Choice of Friends
Asma (ra) was much older than the Mother of the Believers, Aisha (ra), yet she would visit her often to seek knowledge. Their relationship was based on mutual love and truthfulness. Their conversations were generally about issues of jurisprudence and not gossips about the community.
Lessons to draw: Raise the standard of your friends. Genuinely seek out people who are better than you in Deen. Respect and benefit from their knowledge. Knowing our time is precious we must not waste it in Laghw (futile), but rather look for opportunities to benefit ourselves and others. We must actively seek opportunities that will raise our scales in the hereafter. We should also polish our skills and be a productive member of the society.
Blessing in Food
Asma (ra) had a small place for prayer in her courtyard. Sometimes the Prophet (sa) would go there to pray. One day when he arrived, Asma (ra) presented him food. The Prophet (sa) instructed his accompanying Companions (ra) to join him in the dinner. The Prophet (sa), the Companions (ra) and the family ate from the meal and yet much was left over. There must have been forty people who shared the meal together.
The Prophet (sa) then got up and drank water from the leather flask. Asma (ra) preserved that flask and would use it when someone in the family fell ill. When a sick person would be served water from it, he would be cured. It was all because of the blessings of the Prophet (sa).
Lessons to draw: We might not have the Prophet (sa) among us anymore, but we learn that sharing our provision with others always brings more. We must be generous in sharing our food, our skills, our time and our knowledge with others especially those who need it the most.
To increase the blessing in one’s provision one must also learn and follow the etiquette that our Prophet (sa) taught. Among them some are: it should be Halal (permissible) and Tayyab (pure). Therefore, purify your source of income and thoughts. Do not be greedy and selfish. Have concern for others too. Start every good deed and daily habits such as eating or sleeping with the name of Allah (swt).
Narrator of Hadith
Being a regular student of the gatherings of the Prophet (sa) and Aisha (ra), Asma (ra) attained the honour of being a Hadith narrator. Around eighty one Hadith been narrated from her.
Lessons to draw: We cannot be a Hadith narrator, but how many Hadith to we know by our hearts? Let us set up a Hadith memorising goal and memorise some.
Participation in Battles
Asma (ra) dedicated the early years of her marriage in tending to her home. When the children grew up and became independent, she used her skills and time for Allah (swt). She participated with the men in the battles. Not only as a nurse attending to the wounded and supporting the men but also as a warrior. She had no weapons of her own and no means to procure one. She took the pole of her tent and killed nine enemy soldiers in the Battle of Uhud.
She lived up to a ripe age and later moved to Damascus where she died. She was one of the women promised Paradise.
Lessons to draw: We see in the life of Asma (ra) many roles. She was a student, a teacher, Hadith narrator, and a warrior. She performed all those roles while efficiently performing her domestic duties. She was not felt no humiliation in doing house chores. At one point in her life, she was divorced. But she continues to benefit herself and others. She did not allow anything to put a blockade in her determination to gather Hasanahs (good deeds) for herself.
Asma (ra) teaches us to raise our scales. She teaches us to prioritise our duties and bring a balance in them. She teaches us to keep moving despite the challenges that we encounter.
(Adapted from the book: Seerat e Sahabiyat k Darakshan Pehlu by and the lectures of Dr. Farhat Hashmi: Seerat e Sahabiyat)
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