THE SPOKESPERSON OF THE WOMEN OF ASHAB: ASMA RADHIYALLÂHU ANHA

Asma bint Yazid al-Ash-Haliyyah Radhiyallâhu Anha was an Ansar woman who made bay’ah (swore allegiance) to Rasulullah Sallallâhu Alayhi Wa Sallam. Since she conveyed the questions of women to Rasulullah Sallallâhu Alayhi Wa Sallam, she was known as ‘Khatibatul Nisa’ (The spokesperson of the women). Many Ahadith al-Sharifah were transmitted from her.

She participated in the battle of Khaibar and some other battles with Rasulullah Sallallâhu Alayhi Wa Sallam. It was reported that she had killed nine Roman soldiers with a tent pole at the Battle of Yarmuk. She passed away in 30 Hijri in Sham (Damascus).

With regards to her Bay’ah to Rasûlullâh Sallallâhu Alayhi Wa Sallam, she narrated the following: “I was one of the women from whom Rasûlullâh Sallallâhu Alayhi Wa Sallam took a pledge. That time, I was a brave young girl. I said to Rasûlullâh Sallallâhu Alayhi Wa Sallam, O Prophet of Allah! Stretch your hand, so that I can swear allegiance.” Rasûlullâh Sallallâhu Alayhi Wa Sallam said: “I do not hold women’s hands. I only accept their pledge regarding the duties Allâh Ta‘âlâ prescribed on them.” (M. Kabir)

She recorded one of her anecdotes: “One day, I saw Rasûlullâh Sallallâhu Alayhi Wa Sallam pray Maghrib Salah in our Masjid. I rushed to my house. I cooked bone-in meat and baked some bread. After Salah, I presented him the food, saying: “Let my mother and father be sacrificed for you, O Prophet of Allah! Here is some food for you”!

The Rasul of Allah Sallallâhu Alayhi Wa Sallam said to his companions besides him, “Eat with Basmalah.” They all took part in the meal. They were forty people in total. By Allah in whose power rests my soul, (through the barakah [blessing] of Rasulullah Sallallâhu Alayhi Wa Sallam, I saw that some of the meat on the bones remained unconsumed and the bread was not getting less. Afterward, Rasûlullâh Sallallâhu Alayhi Wa Sallam drank some water from the leather water bag I kept.

I took it and hid it somewhere. We would give water to the sick from that water bag for them to be cured. We would also drink water from it hoping to receive barakah (blessings).”