Ab ū Bakr Sidd īq (Rad ee-All āhu ‘Anhu) This is our second session on the life of Sayyedina Ab ū Bakr Sidd īq (Rad ee-All āhu ‘Anhu). We talked in our previous session on some background information and introduction to this series. Now we will talk about the family of Ab ū Bakr Sidd īq (Rad ee- All āhu ‘Anhu). His first wife was Qateela bint-ul-Uzza whom he divorced in the times of . There is a difference of opinion whether she later became Muslim or not. She was the mother of Asma and Abdullah. He was also married to Umme Rumm ān bint mir who was one of the early Muslims and the mother of Abdur Rahm ān and ‘Aisha (Rad ee- All āhu ‘Anhum). His third wife was Asma bint ‘Umais. She was the wife of Ja’far bin Ab ī T ālib, the brother of Al ī, the cousin of . Asma made Hijra with her husband Ja’far to Abyssinia where he was the Amīr of the Muslims; they stayed there for a long time and returned during the time of in the eighth year of Hijra . He was appointed by as second in command after Zaid bin H āritha in the battle of . So when Zaid bin H āritha was killed the one who assumed leadership after him was Ja’far bin Ab ī T ālib. While fighting in the battlefield he was carrying the flag or the banner of war with his right hand. When his right hand was cut he held it with his left hand. Then his left hand was cut and he held it tightly with the remaining part of his arms. When that was also chopped he hugged it until he fell down as in the end. In a had īth said had replaced his two arms with two wings to fly with to Paradise. So his wife Asma bint Umais was widowed. It was the tradition of the not to leave any woman single. If a woman was divorced or widowed or didn’t get married early she was not left alone. So married Asma bint Umais who gave birth to Muhammad Ab ī Bakr. His fourth wife was Hab ība bint Kh ārija. She belonged to Al-Ans ār specifically the tribe of Al-Khazraj and lived in a place called Sinha located in the suburbs of Medina. It was a little far away from the center of the town and that’s where was residing when passed away. That’s why he came late after the news had already spread. Hab ība bint Kh ārija (Rad ee-All āhu ‘Anha) was the mother of Umm-i- Kalthoom bint Ab ī Bakr. Among his children the eldest was Abdur Rahm ān bin Ab ī Bakr. He was well-known as one of the courageous and strong fighters of Quraish and fought against the Muslims in the battle of Badr . He was the last person to become Muslim in his family quite late after . His second son was Abdullah bin Ab ī Bakr ( Rad ee-All āhu ‘Anhu ) who played a critical role in Hijra . He was injured by an arrow during the siege of T āif. However he was not killed immediately. His injury was critical but he lived with his injury for some time and eventually died during the Khil āfa of his father. He met his death for the sake of Jihad as it was due to the injury caused by that arrow. Later on the story goes that retained that arrow with him and during his caliphate when he met the delegation from T āif he brought out that arrow and asked to whom that arrow belonged. One of them who didn’t know the cause of the question said after he took a close look at the arrow: this arrow is mine; I am the one who chopped to prepare it -- I am the one who stuck the feathers in it and I am the one who shot with it. said: That’s the arrow that killed my son Abdullah. The man spontaneously said: (All the glories to All āh) who has honored your son with the highest status of a and who guided me to embrace Islam. Muhammad bin Ab ī Bakr was brought up by Al ī bin Ab ī T ālib because of the relationship as Asma bint Umais was the ex-wife of his brother. During his Khil āfa Al ī bin Ab ī T ālib appointed him as Governor of Egypt. Asma bint Abi Bakr the elder daughter (older than ) played very important role in al-Hijra. She was called the woman of the two belts. Women used to make belts for their waists out of cloth. She was assigned the duty to deliver food to and in the cave. She made two pieces of the belt tied to her waist and put the food into these two pieces. gave the name of mutaqain (the woman of the two belts). Asma bint Ab ī Bakr got married to Zubair ibn al-Aww ām, one of the ten fortunate who were given the glad tidings of Janna. Zubair ibn al-Aww ām was a great warrior. He was a bit harsh with Asma bint Ab ī Bakr and got her do a lot of laborious work at home. One day she went to her father to complain against his rough attitude. He was so tough that once he hit one of the enemy soldiers and split him into two pieces. The sword went down piercing the man into two parts and even cut the saddle of the horse. So the saddle fell on both sides. The who were surprised with that spectacle said: What a powerful sword you have, O Zubair! Zubair replied: it is the arm that is powerful, not the sword. Then there was a well-known warrior and well-built fighter from Quraish who was called al-Qabsh. He got into a dual with Zubair in one of the battles. This man was completely covered in steel from head to toe with only two small holes for him to see through. Zubair hit him with the spear in that opening but the blade of the spear was so big that it couldn’t go through the tiny holes. Zubair ibn al-Aww ām pushed it so hard that and he stuck on it with his foot, got through his orbits and did not leave him until he was killed. When he pulled out the spear with the thick blade was nastily bent. The were amazed to see that blade of steel bent. wanted to keep it as a souvenir and it was given to him. When he died Umar bin Khatt āb kept it as a souvenir and then it was taken by Othm ān ibn-i-Aff ān and afterwards it was inherited by his son Abdullah who kept it with himself until he died. Asma bint Ab ī Bakr went to her father to complain about her husband. She said he made her to do all the laborious work cleaning her house, taking care of his kids, grinding the flour, feeding and taking care of his horse and all of that arduous work was too much for her. So she asked for relief and a servant to help her. could have sought legal help for his daughter but he advised her: A woman is very lucky to have a righteous husband because in the Hereafter she would be her wife in Janna. So my daughter! Be patient because Zubair ibn al-Aww ām is one of those who have been given the glad tidings of Janna. So he thought that it was honor for his daughter to be spouse of such a man. Asma bint Ab ī Bakr lived more than hundred years without losing any of her mental abilities and was also physically sound not to lose even a single tooth. She died in Mecca in year 73 of Al-Hijra . She narrated 56 ah ādīth of . Next to her was as we know she was the most beloved wife of . When Sh āfiee would narrate her had īth, he would say: this had īth is narrated by (the daughter of the beloved). Not only she but also her father was beloved to . When he would be in a gathering would stare in eyes of the and draw their attention. Once he gazed at Amr bin Al'aas who was a new Muslim and spoke with him directly. Amr bin Al'aas felt that loved him so much. So he asked : Who is the most beloved person to you. promptly replied: . Amr bin Al'aas again asked: And among the men who is the most beloved to you? said: (and from among the men her father). So was the most beloved wife of after . Her marriage with him was the Will of so that he would become the greatest lady scholar of this Ummah and convey the great treasure of ah ādīth to the Ummah. was married to to at the age we generally put our children to school at six because she was preordained to be the student of and later on fulfill the duty of communicating to the Ummah the vast knowledge of ah ādīth . By the age of 18 when departed Umm-ul-mo’mineen had no children. So she could devote her full time to teaching the ah ādīth . She ranks among four of the top narrators of ah ādīth .