Vulture continued, "The pages of history are replete with accounts of unbelievable hardships faced by righteous men. Not only men, but women as well, have endured untold hardship and shown extraordinary patience which has baffled men. The wife of Pharaoh, Aasiyah bint Muzaahim, was one of those strong-willed women. She displayed extraordinary selfcontrol for the sake of Allah and quietly bore the persecution of her husband for the sake of her faith. She was perseverant and grateful to Allah. I will tell you the following account how Allah helped her.
It is related by Abu Hurayrah, radhiyallahu 'anhu, that Pharaoh had tied his wife Aasiyah in four fetters, two each in her hands and feet. When the guards of Pharaoh went away, the angels would provide her with shade and she would exclaim,Those people who disobey the commands of Allah, rebel against him and do not fear His punishment are chastised and disgraced in this world within their own spheres. For instance, when Pharaoh persisted in rebellion and disobedience and claimed divinity for himself saying "I am your rabb, the high!", Allah caused him to be disgraced frequently before subjecting him to a perpetual punishment. Allah made him a lesson for everyone until the end of the world. In spite of his authority and power. and majesty and a large army, he saw defeat and disgrace at every step.
رَبِّ ابْنِ لِي عِنْدَكَ بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَنَجِّنِي مِنْ فِرْعَوْنَ وَعَمَلِهِ وَنَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ"My Rabb, build for me near You a house in Paradise and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds and save me from the wrongdoing people."
So, Allah disclosed her house in Paradise to her.
[As-Suyuthi mentioned the hadith in Ad-Durrul Mantsur (6/245) in an exact manner. He said, 'Narrated by Abu Ya'la and Baihaqi from Abu Hurairah with authentic sanad.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar in Al-Matholibul Aliyah (3/390) said, 'Sahih mawquf.'
Narrated by Tabari in his Tafsir (28/110). Hakim (2/496) said, 'Sahih Hadith is based on Shaykhain's conditions.' And it was approved by Dhahabi and this hadith like what they both said.']
He faced the birth of a child among the Bani Isra'il who was destined to destroy him and he killed thousands of male new-borns. However, that child grew up in his own house at his expenses while he was unaware of the doings of Allah. He thus became the means of the upbringing of his 'rank enemy'.
His own subordinates rejected his claim to divinity. Thus, Allah blessed the maid servant who was responsible for the make-up of his daughter with faith and belief. His own wife refused to recognise him as divine and became a believer in Allah, the One, Who has no partner. The Hadith describes the faith of this very woman and the rank accorded to her for her steadfast behaviour against persecution.
Allah has set forth examples of four women. He said,
The first example comprises two women who were the wives of two Prophets, alayhimassalam. They, in matters of religion, opposed their husbands and secretly sided with the unbelievers and pagans. As a result, they ended up in the abyss of Hell, and their marital relation with the prophets could not save them from the punishment. The name of the wife of Nuh, alaihissalam, said to be Waaghilah, while the name of the wife of Luth, alaihissalam, said to be Waalihah. These name according to Qurtubi, but some scholars have attributed other names to them.ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلا لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا اِمْرَأَةَ نُوحٍ وَامْرَأَةَ لُوطٍ كَانَتَا تَحْتَ عَبْدَيْنِ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا صَالِحَيْنِ فَخَانَتَاهُمَا فَلَمْ يُغْنِيَا عَنْهُمَا مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا وَقِيلَ ادْخُلا النَّارَ مَعَ الدَّاخِلِينَ"Allah presents an example of those who disbelieved: the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot. They were under two of Our righteous servants but betrayed them, so those prophets did not avail them from Allah at all, and it was said, 'Enter the Fire with those who enter.'" - (QS. 66:10)
Al-‘Awfi reported from Ibn ‘Abbas, “They betrayed them by not following their religion. The wife of Prophet Nuh used to expose his secrets, informing his oppressive people whenever any person embraced the faith with Nuh. As for the wife of Prophet Lut, she used to inform the people of the city (Sodom), who committed the awful sexual act (sodomy), whenever a guest was entertained by her husband.” Ad-Dahhak reported that Ibn ‘Abbas said, “ No wife of a Prophet ever committed adultery and fornication. Rather, they betrayed them by refusing to follow their religion.”
The third woman is the one who was the wife of the Pharaoh, the worst disbeliever and claimant of godhead, but she believed in Musa, alayhissalam. She was given such a high rank by Allah that she was shown her place in Jannah, right here in this world, and the infidelity of her husband did not prove to be an impediment in her achieving this high rank. The fourth woman is Maryam. She was not wife of anyone, but her faith and virtuous deeds earned for her such a high degree that she was invested with perfections of the prophets, even though she was not a prophet according to the majority of scholars.
Of the few pious women whose high rank Allah has mentioned in the Qur'an, Aasiyah bint Muzaahim, the wife of Pharaoh. Allah not only blessed her with a high rank but He also presented her example to Believers. He said,
Qatadah said, “Pharaoh was the most tyrannical among the people of the earth and the most disbelieving. By Allah! His wife was not affected by her husband’s disbelief, because she obeyed her Rabb. Therefore, let it be known that Allah is the Just Judge Who will not punish anyone except for their own sins.”وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اِمْرَأَةَ فِرْعَوْنَ إِذْ قَالَتْ رَبِّ ابْنِ لِي عِنْدَكَ بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَنَجِّنِي مِنْ فِرْعَوْنَ وَعَمَلِهِ وَنَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ"And Allah presents an example of those who believed: the wife of Pharaoh, when she said, 'My Rabb, build for me near You a house in Paradise and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds and save me from the wrongdoing people.'" - (QS. 66:11)According to some reports, her hands and feet were pegged with nails to the ground and a huge rock was placed on her chest, so that she might not be able to move. In this state she supplicated to Allah, "My Rabb, build for me near You a house in Paradise and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds and save me from the wrongdoing people."
