Aisha bint Abi Bakr

Aisha bint Abi Bakr was Muhammad's third and favorite wife, who was married to Muhammad at the age of six, and the daughter of Abu Bakr Abdullah b. Uthman, Muhammad's best friend. It is reported that following the death of Khadijah b. Khuwaylid, Muhammad's first wife, a female companion by the name of Khawla b. Hakim (the wife of one of Muhammad's domestic aides) suggested and then arranged Muhammad's marriage to both Aisha and Sawda b. Zama (a widow around the age of 30). Aisha's arranged marriage with another man by the name of Jubayr b. Mut'im was canceled, she was wed to Muhammad, and the marriage was consummated when Aisha was nine years old. Despite Muhammad marrying and enslaving several other women of noteworthy beauty throughout his lifetime, Aisha remained Muhammad's favorite wife till the day he died and is reported to have held him in her lap as he passed away: "Allah took him unto Him while his head was between my chest and my neck and his saliva was mixed with my saliva."^[1] As with all of Muhammad's wives, she is given the title "Mother of the Believers", which derives from a verse in the Quran.^[2][3]

During Muhammad's lifetime, Aisha was the focal point of a controversy known as al-Ifk ("The Lie")^[4] from which she was ultimately exonerated by the Quran.^[5] The controversy revolved around her having been alone with a handsome man by name of Safwan b. al-Muattal al-Sulami for some period of time when she had fallen behind a caravan and Safwan, himself behind the caravan, had acquainted her back to the caravan.

Aisha was also the co-leader of one of what had become two parties among the prophet's wives and concubines. Aisha lead this party alongside another one of Muhammad's wives named Hafsa, the daughter of Umar ibn Al-Khattab (Muhammad's second best friend). While the impact of this rivalry was probably minimal, Aisha was also one of the more jealous of Muhammad's wives, and participated in household squabbles recounted in the hadiths on multiple occasions.^[3]

Aisha played little to no role in governmental affairs during the rule of Muhammad and the first two caliphs (Abu Bakr and Umar). During the conflict that gave rise to and followed the assassination of the third caliph Uthman ibn Affan, however, Aisha lead a campaign alongside the companion Talha ibn Ubaydullah and Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr against Ali ibn Abi Talib (Muhammad's cousin), who had claimed the caliphate, and other opponents of Uthman. Aisha's party lost the ensuing battle, known as the Battle of the Camel, yet Aisha was dealt with respectfully while Talha and al-Zubayr both lost their lives.^[3]