Asiya; Savior of Moses And A Role Model for Women Believers
For example the wife of Noah (AS) and the wife of Lut (AS) are referred to as disbelievers while Asiya is mentioned as a role model for believing women, although she was the wife of a tyrannical ruler.
Asiya was the wife of pharaoh, king of ancient Egypt, during the era when Moses (AS) was born. Some interpreters and historians say she was from Bani Isra’il and some say she was an aunt of Moses (AS). She played a role in saving Moses from the Nile and believed him when he became a prophet.
Asiya’s name is not there in the Quran but interpreters say the phrase “wife of pharaoh” that comes twice in the Quran refers to her. The phrase is mentioned in verse 9 of Surah Al-Qasas which is about taking Moses from the Nile and Asiya convincing pharaoh to adopt him. And in verse 11 of Surah At-Tahrim, she is referred to as a role model for women as opposed to the wives of Noah and Lut:
“To the believers, as a parable, God has told the story of the wife of the Pharaoh who said, ‘Lord, establish for me a house in Paradise in your presence. Rescue me from Pharaoh and his deeds and save me from the unjust people.”
When Asiya saw the miracles of Moses, she believed him. When pharaoh learned about this, he asked him to stop worshipping God but she refused. Pharaoh ordered her to be tortured. He ordered his soldiers to tie her down and drive nails into her hands and feet. With this torture and persecution she died.
In some Hadiths, Asiya has been mentioned along with Hazrat Khadija (SA) and Hazrat Zahra (SA) as the best women of the world.