Ibn Jarir recorded that Sulayman said, “The wife of Pharaoh was tortured under the sun and when Pharaoh would finish the torture session, the angels would shade her with their wings. She was shown her house in Paradise.”
Ibn Jarir said that Al-Qasim bin Abi Bazzah said, “Pharaoh’s wife used to ask, 'who prevailed?’ When she was told, ‘Musa and Harun prevailed’, she said, I believe in the Ilah of Musa and Harun.’ Pharaoh sent his aides to her and said to them, ‘Find the biggest stone. If she insists on keeping her faith, throw the stone on her, otherwise she is my wife. When they came to her, she looked up to the sky and was able to see her house in Paradise. She persisted on the faith and her soul was then captured. The stone was thrown on her lifeless body.”
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has said that she was perfect. It was narrated that Abu Moosa al-Ash’ari said, "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said,
Apparently, 'perfection' in this context refers to 'characteristics of Prophethood'. Despite being a woman, they achieved them. Allah knows best!كَمَلَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ كَثِيرٌ وَلَمْ يَكْمُلْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ غَيْرُ مَرْيَمَ بِنْتِ عِمْرَانَ وَآسِيَةَ امْرَأَةِ فِرْعَوْنَ وَإِنَّ فَضْلَ عَائِشَةَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ كَفَضْلِ الثَّرِيدِ عَلَى سَائِرِ الطَّعَامِ'The men who attain perfection are many, but there are no woman who have attained perfection apart from Aasiyah the wife of Pharaoh and Maryam bint ‘Imraan, and the superiority of ‘Aa’ishah over all other women is like the superiority of thareed over all other foods.”
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3230; Muslim, 2431)
Aasiyah bint Muzaahim, she was extremely truthful, a saintly woman, obedient to Allah. Her husband, on the other hand, was the greatest rebel against Allah and most disobedient. She reared Musa, alaihissalam, and helped him in the royal palace. Pharaoh learnt very much later that she had become a believing woman and had professed the unity of Allah. He then began to be strict with her and fettered her to four iron rings. A guard was placed over her. In her sad predicament she prayed to Allah; "My Rabb, build for me near You a house in Paradise and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds and save me from the wrongdoing people."
The owner of the royal palace, the Queen of Egypt, wife of a great ruler of her time, was subjected to cruel torment and she bore with it for the sake of just one declaration of unity of Allah. The very unfortunate part of it was that she suffered the ill-treatment at the hands of her husband. Feltered as she was, she prayed to Allah and His help was there for her. He showed her the palace in Paradise in which she was to live so that she found her difficulties very easy for her.
Ultimately, Pharaoh had her killed and she accepted martyrdom for the sake of Allah. This martyr in the cause of Allah was honoured by finding a place in the last Book of Allah and will be recalled till the Last Hour. Her sacrifice will continue to be cited to Believers as an example till then.
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas, radhiyallahu 'anhu, said, "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) drew four lines on the ground, then he said, “Do you know what this is?” We said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “The best of the women of Paradise are Khadeejah bint Khuwaylid, Faatimah bint Muhammad, Aasiyah bint Muzaahim, the wife of Pharaoh, and Maryam bint ‘Imraan.”"O my brothers and sisters, there some lessons and messages from this hadith. First, guidance is not anyone's property which may be inherited, but it is a blessing of Allah. He guides whom He wills. He may if He will turn a Prophet's wife into an unbeliever as were the wives of Prophet Nuh and Prophet Lut, alaihimassalam. He may if He will turn the wives of unbelievers into Muslims as was Aasiyah, wife of the Pharaoh. We must always thank Allah for His blessings which He has bestowed merely on His own through His mercy.
(Narrated by Ahmad, 2663. Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 1135)
Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar said, " Among the virtues of Aasiyah, the wife of Pharaoh, is that she chose death over royal privilege and torment in this world over the luxury in which she was living. And her insight concerning Musa, alaihissalam, was correct when she said “A comfort of the eye for me” [al-Qasas 28:9]."
Second, when a person is sincere in his faith, then its blessings make it easy for him to tolerate persecution. Then, even when he is compelled to walk on fire, calls out "Ahad, Ahad". Or, when he is being slaughtered he says, "I have not done my duty." It was this very sincerity that made the Royal Queen, Aasiyah, to bear with patience and fortitude oppression and cruelty; and finally she gave away her life.
Third, the unbelievers have never tolerated Belief. They have always disregarded the sanctity of blood relationship too in their intolerance of Belief. They have never ceased to persecute the weak and be unjust to the oppressed. Yet, it is by going through trials and tribulations that faith and guidance are refreshed and Islam is professed with a revived spirit. The narrative brings out this very fact.
Fourth, those who walk the path of Truth and endure persecution for its sake are never alone. He for Whom they go through it never leaves them alone. At every step, He grants them strength and will to endure, patience and steadfastness, and strong taith. He sends unseen help. Aasiyah too received such support when the angels provided her with shade and let her see her palace in Paradise.
Finally, faith is a great power. The heart that is blessed with faith gains strength and power, no matter how weak it may be. We may recall how weak a woman is and how much more weak a Queen should be-naturally weak and weakened by habits! But, when she tasted faith, she stood before every kind of injustice and cruelty with manly strength. This is the peculiarity of faith. It is the history of faith! And Allah knows best."
- Maulana Muhammad Zakaria Iqbal, Stories from the Hadith, Darul Isha'at.
- Syaikh Safiurrahman Al-Mubarakpuri, Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Abridged) Volume X, Darussalam
- Maulana Mufti Muhammad Shafi, Ma'ariful Quran Volume 8, Maktaba-e-Darul-Uloom
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