Asiya bint Muzahim

Asiya bint Muzahim was, according to the Qur'an and Islamic tradition, the wife of the Pharaoh of the Exodus and adoptive mother of Moses.

Asiya is first mentioned in Surah Al-Qasas in the Quran, She is considered by Muslims as one of the four greatest women of all time, and according to Muhammad's narration in Sahih al-Bukhari, the second greatest ever after Mary.

She is believed to have secretly accepted monotheism after witnessing the miracle of Moses. The tradition holds that Asiya worshipped God in secret and hid her religion from her husband. However, later her faith was revealed and the Pharaoh ordered her execution.

Narrative In Sahih Bukhari, Muhammad said "Many men were completed [in faith], and only Asiya, the wife of Pharaoh, and Maryam bint Imran were completed among the women".

Asiya's marriage to the Pharaoh was arranged. Unlike her husband, she was humble and accepted the faith that Moses and Aaron were preaching. Although she had exceeding wealth, she was not arrogant like the Pharaoh. She realized that faith was far more important and was thus exalted by God amongst the women of her generation, and of all time. According to a few hadiths, Muhammad will marry Asiya in Paradise.

Maurice Bucaille commented that the wife of Pharaoh who contended with Moses is the one in Surah At-Tahrim, while another early wife of another Pharaoh is the one who adopted him in Surah Al-Qasas. However, as there are no mentions of there being different wives or Pharaohs, the majority of Muslims and scholars believe Asiya and Pharaoh to be a singular person.

Asiya and her maids found a crate floating in the Nile river. Asiya ordered that the crate be drawn ashore. The maids thought there was a treasure inside, but instead found a baby boy, Moses. Unable to conceive herself, Asiya instantly felt a motherly love towards him. She told the Pharaoh about the baby. The incident has been described in the Qur'an:

According to Islamic belief, Asiya searched for a wet nurse for the baby Moses, but he rejected every woman who attempted to breastfeed him. Moses' sister, who had been ordered by their mother to watch him from afar, approached Asiya and suggested her mother, although concealing their relationship and guising her as any other wet nurse. Miraculously, Moses began to breastfeed from his biological mother and the two were reconnected. Asiya offered her to live in their household and paid her for her services, unaware of their true relationship.

When she witnessed the death of a believing woman under her husband's torture, Asiya declared her faith before the Pharaoh. He tried to turn her away from Islam, but Asiya refused to reject God and the teachings of Moses. On Pharaoh's orders, she was tortured to death.

Veneration Asiya is one of the four most respected women of all time, and is highly honored by Muslims. It is said that Asiya was a sincere believer and that she fully submitted herself to God, despite being the wife of Pharaoh. According to Hadith, she will be among the first women to enter Paradise because she accepted Moses's monotheism over Pharaoh's beliefs. The Qur'an mentions Asiya as an example to all Muslims. Her supplication is mentioned in the Qur'an:

Abu Musa Ashaari narrated that once Muhammad stated: