Tuesday

Asma bint Umaysرضي الله عنه

[For Illustration Only]]

 بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيْمِ 

 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 Rasulullah. 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 Rasulullah 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 عنهSaydatuna Asma bint Umaysرضي الله عنه was married to Sayiduna Jafar Ibn Abu Talib رضي الله عنهRasulullah’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. Rasulullah 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 Rasulullah what Sayiduna Umar Ibn Al Khattab رضي الله عنه had said. Rasulullah 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 عنهSaydatuna 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 Rasulullah about it and act accordingly. Once, she asked Rasulullah, “O Messenger of Allah! My children are touched by evil eyes. Shall I make somebody read and pray for them?” Rasulullah 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. Rasulullah 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 عنهSaydatuna 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 عنهRasulullahصَلَّى 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

Hadith No: 1611
Narrated/Authority of Asma bint Umais
Listed in: Chapters Regarding Funerals
"When Jafar was killed, the Messenger of Allah (saw) went to his family and said: 'The family of Jafar are busy with the matter of their deceased, so prepare food for them.'" Daif
Hadith No: 3461
Narrated/Authority of Asma bint Umais
Listed in: The Chapters on Medicine
"The Messenger of Allah (saw) said to me: 'What do you use as a laxative?' I said: 'The Shubrum (spurge – Euphorb).' He said: (It is) hot and powerful.' Then I used senna as a laxative and he said: 'If anything were to cure death, it would be senna. Senna is a cure for death.'"

Hadith No: 3882
Narrated/Authority of Asma bint Umais
Listed in: The Chapters on Supplication
"The Messenger of Allah (saw) taught me some words to say at times of distress: Allah! Allahu Rabbi la ushriku bihi shay'an (Allah, Allah is my Lord, I do not associate anything with Him)."

The Book of the Merits of the Companions

باب مِنْ فَضَائِلِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَأَسْمَاءَ بِنْتِ عُمَيْسٍ وَأَهْلِ سَفِينَتِهِمْ رضى [41]
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ بَرَّادٍ الأَشْعَرِيُّ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ حَدَّثَنِي بُرَيْدٌ، عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، قَالَ بَلَغَنَا مَخْرَجُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَنَحْنُ بِالْيَمَنِ فَخَرَجْنَا مُهَاجِرِينَ إِلَيْهِ أَنَا وَأَخَوَانِ لِي أَنَا أَصْغَرُهُمَا أَحَدُهُمَا أَبُو بُرْدَةَ وَالآخَرُ أَبُو رُهْمٍ - إِمَّا قَالَ بِضْعًا وَإِمَّا قَالَ ثَلاَثَةً وَخَمْسِينَ أَوِ اثْنَيْنِ وَخَمْسِينَ رَجُلاً مِنْ قَوْمِي - قَالَ فَرَكِبْنَا سَفِينَةً فَأَلْقَتْنَا سَفِينَتُنَا إِلَى النَّجَاشِيِّ بِالْحَبَشَةِ فَوَافَقْنَا جَعْفَرَ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَأَصْحَابَهُ عِنْدَهُ فَقَالَ جَعْفَرٌ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعَثَنَا هَا هُنَا وَأَمَرَنَا بِالإِقَامَةِ فَأَقِيمُوا مَعَنَا ‏.‏ فَأَقَمْنَا مَعَهُ حَتَّى قَدِمْنَا جَمِيعًا - قَالَ - فَوَافَقْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ افْتَتَحَ خَيْبَرَ فَأَسْهَمَ لَنَا - أَوْ قَالَ أَعْطَانَا مِنْهَا - وَمَا قَسَمَ لأَحَدٍ غَابَ عَنْ فَتْحِ خَيْبَرَ مِنْهَا شَيْئًا إِلاَّ لِمَنْ شَهِدَ مَعَهُ إِلاَّ لأَصْحَابِ سَفِينَتِنَا مَعَ جَعْفَرٍ وَأَصْحَابِهِ قَسَمَ لَهُمْ مَعَهُمْ - قَالَ - فَكَانَ نَاسٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ يَقُولُونَ لَنَا - يَعْنِي لأَهْلِ السَّفِينَةِ - نَحْنُ سَبَقْنَاكُمْ بِالْهِجْرَةِ ‏.‏

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:

We were in Yemen when we heard of the migration of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). We also set out as immigrants to him. And I was accompanied by two brothers of mine, I being the youngest of them; one of them was Abu Burda and the other one was Abu Ruhm, and there were some other persons with them. Some say they were fifty-three or fifty-two persons of my tribe. We embarked upon a boat, and the boat sailed away to the Negus of Abyssinia. There we met Ja'far b. Abu Talib and his companions. Ja'far said: Allall's Messenger (ﷺ) has sent us here and has commanded us to stay here and you should also stay with us. So we stayed with him and we came back (to Medina) and met Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) when Khaibar had been conquered. He (the Holy Prophet) allocated a share to us and in the ordinary course he did not allocate the share to one who had been absent on the occasion of the conquest of Khaibar but conferred (a share) upon him only who had been present there with him. He, however, made an exception for the people of the boat, viz. for Ja'far and his companions. He allocated a share to them, and some persons from amongst the people said to us, viz. the people of the boat: We have preceded you in migration. Asma' bint 'Umais who had migrated to Abyssinia and had come back along with them (along with immigrants) visited Hafsa, the wife of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ). (Accordingly), Umar had been sitting with her (Hafsa). As 'Umar saw Asma, he said: Who is she? She (Hafsa) said: She is Asma, daughter of 'Umais. He said: She is an Abyssinian and a sea-woman. Asma said: Yes, it is so. Thereupon 'Umar said: We preceded you in migration and so we have more right to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as compared with you. At this she felt annoyed and said: 'Umar, you are not stating the fact; by Allah, you had the privilege of being in the company of the Messenger (ﷺ) who fed the hungry among you and instructed the ignorant amongst you, whereas we had been far (from here) in the land of Abyssinia amongst the enemies and that was all for Allah and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and, by Allah, I would never take food nor take water unless I make a mention to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) of what you have said. We remained in that country in constant trouble and dread and I shall talk about it to Allah's Messenger (way peace be upon him) and ask him (about it). By Allah, I shall not tell a lie and deviate (from the truth) and add anything to that. So, when Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) came, she said: Allah's Apostle, 'Umar says so and so. Upon this Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: His right is not more than yours, for him and his companions there is one migration, but for you, i. e. for the people of the boat, there are two migrations. She said: I saw Abu Musa and the people of the boat coming to me in groups and asking me about this hadith, because there was nothing more pleasing and more significant for them than this. Abu Burda reported that Asma said: I saw Abu Musa, asking me to repeat this hadith to him again and again.



May Allah be pleased with her!