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اَلْحَمْدُ للّٰهِ رَبِّ العَالَمِيْنَ وَالصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلىَ اَشْرَفِ اْللأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِيْنَ سَيِّدِناَ وَمَوْلٰنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى اٰلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ اَجْمَعِيْنَ، اَمَّا بَعْدُ.
During the first years of Islam, the polytheists tried to force Muslims to exit their religion through unbearable tortures and to intimidate and dissuade those who tended to be Muslims. However, the Companions whose strength originated from their belief persevered in their belief and did not make any concessions.
This situation distressed Rasulullahﷺ. Once, he told the Companions that they could migrate to Abyssinia if they wished. Upon this, offer, a group of 15 Companions migrated to Abyssinia. The Negus of Abyssinia treated the Muslims very well and entertained them. When Rasulullahﷺ heard about it, he became very happy and advised the other Muslims to migrate, too. Thus, 92 people, 82 of whom were male and 10 of whom were female, migrated in the way of Allah, leaving their homeland.
One of them was Saydatuna Asma bint Umaysرضي الله عنه. Saydatuna Asma bint Umaysرضي الله عنه was married to Sayiduna Jafar Ibn Abu Talib رضي الله عنه, Rasulullahﷺ’s paternal uncle's son. This happy family had three children in Abyssinia. Saydatuna Asma bint Umaysرضي الله عنه and Sayiduna Jafar Ibn Abu Talib رضي الله عنه lived there for a long time with the other muhajirs. They migrated to Madinah in the 7th year of the Migration. Thus, they gained the reward of "two migrations".
Saydatuna Asma bint Umaysرضي الله عنه often visited the wives of Rasulullahصَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. Once, she visited Sayidatuna Hafsah رضي الله عنه . After a while, Sayidatuna Hafsah رضي الله عنه ’s father, Sayiduna Umar Ibn Al Khattab رضي الله عنه arrived. He jokingly told Saydatuna Asma bint Umaysرضي الله عنه, "We were better off than you regarding migration." Saydatuna Asma bint Umaysرضي الله عنه felt very sad. Saydatuna Asma bint Umaysرضي الله عنه addressed Sayiduna Umar Ibn Al Khattab رضي الله عنه as follows:
“O Umar! No, you were not because you were with the Messenger of Allah. Rasulullahﷺ fed those of you who were hungry and advised those of you who were ignorant. However, were in the land of the enemy and we went there for the sake of Allah and His messenger.”
Meanwhile, the Messenger of Allah arrived. Saydatuna Asma bint Umaysرضي الله عنه was sad. She told Rasulullahﷺ what Sayiduna Umar Ibn Al Khattab رضي الله عنه had said. Rasulullahﷺ gave her the following glad tiding, which rejoiced her:
“Umar and his friends had one migration but you, the voyagers through the sea, had two migrations.”
There could not have been a better glad tiding than the one given by Rasulullahصَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ for Saydatuna Asma bint Umaysرضي الله عنه. Saydatuna Asma bint Umaysرضي الله عنه was moved and she wept for joy.[1]
When Saydatuna Asma bint Umaysرضي الله عنه wanted to do something, she would ask Rasulullahﷺ about it and act accordingly. Once, she asked Rasulullahﷺ, “O Messenger of Allah! My children are touched by evil eyes. Shall I make somebody read and pray for them?” Rasulullahﷺ said, “Yes. If anything could prevent qadar, it would be the evil eye.”[2]
Saydatuna Asma bint Umaysرضي الله عنه had nine sisters. All of them became Muslims. Rasulullahﷺ called them “believing sisters” They liked this nickname and liked to be called like that.
Saydatuna Asma bint Umaysرضي الله عنه led a happy life that served as a model with Sayiduna Jafar Ibn Abu Talib رضي الله عنه. Saydatuna Asma bint Umaysرضي الله عنه fulfilled all of her duties fully and never disrespected her husband. They led a happy life. Their days passed like that.
In the 8th year of the Migration, Rasulullahصَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ prepared an army to fight the Byzantines. He appointed Zayd bin Haritha as the commander. If he were to be martyred, Sayiduna Jafar Ibn Abu Talib رضي الله عنه would be the commander.
Sayiduna Jafar Ibn Abu Talib رضي الله عنه said goodbye to his wife and kissed her children. Then, he left. When the army left Madinah, Saydatuna Asma bint Umaysرضي الله عنه felt that she would never see her husband again.
After a few weeks, the Islamic army confronted the Byzantines near Mut'ah. The enemy had more soldiers and weapons than the Muslims did. However, the mujahids who left Madinah with the thought of "martyrdom" did not give any importance to the enemy's size. They attacked heroically. It was a great battle. The Muslims gained a victory. However, Sayiduna Jafar Ibn Abu Talib رضي الله عنه was martyred. There were more than 90 cuts of swords and spears on his body. In addition, both of his arms had been cut off.
Allah Almighty showed his beloved Rasulullahصَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ on the battlefield. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) told his Companions that Sayiduna Jafar Ibn Abu Talib رضي الله عنه was martyred, that Allah Almighty gave him two wings for his arms that were cut off, and that he flew to Paradise with them. After that, Sayiduna Jafar Ibn Abu Talib رضي الله عنه was given the names “Tayyar [Flyer]” and “Dhul-janahayn [Having Two Wings]”.[3]
Saydatuna Asma bint Umaysرضي الله عنه and her children were waiting for Sayiduna Jafar Ibn Abu Talib رضي الله عنه. They did not know that he had been martyred. The Prophet went to Sayiduna Jafar Ibn Abu Talib رضي الله عنه’s house. He asked Saydatuna Asma bint Umaysرضي الله عنه where the children were. Saydatuna Asma bint Umaysرضي الله عنه held their hands and brought them to Rasulullahصَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَt. Saydatuna Asma bint Umaysرضي الله عنه had washed their faces and combed their hair. The Messenger of Allah held them to his breast and kissed them. Meanwhile, tears fell from his eyes.
This made Saydatuna Asma bint Umaysرضي الله عنه worried. Saydatuna Asma bint Umaysرضي الله عنه said, “O Messenger of Allah! May my mother and father be sacrificed for you! Why are you weeping? Did you receive any sad news from Jafar and his friends?”
Rasulullahصَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ said, “Yes. They were martyred today. Saydatuna Asma bint Umays رضي الله عنه could not control her feelings. Saydatuna Asma bint Umays رضي الله عنه started to cry loudly and beat her chest. The Prophet did not like it when she did so and said to her, “O Asma! Do not utter any bad words and do not beat your chest.”
The women gathered around Saydatuna Asma bint Umays رضي الله عنه. Rasulullahصَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ went home and said to his wives, “Sayiduna Jafar Ibn Abu Talib رضي الله عنه's family is not in a position to cook meals. Cook some food and send it to their house.” Thereupon, they cooked and sent food to Sayiduna Jafar Ibn Abu Talib رضي الله عنه’s house for three days. This was the first food sent to a house when somebody died in that house in the history of Islam.[4]
Rasulullahصَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ went to Sayiduna Jafar Ibn Abu Talib رضي الله عنه’’s house after three days passed. He wanted to take Sayiduna Jafar Ibn Abu Talib رضي الله عنه’s children under his protection. He gave Saydatuna Asma bint Umays رضي الله عنه the following glad tiding that rejoiced her:
“Do not cry for my brother (Jafar) from now on. Do not worry about the sustenance and care of these children. I am their guardian in both the world and the hereafter.”[5]
Saydatuna Asma bint Umays رضي الله عنه lived as a widow for six months. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr's Sidique رضي الله عنه wanted to take this woman, who suffered a lot in the way of Islam, under his protection. He asked her to marry him. Saydatuna Asma bint Umays رضي الله عنه accepted his offer. Thus, the family found a good guardian.
