English translation
[5692] 34 - (2182) It was narrated from Hishâm from his father, that Asmâ’ bint Abî Bakr said: “Az-Zubair married me and he did not have anything but his horse. I used to feed his horse, look after it for him, and groom it, and I used to grind date stones for his camel and feed it, and I would bring water and repair his bucket. I used to knead dough but I was not good at baking it, so some Anṣârī neighbors used to bake it for me, and they were sincere women. I used to bring the date stones from Az-Zubair’s land which the Messenger of Allâh ﷺ had allocated to him, carrying them on my head, and it was two thirds of a parasang away. I came one day with the date stones on my head, and I met the Messenger of Allâh ﷺ and a group of his Companions. He called me, then he said: ‘Ikh, Ikh’ (to make his camel kneel down) so that he could make me ride behind him, but I felt shy because I knew of your jealousy.” He (Az-Zubair) said: “By Allâh, for you to carry the date stones on your head is worse for me to bear than your riding behind him.” She said: “Then after that Abû Bakr sent me a servant who took care of the horse for me, and it was as if he freed me from slavery.”