Hadrat Ayesha BINT Abu Bakar (RA)
Source:
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1
Daughter
of Hadrat Abu Bakr and the
most beloved wife of the Holy Prophet, Hadrat
Ayesha
was born in the fourth year of the declaration of the Prophethood by Hadrat
Mohammad
(SAW). Her name was Ayesha, her surname was
Umm-e-Abdullah (Mother
of
Abdullah)
and generally she was called Siddiqa (The
truthful). Since she had no
children,
so she did not have any surname. A surname was a great honour in those
days
and people always wanted one. So Hadrat Ayesha once
asked the Holy Prophet
(SAW),
“O
Prophet of Allah, other women have their surnames but I
have none. Please
suggest
one for me”.
The
Holy Prophet (SAW) said, “Why don’t you adopt the surname of
Umm-e-
Abdullah”.
Abdullah was the son of Hadrat Ayesha’s
sister.
Right
from childhood, Hadrat Ayesha was extraordinarily
intelligent. As a girl she was
very
jolly, pleasant mannered, and had a fantastic memory. Even in her old age
she
could
recollect the most minute details of her childhood. When the Hijrah (Migration
of
the Holy Prophet (SAW) from Makkah to
Medina)
took place, she was hardly in her
eighth
of ninth year, but history had recorded a great number of traditions
narrated
by
Hadrat Ayesha. No other companion (One who had
meetings with the Holy
Prophet)
of the Holy Prophet had so many Ahadith to his or her
credit.
The
Holy Prophet (SAW) and Hadrat Abu Bakr (RA) had verbally declared each other
as
brother.
In that society, such a verbal declaration was considered no less than
the
real
relationship. But the marriage of the Holy Prophet with the daughter of Hadrat
Abu
Bakr (RA) proved that prohibition of marriage with
brother’s daughter only
applies
to blood relations.
After
Hadrat Khadija’s death,
Hadrat Khaula, wife of Hadrat Othman (RA) inquired
from
the Holy Prophet, if he wanted to re-marry to dispel his
grief.
The
Holy Prophet asked Khaula. “Whom should I marry? Widow or Virgin”.
“Both
kind of women are available. Ayesha, daughter of Abu
Bakr is a virgin and
Saudaa
daughter of Zama ‘a is widow. Now it is up to you”,
Hadrat Khaula
said.
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Later,
the Holy Prophet married both women. Earlier to her marriage with the
Holy
Prophet,
Hadrat Ayesha (RA) was engaged to a non-Muslim. Her
would-be in-laws
declined
to go for this marriage on the plea that Hadrat
Ayesha’s arrival in their
family
may make their son a Muslim too. And thus the engagement was
broken.
Hadrat
Ayesha was then only six years old.
After
settling down in Medina for some time, the Holy Prophet sent Hadrat Zaid,
son
of
Harith and his servant Abu Raafe to Makkah for escorting
Hadrat Ayesha (RA) to
Medina.
Hadrat Zaid and Raafe, were given five hundred dirhams and two camels as
provision
for the journey. Hadrat Ayesha was brought safely to
Medina but the change
of
climate had adverse effects on her. She fell ill and lost her beautiful hair.
After a
prolonged
illness, she recovered and gained weight. Then Hadrat
Abu Bakr asked the
Holy
Prophet (SAW) “Why don’t you take Ayesha to your home? The Nikah (The ritual
of
marriage ceremony. In includes recitation of Holy verses and distribution
of
sweets
etc.)
has already been announced”.
“I
am helpless, I don not have the money to pay Mehr (Mehr is the money
which is
obligatory
on a Muslim to pay to his wife before consummation),
i.e. the downer
money”,
the Holy Prophet (SAW) said. On hearing this, Hadrat
Abu Bakr (RA) arranged
five
hundred dirhams on his own and presented the money to
the Holy Prophet. The
money
was sent to Hadrat Ayesha (RA) by Hadrat Mohammad (SAW) and Hadrat
Ayesha
(RA) was brought to the Holy Prophet’s house in the month of Shawwal
(Tenth
month
of Islamic calendar year)
of the first year of Hijrah.
