Asiya
Encyclopedia
Asiya, wife of the Pharaoh (Arabic: آسية), also known as Asiya bint Muzahim, is revered by Muslims as one of the greatest women of all time. She was the wife of "Fir'awn," the Pharaoh who reigned during Moses's
time (it is not clear whether he was the Pharaoh of the Oppression or the Pharaoh of the Exodus). The Qur'an
chronicles her as a great person and she is respected all the more by Muslims as she was married to one of the most evil men in history, but never lost faith in God
and remained steadfast in prayer and belief. Prophet
Muhammad
is said to have mentioned her as one of the four greatest women of all time, alongside Mary, Khadija and Fatimah
.
wife of the Pharaoh
. Unlike her evil husband, she was a pious and believing woman who accepted the faith that Moses
and Aaron
were preaching, according to the Torah
, in Israel
at the time. Although she had exceeding wealth, she was not arrogant like the Pharaoh. She realized that faith in God
was far more important and was thus exalted by God amongst the women of her generation.
Asiya and her maids were at the neighboring Nile river one day. To their amazement, they found a crate floating in the river. Asiya immediately ordered the crate to be brought out on shore. Although the maids thought there was a treasure in the crate, they in fact found a baby boy inside. Asiya instantly fell in love with him and knew that this boy, Moses
, was no ordinary baby. She told the Pharaoh about the baby and convinced her husband to allow the baby to live with them. Asiya subsequently saved Moses from the Pharaoh's anger several times. Asiya then offered Moses' mother to live in their household as Moses' wet nurse
and paid her for her services, being unaware that the wet nurse was Moses' mother.
Thus, mother and son were reunited again.
The tradition holds that Asiya worshipped God in secret and praying in disguise fearing her husband. She died while being tortured by her husband, who had discovered her monotheism..
, despite being the wife of Pharaoh. According to Hadith, she will be among the first women to enter Paradise because she accepted Moses's monotheism over Pharaoh's beliefs. The Qur'an
mentions Asiya as an example to all Muslims
Islamic view of Moses
Musa , known as Moses in the Old Testament, is considered an Islamic prophet, messenger, lawgiver and leader in Islam. Moses is mentioned more in the Quran than any other individual, and his life is narrated and recounted more than that any other prophet...
time (it is not clear whether he was the Pharaoh of the Oppression or the Pharaoh of the Exodus). The Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
chronicles her as a great person and she is respected all the more by Muslims as she was married to one of the most evil men in history, but never lost faith in God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
and remained steadfast in prayer and belief. Prophet
Prophet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
is said to have mentioned her as one of the four greatest women of all time, alongside Mary, Khadija and Fatimah
Fatimah
Fatimah was a daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad from his first wife Khadijah bint Khuwaylid. She is regarded by Muslims as an exemplar for men and women. She remained at her father's side through the difficulties suffered by him at the hands of the Quraysh of Mecca...
.
Tradition
Asiya was the IsraeliteIsraelite
According to the Bible the Israelites were a Hebrew-speaking people of the Ancient Near East who inhabited the Land of Canaan during the monarchic period .The word "Israelite" derives from the Biblical Hebrew ישראל...
wife of the Pharaoh
Pharaoh
Pharaoh is a title used in many modern discussions of the ancient Egyptian rulers of all periods. The title originates in the term "pr-aa" which means "great house" and describes the royal palace...
. Unlike her evil husband, she was a pious and believing woman who accepted the faith that Moses
Moses
Moses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed...
and Aaron
Aaron
In the Hebrew Bible and the Qur'an, Aaron : Ααρών ), who is often called "'Aaron the Priest"' and once Aaron the Levite , was the older brother of Moses, and a prophet of God. He represented the priestly functions of his tribe, becoming the first High Priest of the Israelites...
were preaching, according to the Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
, in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
at the time. Although she had exceeding wealth, she was not arrogant like the Pharaoh. She realized that faith in God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
was far more important and was thus exalted by God amongst the women of her generation.
Asiya and her maids were at the neighboring Nile river one day. To their amazement, they found a crate floating in the river. Asiya immediately ordered the crate to be brought out on shore. Although the maids thought there was a treasure in the crate, they in fact found a baby boy inside. Asiya instantly fell in love with him and knew that this boy, Moses
Moses
Moses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed...
, was no ordinary baby. She told the Pharaoh about the baby and convinced her husband to allow the baby to live with them. Asiya subsequently saved Moses from the Pharaoh's anger several times. Asiya then offered Moses' mother to live in their household as Moses' wet nurse
Wet nurse
A wet nurse is a woman who is used to breast feed and care for another's child. Wet nurses are used when the mother is unable or chooses not to nurse the child herself. Wet-nursed children may be known as "milk-siblings", and in some cultures the families are linked by a special relationship of...
and paid her for her services, being unaware that the wet nurse was Moses' mother.
Thus, mother and son were reunited again.
The tradition holds that Asiya worshipped God in secret and praying in disguise fearing her husband. She died while being tortured by her husband, who had discovered her monotheism..
Legacy
It is said that Asiya was a sincere believer and that she fully submitted herself to GodGod
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
, despite being the wife of Pharaoh. According to Hadith, she will be among the first women to enter Paradise because she accepted Moses's monotheism over Pharaoh's beliefs. The Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
mentions Asiya as an example to all Muslims
External links
- http://muxlim.com/blogs/She_who_lives/asiya-bint-muzahim-wife-of-the-pharoah/