She belonged to
the Bane Khatm tribe. Her sister was Salma binte Umais who was married to
Hazrat Hamza ibne Abdul Mutallib. Her maternal half-siblings included two of
the Ummahat-ul-Momineen; Hazrat Zaynab binte Khuzayma and Hazrat Maymona binte
al-Hariss.
She was considered
as a lady companion of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s). She was a very
considerate lady. At the time of the demise of Ummul Momineen Hazrat Khadija
(s.a.), Hazrat Asma was present and saw her crying. On inquiry, Hazrat Khadija
(s.a.) replied: “I am crying for Fatima, as every woman needs a close friend on
her wedding to help her; Fatima is still very young and I am afraid she will be
alone on her wedding.” Hazrat Asma said: “O’ My mistress, I vow to you by
Allah, that if I am alive then, I will take your place!” The Noble Prophet
(s.a.w.a.s.) also wept and prayed for her that may Allah save her from all
sides, and also promised Paradise for her and her three sisters.
She was married to
Hazrat Jaffar-e-Tayyar ibn Abu Talib. In the year 616 A.D. she immigrated along
with her husband to Abyssinia. She had three sons; Muhammad, Abdullah, and Aun.
(The women of Madina by Bewly A. page 96, London). They returned to Madinah at
the time of the Battle of Khyber in the year 628 A.D. The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) said: “Should I celebrate the Victory of Khyber or the return of Jaffar and
his family?” In the year 629, during the Battle of Mu’tah, Hazrat Jaffar
was martyred. The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) came to her house and kindly put
his hands on the children. Hazrat Asma quickly asked if she had become a widow.
He was impressed by her intelligence. He informed her that Allah had provided
two red wings to Hazrat Jaffar. He sent food to the family for three days and
since then it has become a Sunnah to provide food to the bereaved family for
three days.
She married a second time to Caliph Abu Bakr and Hazrat
Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr was born in the year 632 A.D. on the way to the
Hajja-tul-Wida, the Last Pilgrimage of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.). After
the death of the Caliph Abu Bakr, she married the Commander of the Faithful,
after the tragic demise of the beloved daughter of the Noble Prophet
(s.a.w.a.s.), the Lady of Paradise, Hazrat Fatima Zahra (s.a.). At the time of
her Shahadah, Hazrat Asma was living with her taking care of the house work. She
was kind, humane and motherly toward Hazrat Fatima (s.a.). At the time of
Hazrat Fatima (s.a.)’s pleading for her rights about Fadak in the Mosque of
Prophet, Hazrat Asma had backed her claim.
She told Hazrat
Asma that she did not like the way the dead bodies of the women-folks were
carried those days as the shape of the dead body was apparent. Hazrat Asma told
Hazrat Fatima that she remembered the coffins made in Abyssinia and prepared a
replica for her. Hazrat Fatima Zahra liked the coffin, which was like a box
completely covering the dead body.
On the fateful day of her Shahadat, Hazrat Fatima only 18
years, prepared for her final journey. It was only 70 or 90 days after the sad
demise of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.). She prepared food for her beloved
children, washed their clothes and told Hazrat Asma to feed the children when
they return and that she was going in her room for final prayers and when she
stop hearing the Takbir from inside the room, then let Imam Ali (a.s.) know about
her demise. Hazrat Asma followed her instructions. Hazrat Fatima Zahra (s.a.) for Hazrat Asma: “May Allah protect you
from the fire”
After Hazrat
Fatima (s.a.)’s demise, Imam Ali (a.s.) married Hazrat Asma binte Umais and
adopted Hazrat Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr and raised him and ultimately appointed
him the Governor of Egypt but Muawiya had him killed and his dead body was
burnt in the leather of a donkey! She bore two sons from Imam Ali (a.s.); Yahya
and Muhammad al-Asghar.
Hazrat Asma was the narrator of over 60 Traditions of the
Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.). She was the witness and narrator of the famous
event of “Return of sun” for Imam Ali (a.s.) to pray his salat. She was one of
those women who strongly believed in the Wilayat of Imam Ali (a.s.) and as for
her piety, his son Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr is a prima- facie evidence for that! Imam Ali (a.s.) used to call him “his own
son”
Sources used:
Duas.org, WIKIPEDIA, The year of Fatima’s
marriage-al-Islam.org, Oocities.com/ Rohullah_Najafi World AhleBayt Women
Organization
Fourteen Stars by
Sayyid Najmul Hasan Karrarvi
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