She of the Two Waist-Bands
Asma bint Abi Bakr was the daughter of Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُHazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiqرَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُFirst Caliph; the Prophet's closest companion, elder sister of Aisha رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَاHazrat Aisha bint Abi Bakrرَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَاWife of the Prophet ﷺ; the most beloved of his wives and a foremost scholar of the Ummah, and an early Muslim. On the night of the Hijra she prepared the provisions for the Prophet ﷺ and her father; finding nothing to tie the food-bag and water-skin, she tore her own waist-band in two, using one half for each — and so the Prophet ﷺ named her Dhat an-Nitaqayn, “she of the two waist-bands.” 1 Seerat-e-Mustafa · Vol 1 · pp. 163 — Idris Kandhlawi — Asma tears her belt in two to fasten the Hijra provisions; named Dhat an-Nitaqayn. 2 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 1 · pp. 342–343 — Kandhlawi — Asma prepares and binds the provisions for the Hijra.
Steadfast Before Abu Jahl
When the Quraysh, led by Abu Jahl, came demanding to know where Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُHazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiqرَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُFirst Caliph; the Prophet's closest companion had gone, Asma would not tell them — and Abu Jahl struck her so hard that her earring flew off; yet she did not betray her father or the Prophet ﷺ. 3 Seerat-e-Mustafa · Vol 1 · pp. 167 — Idris Kandhlawi — Abu Jahl slaps Asma for refusing to reveal where her father had gone.
Mother of Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr
Wife of az-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُHazrat Az-Zubayr ibn al-Awwamرَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُThe Disciple (Hawari) of the Prophet ﷺ; one of the ten promised Paradise and mother of Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُHazrat Abdullah ibn al-Zubayrرَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُThe first child born to the Muhajirun in Madinah; a devout worshipper and warrior, Asma lived to a great age, blind in her last years, and died in Makkah soon after her son — honoured ever after for her courage on the night of the Hijra.
Life Timeline
Born in Makkah
Daughter of Abu Bakr; an early Muslim.
Provisions the Hijra — Dhat an-Nitaqayn
Tears her belt in two to bind the food and water-skin.
Struck by Abu Jahl
For refusing to reveal where her father had gone.
Dies in Makkah
Shortly after her son Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr.
References
- Hayatus Sahaba — Kandhlawi — Asma prepares the provisions for the Hijra and tears her belt to fasten them Vol 1 · pp. 342–343
- Seerat-e-Mustafa — Idris Kandhlawi — the two waist-bands (Dhat an-Nitaqayn); Abu Jahl slaps Asma Vol 1 · pp. 163, 167