Her exact birth date is not preserved; she is known as an adult woman in the early Meccan period of Islam.
Asma bint Umays
PER-000038
Family member
Probable
Attributed place
Imami source baseline
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Asma bint Umays was an early Muslim Companion, an emigrant to Abyssinia, a transmitter of hadith, and a prominent woman within the close family circle of the Ahl al-Bayt. She migrated with Ja‘far ibn Abi Talib, later married Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, and subsequently married Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib. Her life is historically significant for migration, endurance, family service, and preservation of Prophetic reports.
Her exact death date is unknown. Reports place it around 40 AH or later, so no single year should be treated as certain.
A well-known shrine attributed to Asma bint Umays exists in the Bab al-Saghir cemetery in Damascus. Its GPS coordinates and Google Maps link are available on this page. There is no doubt about the existence of the present shrine; historical caution applies only to whether it marks her conclusively and independently verified burial.
Biography and historical profile
Asma bint Umays belonged to the Khath'am tribe and is counted among the women who accepted Islam in its early period. Biographical works identify her father as Umays ibn Ma'd and her mother as Hind bint Awf. Through her mother she was related to a notable network of early Muslim women, including Maymuna bint al-Harith, while her own life became closely connected with the households of Ja'far ibn Abi Talib, Abu Bakr and Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib.
She emigrated to Abyssinia with Ja‘far ibn Abi Talib. Their sons Abd Allah, Muhammad, and Awn were born during this marriage. When she returned with the emigrants, the report in Sahih Muslim records the Prophet granting the people of the ship the merit of two migrations: one to Abyssinia and another to Medina.
She reached Medina around the time of Khaybar in 7 AH. Ja‘far was martyred at Mu'tah in 8 AH. Asma then married Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, and their son Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr was born during the pilgrimage journey in 10 AH. Sahih Muslim preserves the account of her asking about ritual bathing, consecration, and completion of the pilgrimage after childbirth.
After Abu Bakr's death in 13 AH, Asma married Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib. Her son Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr was also raised in Imam Ali's household. Recognized early biographical works consistently preserve her three well-known marriages to Ja'far ibn Abi Talib, Abu Bakr and Ali, making her an important familial link among these leading households of the first Muslim generation.
Asma transmitted reports from the Prophet. Narrations associated with her concern the standing of the Abyssinian emigrants, rulings of worship, supplications in illness and distress, and events within the Prophet's family circle. Her transmissions illustrate the active role of early Muslim women in preserving Prophetic knowledge and communal memory.
Her exact date of death is not established. Some later references place it around 40 AH, while other reports imply that she survived Imam Ali's martyrdom. A grave attributed to her is shown in Bab al-Saghir cemetery in Damascus, but historical caution requires describing it as an attributed burial site rather than a conclusively verified grave.
She emigrated to Abyssinia with Ja‘far ibn Abi Talib. Their sons Abd Allah, Muhammad, and Awn were born during this marriage. When she returned with the emigrants, the report in Sahih Muslim records the Prophet granting the people of the ship the merit of two migrations: one to Abyssinia and another to Medina.
She reached Medina around the time of Khaybar in 7 AH. Ja‘far was martyred at Mu'tah in 8 AH. Asma then married Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, and their son Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr was born during the pilgrimage journey in 10 AH. Sahih Muslim preserves the account of her asking about ritual bathing, consecration, and completion of the pilgrimage after childbirth.
After Abu Bakr's death in 13 AH, Asma married Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib. Her son Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr was also raised in Imam Ali's household. Recognized early biographical works consistently preserve her three well-known marriages to Ja'far ibn Abi Talib, Abu Bakr and Ali, making her an important familial link among these leading households of the first Muslim generation.
Asma transmitted reports from the Prophet. Narrations associated with her concern the standing of the Abyssinian emigrants, rulings of worship, supplications in illness and distress, and events within the Prophet's family circle. Her transmissions illustrate the active role of early Muslim women in preserving Prophetic knowledge and communal memory.
Her exact date of death is not established. Some later references place it around 40 AH, while other reports imply that she survived Imam Ali's martyrdom. A grave attributed to her is shown in Bab al-Saghir cemetery in Damascus, but historical caution requires describing it as an attributed burial site rather than a conclusively verified grave.
Historical importance and legacy
Asma bint Umays is historically important as a witness to the two migrations, the Prophetic recognition of the people of the ship, and the early international phase of the Muslim community. Her report is a central textual witness for understanding the sacrifices of the Abyssinian emigrants.
She also formed a notable familial link between the households of Ja‘far, Abu Bakr, and Imam Ali. Her transmission of hadith, family responsibilities, and proximity to the Ahl al-Bayt secured her a lasting place in the history of the female Companions and women transmitters.
She also formed a notable familial link between the households of Ja‘far, Abu Bakr, and Imam Ali. Her transmission of hadith, family responsibilities, and proximity to the Ahl al-Bayt secured her a lasting place in the history of the female Companions and women transmitters.
Family relationships
🤝 Spouses and marriage links
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib
Probable
🌱 Children
Sources
Sahih al-Bukhari | Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Bukhari | Hadith 4230 | https://sunnah.com/bukhari:4230 | Abyssinian migration, return at Khaybar and the distinction of the people of the shipSahih Muslim | Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj | Hadiths 2502-2503 | https://sunnah.com/muslim/44/241 | Asma's Abyssinian migration and the merit of two migrations
Sahih Muslim | Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj | Hadith 1210 | https://sunnah.com/muslim:1210 | Birth of Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr near Dhu al-Hulayfa and pilgrimage guidance after childbirth
Ma'rifat al-Sahaba | Abu Nu'aym al-Isfahani | Vol. 6, p. 3256 in the displayed edition | https://shamela.ws/book/10490/10947 | Marriages to Ja'far, Abu Bakr and Ali; children and the two migrations
Sifat al-Safwa | Ibn al-Jawzi | Vol. 1, biographical entry 144 | https://shamela.ws/book/12031/437 | Early conversion, Abyssinian migration, three marriages and death after Ali
Tahdhib al-Kamal fi Asma al-Rijal | Jamal al-Din al-Mizzi | Biographical entry 7784 | https://www.islamweb.net/ar/library/content/1001/11191/ | Khath'am lineage, mother Hind bint Awf, marriages, children and hadith transmission
Al-Isti'ab fi Ma'rifat al-Ashab | Ibn Abd al-Barr | Women's biographies, Bab al-Alif; pagination varies by edition | https://www.islamweb.net/ar/library/content/1080/3270/ | Three marriages and children; rejection of a confused alternative marriage attribution
Al-Muwatta | Malik ibn Anas | Book 16, Hadith 2 | https://sunnah.com/malik/16/2 | Asma washing Abu Bakr after his death
Bab al-Saghir Cemetery attribution | Contemporary heritage documentation | Modern attributed grave; not historical burial proof | https://islamicheritage.co.za/bab-as-saghir-cemetery/ | Existence of a present-day attribution and the need for caution
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