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Who she was:
Her father, Abu Bakr, was the closest companion to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and the first righteous Caliph after his death. Her sister was wife of the prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and mother of the believers Aishah. Her husband, Zubayr ibn al-Awwam, was one of the most distinguished companions of our noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Our noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said about him: "az-Zubayr is the son of my paternal aunt and my disciple from my Ummah." (Saheeh - Narrated by Jaabir & collected in Musnad Ahmad. Authenticated by al-Albaanee in his as-Saheehah (1877))
Her son, Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr, became well-known for his incorruptibility and his unswerving devotion to Truth.

Her role during the emigration of the prophet to Medinah: When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was about to secretly leave Makkah for his emigration to Madeenah with his close friend Abu Bakr, it was Asmaa who prepared the provisions for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and her father. She said: "I prepared the provision bag for the Prophet in the house of Abu Bakr when he wanted to emigrate to Madina. We did not find anything with which to tie his bag or waterskin. I said to Abu Bakr: "By Allaah, I cannot find anything to tie with except my belt." He said: "Tear it in two and tie the waterskin with one and the bag with the other."" So that is what she did and since then she became know as 'Dhaatun-Nitaaqayn' [She of the two belts]. (Collected in Sahaah al-Bukhaari (eng. Trans. Vol.4 p.141 no.222))

When the Prophet and Abu Bakr Siddiq quietly left Makkah, Abu Jah'l, enraged by their escape, came to Abu Bakr's house and shouted at Asma', and said, "Where is your father, girl?" She replied, How do I know?" Infuriated by this reply, he struck Asma' in her face, which broke her ear-ring, and then went away. Asma' quietly bore this punishment and went inside.

Asmaa's presence of mind in difficult circumstances was remarkable. When her father left Makkah, he took all his wealth, amounting to some six thousand dirhams, with him and did not leave any for his family. When Abu Bakr's father, Abu Quhafah (he was still a mushrik) heard of his departure he went to his house and said to Asmaa: "I understand that he has left you bereft of money after he himself has abandoned you."

"No, grandfather," replied Asmaa, "in fact he has left us much money." She took some pebbles and put them in a small recess in the wall where they used to put money. She threw a cloth over the heap and took the hand of her grandfather --he was blind--and said, "See how much money he has left us".

The birth of her son
When the Muslims immigrated to Medina, the Jews spread a rumor that they bewitched Muslims so they would never have children born in Medina. Days passed and there were no births among the Muslims until Asmaa gave birth to Abdullah at Quba in Madina.

Muslims were extremely happy as his birth proved that the allegations of the Jews were false. His grandfather Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, took him to our noble prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, who asked for a date. He chewed the date then put it in Abdullah's mouth so the first thing to enter his stomach is the Prophet's saliva. The Messenger of Allah named him Abdullah and his grandfather Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, went all around Medina with him wrapped in a cloth to announce his birth.

Her Household:
Asmaa was married to Zubayr Ibn al-Awwaam, the cousin of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. He was a very poor man, nevertheless Abu Bakr knew him to be a man of great piety, so despite the huge difference between their financial status, Abu Bakr married his daughter to him.

In the initial stages of her marriage, Asmaa has to face a lot of hardship due to the extreme poverty they suffered. Suddenly, this daughter of a rich merchant found herself tending to the animals, kneading, grinding, fetching water and carrying huge loads on her head. She said about her situation: "When az-Zubayr married me, he had neither land, nor wealth, nor slave, nor anything else like it, except a camel to get water and his horse. I used to graze his horse, provide fodder for it, look after it and ground dates for his camel. Besides this, I grazed the camel, made arrangements for providing it with water and patching up his leather bucket and kneading the flour. I was not very good at baking the bread, so my female neighbors used to bake bread for me and they were sincere women. And I used to carry on my head, the date-stones from the land of az-Zubayr which the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, had endowed him and it was a distance of two miles from Madeenah.

One day, as I was carrying the date-stones upon my head, I happened to meet Allaah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, along with a group of his Companions. He called me and told the camel to sit down so that he could make me ride behind him. I felt shy to go with men and I remembered az-Zubayr and his Jealousy and he was a man having the most jealousy. The Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, understood my shyness and left. I came to az-Zubayr and said: "The Messenger of Allah met me as I was carrying date-stones upon my head and there was with him a group of his Companions. He told the camel to kneel so that I could mount it but I felt shy from him and I remembered your jealousy." Upon this az-Zubayr said: "By Allah, the thought of you carrying date-stones upon your head is more severe a burden to me than you riding with him." I led this life of hardship until Abu Bakr sent me a female servant who took upon herself the responsibility of looking after the horse and I felt as if she had emancipated me." (Reported in Saheeh al-Bukhari (eng. Trans. Vol.7 p.111 no.151))

Her Sons:
Asmaa was the mother of Urwah Ibn az-Zubayr, who became one of the scholars of Madinah. Umar Ibn Abdul Azeez, the fifth righteous caliph, said about him: "I do not find anyone more knowledgeable than 'Urwah Ibn az-Zubayr, and for whatever I know he knows something which I do not." (Reported by adh-Dhahabee in Siyaar A'laamin-Nubalaa')

Her other son was of the Caliph Abdullaah Ibn az-Zubayr, who was the leader of the Muslims during one of the most turbulent periods in Islamic history. He was killed in Makkah at the hands of al-Hajjaaj on the 17th of Jumadaa al-Ulaa in 73H. A few days after the death of her sin, Asmaa bint Abu Bakr also died may Allah be pleased with her.

Her piety:
She performed the Pilgrimage many times, the first time with the Prophet. (Muslim).

She was very generous and gave everything in charity. According to Abdullah ibn Zubair, "I have not seen two women more generous than my aunt A'ishah 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 morrow". One day Asma' asked the Prophet, "O Allah's Messenger, can I give something to the orphans and the destitute from the wealth of Zubair without his permission?" The Prophet told her that she could.

Once the Prophet advised his Companions to give as much charity in the Way of Allah as they could. The Companions acted on this advice of the Prophet with great enthusiasm, vying with one another. Women Companions took off their ornaments and jewellery and gave them in charity. Asma had one maid; she sold her and took the money. When Zubair came home and asked for the money, she said that she had given it in charity. Zubair was silent, for he also sought the Pleasure of Allah and His Messenger.

Her mother, Qutaylah, once came to visit her in Madinah. She was not a Muslim and was divorced from her father in pre-Islamic times. Her mother brought her gifts of raisins, clarified butter and qaraz (pods of a species of sant tree).

Asmaa at first refused to admit her into her house or accept the gifts. She sent someone to A'ishah to ask the Prophet, peace be upon him, about her attitude to her mother and he replied that she should certainly admit her to her house and accept the gifts. On this occasion, the following revelation came to the Prophet: "Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who do not fight you because of your faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them. Allah loves those who are just. Allah only forbids you with regard to those who fight you for your Faith, and drive you from your homes, and support others in driving you out, from turning to them (for friendship and protection). It is such as turn to them (in these circumstances) that do wrong." (Surah al-Mumtahanah 60: 8-9)

It is reported that she took part in the Battle of Yarmuk and did great service to the soldiers in many ways.

Asma' had a very sharp memory. If she heard anything even once she would never forget it. Like 'A'ishah, Umm Salamah and Asma' bint Yazid bin as-Sakan al-Ansariyyah, she also has many Hadiths attributed to her. Many Companions and successors would come to her for guidance and verification of Hadiths. 'Abdullah bin Zubayr, 'Urwah bin Az-Zubayr, 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas, Fatimah bint Munthir bin Zubayr and 'Abdullah bin Kisan are some of the noteworthy ones.
Asma' narrated fifty-six hadith from the Prophet, which were transmitted by Bukhari, Muslim and Sunnan and other very eminent Companions.

Her son's death:
During her son Abdullah's dispute with the Umayyids he sought her advice now an old blind woman, and said: "Peace be on you, Mother, and the mercy and blessings of Allah."
"Unto you be peace, Abdullah," she replied. "What is it that brings you here at this hour while boulders from Hajjaj's catapults are raining down on your soldiers in the Haram and shaking the houses of Makkah?"
"I came to seek your advice," he said.
"To seek my advice?" she asked in astonishment. "About what?"
"The people have deserted me out of fear of Hajjaj or being tempted by what he has to offer. Even my children and my family have left me. There is only a small group of men with me now and however strong and steadfast they are they can only resist for an hour or two more. Messengers of the Banu Umayyah (the Umayyads) are now negotiating with me, offering to give me whatever worldly possessions I want, should I lay down my arms and swear allegiance to Abdul Malik ibn Marwan. What do you think?"

