Aqdam أقدام

Companion of the Prophet ﷺ

أسماء بنت يزيد الأنصارية

رضي الله عنها

Asma bint Yazid al-Ansariyyah

Asma bint Yazid ibn al-Sakan al-Ansariyyah al-Ashhaliyyah

Eloquent woman of the Ansar who spoke for the women of Medina to the Prophet, narrated dozens of hadith, and is said to have fought at Yarmuk.

  • Khatibat al-Nisa (Orator of the Women)
A day in her footsteps
  • KunyaUmm Salamah (also reported as Umm Amir)
  • Family and tribeBanu Abd al-Ashhal (Aws), the Ansar
  • Bornc. 599-600 CE (approx.)
  • Diedc. 689 CE / 69 AH
  • Resting placeBab al-Saghir Cemetery, Damascus
  • Counted amongAnsar

Introduction

Asma bint Yazid belonged to the Ansar of Medina, from the Banu Abd al-Ashhal, the clan of Sa'd ibn Mu'adh. She pledged allegiance to the Prophet with the women of the Ansar, and became known among the Companions for her eloquence and her readiness to ask the Prophet about matters that concerned women.

She lost her father and other close relatives at Uhud. She narrated about eighty-one hadith, preserved in the collections of Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and others. These cover Quran recitation, du'a, manners, the Prophet's etiquette with women, and the rules about divorce.

Reports in the later biographical tradition say she took part in the Battle of Yarmuk in Syria during Umar's caliphate, and that she died in Damascus around 69 AH, at an advanced age.

The story

  1. Medina, 1 AH / 622 CE onwards

    Pledged her loyalty to the Prophet along with the women of the Ansar and became a frequent questioner and narrator.

  2. During the Prophet's life

    Her divorce led to the revelation of the rule of the waiting period ('iddah) for divorced women.

    Read the wording
    Sunan Abi Dawud 2281Hasan
    Arabic text

    أَنَّهَا طُلِّقَتْ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لِلْمُطَلَّقَةِ عِدَّةٌ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ حِينَ طُلِّقَتْ أَسْمَاءُ بِالْعِدَّةِ لِلطَّلاَقِ فَكَانَتْ أَوَّلَ مَنْ أُنْزِلَتْ فِيهَا الْعِدَّةُ لِلْمُطَلَّقَاتِ.

    “When Asma' was divorced, Allah, the Exalted, sent down the injunction”

    Grade: Hasan (Al-Albani); Hasan (Muhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid)

  3. 3 AH / 625 CE

    Lost her father and other relatives at the Battle of Uhud.

  4. c. 13-15 AH / 634-636 CE

    Said to have taken part at the Battle of Yarmuk in Syria.

  5. c. 69 AH / 689 CE

    Died in Damascus.

A day in their footsteps

6 small, repeatable practices from Asma bint Yazid al-Ansariyyah's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.

  1. Asking the Prophet and the Companions what she did not know

    She sat with the Prophet, listened carefully and brought the questions that concerned women. Her divorce is also tied to the revelation of the waiting period, showing how her real-life situation led to new guidance.

    Try this today

    Do not be shy about asking when you do not know. Your question may help many.

    Sit with this

    What question are you too shy to ask that others may also need answered?

    Source

    Sunan Abi Dawud 2281Hasan

    أَنَّهَا طُلِّقَتْ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لِلْمُطَلَّقَةِ عِدَّةٌ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ حِينَ طُلِّقَتْ أَسْمَاءُ بِالْعِدَّةِ لِلطَّلاَقِ فَكَانَتْ أَوَّلَ مَنْ أُنْزِلَتْ فِيهَا الْعِدَّةُ لِلْمُطَلَّقَاتِ.

    “When Asma' was divorced, Allah, the Exalted, sent down the injunction”

    Grade: Hasan (Al-Albani); Hasan (Muhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid)

  2. Memorising the recitation as she heard it

    She heard the Prophet reciting a particular verse and carried its exact form to others, preserving a recitation detail that scholars still cite.

    Try this today

    Listen to the recitation closely and keep it exact.

    Sit with this

    How carefully do you listen when the Quran is recited?

    Source

    Sunan Abi Dawud 3982Sahih

    أَنَّهَا سَمِعَتِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَأُ{ إِنَّهُ عَمِلَ غَيْرَ صَالِحٍ}.

    “She heard the Prophet (ﷺ) read the verse”

    Grade: Sahih (Al-Albani); Sahih (Muhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid)

  3. Calling on Allah by the verses of His greatest name

    She narrated that the greatest name of Allah is found in two places: the verse 'Your God is One God' and the opening of Surah Al Imran. It is a practice to recite these when making du'a.

    Try this today

    Add these two passages to your du'a: 2:163 and 3:1-2.

    Sit with this

    Will you open your next du'a with Ayat 2:163 and 3:1-2?

    Sources

    Sunan Ibn Majah 3855Hasan

    قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ" اسْمُ اللَّهِ الأَعْظَمُ فِي هَاتَيْنِ الآيَتَيْنِ{وَإِلَهُكُمْ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الرَّحْمَنُ الرَّحِيمُ} وَفَاتِحَةِ سُورَةِ آلِ عِمْرَانَ".

