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Abdullah was in the running for the Caliphate after the death of
Yazid ibn Mu’awiyah. The Hijaz, Egypt, Iraq, Khurasan and much of
Syria were favorable to him and acknowledged him as the Caliph.
The Ummayyads, however, continued to contest the Caliphate and
to fi ld a massive army under the command of Al- Hajjaj. Relentless
battles were fought between the two sides during which Abdullah
ibn az-Zubayr displayed great acts of courage and heroism. Many
of his supporters however could not withstand the continuous
strain of battle and gradually began to desert him. Finally he sought
refuge in the Sacred Mosque at Mecca. It was then that he went
to his mother, now an old blind woman, and said: “Peace be on
you, Mother, and the mercy and blessings of God.” “Unto you be
peace, Abdullah,” she replied. “What is it that brings you here at
this hour while boulders from Hajjaj’s catapults are raining down
on your soldiers in the Haram and shaking the houses of Mecca?”
“I came to seek your advice,” he said. “To seek my advice?” she
asked in astonishment. “About what?” “The people have deserted
me out of fear of Hajjaj or being tempted by what he has to offer.
Even my children and my family have left me. There is only a small
group of men with me now and however strong and steadfast they
are they can only resist for an hour or two more. Messengers of
the Banu Umayyah (the Umayyads) are now negotiating with me,
offering to give me whatever worldly possessions I want, should I lay
down my arms and swear allegiance to Abdul Malik ibn Marwan.
What do you think?” Raising her voice, she replied: “It’s your affair,
Abdullah, and you know yourself better. If however you think you
are right and that you are standing up for the Truth, then persevere
and fight on as your companions who were killed under your flag
had shown perseverance. If however you desire the world, what
a miserable wretch you are. You would have destroyed yourself
and you would have destroyed your men.” “But I will be killed
today; there is no doubt about it.” “That is better for you than that
you should surrender yourself to Hajjaj voluntarily and that some
minions of Banu Umayyah should play with your head.” “I do not
fear death. I am only afraid that they will mutilate me.” “There is
nothing after death that man should be afraid of. Skinning does not
cause any pain to the slaughtered sheep.”
Abdullah’s face beamed as he said: “What a blessed mother!
Blessed be your noble qualities! I have come to you at this hour
to hear what I have heard. God knows that I have not weakened
or despaired. He is witness over me that I have not stood up for
what I have out of love for this world and its attractions but only
out of anger for the sake of God. His limits have been transgressed.
Here am I, going to what is pleasing to you. So if I am killed, do not
grieve for me and commend me to God.” “I shall grieve for you,”
said the ageing but resolute Asmaa, “only if you are killed in a vain
and unjust cause.” “Be assured that your son has not supported an
unjust cause, nor committed any detestable deed, nor done any
injustice to a Muslim or a Dhimmi and that there is nothing better
in his sight than the pleasure of God, the Mighty, the Great. I do
not say this to exonerate myself. God knows that I have only said
it to make your heart firm and steadfast.
“Praise be to God who has made you act according to what He likes
and according to what I like. Come close to me, my son, that I may
smell and feel your body for this might be the last meeting with you.”
Abdullah knelt before her. She hugged him and smothered his head,
his face and his neck with kisses. Her hands began to squeeze his
body when suddenly she withdrew them and asked: “What is this
you are wearing, Abdullah?” “This is my armor plate.” “This, my
son, is not the dress of one who desires martyrdom. Take it off. That
will make your movements lighter and quicker. Wear instead the
sirwal (a long under garment) so that if you are killed your ‘awrah
will not be exposed.” Abdullah took off his armor plate and put
on the sirwal. As he left for the Haram to join the fighting he said:
“My mother, don’t deprive me of your du’a (prayer).”
