The Stones of Asma
When Abu Bakr emigrated taking with him all his money, the blind and still-pagan Abu Quhafa came to his grandchildren, troubled that his son had left them in want. Asma filled a cloth with pebbles where her father’s purse had been, and let her grandfather touch it — so that he might think wealth had been left for them, and be at peace. 1 History of Islam · Vol 1 · pp. 143 — Najeebabadi — Asma reassures her blind grandfather with stones in place of money on the morning of the Hijra.
Islam at the Conquest
At the conquest of Makkah, Abu Bakr brought his aged father to the Prophet ﷺ in the Sacred Mosque. The Prophet ﷺ asked why he had not left him in his home so that he might come to him — then passed his hand over Abu Quhafa’s chest and bade him recite the kalima, and Abu Quhafa embraced Islam. The Prophet ﷺ bade his grey hair be dyed — but not with black. Abu Bakr wept, saying he would rather it had been Abu Talib’s hand in his father’s place, that the Prophet ﷺ might have rejoiced over him. 2 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 2 · pp. 342 — Kandhlawi — Abu Quhafa brought to the Prophet at the conquest; the hand on his chest; the kalima; Abu Bakr's tears. 3 Seerat-e-Mustafa · Vol 1 · pp. 499–500 — Idris Kandhlawi — Abu Quhafa's hair dyed but not with black; the conquest scene. He outlived Abu Bakr, dying in Makkah in 14 AH.
Life Timeline
Born in Makkah
Of Banu Taym; father of Abu Bakr.
Asma reassures the blind, disbelieving grandfather with stones
Embraces Islam at the conquest of Makkah
Dies in Makkah
Outliving his son Abu Bakr.
References
- History of Islam — Najeebabadi — Asma fills a cloth with pebbles to make the blind Abu Quhafa think Abu Bakr left wealth Vol 1 · pp. 143
- Hayatus Sahaba — Kandhlawi — Abu Quhafa brought to the Prophet ﷺ at the conquest; he embraces Islam; Abu Bakr weeps Vol 2 · pp. 342
- Seerat-e-Mustafa — Idris Kandhlawi — the Prophet ﷺ passes his hand over Abu Quhafa's chest; the kalima; the white hair to be dyed (not with black) Vol 1 · pp. 499–500