HAZRAT ASMA
The preparation for this journey was made at the house of Hazrat Abu Bakr. Hazrat Asma rendered useful services in this regard. She made necessary arrangements and prepared food for this journey and tied it on the camel back with her own belt when nothing else could be found. For this service she was given the title of Zatun-Nataqin by the Holy Prophet.
During this perilous, it was very difficult for anyone to supply food to the Prophet Muhammad. It was such a delicate situation in which the slightest irresponsibility could have endangered the life of the Holy Prophet. This grand task was undertaken by Hazrat Asma, the daughter of Hazrat Abu Bakr. Every night, Hazrat Asma would quietly venture towards the shadowy mountains in which lay the cave of Thawr, to take food for the Prophet of Allah and her father, Hazrat Abu Bakr. Every minute detail and care was taken by this courageous women. How difficult it must have been for her to traverse the rocky path at night, with the constant fear of being chased!
On the night of the migration of the Holy Prophet Abu Jehl, chief of the disbelievers, in a fit of fury headed for Hazrat Abu Bakr's home and began knocking at the door violently. Abu Jehl demanded, "Where is your father?" She politely replied, "How would I know?" This response shows the wisdom and courage of Hazrat Asma. She didn't make a statement that would give them a clue, nor did she have to lie. But she simply posed a counter question that infuriated Abu Jhel and he slapped Hazrat Asma,s face so hard that her ear-ring fell off. But she stood her ground even in the face of such wrath of Abu Jhel and never revealed the secret.
Her grandfather, Hazrat Abu Quhafaa was a disbeliever at this time. He was very old and had become blind. He said to her, "Asma, I think Abu Bakr has taken all the wealth leaving you and children empty-handed and helpless. At this, she instantly ran to a corner of the home, gathered some pebbles and put them at the place where her father used to keep his money and jewels and covered it with a piece of cloth. "Come grandfather, look! he has left all this for us." He touched the cloth and thought it was full of gold and jewels. His concern was alleviated and he felt relieved to know that Abu Bakr had left all his wealth at home.
Hazrat Asma was amongst the early few who accepted Islam. She was the daughter of Abu Bakr al-Siddique, step sister of Hazrat Ayesha Siddiqua, wife of Hazrat Zubair bin al-Awwam and mother of Hazrat Abdullah bin Zubair. She died at the ripe age of about a hundred years. Abdullah bin Zubair used to say that he had not seen anybody more generous and open hearted than his aunt Hazrat Ayesha and his mother Hazrat Asma. Hazrat Asma was generous to such an extent that when she inherited a garden after the death of her sister Hazrat Ayesha. She sold it and gave away all the money among the poor and needy and felt more pleasure than those who received the gifts. Nobody ever returned empty handed from her doorstep.
She lived a life of hardships and suffering but she always remained unswerving. With a resolute faith in Allah, she faced every calamity of life with patience and valour. Her life would always be a beacon of light for all of us.
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