Famous Muslim Women--Worth Reading

[- Femme -]

Here are the women we should strive to be..our heroes and role models.

 

Hawa: Mother of Mankind

 

Hawwa was the first woman and the first Muslimah to be created by Allah (s.w.t).

 

Hawwa represents, on the one hand, womanhood and, on the other, the source of human population. In fact, her name means "the source of life". Hawwa also has another meaning which is used to denote a reddy colour that is closer to the darker tone. There is an opinion that this could allude to her skin colour.

 

The name Hawwa itself is not mentioned in the Qur'an but is mentioned in hadeeth literature. For it is there that we get such information as the meaning of her name, how she was created and how many children she had.

 

For instance, Hawwa, according to the Qur'an, was created from Adam (see Surah an-Nisaa:1 and Surah az-Zumar:6). From Bukhari, this was further elucidated and we find that Hawwa was created from the upper rib of Adam.

 

Narrated Abu Huraira ® Allah's Apostle (s) said: "Treat women nicely, for a woman is created from a rib, and the most curved portion of the rib is its upper portion, so, if you should try to straighten it, it will break; but if you leave it as it is, it will remain crooked. So treat women nicely." (Bukhari) This hadeeth does not literally mean that women are crooked or evil by nature. What it means is that women are delicate and should be treated gently and with care. Furthermore, it has been explained that the breakage of the rib in case one tries to straighten it, stands for divorce which is the natural results of disagreement between the wife and her husband. In the Qur'an, the story of Adam and Hawwa can be found in three places, namely Surah al-Baqara:30-39, Surah al-A'araf:11-25, and Surah Ta-Ha:116-123. As the story goes, Allah created Adam from clay and taught him the names of things, that is knowledge. Then Allah said in the Qur'an (surah Ta-Ha:116-123):

 

When We said to the angels, "prostrate yourselves to Adam", they prostrated themselves, but Iblis: he refused. Then We said "O Adam! Verily this is an enemy to you and your wife: so let him not get you both out of the Garden, so that you art landed in misery. There is therein (enough provision) for you not to go hungry nor go naked. Nor to suffer from thirst, nor from the sun's heat.

 

But Satan whispered evil to him. He said "O Adam! Shall I lead you to the tree of eternity and to a kingdom that never decays?" In the result, they both ate of the tree, and so their nakedness appeared to them: they began to sew together, for their covering, leaves from the Garden: Thus did Adam disobey his Lord and fell into error.

 

But his Lord chose him (for His Grace): He turned to him and gave him guidance. He said "Get you down both of you, all together, from the Garden, with enmity one to another: but if as is sure, there comes to you guidance from Me, whosoever follows My guidance will not lose his way nor fall into misery.

 

In all cultures and its religious beliefs, traces of the story of Adam and Hawwa can be found, though it has been greatly distorted. However, it is important to note that the Quranic story of Adam and Hawwa differs from the Old Testament in that :

 

(i) Both Adam and Hawwa were equally guilty of disobeying Allah by eating from "that" tree. "That" tree does not mean an apple tree. Only Allah knows what fruit "that" tree bears.

 

(ii) Allah forgave Adam's and Hawwa's sins before their descent to earth.

 

(iii) It was part of Allah's will that Adam and Hawwa were to reside on earth. For, Allah in surah al-Baqara, ayah 30, He said that He is creating Adam as a vicegerent on earth. Furthermore, from the hadeeth we have: Abu Hurairah reported: The Apostle of Allah (s) said: 'When Adam and Moses held a discussion, Adam won. Moses said: "You are the same Adam who set people astray and had them ousted from Heaven". Adam asked: "Art you the same Moses whom Allah gave knowledge of all things and honoured you with Apostleship?" He replied: "Yes!" Adam said: "And yet you accused me of that which has written in my fate!" (Al-Muwatta')

 

When Adam and Hawwa landed on earth they were separated. According to traditions Hawwa landed in Jeddah while Adam landed somewhere in India (some say in Sri Lanka). Then on the ninth of Zhuh Hijjah, they met at 'Arafat. Thus, began their life together on earth till they were called back to Allah.

 

Hawwa gave birth twenty times and each time she had twins with the exception of her last birth, where she gave birth to only a son. In other words, she had thirty-nine children in total. The gap between each birth was two years.