    “The Greatest Name of Allah is in these two Verses”

    Grade: Hasan (Al-Albani); Hasan (Muhammad Fouad Abd al-Baqi)

    Sunan Abi Dawud 1496Hasan

    أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ" اسْمُ اللَّهِ الأَعْظَمُ فِي هَاتَيْنِ الآيَتَيْنِ{ وَإِلَهُكُمْ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الرَّحْمَنُ الرَّحِيمُ} وَفَاتِحَةُ سُورَةِ آلِ عِمْرَانَ{ الم * اللَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَىُّ الْقَيُّومُ}.

    “Allah's Greatest Names is in these two verses”

    Grade: Hasan (Al-Albani); Hasan (Muhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid)

  4. Being honest even about hunger

    When food was offered and the women said they had no appetite, the Prophet said, 'Do not combine hunger and lies'. She remembered the lesson and passed it on.

    Try this today

    If you are offered food and are hungry, say so politely. Do not say no out of embarrassment.

    Sit with this

    Where do small, polite untruths creep into your day?

    Source

    Sunan Ibn Majah 3298Hasan

    قَالَتْ أُتِيَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ بِطَعَامٍ فَعُرِضَ عَلَيْنَا فَقُلْنَا لاَ نَشْتَهِيهِ. فَقَالَ " لاَ تَجْمَعْنَ جُوعًا وَكَذِبًا".

    “Do not combine hunger and lies”

    Grade: Hasan (Al-Albani); Hasan (Muhammad Fouad Abd al-Baqi)

  5. Exchanging salam with women in the mosque

    She narrated that the Prophet passed by a group of women and greeted them. A woman can sit in the mosque and expect, and return, the greeting of peace.

    Try this today

    Greet everyone you pass, women and men, and return every greeting.

    Sit with this

    Do you greet everyone you pass, and return every greeting?

    Source

    Sunan Abi Dawud 5204Sahih

    حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي حُسَيْنٍ، سَمِعَهُ مِنْ، شَهْرِ بْنِ حَوْشَبٍ يَقُولُ أَخْبَرَتْهُ أَسْمَاءُ بِنْتُ يَزِيدَ، مَرَّ عَلَيْنَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي نِسْوَةٍ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْنَا.

    “the Prophet (ﷺ), passed us by when we were with some women and gave us a salutation”

    Grade: Sahih (Al-Albani); Sahih (Muhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid)

  6. Grieving with restraint

    She was present when the Prophet wept at the death of his son Ibrahim and said that the eye weeps and the heart grieves, but nothing is said that angers the Lord. She transmitted it.

    Try this today

    Cry when you grieve, but do not say anything that goes against Allah's decree.

    Sit with this

    How do you grieve without saying what displeases your Lord?

    Source

    Sunan Ibn Majah 1589Hasan

    … - إِمَّا أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَإِمَّا عُمَرُ - أَنْتَ أَحَقُّ مَنْ عَظَّمَ اللَّهَ حَقَّهُ. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " تَدْمَعُ الْعَيْنُ وَيَحْزَنُ الْقَلْبُ وَلاَ نَقُولُ مَا يُسْخِطُ الرَّبَّ لَوْلاَ أَنَّهُ وَعْدٌ صَادِقٌ وَمَوْعُودٌ جَامِعٌ وَأَنَّ الآخِرَ تَابِعٌ لِلأَوَّلِ لَوَجَدْنَا عَلَيْكَ يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ أَفْضَلَ مِمَّا وَجَدْنَا وَإِنَّا بِكَ …

    “The eye weeps and the heart grieves, but we do not say anything that angers the Lord”

    Grade: Hasan (Al-Albani); Hasan (Muhammad Fouad Abd al-Baqi)

Virtues

  • Her narrations are preserved in the major Sunni collections, and the Prophet greeted her and the women with her.

    “the Prophet (ﷺ), passed us by when we were with some women and gave us a salutation”

    Arabic text

    حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي حُسَيْنٍ، سَمِعَهُ مِنْ، شَهْرِ بْنِ حَوْشَبٍ يَقُولُ أَخْبَرَتْهُ أَسْمَاءُ بِنْتُ يَزِيدَ، مَرَّ عَلَيْنَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي نِسْوَةٍ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْنَا.

    Sunan Abi Dawud 5204Sahih

Words on this page

Ansarالأنصار
"The Helpers": the Muslims of Madinah, from the Aws and Khazraj tribes, who welcomed and sheltered the Prophet ﷺ and the emigrants from Makkah.
Du'aدعاء
Supplication: calling on Allah and asking Him, in any language and at any time.
Hadithحديث
A report of what the Prophet ﷺ said, did or approved, passed down through a chain of narrators.
Madinahالمدينة
The city, formerly Yathrib, to which the Prophet ﷺ migrated and where the first Muslim community was built.
Salamسلام
The greeting of peace, "as-salamu alaykum", and its reply.
Surahسورة
A chapter of the Quran. There are 114.
Uhudأحد
The mountain outside Madinah where the Muslims fought Quraysh in 3 AH, and where Hamzah and many others were martyred.

The full glossary

Sources and review

Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com. Each report links to sunnah.com, and, where the numbering matches, to al-Hadees or HadithUnlocked as well. Quran verses link to quran.com, Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Tanzil. The Arabic is taken from the hadith editions and trimmed around the quoted words, so read the full report at the source before relying on it. Grades are the ones those editions give.

This page is pending scholar review. It was compiled from public sources, and its citations were last checked on 7 October 2026. If you notice a mistake or a missing source, please tell us.

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