A real
life example for the believers.
Asiya also known as Asiya bint Muzahim, is revered by Muslims as one of the greatest women of all time. In Arabic the name Asiya has many meanings. It can mean the pillar, mediator, supporter, sorrow lifter and sorrow helper, and She was the wife of the "Fir ‘awn" who reigned during Musa( alai) time. The Qur'an chronicles her as a great person and she is respected all the more by Muslims as she was married to one of the most evil men in history, but never lost faith in God and remained steadfast in prayer and belief. She declared her faith in the message of God after witnessing the miracle of Moses in the Court of Pharaoh and Pharaoh tried to turn her away from the God of Moses . But Asiya refused to reject the God of Moses. On Pharaoh's order, she was tortured to death.
Muhammad (sal) is said to have mentioned her as one of the four greatest women of all time, alongside Mary, the mother ofJesus, Muhammad's first wife Khadija, and his daughter Fatimah.
وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى أُمِّ مُوسَى أَنْ أَرْضِعِيهِ فَإِذَا خِفْتِ عَلَيْهِ فَأَلْقِيهِ فِي الْيَمِّ وَلا تَخَافِي وَلا تَحْزَنِي إِنَّا وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ رَادُّوهُ إِلَيْكِ
(28:7)
So We sent this inspiration to the mother of Moses: "Suckle (thy child), but when thou hast fears about him, cast him into the river, but fear not nor grieve: for We shall restore him to thee, and We shall make him one of Our messengers."
Asiya and her maids were at the neighbouring Nile river one day. To their amazement, they found a crate floating in the river. Asiya immediately ordered the crate to be brought out on shore. Although the maids thought there was a treasure in the crate, they in fact found a baby boy inside. Asiya instantly fell in love with him and knew that this boy, Moses, was no ordinary baby. She told the Pharaoh about the baby and convinced her husband to allow the baby to live with them.
The wife of Pharaoh said:
وَقَالَتِ امْرَأَتُ فِرْعَوْنَ قُرَّتُ عَيْنٍ لِّي وَلَكَ لا تَقْتُلُوهُ عَسَى أَن
يَنفَعَنَا أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُ وَلَدًا وَهُمْ لا يَشْعُرُونَ
Asiya then offered Moses' mother to live in their household as Moses' wet nurse and paid her for her services, being unaware that the wet nurse was Moses' mother.Thus, mother and son were reunited again.
The tradition holds that Asiya worshipped God in secret and praying in disguise fearing her husband. She died while being tortured by her husband, who had discovered her monotheism.
وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا امْرَأَةَ فِرْعَوْنَ إِذْ قَالَتْ رَبِّ ابْنِ لِي عِندَكَ بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَنَجِّنِي مِن فِرْعَوْنَ وَعَمَلِهِ وَنَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ
Qatadah said, "Fir `awn was the most tyrannical among the people of the earth and the most disbelieving. By Allah! His wife was not affected by her husband's disbelief, because she obeyed her Lord. Therefore, let it be known that Allah is the Just Judge Who will not punish anyone except for their own sins.'' Ibn Jarir recorded that Suleiman said, "The wife of Fir`awn was tortured under the sun and when Fir`awn would finish the torture session, the angels would shade her with their wings. She was shown her house in Paradise
Ibn Jarir said that Al-Qasim bin Abi Bazzah said, "Fir`awn's wife used to ask, `Who prevailed' When she was told, `Musa and Harun prevailed', she said, `I believe in the Lord of Musa and Harun.' Fir`awn sent his aides to her and said to them, `Find the biggest stone. If she insists on keeping her faith, throw the stone on her, otherwise she is my wife. When they came to her, she looked up to the sky and was able to see her house in Paradise. She persisted on the faith and her soul was then captured. The stone was thrown on her lifeless body.'' This is the meaning of her statement.
Asiya (ra) was the wife of Pharaoh and she is a real life example for the believers of today on how we should deal with the difficulties. Allah (swt) made her an example and symbol of the religion for the women. For anyone wanting to seek guidance and follow the Sunnah this is an excellent example. She had maturity and understanding in the religion desiring only the akhirah. She said I do not want anything in this world and I want to be near to you Oh my Lord by having a house in Jannah.
