The pages of history are replete with accounts of unbelievable hardships faced by righteous men and their piety. Not only men but women too have endured untold hardships and shown extraordinary patience.
The wife of Firoun was among these strong willed women. In today’s terminology we would call her a first lady, the consort of the king, your royal highness. She was a woman who enjoyed every privilege and comfort. Rivers flowed beneath her palace and she had a view of the river Nile. She was intelligent and well-admired by all the women of Egypt, who all wished to be in her position.
After picking up Moosa (alayhis salam) from the river Nile she took care of him and paid attention to his upbringing. For this she appointed 400 slaves and when he went out, he rode with such grandeur that people thought him to be the son of Firoun.
Moosa (alayhis salaam) later left Egypt and returned to challenge the magicians of Firoun. This was not only between Moosa (alayhis salaam) and Firoun but it was between truth and falsehood for the people of Egypt. Aasiya who watched the victory of Moosa (alayhis salaam) over the magicians was left impressed. She and her slave girl Maashita went to Moosa (alayhis salaam) to express their desire to accept Islam. They then kept their imaan hidden from Firoun.
One day while combing the princess’s hair, Maashita the slave girl dropped the comb. She uttered “Bismillah” as she bent down to pick it up. The princess was astonished on hearing this and said, “Do you mean my father?”Firoun was informed about her iman and here began a difficult trial for her, a trial where even strong men falter. Firoun ordered a large brass vessel to be brought.A fire was kindled in it until it was venomously hot. Her children were then thrown in one by one in front of her eyes until it was the turn of the last child who was still suckling from his mother. This made her sob.The infant suddenly spoke to her saying, “Mother jump! The punishment of this world is light compared to the hereafter.”
Aasiya after witnessing the brutal punishment of her slave girl now revealed her Imaan. Firoun became enraged. She was given a last chance to accept Islam when Firoun threatened to drop a boulder on her. Firoun announced if she left Islam he would take her as his wife and if not, this would be her end. However Aasiya was convinced of her faith and she remained steadfast. As Rasulullah Sallallāhu Alayhi Wasallam mentioned in a hadeeth, “When imaan enters the recess’s of the heart there is nothing to deny it from the sweetness of imaan”. She made Dua and Allah mentions it in the Quraan. “And for the believers Allah has set an example in the wife of Firoun who said: My Rabb build for me a house in paradise, deliver me from Firoun and his misdeeds and save me from the wicked nation.” Her gaze then turned towards the heaven and she recited her Shahadat. In some narrations it is mentioned that Allah showed her palace in Jannah before she passed away, and that Allah took her soul away before the boulder fell on her.
Wealth and position should not make us compromise on Deen. When a person is sincere in faith then its blessing make it easy to tolerate persecution. It was only her sincerity that gave the Royal Queen, Aasiya the strength to bear oppression and cruelty. Those who walk the path of truth are never alone. At every step Allah grants them patience and steadfastness. A woman is naturally weak and a Queen more so by being waited on but when she tasted faith she stood by every kind of injustice.