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Sarah: Ibrahim's (pbuh) First Wife

 

Sarah was the only woman of Ibrahim's people to believe in Allah. She afterwards became his wife. She stood by her husband all the time when calling his people to Allah. When Ibrahim realized that no other than his wife and his nephew, Lut, was going to believe in his call, he decided to immigrate to a city caller Ur and another called Haran and then departed for Palestine with them. After Palestine, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) arrived in Egypt.

 

Abu Hurairah narrated that Ibrahim did not tell a lie except on three occasions: twice for the sake of Allah (Exalted and Almighty) when he said: "I am sick," when his people were holding a festival in honor of their gods, Ibrahim excused himself by saying he was sick, (Ch 37:89 Quran) and when he said: "(I have not done this but) the big idol has done it." The third was while Ibrahim and Sarah were on a journey. They passed through the territory of a tyrant. Someone said to the tyrant: "This man Ibrahim is accompanied by a very charming lady." So, he sent for Ibrahim and asked him about Sarah saying "Who is this lady?" Ibrahim said: "She is my sister." Ibrahim went to Sarah and said "O Sarah! There are no believers on the surface of the earth except you and me. This man asked me about you and I have told him that you are my sister. Do not contradict my statement." The tyrant then called Sarah, and when she went to him, he tried to take a hold of her with his hand, with evil intentions, but his hand got stiff and he was confounded. He asked Sarah: "Pray to Allah for me and I shall not harm you." So Sarah asked Allah to cure him and he was cured. He tried to take hold of her for the second time, but his hand got as stiff as or stiffer than before and he was more comfounded. He again requested Sarah: "Pray to Allah for me, and I will not harm you." Sarah asked Allah to again, and he became all right. He then called one of his guards who had brought her and said: "You have not brought me a human being but have brought me a devil." The tyrant then gave Hajar as a maid servant to Sarah. Ibrahim, gesturing with his hand, asked: "What has happened?" Sarah replied: "Allah has spoiled the evil plot of the infidel or immoral person and gave me Hajar for service."

 

Sarah had not born any children. Ibrahim had aged and his hair was gray after many years spent in calling people to Allah. Sarah thought she and Ibrahim were lonely because she could not have a child. Therefore, she offered her husband her servant Hajar in marriage. Hajar gave birth to her first son Ishmael (Isma'il) when Ibrahim was an old man.

 

Time passed. One day Ibrahim was sitting outside his tent, three angels descended to the earth. They came in human shapes and saluted Ibrahim. Ibrahim arose and welcomed them. He took them inside his tent thinking they were strangers and guests. He invited his guests to eat and placed before them a sumptuous meal of roasted calf. They were angels and did not eat. The angels gave Sarah glad tidings of the birth of a son, Isaac (Ishaq). She could hardly believe the news. As a "barren old woman" the news seemed to her too good to be true. Allah Almighty says:

 

There came Our messengers to Abraham with glad tidings. They said, "Peace!" He answered, "Peace!" and hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf. But when he saw their hands went not towards the (meal), he felt some mistrust of them, and conceived a fear of them. They said: "Fear not: We have been sent against the people of Lut." And his wife was standing (there), and she laughed (either, because the Messengers did not eat their food or for being glad for the destruction of the people of Lut). But we gave her glad tidings of Isaac, and after him, of Jacob. She said: "Alas for me! shall I bear a child, seeing I am an old woman, and my husband here is an old man? That would indeed be a wonderful thing!" They said: "Dost thou wonder at Allah's decree? The grace of Allah and His blessings on you, O ye people of the house! for He is indeed worthy of all praise, full of all glory!" (Hud 11: 69-73)

 

And thus were Sarah and Ibrahim blessed with the miraculous birth of a son in their old age.

[- Femme -]

Hajar Um Ismail

 

One of the most prominent distinguishing features of the Muslim woman is her deep faith in Allah (SWT), and her sincere conviction that whatever happens in this universe, and whatever fate befalls human beings, only happens through the will and decree of Allah (SWT); whatever befalls a person could not have been avoided, and whatever does not happen to a person could not have been made to happen. A person has no choice in this life but to strive towards the right path and to do good deeds - acts of worship and other acts - by whatever means one can, putting all his trust in Allah (SWT), submitting to His will, and believing that he is always in need of Allah's (SWT) help and support.

 

The story of Hajar offers the Muslim woman the most marvellous example of deep faith in Allah (SWT) and sincere trust in Him. Ibrahim 'May peace be upon him' (PBUH) left her at the Ka'bah in Makkah, above the well of Zamzam, at a time when there were no people and no water in the place. Hajar had no-one with her except her infant son Isma'il. She asked Ibrahim, calmly and with no trace of panic: "Has Allah (SWT) commanded you to do this, O Ibrahim?" Ibrahim (PBUH) said, "Yes." Her response reflected her acceptance and optimism: "Then He is not going to abandon us." (Reported by Bukhari in Kitab al-Anbiya)

 

Here was an extremely difficult situation: a man left his wife and infant son in a barren land, where there were no plants, no water, and no people, and went back to the distant land of Palestine. He left nothing with her but a sack of dates and a skin filled with water. Were it not for the deep faith and trust in Allah (SWT) that filled Hajar's heart, she would not have been able to cope with such a difficult situation; she would have collapsed straight away, and would not have become the woman whose name is forever remembered night and day by those who perform hajj and 'umrah at the house of Allah (SWT), every time they drink the pure water of Zamzam, and run between the mounts of Safa' and Marwah, as Hajar did on that most trying day...

[- Femme -]

Maryam Um Isa

 

Maryam (Mary), the mother of Isa (Jesus), was a pious Muslim woman during the time of Prophet Zakariyya. She was Maryam daughter Imran from the family lineage of Dawud (David), the offspring of the Children of Israel. In the Quran there is a chapter named Maryam which talks about Maryam, her birth, her story, the birth of her son Prophet Isa (Jesus), and other things. Allah also mentioned the story of her mother's pregnancy with her in Surah Al Imran.

 

Maryam's mother, Hannah, conceived and delivered Maryam when she was an old woman, at an age when women usually can no longer have babies. With the birth of a son in mind, Hannah vowed that she would dedicate the child to the service of the Sacred House in Jerusalem, dedicate the child for worship, freed from all worldly affairs. Instead Almighty Allah blessed Hannah with a daughter. She named the girl "Maryam," which literally means "maidservant of Allah," and she asked Allah to protect Maryam and her offspring from evil. Maryam could not be devoted to temple service as her mother had intended, due to being a female, under the Mosaic Law at the time. However, as the new born was marked out for a special destiny to be the mother of the miracle-child, Prophet Isa, Allah had accepted her for His service.

 

Since Maryam's father had died, she lived under the care of Zakariyya, who was the husband of Maryam's sister and the father of John “the Baptistâ€. He was a great man among Children of Israel at the time, to whom they would refer their religious matters. She grew up as a righteous, pure, and pious Muslim woman worshipping Allah and endeavoring greatly in performing obedience to Him.

 

The Holy Quran says:

 

(Remember) when the wife of 'Imran said: "O my Lord! I have vowed to You what (the child that) is in my womb to be dedicated for Your services (free from all worldly work; to serve Your Place of worship), so accept this, from me. Verily, You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knowing."

 

Then when she delivered her [child Maryam (Mary)], she said: "O my Lord! I have delivered a female child," - and Allah knew better what she delivered, - "And the male is not like the female, and I have named her Maryam, and I seek refuge with You (Allah) for her and for her offspring from Shaitan (Satan), the outcast." (Surah Al-Imran:35-36)

 

So her Lord (Allah) accepted her with goodly acceptance. He made her grow in a good manner and put her under the care of Zachariyya. Every time he entered Al-Mihrâb (a praying place or a private room) to (visit) her, he found her supplied with sustenance. He said: "O Maryam! From where have you got this?" She said, "This is from Allah." Verily, Allah provides sustenance to whom He wills, without limit." (Surah Al-Imran:37)

 

It has been mentioned that he would find her with winter fruit during the summer and summer fruit during the winter.

 

She became the best of the women in the world. It is mentioned in the Quran that the angels said Allah chose Maryam and preferred her to the other women of the world.

 

And (remember) when the angels said: "O Maryam (Mary)! Verily, Allah has chosen you, purified you, and chosen you above the women of the 'Alamîn (mankind and jinns)."