Raising her voice, she replied: "It's your affair, Abdullah, and you know yourself better. If however you think that you are right and that you are standing up for the Truth, then persevere and fight on as your companions who were killed under your flag had shown perseverance. If however you desire the world, what a miserable wretch you are. You would have destroyed yourself and you would have destroyed your men."

"But I will be killed today, there is no doubt about it."
"That is better for you than that you should surrender yourself to Hajjaj voluntarily and that some minions of Banu Umayyah should play with your head."
"I do not fear death. I am only afraid that they will mutilate me."
"There is nothing after death that man should be afraid of. Skinning does not cause any pain to the slaughtered sheep."
Abdullah's face beamed as he said: "What a blessed mother! Blessed be your noble qualities! I have come to you at this hour to hear what I have heard. Allah knows that I have not weakened or despaired. He is witness over me that I have not stood up for what I have out of love for this world and its attractions but only out of anger for the sake of Allah. His limits have been transgressed. Here am I, going to what is pleasing to you. So if I am killed, do not grieve for me and commend me to Allah."

"I shall grieve for you," said the ageing but resolute Asmaa, "only if you are killed in a vain and unjust cause."
"Be assured that your son has not supported an unjust cause, nor committed any detestable deed, nor done any injustice to a Muslim or a Dhimmi and that there is nothing better in his sight than the pleasure of Allah, the Mighty, the Great. I do not say this to exonerate myself. Allah knows that I have only said it to make your heart firm and steadfast."

"Praise be to Allah who has made you act according to what He likes and according to what I like. Come close to me, my son, that I may smell and feel your body for this might be the last meeting with you."

Abdullah knelt before her. She hugged him and smothered his head, his face and his neck with kisses. Her hands began to squeeze his body when suddenly she withdrew them and asked: "What is this you are wearing, Abdullah?"

"This is my armor plate."
"This, my son, is not the dress of one who desires martyrdom. Take it off. That will make your movements lighter and quicker. Wear instead the sirwal (a long under garment) so that if you are killed your 'awrah (loins) will not be exposed."
Abdullah took off his armor plate and put on the sirwal. As he left for the Haram to join the fighting he said: "My mother, don't deprive me of your duaa (supplication)."
Raising her hands to heaven, she prayed: "O Lord, have mercy on his staying up for long hours and his loud crying in the darkness of the night while people slept . . . O Lord, have mercy on his hunger and his thirst on his journeys from Madinah and Makkah while he fasted . . . O Lord, bless his righteousness to his mother and his father . . . O Lord, I commend him to Your cause and I am pleased with whatever You decree for him. And grant me for his sake the reward of those who are patient and who persevere."

They embraced each other and exchanged a farewell look. After one hour of fierce, unparalleled battle, the martyr received a deadly stroke. Al-Hajaaj, cruel, cunning, and deceiving as he was, insisted on crucifying the lifeless body.

Abd Allah's mother, who was on that day 97 years old, went to see her crucified son. Like a high towering mountain, his mother stood in front of him when Al-Hajaaj approached with shame and humiliation and said, "O Mother, the Commander of the Faithful Abd Al-Maalik Ibn Marwaan has recommended me to treat you well. Do you need anything?"

She shouted, "I'm not your mother. I'm the mother of that one crucified on the cross. I don't need you. But I'm going to tell you a hadith which I heard from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. He said, "He will emerge from Thaqiif, a liar and a vicious one." We have already seen the liar and the vicious one. I don't think he's anyone else but you."

Abd Allah Ibn Umar approached to console her and asked Allah to grant her patience. She replied, "What hinders me from being patient? Wasn't the head of Yahyaa (John) Ibn Zakariyaa granted to an Israelite harlot?"

Her death:
Only few days after her son's death, Asma' bint Abu Bakr As-Siddiq died in the year 73, after Hijrah. She was almost a hundred years old, but even at that age she had a full set of teeth and a sharp memory.

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