RECORD OF ASIA, DAUGHTER OF MUZÂHUM, AND WIFE OF FARA’ÛN,* WITH THE ACCOUNT OF HER MURDER.

The pedigree of Asia ascends to Lôt, the prophet. Some Arab genealogists attribute to her kinship with Ziamiân, who is said to have been a relative of Fara’ûn. At any rate, she was a believer in the unity of God, practised the Law of Mûsa, but concealed her religion from Fara’ûn until she made an open profession of it on the occasion of the execution and crucifixion of the sorceress, as has been narrated above. Some assert that when Fara’ûn ordered the tire-woman of his daughter to be slain, Asia was sitting in a balcony; but when she perceived what was taking place she impatiently came down, approached Fara’ûn, dissuaded him from pursuing the course in which he was engaged, and threatened him with the punishment of the next world. When he had heard her words he imputed lunacy to her, but she said: ‘Thou art the madman, because, despite of the weakness of humanity, thou layest claim to the honours of the Deity.’ On that occasion she made a public profession of her religion, saying: ‘I believe in Allah the Most High, my Lord and Master of both worlds.’ Fara’ûn called out to the mother of his spouse, and said: ‘Thy daughter has become mad; advise her to apostatize from the religion of Mûsa, or else I shall destroy her in the basest manner.’ When he despaired of her again becoming an unbeliever, he pierced her body with four nails, and tortured her until she was translated to the propinquity of Divine mercy. It is said that during the execution Mûsa happened to pass near the spot in which it took place, and on Asia’s beckoning to him and complaining of her torments, he prayed; whereon the Almighty— w. n. b. e.—so alleviated her sufferings that she felt no pain at all, but departed smiling and rejoicing from the perishable to the everlasting mansion.