Raising her hands to heaven, she prayed: “O Lord, have mercy on
his staying up for long hours and his loud crying in the darkness of
the night while people slept....”O Lord, have mercy on his hunger
and his thirst on his journeys from Madinah and Mecca while he
fasted....”O Lord, bless his righteousness to his mother and his
father....”O Lord, I commend him to Your cause and I am pleased
with whatever You decree for him. And grant me for his sake the
reward of those who are patient and who persevere.”
By sunset, Abdullah was dead. Just over ten days later, his mother
joined him. She was a hundred years old. Age had not made her
infirm nor blunted the keenness of her mind
May Allah’s blessings be upon Asmaa bint Abu Bakr!
Behind this great effort was our sister Aminah Assilmi, who
died in a car accident near Newport, TN. after returning
from a speech in New York. Sister Aminah, at the age of 65,
had be e helped change the way many
non-M uslims see Islam and the beautiful
treatment it does provide for the believing women" said
Estes. Sister Aminah was the acting Director of IUMW
(International Union of Muslim Women).
One of her greatest acheivements was being instrumental in
the movement to get the U.S. Postal Service to issue the
official "Eid" stamp in 2001. "Eids" (celebrations) of Islam for
Muslims.
May Allah have mercy on her, grant her peace in her
grave, raise her with the righteous on the Day of
Judgement and give her Paradise, and make it easy for
her children, ameen"
Alhammdulilah Eid Stamps are Now Available for
Sale at Post O ffices Nationwide
WASHINGTON D.C. - In October of 2001, before the month
of Ramadan of that year, the Postal Service of the United
States brought to light the Eid stamp. This markes the end of
a successful campaign led by the American Muslim Council to
have a stamp for Ramadan. AMC (American Muslim Council)
also took part in the campaign to have a stamp of Malcolm
X in 1999.
ASMAA BINT ABU BAKR
Asmaa bint Abu Bakr belonged to a distinguished Muslim family.
Her father, Abu Bakr, was a close friend of the Prophet (pbuh) and
the first Khalifah after his death. Her half-sister, Aishah, was a wife
of the Prophet. Her husband, Zubayr ibn al Awwam, was one of
the special personal aides of the Prophet (pbuh). Her son, Abdullah
ibn az-Zubayr, became well-known for his incorruptibility and his
unswerving devotion to Truth.
Asmaa herself was one of the first persons to accept Islam. Only about
17 persons including both men and women became Muslims before
her. She was later given the nickname, Dhat an- Nitaqayn (the One
with the Two Waistbands), because of an incident connected with
the departure of the Prophet (pbuh) and her father from Mecca on
the historic hijrah to Madinah.
Asmaa was one of the few persons who knew of the Prophet’s plan
to leave for Madinah. The utmost secrecy had to be maintained
because of the Quraysh plans to murder the Prophet (SAW). On
the night of their departure, she prepared a bag of food and a water
container for their journey. She did not find anything though with
which to tie the containers and decided to use her waistband. Abu
Bakr suggested that she tear it into two. This she did and the Prophet
(SAW) commended her action. From then on she became known as
“the One with the Two Waistbands”.
When the final emigration fromMecca to Madinah took place soon
after the departure of the Prophet (pbuh), Asmaa was pregnant. She
did not let her pregnancy or the prospect of a long and arduous
journey deter her from leaving. As soon as she reached Quba on the
outskirts of Madinah, she gave birth to a son, Abdullah. The Muslims
shouted in happiness and thanksgiving because this was the first child
to be born to the muhajireen in Madinah.
Asmaa became known for her fine and noble qualities and for the
keenness of her intelligence. She was an extremely generous person.
Her son Abdullah once said of her, “I have not seen two women
more generous than my aunt Aishah and my mother Asmaa. But
their generosity was expressed in different ways. My aunt would
accumulate one thing after another until she had gathered what
she felt was sufficient and then distributed it all to those in need.
My mother, on the other hand, would not keep anything even for
the morrow.”
Asmaa’s presence of mind in difficult circumstances was remarkable.