At
the time of Hadrat Ayesha’s birth, the house of Hadrat Abu Bakr (RA) was
already
illuminated
with the light of Islam and had kindled a great love of Islam in Hadrat
Ayesha’s
heart.
This love constantly grew after her marriage with the Holy
Prophet
(SAW).
Resultantly, she played a significant role as wife of the Holy Prophet
(SAW).
Many
controversial and significant incidents are attributed to her life, such as
Ifk (Ifk
:
Incident
relating to allegation of adultery on Hadrat Ayesha
(RA) and Allah’s verdict
about
the matter)
Eilaa (Eilla :
Incident of abstination of the Holy Prophet
(SAW)
from
his wives),
Tehreem (Tehreem :
Incident relating to abstination of the
Holy
Prophet
from eating honey)
and Thakh’eer (Takh’eer :
The incident of option given
to
the wives of the Holy Prophet (SAW) to continue marital bond or choose
divorce).
Ifk:
The
details of the incident of Ifk are
briefly as follows:
Once
Hadrat Ayesha (RA) was accompanying the Holy Prophet
(SAW) in a caravan.
During
the journey, the caravan stopped for a night’s stay. Hadrat Ayesha (RA) went
out
of her camp to relieve her self and lost her precious
necklace somewhere in the
way.
As she came to know of this loss, she started searching her lost necklace. In
the
meantime,
the caravan moved on its journey. Hadrat Ayesha did
not know that the
caravan
has moved. When she came back to her camp, she found the caravan
had
moved
and she was left alone. She wrapped herself in a cloth sheet and waited to
be
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rescued.
Soon she was approached by Safwan son of Mauttal, whose duty was to trial
behind
the caravan to collect the left overs and to join the
caravan afterwards. He
recognized
Hadrat Ayesha and asked her to mount on his camel
while he walked
alongside.
By noon, they joined the caravan.
This
incident provided a golden opportunity to the mischief-mongers and they
created
a
lot of misconception. These hypocrites (Hypocrites: People who had embraced
Islam
under
social compulsion and were non-believers at their hearts. These people
always
conspired
against Islam to subvert it from within)
started a malicious propaganda
against
Hadrat Ayesha and accused her of adultery. This dirty
propaganda built such a
pressure
that the Holy Prophet (SAW) was compelled to send Hadrat Ayesha to her
parent’s
house for some time. The Holy Prophet (SAW) was approached in this
matter
for
reconciliation. But he said, “If Ayesha is innocent, Allah will defend her”. So
the
matter
was left there for quite a few days until Allah vindicated Hadrat Ayesha of this
false
accusation and the Holy Prophet’s prediction proved true. In Surah (A chapter of
the
Holy Quran)
Al-Noor, Allah confirmed the innocence of Hadrat Ayesha (RA).
This
happened when the Holy Prophet had gone to see Hadrat
Ayesha at her parent’s
place.
The Holy Prophet, after the revelation, smilingly told Hadrat Ayesha that Allah
had
revealed her innocence and recited the verses of Surah
Al Noor. Hadrat
Ayesha’s
mother
asked her, to get up and bow in thanks before the Holy Prophet
(SAW).
“No
I am only grateful to my Allah”, promptly replied Hadrat Ayesha (RA).
Eilaa:
The
incident of Eilaa is also quite important. It is said
that the sustenance provided to
the
Holy Prophet’s wives was insufficient. The provisions included foodgrains, dates
etc.
All the wives of the Holy Prophet unanimously complain about the inadequacy
of
the
provisions. The Holy Prophet (SAW) showed his displeasure. Hadrat Abu Bakr
and
Hadrat
Umar beseeched their daughters not to press for
increase in the provisions but
the
other wives continued their demand. At last the Holy Prophet (SAW) decided
not
to
have any relations with his wives for a month. He shifted to a separate room
away
from
his wives for many days. It created a great stir in the people and they
thought
that
the Holy Prophet has divorced his wives. Hadrat Umar sought the Holy Prophet’s
interview
on this point. Twice, the request was disallowed. On the third time Hadrat
Umar
was allowed to visit the Holy Prophet. Hadrat Umar found the Holy Prophet
lying
on a rough and bare cot, which had left marks on his body. Earthen utensils
were
lying
astray on the floor. On watching this scene, Hadrat
Umar was overcome with
grief.