Saydatuna Asma bint Umays رضي الله عنه, who received the prayer of Rasulullahصَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, said, "This prayer is the one that I rely on the most among my deeds." Saydatuna Asma bint Umays رضي الله عنه narrated a few hadiths. One of them is as follows:
“When Rasulullahصَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ confronted something that distressed him or some trouble and grief hit him, he would say, ‘My Lord is Allah. I do not associate any partners with him.’”
Saydatuna Asma bint Umays رضي الله عنه, who married Sayyiduna Ali ibn Abu Talib رضي الله عنه after the death of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr's Sidique رضي الله عنه, died in the 40th year of the Migration.
Narrated: Asma bint Umais From Sunan Ibn Majah
Narrated/Authority of Asma bint Umais
Listed in: Chapters Regarding Funerals
Narrated/Authority of Asma bint Umais
Listed in: The Chapters on Medicine
Narrated/Authority of Asma bint Umais
Listed in: The Chapters on Supplication
قَالَ فَدَخَلَتْ أَسْمَاءُ بِنْتُ عُمَيْسٍ - وَهِيَ مِمَّنْ قَدِمَ مَعَنَا - عَلَى حَفْصَةَ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم زَائِرَةً وَقَدْ كَانَتْ هَاجَرَتْ إِلَى النَّجَاشِيِّ فِيمَنْ هَاجَرَ إِلَيْهِ فَدَخَلَ عُمَرُ عَلَى حَفْصَةَ وَأَسْمَاءُ عِنْدَهَا فَقَالَ عُمَرُ حِينَ رَأَى أَسْمَاءَ مَنْ هَذِهِ قَالَتْ أَسْمَاءُ بِنْتُ عُمَيْسٍ . قَالَ عُمَرُ الْحَبَشِيَّةُ هَذِهِ الْبَحْرِيَّةُ هَذِهِ فَقَالَتْ أَسْمَاءُ نَعَمْ . فَقَالَ عُمَرُ سَبَقْنَاكُمْ بِالْهِجْرَةِ فَنَحْنُ أَحَقُّ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْكُمْ . فَغَضِبَتْ وَقَالَتْ كَلِمَةً كَذَبْتَ يَا عُمَرُ كَلاَّ وَاللَّهِ كُنْتُمْ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُطْعِمُ جَائِعَكُمْ وَيَعِظُ جَاهِلَكُمْ وَكُنَّا فِي دَارِ أَوْ فِي أَرْضِ الْبُعَدَاءِ الْبُغَضَاءِ فِي الْحَبَشَةِ وَذَلِكَ فِي اللَّهِ وَفِي رَسُولِهِ وَايْمُ اللَّهِ لاَ أَطْعَمُ طَعَامًا وَلاَ أَشْرَبُ شَرَابًا حَتَّى أَذْكُرَ مَا قُلْتَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَنَحْنُ كُنَّا نُؤْذَى وَنُخَافُ وَسَأَذْكُرُ ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَسْأَلُهُ وَوَاللَّهِ لاَ أَكْذِبُ وَلاَ أَزِيغُ وَلاَ أَزِيدُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ . قَالَ فَلَمَّا جَاءَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَتْ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ إِنَّ عُمَرَ قَالَ كَذَا وَكَذَا . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَيْسَ بِأَحَقَّ بِي مِنْكُمْ وَلَهُ وَلأَصْحَابِهِ هِجْرَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ وَلَكُمْ أَنْتُمْ أَهْلَ السَّفِينَةِ هِجْرَتَانِ " . قَالَتْ فَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ أَبَا مُوسَى وَأَصْحَابَ السَّفِينَةِ يَأْتُونِي أَرْسَالاً يَسْأَلُونِي عَنْ هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ مَا مِنَ الدُّنْيَا شَىْءٌ هُمْ بِهِ أَفْرَحُ وَلاَ أَعْظَمُ فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ مِمَّا قَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . قَالَ أَبُو بُرْدَةَ فَقَالَتْ أَسْمَاءُ فَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ أَبَا مُوسَى وَإِنَّهُ لَيَسْتَعِيدُ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ مِنِّي .
Abu Musa reported:
