She is Asmaa’ bint ‘Umays ibn Ma‘add ibn Tameem ibn Al-Haarith ibn Ka‘b ibn Maalik ibn Quhaafah, of the tribe of Khath‘am, may Allah be pleased with her. Her nickname is Umm ‘Abdullaah. She, may Allah be pleased with her, was one of the great companions of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) who did memorable deeds in the history of Islam. Her mother is Khawlah bint ‘Awf ibn Zuhayr ibn Al-Haarith.
She, may Allah be pleased with her, was among the first women to embrace Islam and she participated in the two Migrations (Hijrah). Her first migration was to Abyssinia, and the second was to Al-Madeenah. Her second Hijrah to Al-Madeenah is considered to be one of her honorable and memorable deeds in Islamic history. [Muslim]
Once, Asmaa’ bint ‘Umays, may Allah be pleased with her, was visiting Hafsah, may Allah be pleased with her, wife of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) and ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, Hafsah’s father, may Allah be pleased with him, came in. He asked his daughter: “Who is your visitor?” She, may Allah be pleased with her, replied: “She is Asmaa’ bint ‘Umays”. ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “Is she the Abyssinian? Is she the sea-faring lady?” Asmaa’, may Allah be pleased with her, replied:” Yes, I am.” ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said teasingly: “ We have migrated before you [to Al-Madeenah], so we have more claim to the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) than you have."
Asmaa’, may Allah be pleased with her, got angry and told him: “No, this is not true. By Allah, while you were with the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) and he was feeding the hungry ones among you and advising the ignorant ones among you, we were in the land of the exiled and the hated in Abyssinia. All we did was for the sake of Allah The Exalted, and for the sake of supporting His Messenger sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ). By Allah, I will neither eat nor drink anything till I inform the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) about what you have said. We were hurt and frightened only for the sake of Allah. I will tell the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) what you have said. I will not lie, curtail your saying, or add anything to it. ”
She, may Allah be pleased with her, went to the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) and told him what ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allah be pleased with him, had said. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "No one has more claim to me than you people [Migrants to Abyssinia], as he (i.e. 'Umar) and his companions have (the reward of) only one migration, while you [the people of the boat] have (the reward of) two Migrations."[Al-Bukhari & Muslim]
Asmaa’, may Allah be pleased with her, said, "I saw Abu Moosa, may Allah be pleased with him, and other Muslims [Emigrants to Abyssinia] coming to me in successive groups, asking me about this narration, and to them nothing in the world was more cheerful and greater than what the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) had said about them." Abu Burdah may Allaah have mercy upon him narrated that Asmaa’, may Allah be pleased with her, said: "I saw Abu Moosa asking me to repeat this narration again and again." [Al-Bukhari, Muslim]
Asmaa’, may Allah be pleased with her, had the honor of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) describing her as a pious Muslim. Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “The four sisters are faithful Muslims: Umm Al-Fadhl, Maymoonah, Asmaa’ and Salma."[Al-Albaani: Hasan]
Asmaa’ bint ‘Umays, may Allah be pleased with her, was among the first Emigrants, who was said to have embraced Islam before the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) started teaching new Muslims about Islam in Daar Al-Arqam [the house of Al-Arqam ibn Abi Al-Arqam]. She, may Allah be pleased with her, emigrated with her husband, Ja‘far At-Tayyaar[1] may Allah be pleased with him, to Abyssinia, where she gave birth to their sons: ‘Abdullaah, Muhammad and ‘Awn.
When the Muslim army headed to Ash-Shaam (Greater Syria) to fight the Romans in the battle of Mu’tah, Ja‘far ibn Abi Taalib, may Allah be pleased with him, was one of the three leaders of the Muslim army appointed by the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ). In this battle, Allah bestowed upon him the honor of martyrdom.
