Bismillahi Wal Hamdullillah Was Salaatu Was Salaamu ‘Alaa Rasoolillahi

Ammaa Ba’d:

I was recently asked about the following hadeeth and what the scholars of hadeeth say about it, a beautiful narration but sadly…

It is mentioned that Asma bint al Yazeed approached the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wassallam) and said:

I am a messenger for a group of females. All of them say a similar statement to mine, and they all are in agreement with my opinion. Indeed Allah has sent you to men and women, and we have believed in you and we follow you. We (females) are responsible for tending to the homes and we are the place where men fulfill their desires, in addition to carrying their children (during pregnancy). But the men are preferred over us due to the merits gained for attending the Friday congregational prayer, attending burial procedures and also fighting in the way of Allah. If they leave their homes, we protect their wealth and we also raise their children. (With this being the case) do we share in their great reward, oh Messenger of Allah (salallaahu ‘alaihi was sallam)?

Upon hearing this, the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi was sallam) turned toward his male companions and said:

Have you ever heard a female inquiring about the affair of her religion in a better manner than this female?

The companions replied: Indeed we did not perceive a woman would be guided to such an affair , Oh Messenger of Allah (salallaahu ‘alaihi was sallam)!

The Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi was sallam) then replied to her: Return oh Asma, and inform the group of females that being a good wife to your husband, exerting yourself to please him, and making him pleased with you is equivalent (in reward) to all of what you have mentioned concerning the men!

So she turned away saying: La illaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, due to the joy she felt (after hearing the Prophet’s reply)”.

(Collected by Ibn ‘Asaakir in ‘Taareekh Damishq (2/609)

Excerpts from the comments of Shaikh Naasir around the Hadeeth

Shaikh Al Albaani mentions: ‘Da’eef (weak)‘: In its isnaad is Abu Sa’eed As Saahili Jubaili and have not been able to find anyone who deems him trustworthy…thus he is majhool Al Haal (his condition is unknown)

I also believe that there is a break in the chain between Muslim ibn Ubaid and (the Narrator of the hadeeth) Asmaa bint Yazeed because i have not seen anyone establish that he narrated from her. He narrated from Anas ibn Maalik and Abi Usaib and a group of taabi’een. And Anas died late and i believe abu usiab did too. The Shaikh then mentions another chain of Narration from Abu Haatim in ‘Taareekh Waasit’ p75 and from ‘Shu’abul Imaan of Imaam Baihaqi (6/420-421) containing this saahili in it/ Then a different versions with a weak Narrator Rishdeen ibn Kuraib in it who is also da’eef (weak)…

The Shaikh concludes thus that the Hadeeth is a weak one and is not established upon the Messenger of Allah – Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Salam nor its narrator Asmaa bint Yazeed – Radhiyallahu Anhaa

Wallahu A’lam

Abu Hakeem

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