Companions & Great WomenAmong the great women

Asiya bint Muzahim

آسية بنت مزاحم

Pharaoh's wife, whom the Quran gives as an example for the believers.

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Life

The Quran gives the wife of Pharaoh as an example for those who believe: she asked her Lord for a house near Him in Paradise and to be saved from Pharaoh, his deeds and the wrongdoing people (66:11). The Prophet ﷺ named her among the four best women of the world, and the hadith islamweb cites gives her name, Asiya bint Muzahim.

islamweb's encyclopedia relates narrations, not from the Quran, that she kept her faith hidden, and that when Pharaoh learned of it he had her tortured until she died, steadfast.

Evidence

QuranAt-Tahrim (The Prohibition)Quran 66:11

وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱمْرَأَتَ فِرْعَوْنَ إِذْ قَالَتْ رَبِّ ٱبْنِ لِى عِندَكَ بَيْتًا فِى ٱلْجَنَّةِ وَنَجِّنِى مِن فِرْعَوْنَ وَعَمَلِهِۦ وَنَجِّنِى مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ١١

And Allāh presents an example of those who believed: the wife of Pharaoh, when she said, "My Lord, build for me near You a house in Paradise and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds and save me from the wrongdoing people."

Saheeh International · QuranEnc v1.1.2

Another translation: Al-Hilali & Muhsin Khan · QuranEnc v1.1.2

11. And Allâh has set forth an example for those who believe: the wife of Fir‘aun (Pharaoh), when she said: "My Lord! Build for me a home with You in Paradise, and save me from Fir‘aun (Pharaoh) and his work, and save me from the people who are Zâlimûn (polytheists, wrong-doers and disbelievers in Allâh).

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Sahih

Sahih al-Bukhari 3769

Grades
GraderVerdict
al-BukhariSahih (included by al-Bukhari in his Sahih) (Sahih)
Full narration

حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنَا عَمْرٌو، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ كَمَلَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ كَثِيرٌ، وَلَمْ يَكْمُلْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ إِلاَّ مَرْيَمُ بِنْتُ عِمْرَانَ، وَآسِيَةُ امْرَأَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ، وَفَضْلُ عَائِشَةَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ كَفَضْلِ الثَّرِيدِ عَلَى سَائِرِ الطَّعَامِ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Many amongst men attained perfection but amongst women none attained the perfection except Mary, the daughter of `Imran and Asiya, the wife of Pharaoh. And the superiority of `Aisha to other women is like the superiority of Tharid (i.e. an Arabic dish) to other meals

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Sahih

Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3878

Grades
GraderVerdict
Ahmad Muhammad ShakirSahih (Sahih)
Al-AlbaniSahih (Sahih)
Bashar Awad MaaroufSahih (Sahih)
Zubair Ali ZaiHasan (Hasan)
Full narration

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ زَنْجُويَهْ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، رضى الله عنه أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ حَسْبُكَ مِنْ نِسَاءِ الْعَالَمِينَ مَرْيَمُ ابْنَةُ عِمْرَانَ وَخَدِيجَةُ بِنْتُ خُوَيْلِدٍ وَفَاطِمَةُ بِنْتُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآسِيَةُ امْرَأَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏

Narrated Anas [may Allah be pleased with him]:that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Sufficient for you among the women of mankind are Mariam bint 'Imran, Khadijah bint Khuwailid, Fatimah bint Muhammad and Asiyah the wife of Fir'awn

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