(Sayyidah Asmaa bintu ‘Umais [radhiyallahu ‘anha] – Part One)
Every woman would love to be married to the ‘dream’ husband. In this regard, there was one Sahaabiyyah who was privileged to have been in the nikaah of not one, but three of the best husbands of this Ummah (two of whom were from the four Khulafaa). This was none other than Sayyidah Asmaa bintu ‘Umais (radhiyallahu ‘anha).
She was initially married to Sayyiduna Ja’far bin Abi Taalib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), the cousin of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and elder brother of Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) by ten years. She bore him three sons viz. ‘Abdullah, Muhammad and ‘Awn (radhiyallahu ‘anhum). She remained in his nikaah until she was widowed with his martyrdom in the Battle of Mutah.
Thereafter, on the occasion of the Battle of Hunain, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) himself performed her nikaah to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). While married to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), she gave birth to his son, Muhammad (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), en-route to hajj during the final hajj of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
After Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) departed from this world, she was blessed with the good fortune of entering into the nikaah of Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). She bore him two sons, Yahya and ‘Awn (rahimahumallah).
Apart from having the best of husbands, she also had the best of sisters. Her sisters were Sayyidah Maimoonah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), the respected wife of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Sayyidah Ummul Fadhl (radhiyallahu ‘anha), the respected wife of Sayyiduna ‘Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), and Sayyidah Salma bintu ‘Umais (radhiyallahu ‘anha), the respected wife of Sayyiduna Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).
Sayyidah Asmaa bintu ‘Umais (radhiyallahu ‘anha) had brought imaan during the initial period of Islam, before the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) began to congregate in Daarul Arqam (the home of Sayyiduna Arqam [radhiyallahu ‘anhu]). She had pledged allegiance to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), and when permission was granted to the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) to migrate to Abyssinia, she and her husband migrated to escape the persecution of the Quraish.
They returned from Abyssinia to Madeenah Munawwarah on the occasion of the conquest of Khaibar. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was so pleased at their return that he kissed Sayyiduna Ja’far (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) between his eyes and said, “I do not know which is more pleasing to me, the return of Ja’far (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) or the conquest of Khaibar.” It was just a few months after their return from Abyssinia that Sayyiduna Ja’far (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was blessed with martyrdom at Mutah.
Sayyidah Asmaa bintu ‘Umais (radhiyallahu ‘anha) passed away in the year 38 A.H.
(Siyaru Aa’laamin Nubalaa vol. 1, pg. 206 & vol. 2, pg. 283, Usdul Ghaabah vol. 5, pg. 213, Al-Isaabah vol. 8, pg. 15, Saheeh Muslim #2950, Mustadrak Haakim #6801 & #4941 and Al-Bidaayah wan Nihaayah vol. 8, pg. 107)
There are numerous unique and inspirational incidents that transpired in the life of this illustrious Sahaabiyyah, some of which are discussed below.