 

O Maryam! "Submit yourself with obedience to your Lord (Allah, by worshipping none but Him Alone) and prostrate yourself, and Irkâ'i (bow down etc.) along with Ar-Râki'ûn (those who bow down etc.)." (Surah Al-Imran:42-43)

 

And as the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "Many men reached the level of perfection, but no woman reached such a level except Maryam, the daughter of Imran and Asia, the wife of Pharaoh." (Hadith - Sahih Bukhari 4.643, Narrated Abu Musa Al Ashari )

 

Maryam was unique in that she gave birth to a son by a special miracle, without the intervention of the customary physical means. This of course does not mean that she was more than human, any more than her son was more than human. When Allah wanted to grant her His servant and messenger, Isa (peace be upon him), Maryam withdrew from her family and secluded herself from them. She retired to the eastern side of the Sacred Mosque in Jerusalem where she prayed. It was in this state that the angel appeared to her in the shape of a man. As she thought the angel was a man, she was frightened and asked him not to invade her privacy:

 

The angel said to her in response, and in order to remove the fear that she felt within herself, "I am not what you think, but I am a the messenger of your Lord." By this he meant, "Allah has sent me to you."

 

This means a proof and a sign for mankind of the power of their Maker and Creator, Who diversified them in their creation. He created their father, Adam, without a male or female. Then he created Hawwa (Eve, Adam's spouse) from a male (from the rib of Adam) without a female (mother). Then, He created the rest of their progeny from male and female, except Isa. He created Isa to be born from a female without a male. Thus, Allah completed the four types of creation of the human being, which proves the perfection of his power and the magnificence of His authority. There is no god worthy of worship except Him and there is no true Lord other than Him.

[- Femme -]

Aishah Bint Abu-Bakr

 

The life of Aishah is proof that a woman can be far more learned than men and that she can be the teacher of scholars and experts. Her life is also proof that a woman can exert influence over men and women and provide them with inspiration and leadership . Her life is also proof that the same woman can be totally feminine and be a source of pleasure, joy and comfort to her husband.

 

She did not graduate from any university there were no universities as such in her day. But still her utterances are studied in faculties of literature, her legal pronouncements are studied in colleges of law and her life and works are studied and resear ched by students and teachers of Muslim history as they have been for over a thousand years.

 

The bulk of her vast treasure of knowledge was obtained while she was still quite young. In her early childhood she was brought up by her father who was greatly liked and respected for he was a man of wide knowledge, gentle manners and an agreeable presen ce. Moreover he was the closest friend of the noble Prophet who was a frequent visitor to their home since the very early days of his mission.

 

In her youth, already known for her striking beauty and her formidable memory, she came under the loving care and attention of the Prophet himself. As his wife and close companion she acquired from him knowledge and insight such as no woman has ever acqui red.

 

Aishah became the Prophet's wife in Makkah when she was most likely in the tenth year of her life but her wedding did not take place until the second year after the Hijrah when she was about fourteen or fifteen years old. Before and after her wedding she maintained a natural jollity and innocence and did not seem at all overawed by the thought of being wedded to him who was the Messenger of God whom all his companions, including her own mother and father, treated with such love and reverence as they gave to no one else.

 

Of the Prophet's wives in Madinah, it was clear that it was Aishah that he loved most. From time to time, one or the other of his companions would ask:

 

"O Messenger of God, whom do you love most in the world?" He did not always give the same answer to this question for he felt great love for many for his daughters and their children, for Abu Bakr, for Ali, for Zayd and his son Usamah. But of his wives t he only one he named in this connection was Aishah. She too loved him greatly in return and often would seek reassurance from him that he loved her. Once she asked him: "How is your love for me?"

 

"Like the rope's knot," he replied meaning that it was strong and secure. And time after time thereafter, she would ask him: "How is the knot?" and he would reply: "Ala haaliha in the same condition.

Despite her feelings of jealousy which nonetheless were not of a destructive kind, Aishah was really a generous soul and a patient one. She bore with the rest of the Prophet's household poverty and hunger which often lasted for long periods. For days on e nd no fire would be lit in the sparsely furnished house of the Prophet for cooking or baking bread and they would live merely on dates and water. Poverty did not cause her distress or humiliation; self-sufficiency when it did come did not corrupt her styl e of life.

 

Aishah lived on almost fifty years after the passing away of the Prophet. She had been his wife for a decade. Much of this time was spent in learning and acquiring knowledge of the two most important sources of God's guidance, the Quran and the Sunnah of His Prophet. Aishah was one of three wives (the other two being Hafsah and Umm Salamah) who memorized the Revelation. Like Hafsah, she had her own script of the Quran written after the Prophet had died.

