘As for Abu Jahm, he never takes his stick off his shoulder, and as for Mu‘āwiyah, he is destitute and penniless. Marry Usāmah ibn Zayd,’” whom she disliked. Then he said: “Marry Usāmah ibn Zayd.” Fātimah said: “So I married him and Allah placed a lot of good in him, and I was pleased with him.”