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Asma’
bint Abi Bakr belonged to a distinguished Muslim family. Her
father, Abu Bakr, was a close friend of the Prophet and the
first caliph after his death. Her half-sister `A'ishah was a
wife of the Prophet and one of the Mother of the
Believers. Her husband, Az-Zubayr ibn Al-`Awwam, was one of
the special personal aides of the Prophet. Her son `Abdullah
became well known for his incorruptibility and his
unswerving devotion to Truth.
Asma’
herself was one of the first persons to accept Islam. Only
about seventeen persons including both men and women became
Muslims before her. She was later given the nickname Dhat
An-Nitaqayn (the One with Two Waistbelts) because of an
incident connected with the departure of the Prophet and her
father from Makkah on the historic Hijrah to Madinah.
Asma’
was one of the few persons who knew of the Prophet's plan to
leave for Madinah. The utmost secrecy had to be maintained
because of the Quraysh’s plans to murder the Prophet. On
the night of their departure, Asma’ prepared a bag of food
and a water container for their journey. Not finding
anything to tie the containers with, she decided to use her
waistbelt (nitaq) but followed her father’s
suggestion to tear it into two. The Prophet commended her
action and from then on she became known as the One with the
Two Waistbelts.
When
it came her turn to emigrate from Makkah, soon after the
departure of the Prophet, Asma’ was pregnant. She did not
let her pregnancy or the prospect of a long and arduous
journey deter her from leaving. As soon as she reached
Quba’ on the outskirts of Madinah, she gave birth to a
son, `Abdullah. The Muslims shouted “Allahu Akbar”
(Allah is the Greatest) and “La ilaha illa Allah”
(There is no god but Allah) in happiness and thanksgiving
because this was the first child to be born to the Muhajirun
in Madinah.
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