 

So far as the Ahadith or sayings of the Prophet is concerned, Aishah is one of four persons (the others being Abu Hurayrah, Abdullah ibn Umar, and Anas ibn Malik) who transmitted more than two thousand sayings. Many of these pertain to some of the most in timate aspects of personal behavior which only someone in Aishah's position could have learnt. What is most important is that her knowledge of hadith was passed on in written form by at least three persons including her nephew Urwah who became one of the greatest scholars among the generation after the Companions.

 

Many of the learned companions of the Prophet and their followers benefitted from Aishah's knowledge. Abu Musa al-Ashari once said: "If we companions of the Messenger of God had any difficulty on a matter, we asked Aishah about it."

 

Her nephew Urwah asserts that she was proficient not only in fiqh but also in medicine (tibb) and poetry. Many of the senior companions of the Prophet came to her to ask for advice concerning questions of inheritance which required a highly skilled mathem atical mind. Scholars regard her as one of the earliest fuqaha of Islam along with persons like Umar ibn al-Khattab, Ali and Abdullah ibn Abbas. The Prophet referring to her extensive knowledge of Islam is reported to have said: "Learn a portion of your r eligion (din) from this red colored lady." "Humayra" meaning "Red-coloured" was an epithet given to Aishah by the Prophet.

 

Aishah not only possessed great knowledge but took an active part in education and social reform. As a teacher she had a clear and persuasive manner of speech and her power of oratory has been described in superlative terms by al-Ahnaf who said: "I have heard speeches of Abu Bakr and Umar, Uthman and Ali and the Khulafa up to this day, but I have not heard speech more persuasive and more beautiful from the mouth of any person than from the mouth of Aishah."

 

Men and women came from far and wide to benefit from her knowledge. The number of women is said to have been greater than that of men. Besides answering enquiries, she took boys and girls, some of them orphans, into her custody and trained them under her care and guidance. This was in addition to her relatives who received instruction from her. Her house thus became a school and an academy.

 

Some of her students were outstanding. We have already mentioned her nephew Urwah as a distinguished reporter of hadith. Among her women pupils is the name of Umrah bint Abdur Rahman. She is regarded by scholars as one of the trustworthy narrators of ha dith and is said to have acted as Aishah's secretary receiving and replying to letters addressed to her. The example of Aishah in promoting education and in particular the education of Muslim women in the laws and teachings of Islam is one which needs to be followed.

 

After Khadijah al-Kubra (the Great) and Fatimah az-Zahra (the Resplendent), Aishah as-Siddiqah (the one who affirms the Truth) is regarded as the best woman in Islam. Because of the strength of her personality, she was a leader in every field in knowledg e, in society, in politics and in war. She often regretted her involvement in war but lived long enough to regain position as the most respected woman of her time. She died in the year 58 AH in the month of Ramadan and as she instructed, was buried in the Jannat al-Baqi in the City of Light, beside other companions of the Prophet.

[- Femme -]

Assiya: The Pharoh's Wife

 

Narrated Abû Mûsa (radhi Allahu anhu) : Allah's Messenger (salallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, "Many amongst men reached (the level of) perfection but none amongst the women reached this level except Assiyya - Pharaoh's wife, and Mary - the daughter of 'Imrân. And no doubt, the superiority of 'Aisha to other women is like the superiority of Tharid (i.e. a meat and bread dish) to other meals." (Sahih Al-Bukharî, Vol. 4, Hadîth No. 623).

 

Not much is known about Assiyya, the wife of Pharaoh. She brought Moses into her home when he was a baby, as is recorded in the Quran:

 

And We inspired the mother of Mûsa (Moses), (saying): "Suckle him [Mûsa (Moses)], but when you fear for him, then cast him into the river and fear not, nor grieve. Verily! We shall bring him back to you, and shall make him one of (Our) Messengers."

 

Then the household of Fir'aun (Pharaoh) picked him up, that he might become for them an enemy and a (cause of) grief. Verily! Fir'aun (Pharaoh), Hâmân and their hosts were sinners.

 

And the wife of Fir'aun (Pharaoh) said: "A comfort of the eye for me and for you. Kill him not, perhaps he may be of benefit to us, or we may adopt him as a son." And they perceive not (the result of that). (Surah 28:7-9)

 

Later, few believed in the Prophethood of Moses except some children of his People, because of the fear of Pharaoh and his chiefs. They feared the persecution of Pharaoh as certainly Pharaoh was mighty on the earth and one who transgressed all bounds. Yet, Assiyya, Pharaoh's own wife recognized the truth of Moses' message. She answered Moses' call and became a Muslim, despite the fact that she was the wife of Pharaoh - the man who claimed to be God Himself - and despite all that she possessed through being the wife of a king. She refused that and chose to be in God's company. This is a great example of how a woman chose the Hereafter over and above all of the wealth of this world. She remained firm on her faith in God despite persecution of all sorts:

 

(Pharaoh) said: "Believe ye in Him before I give you permission? Surely this must be your leader, who has taught you magic! be sure I will cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will have you crucified on trunks of palm-trees: so shall ye know for certain, which of us can give the more severe and the more lasting punishment!" (Surah 20:71)

 

The Quran sets her as an example for the believers to stay away from evil and sin despite the full assault of the devil:

 

"God sets forth an example for those who believe --- the wife of Pharaoh who said: My Lord, build for me with Thee a house in heaven, and save me from the Pharaoh and his doings, and save me from an unjust people.''(Surah 66:11)

[- Femme -]

Wives of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

 

1. Khadijah bint Khuwaylid

 

2. Sawada bint Zam'a

 

3. A'isha Siddiqa bint Abu Bakr

 

4. Hafsa bint 'Umar

 

5. Zaynab bint Khuzayma

 

6. Umm Salama Hind bint Abi Umayya

 

7. Zaynab bint Jahsh

 

8. Juwayriya bint al-Harith

 

9. Umm Habiba Ramla bint Abi Sufyan 10.Safiyya

Bint Huyayy

 

11. Maymuna bint al-Harith

 

12. Maria al-Qibtiyya

[Wiilo]

Jzk sis........this is an excellent post and Educational i might add.......thanks.

 

 

Wabillaahi Towfiiq:

[Wiilo]

Asmaa Bint Abu Bakr

 

 

Asmaa bint Abu Bakr belonged to a distinguished Muslim family.

Her father, Abu Bakr, was a close friend of the Prophet and the

first Khalifah after his death. Her half- sister, A'ishah, was

a wife of the Prophet and one of the Ummahat al-Mu 'm ineen. Her

husband, Zubayr ibn al- Awwam, was one of the special personal

aides of the Prophet. Her son, Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr, became

well- known for his incorruptibility and his unswerving devotion

to Truth.

 

Asmaa herself was one of the first persons to accept Islam. Only

about seventeen persons including both men and women became

Muslims before her. She was later given the nickname Dhat

an-Nitaqayn (the One with the Two Waistbands) because of an

incident connected with the departure of the Prophet and her

father from Makkah on the historic hijrah to Madinah.

 

Asmaa was one of the few persons who knew of the Prophet's plan

to leave for Madinah. The utmost secrecy had to be maintained

because of the Quraysh plans to murder the Prophet. On the night

of their departure, Asmaa was the one who prepared a bag of food

and a water container for their journey. She did not find

anything though with which to tie the containers and decided to

use her waistband or nitaq. Abu Bakr suggested that she tear it

into two. This she did and the Prophet commended her action.

From then on she became known as "the One with the Two

Waistbands".

 

When the final emigration from Makkah to Madinah took place soon

after the departure of the Prophet, Asmaa was pregnant. She did

not let her pregnancy or the prospect of a long and arduous

journey deter her from leaving. As soon as she reached Quba on

the outskirts of Madinah, she gave birth to a son, Abdullah. The

Muslims shouted AllaXu Akbar (God is the Greatest) and Laa

ilaaha illa Allah (There is no God but Allah) in happiness and

thanksgiving because this was the first child to be born to the

muhajireen in Madinah.

 

Asmaa became known for her fine and noble qualities and for the

keenness of her intelligence. She was an extremely generous

person. Her son Abdullah once said of her, "I have not seen two

women more generous than my aunt A'ishah and my mother Asmaa.

But their generosity was expressed in different ways. My aunt

would accumulate one thing after another until she had gathered

what she felt was sufficient and then distributed it all to

those in need. My mother, on the other hand, would not keep

anything even for the morrow."

