Aisha bint Abi Bakr

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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]

ʿĀʾishah bint Abī Bakr
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Born c. 614 CE
Mecca, Hijaz, Arabia (present-day Saudi Arabia)
Died c. 678 (aged around 64)
Jannat al-Baqi, Medina, Hejaz, Arabia (present-day Saudi Arabia)
Other names Umm Abdullah
Title Mother of the Believers
Spouse Muhammad ibn Abdullah
Parents Abu Bakr Abdullah ibn Uthman,
Umm Ruman

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]

In scripture

In the hadith

Knowledge

Narrated Abu Musa: "Never was a Hadith unclear to us - the Companions of the Messenger of Allah - and we asked 'Aishah, except that we found some knowledge concerning it with her."
Grade: Hasan (Darussalam)

Favor with angels

Narrated 'Aishah [may Allah be pleased with her]: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "O 'Aishah! Here is Jibril and he is giving Salam to you." She said: "I said: 'And upon him be peace and the mercy of Allah, and His blessings. You see that which we do not.'"
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
Narrated 'Aishah: that Jibril came to the Prophet (ﷺ) with her image upon a piece of green silk cloth, and he said: "This is your wife in the world, and in the Hereafter."
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)

Jealousy

Narrated 'Aishah: "I was not jealous of any wife of the Prophet (ﷺ) as I was jealous of Khadijah, and it was not because I did not see her. It was only because the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) mentioned her so much, and because whenever he would slaughter a sheep, he would look for Khadijah's friends to give them some of it."
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)

Muhammad's favorite

Narrated 'Aishah: "The people used to give their gifts [to the Prophet (ﷺ)] on 'Aishah's day." She said: "So my companions gathered with Umm Salamah and they said 'O Umm Salamah! The people give their gifts on 'Aishah's day, and we desire good as 'Aishah desires, so tell the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to order the people to give (their gifts to) him no matter where he is.' So Umm Salamah said that, and he turned away from her. Then he turned back to her and she repeated the words saying: 'O Messenger of Allah! My companions have mentioned that the people give their gifts on 'Aishah's day, so order the people to give them no matter where you are.' So upon the third time she said that, he said: 'O Umm Salamah! Do not bother me about 'Aishah! For Revelation has not been sent down upon me while I was under the blankets of a woman among you other than her.'"
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
Narrated 'Amr bin Al-'As: that he said to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): "Who is the most beloved of the people to you?" He said: "'Aishah." He said: "From the men?" He said: "Her farther [Abu Bakr]."
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)

Marriage to Muhammad

Age

Marriage

Consummation

Personal life

Relationship with Muhammad

Relationships with co-wives

Accusation of adultery (al-Ifk, or "The Lie)

Muhammad's death

Aisha's death

Political career

First and second caliphate

Third caliphate

The Fitna

Religious views and influence

Influence on Islam

Adult suckling

Sunni and Shi'i perspectives

Modern revisionary perspectives

See Also

References

  1. Sahih Bukhari 7:62:144
  2. Quran 33:6
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 H.A.R. Gibb; J.H. Kramers; E. Levi-Provencal et al., eds, (1986), "'A'isha Bint Abi Bakr", Encyclopaedia of Islam, 1 A-B (New Edition [2nd] ed.), Leiden: E.J. Brill, pp. 307-308, ISBN 90 04 08114 3, 1986 
  4. Quran 24:11
  5. Quran 24:11-20