When her father left Mecca, he took all his wealth, amounting to
some 6,000 dirhams, and did not leave any for his family. When Abu
Bakr’s father, Abu Quhafah heard of his departure he went to his
house and said to her: “I understand that he has left you no money
after he has abandoned you.” “No, grandfather,” replied Asmaa, “in
fact he has left us much money.” She took some pebbles and put
them in a small recess in the wall where they used to put money. She
threw a cloth over the heap and took the hand of her grandfather-he
was blind-and said, “See how much money he has left us.” Through
this stratagem, Asmaa wanted to allay the fears of the old man and
to forestall him from giving them anything of his own wealth. This
was because she disliked receiving any assistance even if it was her
own grandfather.
Asmaa had an attitude and was not inclined to compromise her
honor and her faith. Her mother, Qutaylah, once came to visit her
in Madinah. She was not a Muslim. Her mother brought her gifts of
raisins, clarified butter and qaraz (pods of a species of tree). Asmaa at
first refused to admit her into her house or accept the gifts. She sent
someone to Aishah to ask the Prophet (pbuh), about her attitude to
her mother and he replied that she should certainly admit her to her
house and accept the gifts. On this occasion, the following revelation
came to the Prophet (pbuh):
“God forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your)
faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly
with them: For God loves those who are just. God only forbids you
with regard to those who fight you for (your) Faith, and drive you out
of your homes, and support (others) in driving you out, from turning to
them (for friendship and protection). It is such as turn to them (in these
circumstances), that do wrong.” (Qur’an Al- Mumtahanah 60: 8-9)
For Asmaa and indeed for many other Muslims, life in Madinah was
rather diffi ult at first. Her husband was quite poor and his only major
possession to begin with was a horse he had bought. She described
these early days: “I used to provide fodder for the horse, give it wa-
ter and groom it. I would grind grain and make dough but I could
not bake well. The women of the Ansar used to bake for me. They
were truly good women. I used to carry the grain on my head from
az-Zubayr’s plot which the Prophet (pbuh) had allocated to him to
cultivate. It was about three farsakh (about eight kilometers) from the
town’s center. One day I was on the road carrying the grain on my
head when I met the Prophet (pbuh) and a group of Sahabah. He
called out to me and stopped his camel so that I could ride behind
him. I felt embarrassed to travel with the Prophet (pbuh) and also
remembered Zubayr’s jealousy--he was the most jealous of men. The
Prophet (pbuh) realized that I was embarrassed and rode on.” Later,
Asmaa related to Zubayr exactly what had happened and he said,
“By God, that you should have to carry grain is far more distressing
to me than your riding with (the Prophet).”
Asmaa obviously then was a person of great sensitivity and devotion.
She and her husband worked extremely hard together until their situ-
ation of poverty gradually changed. At times, however, Zubayr treated
her harshly. Once she went to her father and complained to him about
this. His reply to her was: “My daughter, have sabr (patience) for if a
woman has a righteous husband and he dies and she does not marry
after him, they will be brought together again in Paradise.”
Zubayr eventually became one of the richest men among the Sahabah
but Asmaa did not allow this to corrupt her principles. Her son, al-
Mundhir once sent her an elegant dress form Iraq made of fine and
costly material. Asmaa by this time was blind. She felt the material
and said, “It’s awful. Take it back to him.” Al- Mundhir was upset and
said, “Mother, it was not transparent.” “It may not be transparent”,
she retorted, “but it is too tight-fitting and shows the contours of the
body.” Al-Mundhir bought another dress that met with her approval
and she accepted it.
If the above incidents and aspects of Asmaa’s life may easily be for-
gotten, then her final meeting with her son, Abdullah, must remain
one of the most unforgettable moments in early Muslim history. At
that meeting she demonstrated the keenness of her intelligence, her
resoluteness, and the strength of her faith.
E id S tamp