The Quranic Role Model

Have you ever wondered who the exemplary Muslim is?

We need some reference to understand what an exemplary Muslim is like. I mean, we need a role model to embody or at least try to embody…someone we can relate to on some level to see what we are being told to do is actually doable.

Of course, Allah has addressed the question in Quran:

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

And Allah 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.” (66:11)

Lets see the next verse:

وَمَرۡيَمَ ٱبۡنَتَ عِمۡرَٰنَ ٱلَّتِيٓ أَحۡصَنَتۡ فَرۡجَهَا فَنَفَخۡنَا فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِنَا وَصَدَّقَتۡ بِكَلِمَٰتِ رَبِّهَا وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَكَانَتۡ مِنَ ٱلۡقَٰنِتِينَ

"And [the example of] Mary, the daughter of ‘Imran, who guarded her chastity, so We blew into [her garment] through Our angel, and she believed in the words of her Lord and His scriptures and was of the devoutly obedient." (66:12)

Do you see what these examples have in common?

Both exemplary Muslims, ACCORDING TO ALLAH, are woman! Not just for Muslim women- for all those who are believing. It is important to understand that this whole surah is centered around women. In the previous verse, example of disbelievers is given by Allah SWT as wives of Hazrat Nuh (A.S.) and Hazrat Lut (A.S.) who betrayed their husbands and are from people of hellfire. Their marriage didn’t do them any good because they also made independent choices that were conforming to their societies but were corrupt to the core.

SubhanAllah! don’t you just love the Quran!

So first of all, remember the Quranic examples the next time you have any doubts about your capacity as a woman or the capacity of women around you, to make decisions and be a good Muslim but also be weary of fear, stubbornness and conformity.

In this article, I am going to focus on the Wife of Firoun- Hazrat Asiya (A.S.).

Let’s see who she was and reflect on her conduct and choices to have been given the honor to be categorically exemplified as role model for all people of faith.

We all know her story but just a quick refresher:

Hazrat Asiya (A.S.) was the wife of Firoun- one of the most influential and tyrant men of all times who went to the most extreme lengths to maintain his worldly rule- chose to proclaim that he was God and killed baby boys of Bani-Israel who were enslaved and tortured by Firoun and his armies to maintain authority in dunya.

Hazrat Musa’s (A.S.) mother had to separate from him to save her baby’s life and she threw him in the river. He was brought, by Allah’s will, to the lap of Hazrat Asiya (A.S.) in the palace of Firoun. Hazrat Musa A.S. grew up in Firoun’s household, being raised by Hazrat Asiya (A.S.) as his foster mother.

Let’s recall who Hazrat Musa (A.S.) is. He is one of the most noble Prophets of Allah SWT and has been mentioned most times of all Prophets in the Quran. He was the one Allah SWT spoke directly to. He was the one with some of the most extraordinary miracles that have been detailed in Quran multiple times. That Musa (A.S.) was raised by Hazrat Asiya (A.S.)

When Hazrat Musa (A.S.) presented the message from Allah SWT, she immediately accepted it, declared her iman when she saw a hairdresser and her children being tortured to death by Firoun for her belief in Allah. Hazrat Asiya (A.S.) stood firm on her iman despite being subjected to severe torture from her husband. She is among the most honorable martyrs and has been declared among the women with ‘kaamil’ i.e. perfect iman by our Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.W.).

In some narrations, it is said that as she was being tortured by her husband publicly and she made the Dua detailed in the ayat above (66:11), she was shown her house in Jannah and she smiled before being killed.

Now let’s analyze her conduct and what we can draw from it…

I think about her a lot. I couldn’t stop crying when I first learnt of her martyrdom as I had only known her adopting and raising Hazrat Musa (A.S.). She was by no means an ordinary woman. Yet she faced tests that are relatable to many women- not in scale but context. What are some of the most prominent characteristics of this incredible woman?

·       Hazrat Asiya (A.S.) was an independent thinker and action taker

·       She was eloquent and had convincing power without being confrontational

·       She didn’t conform despite lucrative and obvious incentives for doing the same

·       She didn’t let the society, her family and the boundless surrounding negativity stop her from doing the good she could

·       She remained consistent on her good despite severe pressure, oppression and opposition

·       She upheld her faith and was courageous enough to stand her ground because she knew what was right, important and eternal

·       And she was a dedicated mother!

See, being courageous, independent and strong doesn’t mean you have to abandon your morals, relations or family. You may have been given all those traits to enable you to stand-up for the people in your circle of influence. They might be the ones who need it most and you might be the only one who can.

Allah SWT tested her with marriage to a person completely opposite in every sense of the word. She was surrounded by unparallelled luxury yet that didn’t falter her morals. All the material wealth, grandeur and power stood no chance against her standards.

Now ask yourself this:

Are my tests as big as hers?

Is it as difficult for me to practice my deen as it was for her?

How do I respond to the pressures from family, society and authority when I know conforming is against my morals, beliefs and, most importantly, commands of Allah SWT?

How do we see our fellow women responding to tests like a bad marriage or childrearing difficulties?

Let’s never forget who uses disappointment, despair and anger as weapons to lead humans to hellfire. The one enemy we have been warned about repeatedly.

أعوذُ بِٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِ ٱلرَّجِيمِ

But Allah has promised us refuge if we remain steadfast in our faith and only seek respite from Him – indeed He is the best protector.

Like I said, I think about Hazrat Asiya (A.S.) a lot. She is one of the most incredible people of all times and indeed a spectacular lesson in iman, strength and resilience along with unparallelled kindness, foresight and the power of independent thinking!

JazakAllah Khair