He asked.
“O
Prophet of Allah, Have you divorced your wives?”
“No”
the Holy Prophet said.
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Hadrat
Umar broke this news to the people. The month was of
twenty-nine days and
the
Holy Prophet (SAW) came out of his isolated room and returned to his
wives.
Hadrat
Ayesha was the first one to be visited.
Tehr'eem:
This
incident will be dealt with at length in the life sketch of Hadrat Hafsah.
Takh'eer:
This
incident is reported in history as follows:
Once
the Holy Prophet (SAW) came to Hadrat Ayesha and
said,
“You
may consult your parents and then give a reply to my
question”.
“What
is that question”, Hadrat Ayesha
asked.
The
Holy Prophet (SAW) recited the following verses from Surah Ahzab of the
Holy
Quran:
“O,
Prophet, tell your wives that if they are more tempted to this world’s life
and
mundane
comforts, then let me forsake you without any trouble and if you crave
for
Allah,
the Prophet and the Hereafter then there is a great reward for
virtuous
women”.
On
hearing this, Hadrat Ayesha
said,
“O
Prophet of Allah, why should I consult my parents.
I prefer Allah, His Prophet and
the
Hereafter over all mundane comforts”.
The
Holy Prophet was pleased with Hadrat Ayesha’s reply
and said that he will put the
same
question to all his wives. Hadrat Ayesha requested
that her reply may not be
disclosed
to others. The Prophet agreed and repeated that same question to all of
his
wives
and all of them said that Hadrat Ayesha had said
previously. The above
mentioned
verses from the Holy Quran are called the verses of Takh’eer.
The
Holy Prophet had a great love for Hadrat Ayesha. This
fact can be substantiated
by
one of his sayings;
“O,
Allah, the things which are in my control (i.e. justice and equality
between
different
wives)
I always do justice (with them), but forgive me for that which
is
beyond
my control (i.e. my love with Ayesha)”.
There
is another of his quotations, Hadrat ‘Amr bin Al-‘Aas once asked the
Holy
Prophet:
“O,
Prophet of Allah whom do you love the
most”.
“Ayesha”,
he replied.
“And
whom do you love the most among the men”, ‘Amr bin
A’-‘Aas further asked.
“Her
father” (Hadrat Abu Bakr), the Holy Prophet said.
The
same degree of love existed in Hadrat Ayesha’s heart
for the Holy Prophet (SAW).
Sometimes
it happened that Hadrat Ayesha was awakened during the
night and did
Source:
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not
find the Holy Prophet (SAW) by her side and she was perturbed. One night, Hadrat
Ayesha
did not find the Holy Prophet on his bed. She tried to trace him here
and
there,
and thought perhaps he had gone to one of his other wives, but found
him
offering
prayers. This shamed her and she said,
“My
parents be scarified for you (An Arabic expression
of love). I was thinking of
something
else and you are busy in something else.”
Her
love for the Holy Prophet can be gauged by the fact that the last dress on
his
body
before death was always kept in safe custody by Hadrat
Ayesha afterwards. She
was
quite young in age at the time of marriage, so quite often it happened
that
Hadrat
Ayesha cooked food for the Holy Prophet (SAW) and lay asleep near the
fire
place
and was awakened by the Holy Prophet (SAW) on his return to
home.
Hadrat
Ayesha was only eighteen years old at the time of the Holy Prophet’s
death.
The
Holy Prophet remained ill for thirteen days until he breathed his last.
During
these
days, he spent eight days with Hadrat Ayesha and five
days with other wives. He
died
in Hadrat Ayesha’s room. After death the Holy Prophet
(SAW) Hadrat Ayesha
lived
forty-eight years as widow.
After
only two years, Hadrat Abu Bakr followed the Holy Prophet to meet him
in
Paradise,
and thus Hadrat Ayesha was a widow and an orphan too.
