Hazrate Asmaa Bint Abu Bakr (R.A)

Hazrate Asmaa (R.A) belonged to a distinguished Muslim family. Her father, Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A), was a close friend of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W). Her half-sister, Hazrate Aisha (R.A), was the blessed wife of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) and one of the Ummahat al-Mu'mineen. Her husband, Hazrat Zubayr ibn al-Awwam (R.A), was one of the special personal aides of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W). Her son, Hazrat Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr (R.A), became well-known for his incorruptibility and his unswerving devotion to Truth.

Hazrate Asmaa (R.A) herself was one of the first people to accept Islam. Only about seventeen personalities, including both men and women became Muslims before her.

She was given the nickname Dhat an-Nitaqayn (the one with the Two Waistbands) because of an incident connected with the departure of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) and her father from Makkah on the historic Hijrah to Madina.

Hazrate Asmaa (R.A) was one of the few people who knew of the Holy Prophet's (S.A.W) plan to leave for Madina. The utmost secrecy had to be maintained because of the Quraysh plans to murder the Holy Prophet (S.A.W). On the night of their departure, Hazrate Asmaa (R.A) was the one who prepared a bag of food and a water container for their journey. She did not find anything to tie the containers with and decided to use her waistband (nitaq). Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A) suggested that she tear it into two, this she did and the Prophet (S.A.W) commended her action. From then on she became known as "the One with the Two Waistbands".

Hazrate Asmaa (R.A) was pregnant at that time. However she did not let her pregnancy or the prospect of a long and difficult journey deter her from leaving. As soon as she reached Quba on the outskirts of Madina, she gave birth to a son, Hazrat Abdullah (R.A). The Muslims shouted Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest) and La ilaha illallah (There is no God but Allah) in happiness and thanksgiving because this was the first child to be born to the Muhajireen in Madina.

Hazrate Asmaa (R.A) became known for her fine and noble qualities and for the keenness of her intelligence. She was an extremely generous person. Her son Hazrat Abdullah (R.A) once said of her, "I have not seen two women more generous than my aunt Aisha 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 following day."