 

Asmaa's presence of mind in difficult circumstances was

remarkable. When her father left Makkah, he took all his wealth,

amounting to some six thousand dirhams, with him and did not

leave any for his family. When Abu Bakr's father, Abu Quhafah

(he was still a mushrik) heard of his departure he went to his

house and said to Asmaa:

 

"I understand that he has left you bereft of money after he

himself has abandoned you."

 

"No, grandfather," replied Asmaa, "in fact he has left us much

money." She took some pebbles and put them in a small recess in

the wall where they used to put money. She threw a cloth over

the heap and took the hand of her grandfather --he was

blind--and said, "See how much money he has left us".

 

Through this strategem, Asmaa wanted to allay the fears of the

old man and to forestall him from giving them anything of his

own wealth. This was because she disliked receiving any

assistance from a mushrik even if it was her own grandfather.

 

She had a similar attitude to her mother and was not inclined to

compromise her honour and her faith. Her mother, Qutaylah, once

came to visit her in Madinah. She was not a Muslim and was

divorced from her father in preIslamic times. Her mother brought

her gifts of raisins, clarified butter and qaraz (pods of a

species of sant tree). Asmaa at first refused to admit her into

her house or accept the gifts. She sent someone to A'ishah to

ask the Prophet, peace be upon him, about her attitude to her

mother and he replied that she should certainly admit her to her

house and accept the gifts. On this occasion, the following

revelation came to the Prophet:

 

"God forbids you not, with regard to those who do not fight you

because of your faith nor drive you out of your homes, from

dealing kindly and justly with them. God loves those who are

just. God only forbids you with regard to those who fight you

for your Faith, and drive you from your homes, and support

others in driving you out, from turning to them (for friendship

and protection). It is such as turn to them (in these

circumstances) that do wrong." (Surah al-Mumtahanah 60: 8-9).

 

For Asmaa and indeed for many other Muslims, life in Madinah was

rather difficult at first. Her husband was quite poor and his

only major possession to begin with was a horse he had bought.

Asmaa herself described these early days:

 

"I used to provide fodder for the horse, give it water and groom

it. I would grind grain and make dough but I could not bake

well. The women of the Ansar used to bake for me. They were

truly good women. I used to carry the grain on my head from

az-Zubayr's plot which the Prophet had allocated to him to

cultivate. It was about three farsakh (about eight kilometres)

from the town's centre. One day I was on the road carrying the

grain on my head when I met the Prophet and a group of Sahabah.

He called out to me and stopped his camel so that I could ride

behind him. I felt embarrassed to travel with the Prophet and

also remembered az-Zubayr's jealousy--he was the most jealous of

men. The Prophet realised that I was embarrassed and rode on."

 

Later, Asmaa related to az-Zubayr exactly what had happened and

he said, "By God, that you should have to carry grain is far

more distressing to me than your riding with (the Prophet)".

 

Asmaa obviously then was a person of great sensitivity and

devotion. She and her husband worked extremely hard together

until their situation of poverty gradually changed. At times,

however, az-Zubayr treated her harshly. Once she went to her

father and complained to him about this. His reply to her was:

"My daughter, have sabr for if a woman has a righteous husband

and he dies and she does not marry after him, they will be

brought together again in Paradise."

 

Az-Zubayr eventually became one of the richest men among the

Sahabah but Asmaa did not allow this to corrupt her principles.

Her son, al-Mundhir once sent her an elegant dress from Iraq

made of fine and costly material. Asmaa by this time was blind.

She felt the material and said, "It's awful. Take it back to

him".

 

Al-Mundhir was upset and said, "Mother, it was not transparent."

 

"It may not be transparent," she retorted, "but it is too

tight-fitting and shows the contours of the body."

 

Al-Mundhir bought another dress that met with her approval and

she accepted it.

 

If the above incidents and aspects of Asmaa's life may easily be

forgotten, then her final meeting with her son, Abdullah, must

remain one of the most unforgettable moments in early Muslim

history. At that meeting she demonstrated the keenness of her

intelligence, her resoluteness and the strength of her faith.

 

Abdullah was in the running for the Caliphate after the death of

Yazid ibn Mu'awiyah. The Hijaz, Egypt, Iraq, Khurasan and much

of Syria were favourable to him and acknowledged him as the

Caliph. The Ummayyads however continued to contest the Caliphate

and to field a massive army under the command of Al-Hajjaj ibn

Yusuf ath-Thaqafi. Relentless battles were fought between the

two sides during which Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr displayed great

acts of courage and heroism. Many of his supporters however

could not withstand the continuous strain of battle and

gradually began to desert him. Finally he sought refuge in the

Sacred Mosque at Makkah. It was then that he went to his mother,

now an old blind woman, and said:

 

"Peace be on you, Mother, and the mercy and blessings of God."

 

"Unto you be peace, Abdullah," she replied. "What is it that

brings you here at this hour while boulders from Hajjaj's

catapults are raining down on your soldiers in the Haram and

shaking the houses of Makkah?" "I came to seek your advice," he

said.

 

"To seek my advice?" she asked in astonishment. "About what?"

 

"The people have deserted me out of fear of Hajjaj or being

tempted by what he has to offer. Even my children and my family

have left me. There is only a small group of men with me now and

however strong and steadfast they are they can only resist for

an hour or two more. Messengers of the Banu Umayyah (the

Umayyads) are now negotiating with me, offering to give me

whatever wordly possessions I want, should I lay down my arms

and swear allegiance to Abdul Malik ibn Marwan. What do you

think?"

 

Raising her voice, she replied:

 

"It's your affair, Abdullah, and you know yourself better. If

however you think that you are right and that you are standing

up for the Truth, then persevere and fight on as your companions

who were killed under your flag had shown perseverance. If

however you desire the world, what a miserable wretch you are.

You would have destroyed yourself and you would have destroyed

your men."

 

"But I will be killed today, there is no doubt about it."

 

"That is better for you than that you should surrender yourself

to Hajjaj voluntarily and that some minions of Banu Umayyah

should play with your head."

 

"I do not fear death. I am only afraid that they will mutilate

me."

 

"There is nothing after death that man should be afraid of.

Skinning does not cause any pain to the slaughtered sheep."

 

Abdullah's face beamed as he said:

 

"What a blessed mother! Blessed be your noble qualities! I have

come to you at this hour to hear what I have heard. God knows

that I have not weakened or despaired. He is witness over me

that I have not stood up for what I have out of love for this

world and its attractions but only out of anger for the sake of

God. His limits have been transgressed. Here am I, going to what

is pleasing to you. So if I am killed, do not grieve for me and

commend me to God."

 

"I shall grieve for you," said the ageing but resolute Asmaa,

"only if you are killed in a vain and unjust cause."

 

"Be assured that your son has not supported an unjust cause, nor

committed any detestable deed, nor done any injustice to a

Muslim or a Dhimmi and that there is nothing better in his sight

than the pleasure of God, the Mighty, the Great. I do not say

this to exonerate myself. God knows that I have only said it to

make your heart firm and steadfast. "

 

"Praise be to God who has made you act according to what He

likes and according fo what I like. Come close to me, my son,

that I may smell and feel your body for this might be the last

meeting with you."

 

Abdullah knelt before her. She hugged him and smothered his

head, his face and his neck with kisses. Her hands began to

squeeze his body when suddenly she withdrew them and asked:

 

"What is this you are wearing, Abdullah?"

 

"This is my armour plate."

 

"This, my son, ls not the dress of one who desires martyrdom.

Take it off. That will make your movements lighter and quicker.

Wear instead the sirwal (a long under garment) so that if you

are killed your 'awrah will not be exposed.

 

Abdullah took off his armour plate and put on the sirwal. As he

left for the Haram to join the fighting he said:

 

"My mother, don't deprive me of your dada (prayer)."

 

Raising her hands to heaven, she prayed:

 

"O Lord, have mercy on his staying up for long hours and his

loud crying in the darkness of the night while people slept . .

.

 

"O Lord, have mercy on his hunger and his thirst on his journeys

from Madinah and Makkah while he fasted . . .

 

"O Lord, bless his righteousness to his mother and his father .

. .

 

"O Lord, I commend him to Your cause and I am pleased with

whatever You decree for him. And grant me for his sake the

reward of those who are patient and who persevere."

 

By sunset, Abdullah was dead. Just over ten days later, his

mother joined him. She was a hundred years old. Age had not

made her infirm nor blunted the keenness of her mind.

 

 

Wabillaahi Towfiiq:...............