Asmaa bint Yazeed ibn AI-Sakan
She was a woman from the Ansar, and a companion of the Prophet. She was distinguished for her sagacity and eloquence. Indeed, she was nicknamed the "Orator of all Women". But she was also a woman of learning, and she reported the Prophets Hadith. She was clearly reliable as a reporter. Abu Dawood, AI-Tirmidhi, AI-Nassaie and Ibn Majah, as well as other major scholars of Hadith, related a total of 81 Hadiths of her reporting. As such, she ranks among the best learned of the Prophets women companions.
Asmaa was also keen on jihad, joining Muslim armies on several occasions. She accompanied the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) on his expedition that led to the fall of Makkah to Islam. She also participated in-the great Battle of AI-Yarmook, against the Byzantines, during the reign of Umar ibn AI-Khattab (RA). She is reported to have killed nine enemy soldiers, using the pole of her own tent.
In order to appreciate her knowledge we may relate the following story. One day she came to the Prophet as he was sitting with a number of his companions. Addressing him, she said: "Messenger of Allaah, may both my parents be sacrificed for you. I am an emissary from women to you. Allaah has sent you as His messenger to both men and women. We believe in you and your Lord. Yet we, women, are restricted, home bound. We stay in your i.e. menshomes, give you your pleasure, and bear your children. You, men, have been favored over us with attending Friday prayer and congregational prayers in mosques, visiting the sick, attending funerals, offering the pilgrimage repeatedly, and with what is more than that: fighting for Allaahs cause. When a man goes out intending pilgrimage or jihad, we take care of your property, sew your clothes, and bring up your children for you. Do we have a share of your reward?"
The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) turned to his companions asking them: "Have you ever heard a better statement by a woman than this one who is asking about matters of her faith?" They said: We would not have thought that a woman would ever be able to express such meanings as this lady." The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) turned to Asmaa and said: "Listen, woman, and inform other women who sent you that a woman who is a goodly wife, keen to please her husband and doing what he likes is equal to all that." As she left, she was glorifying Allaah and repeating statements of His oneness.
May Allaah be pleased with Asmaa, the Prophets companion, who obtained from him this definitive statement that women are in no way less than men in their faith or their reward. It should be added that the Prophets words stress that the woman should always try to ensure that the atmosphere in her home is always relaxed and pleasant, so that she leads a happy marital life and her children grow up in a homely environment. As she takes care of the future generation, she earns as much reward as man who is assigned the task of looking after the present generation.
Hafsah bint Seereen Hafsah bint Seereen
She was one of the best known scholars of the tabieen generation, which followed that of the Prophets companions. Her brother Muhammad ibn Seereen ranks high among the tabieen scholars. She learned the Quran by heart when she was 12 years of age, but apparently she excelled in it to the extent that if her brother, Muhammad, was unsure about a particular word or phrase in the Quran, he would send to her for clarification, and she always gave an authoritative ruling.
Her reputation as a scholar of the highest caliber was well established among her contemporaries. Iyas ibn Muawiah says: "I have not met anyone whom I would place above Hafsah bint Seereen." He was asked: What about Al-Hassan Al-Basri and Muhammad ibn Seereen?" He said: "As for me, I do not rate anyone above her." Needless to say, if she is preferred to such figures who remain quoted for authoritative views even today, and the preference is stated by a scholar like Iyas, then she must be among the best scholars of all times.
Hafsah was distinguished in Fiqh, or Islamic jurisprudence, the Quran and the Hadith. She reported Hadiths from her brother Yahya, Anas ibn Malik, Umm Atiyah of the Ansar, Al-Rabab Umm AI-Raih, Abu Dhubyan Khaleefah ibn Kaab, Khayrah, who was AI-Hassan AI-Basris mother and others. A large number of scholars learned from her and reported her Hadiths, including her brother Muhammad, Qatadah, Aasim AI-Ahwal, and Ayyoob. Yahya ibn Maeen, a great authority on Hadith reporters, rates her as most reliable. Similarly Ibn Hibban, a distinguished Hadith scholar, mentions her among reliable reporters. Hafsah died in 101 H, corresponding to 720 CE. May God shower His mercy on her.
Almaa bint Ahmad Almaabint Ahmad ibn Zuhayrah
She was a scholar of Hadith, known for her piety and high scholarly standing. She read under many renowned scholars, and was certified as a scholar by a number of them, such as Al-Allaie, AI-Izz ibn Jummaah, AI-Qalanisi, Nassir AI-Deen Al-Fariqi and many more. To be certified by such scholars who attained a very high scholarly standing is a proof of her achievement. Hence, it was only natural that younger scholars should seek to read under her, attend her circle or listen to her as she taught Hadith. Thus, we read among her students names like Al-Taqi ibn Fahd, his brother and his son Abu Bakr. She died in Makkah in 818 H, corresponding to 1415 CE. May God bestow His mercy on her.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited