Scholar of renown: Asmaa
bint Yazeed
Edited by Adil Salahi, Arab News Staff
Asmaa bint Yazeed ibn Al-Sakan was a woman from the Ansar, and
a companion of the Prophet. She was distinguished for her
sagacity and eloquence. Indeed, she was nicknamed the Orator of
all Women. But she was also a woman of learning, and she reported
the Prophets Hadith. She was clearly reliable as a reporter. Abu
Dawood, Al-Tirmidhi, Al-Nassaie and Ibn Majah, as well as other
major scholars of Hadith, related a total of 81 Hadiths of her
reporting. As such, she ranks among the best learned of the
Prophets women companions.
Asmaa was also keen on jihad, joining Muslim armies on several
occasions. She accompanied the Prophet on his expedition that
led to the fall of Makkah to Islam. She also participated in
the great Battle of Al-Yarmook, against the Byzantines, during
the reign of Umar ibn Al-Khattab. She is reported to have
killed nine enemy soldiers, using the pole of her own tent.
In order to appreciate her knowledge we may relate the
following story. One day she came to the Prophet as he was
sitting with a number of his companions. Addressing him, she
said: Messenger of God, may both my parents be sacrificed for
you. This was a traditional phrase of endearment, used mostly
figuratively. I am an emissary from women to you. God has sent
you as His messenger to both men and women. We believe in you
and your Lord. Yet we, women, are restricted, home bound. We
stay in your i.e. mens homes, give you your pleasure, and bear
your children. You, men, have been favored over us with
attending Friday prayer and congregational prayers in mosques,
visiting the sick, attending funerals, offering the pilgrimage
repeatedly, and with what is more than that: fighting for Gods
cause.
When a man goes out intending pilgrimage or jihad, we take care
of your property, sew your clothes, and bring up your children
for you. Do we have a share of your reward?
The Prophet turned to his companions asking them: Have you ever
heard a better statement by a woman than this one who is asking
about matters of her faith? They said: We would not have
thought that a woman would ever be able to express such
meanings as this lady. The Prophet turned to Asmaa and said:
Listen, woman, and inform other women who sent you that a woman
who is a goodly wife, keen to please her husband and doing what
he likes is equal to all that. As she left, she was glorifying
God and repeating statements of His oneness.
May God be pleased with Asmaa, the Prophets companion, who
obtained from him this definitive statement that women are in
no way less than men in their faith or their reward. It should
be added that the Prophets words stress that the woman should
always try to ensure that the atmosphere in her home is always
relaxed and pleasant, so that she leads a happy marital life
and her children grow up in a homely environment. As she takes
care of the future generation, she earns as much reward as man
who is assigned the task of looking after the present
generation.
Hafsah bint Seereen
Hafsah bint Seereen was one of the best known scholars of the
tabieen generation, which followed that of the Prophets
companions. Her brother Muhammad ibn Seereen ranks high among
the tabieen scholars. She learned the Quran by heart when she
was 12 years of age, but apparently she excelled in it to the
extent that if her brother, Muhammad, was unsure about a
particular word or phrase in the Quran, he would send to her
for clarification, and she always gave an authoritative ruling.
Her reputation as a scholar of the highest caliber was
well-established among her contemporaries. Iyas ibn Muawiah
says: I have not met anyone whom I would place above Hafsah
bint Seereen. He was asked: What about Al-Hassan Al-Basri and
Muhammad ibn Seereen? He said: As for me, I do not rate anyone
above her. Needless to say, if she is preferred to such figures
who remain quoted for authoritative views even today, and the
preference is stated by a scholar like Iyas, then she must be
among the best scholars of all times.
Hafsah was distinguished in Fiqh, or Islamic jurisprudence, the
Quran and the Hadith. She reported Hadiths from her brother
Yahya, Anas ibn Malik, Umm Atiyah of the Ansar, Al-Rabab Umm
Al-Raih, Abu Dhubyan Khaleefah ibn Kaab, Khayrah, who was
Al-Hassan Al-Basris mother and others. A large number of
scholars learned from her and reported her Hadiths, including
her brother Muhammad, Qatadah, Aasim Al-Ahwal, and Ayyoob.
Yahya ibn Maeen, a great authority on Hadith reporters, rates
her as most reliable. Similarly Ibn Hibban, a distinguished
Hadith scholar, mentions her among reliable reporters.
Hafsah died in 101 H, corresponding to 720 CE. May God shower
His mercy on her.
Almaa bint Ahmad
Almaa bint Ahmad ibn Zuhayrah was a scholar of Hadith, known
for her piety and high scholarly standing. She read under many
renowned scholars, and was certified as a scholar by a number
of them, such as Al-Allaie, Al-Izz ibn Jummaah, Al-Qalanisi,
Nassir Al-Deen Al-Fariqi and many more. To be certified by such
scholars who attained a very high scholarly standing is a proof
of her achievement. Hence, it was only natural that younger
scholars should seek to read under her, attend her circle or
listen to her as she taught Hadith. Thus, we read among her
students names like Al-Taqi ibn Fahd, his brother and his son
Abu Bakr. She died in Makkah in 818 H, corresponding to 1415
CE. May God bestow His mercy on her.
Arab News Islam 10 February 2003
Give yourself a chance by studying the Glorious Qur'an and the
Sunnah for you have nothing to lose, yet everything to gain!
Those who believe, and whose hearts find satisfaction in the
remembrance of Allah: for without doubt in the remembrance of
Allah do hearts find satisfaction. (Surah Rad 13:28)