Asma Bint Abu Bakr

 

Asma was the daughter of Abu Bakr.  Some members of her family were very outstanding Muslims.  Her father was a close friend of the Prophet.  After Muhammad’s (pbuh) death, Abu Bakr was the first caliphate.  Her sister, Aisha, was a wife of the Prophet.  Asma’s husband, Zubayr, was a personal aide to the Prophet.  Abdullah, her son, was well-known for his devotion to truth.

Asma was one of the first people to accept Islam.  Only about seventeen people, men and women, became Muslim before her.

The pagans were very cruel to the Muslims.  So it was decided that they should all emigrate to Medina.  On the day Muhammad (pbuh) left Mecca, Asma prepared food and water for the Prophet and her father.  She couldn’t find anything to tie the food and water bags with.  So she tore her waistband in two.  The Prophet prayed that God would give her two waistbands in heaven.

Asma was a very intelligent and generous person.  Whenever she had anything, she would give it to others.  She didn’t keep anything for the next day.  There were many people in need at that time.

Before Asma began her hijrat, her grandfather, Abu Quhafah, came.  He was blind and a pagan.  He heard her father had died and left no money.  So he offered Asma some money.  But she didn’t want to accept money from a pagan even if it was her grandfather.  So she put some pebbles in a cloth and put them in a small hole in the wall.  “Look, Grandfather,” she said.  “You see how much money my father left.”

Asma’s grandfather couldn’t see so he put his hand on the cloth and thought he felt money in it.  “Not bad,” he said.  “It’s a good thing he left you this much.” 

Before the Hijrat, the pagans planned to kill Muhammad (pbuh).  The Prophet received a command from God to emigrate to Medina. First he told Ali to come and sleep in his bed that night.  Then the Prophet went to see Abu Bakr around noon.  Abu Bakr was surprised because the Prophet didn’t usually come at that time.  The Prophet told him about his plan.  “I’ve been instructed to go to Medina,” said the Prophet.

“May I come with you?” asked Abu Bakr.

“Yes, but we don’t have much time,” replied Muhammad (pbuh).

That night the pagans went to the Prophet’s house.  A strong man from each family gathered in front of the house.  The Prophet put Ali in his own bed.  Then he left the house praying.  He took a handful of dirt and scattered it toward the pagans.  They didn’t see Muhammad (pbuh) leave.  When they entered the house, they found Ali instead of the Prophet.

The pagans were very disappointed.  They began to look for the Prophet everywhere.  They controlled all the houses.  At Abu Bakr’s house they asked Asma where her father and the Prophet were.  She told them she didn’t know.  Abu Jahil slapped her across the face and Asma’s earring fell to the ground.  But she didn’t give them any information.  The pagans left and continued to search other houses.

The Prophet and Abu Bakr had already begun their journey.  They hid in the Savr Cave so they wouldn’t be seen.  A spider wove a thick web across the opening of the cave.  The pagans came very close to the cave.  But they saw the spider web and they thought the cave was empty.  The Prophet and Abu Bakr stayed there for three days.  Asma bravely brought them food each night.

Soon after the Prophet left Asma followed with another group.  She was expecting a baby so the trip was difficult for her.  When she reached Kuba near Medina, she gave birth to a son, Abdullah.  He was the first baby to be born to the Muhajireen at Medina.

Asma’s life in Medina was hard at first.  Her husband, Zubayr, was very poor.  He only had a horse.  Asma took very good care of the horse.  She groomed it, grazed it and prepared food for it.

Later Zubayr became very rich.  He was one of the wealthiest of the Prophet’s companions.  But they lived very modestly and used their wealth to serve Islam.

Asma’s mother was a pagan.  She was divorced from Asma’s father.  One day she came to Medina to see her daughter.  She brought Asma some gifts.  At first Asma didn’t want to accept the gifts.  She went to the Prophet and asked him what to do.  “Rasulullah,” said Asma, “My mother has brought me some gifts.  But she is a still a pagan.  Should I accept them?”

The Prophet told her, “Take her gifts and treat your mother kindly.  She didn’t try and drive you out of your home in Mecca or oppose your faith.”

Asma’s son, Abdullah, became a  Muslim hero.  He fought bravely in many battles.  Abdullah became caliphate after Yazid Bin Mu’awiya.

Shortly before his death, Abdullah went to see his mother.  Asma was a very old woman then.  She was around one hundred years old.  She couldn’t see, but her mind was still quite sound.

“Mother,” said Abdullah, “I’ve come to ask your advice.”  Abdullah explained to his mother about the fighting.

“My son,” said Asma, “you know best.  If you think you are right and on the true path, go and fight until death.  You’re not afraid of death, are you?”

“No, Mother, I’m not afraid of death,” answered Abdullah.  “If  I’m killed today, don’t be sorry.”

“I would only be sorry if you died for a false cause,” replied Asma.  “Come closer and let me touch you.  This may be our last meeting.”

Abdullah kissed his mother’s hands and Asma kissed her son’s face and head.  They said good-bye.  As he left, Abdullah asked his mother to pray for him.  Asma raised her hands toward heaven and prayed to God to have mercy on Abdullah.  She entrusted her son to God’s care.

Before the sun set that day Abdullah was killed.  Ten days later Asma joined her son.