Hadrat Abu Bakr
the
first Caliph was buried by the side of the Holy Prophet’s grave. She was
only
twenty
at that time. Hadrat Umar
was elected second caliph at the death of Hadrat
Abu
Bakr and he sanctioned a stipend of ten thousand dirhams per annum each for the
widows
of the Holy Prophet (SAW) but Hadrat Ayesha was
granted a stipend of twelve
thousand
dirhams per annum.
Hadrat
Umar explained this discrimination as
follows:
“Since
she was dearer to the Holy Prophet, she deserves more”.
At
his death bed Hadrat Umar
sent his son to Hadrat Ayesha with a request for
being
buried
by the side of the Holy Prophet (SAW). Hadrat Ayesha
replied, “I had chosen
this
place as my grace but I would sacrifice it for Umar”.
Although
Hadrat Ayesha had granted permission for the burial of
Hadrat Umar in
her
room,
Hadrat Umar even then
advised his son in his last will, “Take my bier to the
door
of Hadrat Ayesha. If she allows, bury me inside,
otherwise take me to the
common
graveyard of Muslims”.
Hadrat
Ayesha allowed the burial and so the Holy Prophet (SAW), Hadrat Abu Bakr
and
Hadrat
Umar were buried in the same
room. This act proves her good, and
magnanimous
nature.
Hadrat
Ayesha was slim during her youth but later she gained weight. She had a
fair
complexion.
She was a very beautiful woman. Her favorite dress was a red shirt and
a
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black
wrapper. She was so contented that she never had more than one dress
and
used
it by washing it again and again. She was a true follower of Shariah.
She
exhorted children to do good deeds and to be modest and bashful. She was
very
obedient
to the Holy Prophet (SAW). She was such a strict follower of purdah that
once
Ishaq who was blind came to meet Hadrat Ayesha she observed purdah. On this
Ishaq
said, “Why are you observing purdah. I
cannot see you”.
“I
can see you, even if you do not see me,” Hadrat Ayesha
replied.
She
was never greedy and remained contented for the whole of her life on the meagre
belongings
she had. It is reported that once she said, “After the death of the
Holy
Prophet
(SAW), I never ate my fill, whenever I do so, tears come to my
eyes”.
“But
why?”, somebody asked.
“Because
till his death, the Holy Prophet (SAW) never had enough food or meat
to
satisfy
his appetite”. Hadrat Ayesha
replied.
Her
love for the Holy Prophet can further be visualized by another incident. Once
she
got
angry with Abdullah son of Hadrat Zubair and swore that she would never speak
to
him.
Abdullah apologized and asked for pardon. She was adamant till the
maternal
relatives
of the Holy Prophet (SAW) pleaded for the acceptance of Abdullah’s
apology.
On
this, she wept and said, “You are the relatives of the Holy Prophet (SAW). I
submit
to
this recommendation”.
This
meant violation of her oath so she released forty slaves as Kaffara (Monetary
compensation
for violation of oath).
Once
she was fasting and only one loaf was available at the time of Iftar to break her
fast.
A beggar came and she offered that loaf to him breaking her fast with
water.
She
regularly offered the prayer of Ishraq (A prayer
offered before noon). The Holy
Prophet
(SAW) had offered this prayer only once but Ayesha made it a point to offer
it
regularly.
According to her, “The Holy Prophet possessed many virtues and did
good
deeds
but did not observe them regularly, lest these prayer or other acts of virtue
are
taken
as obligatory for posterity”.
The
Holy Prophet (SAW) used to stand long in the prayer of Tahajjud (A prayer
offered
before noon).
Hadrat Ayesha always gave company to the Holy Prophet
in
offering
Tahajjud. Sometimes the prayer lasted for the whole
night.
She
was most forgiving. She had no grudge even against her enemies. Her
brother
Mohammad
son of Abu Bakr was murdered by Muavia son of Khadija but she
pardoned
him.
She
showed due regard for the status and ranks of persons. Once a beggar came
and
asked
him to leave. Soon after, a well clad traveler came and said that he
was
hungry,
she offered him a seat and food. The people objected to this difference
in
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behaviour
but she explained, “The Holy Prophet (SAW) had said that people should
be
dealt
with according to their rank and merit”.
Hadrat
Ayesha was generous and beneficent. Once Abu Zubair
sent her one hundred
thousand
dirhams as gift. Hadrat
Ayesha was observing fast that day. She immediately
distributed
all the money among the needy. In the evening, at the time of Iftar, her
maid
servant remarked, “O, Mother of the faithful you could have saved some
money
for
buying some food for Iftar”.
“Oh,
why didn’t you remind me at that time,” she replied.
She
was God-fearing and kind-hearted. Some misconceptions led the evens insuch a
way
that she fought a battle against the fourth Caliph Hadrat Ali (RA). This battle is
called
‘The battle of Camel’ (Hadrat Ayesha was
riding a camel in the battle). She
always
repented this action for whole of her life. Whenever she recalled
her
participation
in this battle, she used to weep and say, “I wish I could be dead
twenty
years
ago”.
By
being a kind-hearted woman, it does not prove that she was a coward.
She
frequently
visited the graveyard during the night to offer Fatihah (Prayer of
Muslims
offered
for pardoning the sins of the dead).
In
the battle of Khandaq (Battle fought at
Madina in which a deep circular trench
was
dug
around Medina as defence against the
enemy)
the Muslims were surrounded and
besieged
by the enemy. The danger of sabotage from Jews living in Medina was
also
imminent,
but fearlessly she surveyed the battlefield in the open, many a times.
In
the
battle of Uhad, (Battle fought with Meccans near the mountain of Uhad
situated
between
Medina and Mekkah),
she nursed the wounded and supplied water in the
battlefield
to soldiers.
She
possessed many virtues. Because of her virtues and religious merits, she
was
considered
better than all the male and female companions of the Holy Prophet.
She
excelled
in knowledge, intelligence and intimacy with the Holy Prophet (SAW)
more
than
anyone but her father. There are many incidents which prove her
superiority
over
others.
She
once said herself, “I have ten qualities which give me preference over the rest
of
the
Holy Prophet’s wives:
I
am the only virgin married to the Holy Prophet (SAW).
I
am the only wife whose parents both father and mother, undertook migration for
the
cause
of Islam.
Allah,
Himself vindicated my position and declared me innocent when I was
accused.
Gabriel
came to the Holy Prophet while personifying as Ayesha and asked him
to
marry
me.
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Many
a time, the Holy Prophet offered prayers while I was before
him.
At
the time of divine revelation, I used to be with him.
When
the soul of the Holy Prophet left his body his head was on my
chest.
I
and the Holy Prophet (SAW) while bathing took water from one
container.
The
Holy Prophet (SAW) passed away in the night when he was visiting my house
(The
Holy
Prophet (SAW) visited his wives turn by turn).
My
house was blessed to become the burial place of the Holy Prophet
(SAW).
Others
Opinion about Hadrat Ayesha
The
books of History and Hadith prove that there is no
other Prophet’s wife having so
many
virtues. The Holy Prophet (SAW) had said that, “Ayesha is superior to
other
women
as thareed (A kind of dish prepared in
Arabic) is superior to other foods”.
Masrooq
Tabe ‘yi (Those
who enjoyed the company of the companions of the Holy
Prophet
but could not see or meet the Holy Prophet (SAW)) said,
“I have seen many
companions
of the Holy Prophet (SAW) asking Hadrat Ayesha for the
solution of
difficult
religious questions in the light of the Shariah”.
Imam
Zohri said, “The
knowledge of Hadrat Ayesha is better that the
accumulative
knowledge
of all Muslims and wives of the Holy Prophet (SAW)”. Once
Hadrat Abu
Musa
Ahr‘ari said, “We, the people who had once enjoyed the
company of the Holy
Prophet,
never hesitated in asking the correct religious interpretations from Hadrat
Ayesha
and she always promptly guided us”.
Urvah
son of Zubair said, “She
was excellent in religious logic, medicine and
poetry.
She had a fantastic memory. Many a times, she recited rhymes of
more
than
a hundred verses”. Abu
Salma (Son of Abdur Rehman Bin Auf) had said.