Asmaa’ bint ‘Umays, may Allah be pleased with her, grieved deeply for her husband’s death. She narrated that on the day Ja‘far was killed: “The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) visited me [to inform me of my husband’s death], and he called for Ja‘far’s sons and hugged them, and then he shed tears. I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, do you have any news of Ja‘far?’ The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: ‘Yes, he was killed today', then we all cried. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) left and then came back telling the people: ‘Make food for Ja‘far’s family. They feel overwhelmed [and do not have time to make food for themselves].’ ”[At-Tirmithi & Ibn Maajah]
Asmaa’, may Allah be pleased with her, endured the calamity patiently seeking the reward of Allah for the loss of her husband. She, may Allah be pleased with her, even hoped that she would have been with him to die for the sake of Allah , especially after she heard one of the men of Banu Murrah ibn ‘Awf who accompanied her husband in the battle of Mu’tah saying: “It is as if I am looking at Ja‘far on the battleground riding on the back of his palomino horse breaking into the ranks of the enemy. Then, he dismounted and slaughtered his horse [2]and resumed fighting until he was killed whilechanting verses of poetry (what mean): “How beautiful Paradise is! And, what a wonderful feeling it so close! Paradise is truly a pleasant place full of cool delicious drinks! The Romans are close to their doom. These disbelievers are of no great kinship, and they shall face fierce fighting on the battleground.”
In the midst of the battle, Ja‘far, may Allah be pleased with him, held the banner with his right hand, but it was cut off. So, he seized it with his left hand, but it was also cut off. Ja‘far, may Allah be pleased with him, clasped the banner with his arms until he was killed.[3]
Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Yesterday I visited Paradise, and saw Ja‘far flying with the angels and Hamzah leaning on a bed.” [Saheeh Al-Jaami‘]
Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “I saw Ja‘far ibn Abi Taalib, an angel flying with the angels in Paradise.” [Saheeh Al-Jaami‘][4]
After Ja‘far was martyred, Asmaa’ married Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, and they had one son, Muhammad. She gave birth to him during the Farewell Hajj, and then performed Hajj that year. After Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, died it was Asmaa’, may Allah be pleased with her, who washed him. Asmaa’ then married ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib, may Allah be pleased with him.[5]
She, may Allah be pleased with her, and ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib, may Allah be pleased with him, had two sons: Yahya and ‘Awn.
Ash-Sha‘bi may Allaah have mercy upon him narrated: “When Asmaa’ bint ‘Umays, may Allah be pleased with her, married ‘Ali ibn Abu Taalib, her sons Muhammad (the son of Abu Bakr) and Muhammad (the son of Ja‘far) boasted with one another and argued over which of them was better than the other and who had a better father. ‘Ali asked Asmaa’ to settle their argument. She, may Allah be pleased with her, told them:" I have not seen a better young man than Ja‘far ibn Abi Taalib, and a better older man than Abu Bakr. ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib said: "What about me? You have left me no credit ![6]”
Her Death, may Allah Be pleased with her
When she was informed thather son, Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr had been killed in Egypt, she, may Allah be pleased with her, was grieved. She, may Allah be pleased with her, rushed to the place of performing prayers in her house and sat there restraining her great anger and agony. That year did not end until she, may Allah be pleased with her, became very ill and feebleness rapidly spread all over her body until she died.
Al-Albaani may Allaah have mercy upon him said that she died before the 50th year AH.[7]
May Allah bless her soul and be pleased with her, and gather us and her in the ranks of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs, and the righteous on the Day of Judgment. How excellent are they as companions! Aameen.
[1] Ja‘far ibn Abi Taalib was posthumously given the title "At-Tayyaar" by the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) because the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) saw him flying with angels in Paradise after he was martyred in the Ghazwah of Mu’tah.
[2] A brave gesture that a soldier does in the thick of battle which indicates that he is fighting heroically and seeking martyrdom.
[3] As-Seerah An-Nabawiyyah for Ibn Hishaam (4/20)
[4] Al-Qaadhi explains: When Ja‘far fought for Allah The Exalted and his hands and legs were cut off till he was martyred only for the Sake of Allah, he was given spiritual wings to fly with angels in Paradise. The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) probably saw him in one of his dreams or visions (revelations).
Siyar A‘laam An-Nubalaa’ (2/283).[5]
[6] Al-‘Isaabah (7/490)
( p.212).8 Tamaam Al-Minnah