“I
have never seen a better scholar of Sunnah (Saying
of the Holy Prophet (SAW)
and
his deeds),
blessed with insight of Islamic jurisprudence, than her. She
knew
the
interpretation of divine revelations and holy verses”.
A
quotation of Ata bin Abu-Rabah goes like
this:
“Ayesha
was a great theologian, better Muslim and a remarkable
thinker”.
History
quotes incident, that once Hadrat Muavia asked his companions, “Who is
the
greatest
theologian of our times”.
“No,
other than you sir”, the courtiers replied.
“No!
can you make this statement on an
oath?”
“No
Muavia! the truth is that
there is none like Hadrat Ayesha”, one of them
said.
No
doubt, being the most beloved wife of the Holy Prophet (SAW), Hadrat Ayesha
enjoyed
the best opportunity of imbibing knowledge and guidance from the
Holy
Prophet.
But there were many others, who also had similar affinity with the
Holy
Prophet
(SAW) but the genius of Hadrat Ayesha interpreted and
explained the divine
message
and the Holy Prophet’s actions in the most befitting manner. Rest of
the
people
lagged behind. She could penetrate into the depths of a problem
instantly
while
others could not.
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Hadrat
Ayesha had a logical mind. Normally, it is seen that the people having
a
practical
mind are more prone to atheism and disbelief in religion, and, because
of
the
habit of rationalizing every problem, fall easy prey to worldly theories.
But
Hadrat
Ayesha, although a great intellectual, had much knowledge of
Islamic
jurisprudence
and love for Islam. The polluted concept of religion, then prevailing
in
Arabia,
was full of superstitions. The common people used amulets, charms
and
witchcraft
to dispel mishaps and solve their problems. The women of those
times
zealously
followed these practices. Hadrat Ayesha detested
superstition since only
Allah
is competent to punish or reward anybody. She fought relentlessly against
all
these
social evils. Once she saw a razor (It was a sort of ‘Charm’ having recourse
to
some
deity)
placed by the side of a child’s bed. She was very angry, and forbade
this
practice
saying, “The Holy Prophet was against all superstitious charms, amulets
and
witchcrafts”.
The
above incident throws a glowing light upon the progressive orientation of
Islam.
Only
ignorant people fall prey to such superstitions. These superstitions lead a
Muslim
into
the depths of disbelief in Allah. A true Muslim believes that good or evil
only
comes
from Allah and none else. Women should be most careful and should
not
succumb
to superstitions.
Hadrat
Ayesha has reported more than 2,250 Ahadith
(Sayings of the Holy Prophet
(SAW),
piural of Hadith).
She lived for sixty-three years. She hated flattery and
avoided
meeting with flatterers. While she was suffering from her last illness
(She
died
in same illness),
Abdullah Bin Abbas requested the permission to visit
her which
she
declined, because she knew that he will start flattering her. On the insistence
of
her
nephews she allowed Abdullah, who started praising her qualities the moment
he
arrived.
She immediately said, “Ibn-e-Abbass leave me and do not try to flatter.
I
swear
on Allah, I wish, I would have been a stone”.
The
greatness of Hadrat Ayesha can be judged by the fact
that whenever someone
visited
her during her fatal illness, invariably she said, “All praises are for Allah, I
am
fine”.
Hadrat
Ayesha died during the rule of Hadrat Muavia in the month of Ramadan
(A
month
of fasting in Islamic Calendar).
That night, innumerable torches and lanterns
were
burning and the streets of Madina had such a great
rush of women that it
seemed
like Eid (A day of celebration of festivity for
Muslims at the end of the
month
of fasting i.e. Ramadan).
Ubaid
bin Kumair asked a stranger that night, “Who is
grieved due to Hadrat Ayesha’s
death?”
“Every body is sad to whom she was a mother, and she was
mother of all the
faithful”,
the stranger replied. She had made a will that she should be buried
at
night,
so she was buried, in the night she died, after her funeral prayers in Jannat-ulSource:
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10
Baqi’
which
witnessed unprecedented rush.
Hadrat Abu Huraira led the
funeral
prayers.
Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Abdur Rehman and Abdullah bin Abdur
Rehman
lowered
her body into the grave. May Allah rest her soul in peace.
