Aishah bint Abu Bakr, known as the mother of the believers was the third and the youngest bride of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.W). She was also the favourite daughter of the most truthful person Abu Bakr Siddeeq (R.A).
She was born in 614 CE in Mecca, Arabia. When Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.W) first saw her, she was playing with her dolls. She was only five years old at that time. Aishah (R.A) was known for her formidable memory. She doesn’t forget anything once she had heard or seen.
After the death of the first wife of Muhammad, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, Sawdah bint Zaman became his second wife and then later he also married Aishah bint Abu Bakr, who was only six years at that time.
When Prophet (S.A.W.W) wed Aishah, he doesn’t have anything to give her. But she doesn’t make a word against it and loved Muhammad (S.A.W.W) for everything. Her house was a small room that had earthen walls and the roof was made of leaves and twigs. The roof was so close that anyone can touch it standing on his feet. The room was however short of worldly riches but was filled with spiritual treasures and the love between the two.
Aishah (R.A) was too generous and benevolent that she doesn’t let anyone go empty-handed from her door.
Here are the best events of her life that made her the prosperous and the leading women of Islam.
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Angel Jibril presented her Portrait to Muhammad (S.A.W.W)
Allah sent her portrait to Muhammad (S.A.W.W) through Angel Jibril (A.S) in his dreams. Her portrait was wrapped in silk and when Muhammad unwrap it, it was the image of Aishah bint Abu Bakr (R.A). He told her about the incident that Allah has chosen her as his wife. She was also the only virgin wife of the Prophet (S.A.W.W) and the dearest amongst others.
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Allah revealed a Verse to prove her Innocence
One day Aishah (R.A) was accompanying the Messenger of Allah in a campaign when he was traveling with a caravan. She used to be so thin at that time that nobody can guess whether she’s seated in the caravan or not. During her journey, she was wearing a necklace which she borrowed from her sister, Hazrat Asma (R.A) that accidentally fall off her neck.
She got worried and started searching for it. While searching, she got separated from the caravan and went far to get it. Upon retracing the footsteps, she had found the necklace but missed the caravan. Due to her light-weightedness, the men folks didn’t notice her presence and assumed that she was seated inside.
When she found that the caravan had missed her, she laid down and waited for the companions to come back. She fell asleep on the spot.
Safwan bin Mu’attal found a lady in the cloak, lying on the ground and realized that it was Hazrat Aishah (R.A). He brought his camel near to her so she could ride upon it and continue with the army. This incident was pure and far away from adultery but the hypocrites give it the wings and spread the false rumours between the two.
The Madinah was flooded with this malicious news but Aishah (R.A) was unaware of it. When the news reached her, she cried a lot and ask Allah to help her. After weeping for two days, she felt ill. On seeing her condition, the Prophet (S.A.W.W) advised her to seek forgiveness to which she denied saying that she was innocent and only Allah knows about it.
After this incident, the following Ayat proving her innocence was revealed to Muhammad (S.A.W.W):
Verily those who brought forth the slander (against ‘Aishah) are a group among you. Consider it not a bad thing for you. Nay, it is good for you. Unto every man among them will be paid that which he had earned of the sin, and as for him among them who had the greater share therein, his will be a great torment. (11).
Why then, did not the believers, men and women, when you heard it (the slander), think good of their own people and say: “This (charge) is an obvious lie ?” (12)Why did they not produce four witnesses? Since they (the slanderers) have not produced witnesses! Then with Allah they are the liars. (13)
(Quran, Sura An-Noor:11-13)
This was indeed the best response to the Hypocrites. Aishah bint Abu Bakr (R.A) was pleased to hear the verses revealed on her. Indeed, in the tough times, she showed her patience and kept asking Allah to help her.
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She was the Reason behind the Revelation of Tayammum
Once Aishah bint Abu Bakr (RA) was traveling with the Prophet (S.A.W.W), they stopped at a place in the desert to rest. Here also, her necklace falls off her neck and she told this to Muhammad (P.B.U.H). He stopped the army and sent the companions to search for her necklace. They keep searching but couldn’t found and the morning prayers happened. Since the army was busy finding the necklace, so they couldn’t arrange the water for their ablution and Abu Bakr Siddeeq made Hazrat Aishah (R.A) responsible for it.
Exactly at that time, the following verse was revealed:
O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying or in a state of janabah, except those passing through [a place of prayer], until you have washed [your whole body]. And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]. Indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Forgiving
(Quran, Sura An-Nisa:4:43)
Now, the same people who were blaming Aishah (R.A) started praising her and thanked her for the favour. Later, the necklace was also found.
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She was titled as the Horizon of the Ladies of Islam
Because of her divine knowledge and the huge number of Ahadith attributed with her name, she was superior and wiser to all other women. People visited her to discuss religious issues and seek guidance. She had exemplary command on the religious matters. She was also against the idea of forced marriages and helped women to seek their will in marriages. Women often come to her to seek marital advice or information about Islam.
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Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) parted from the earth when he was in Aishah’s lap
The Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) held his last breaths when he was in the lap of Aishah (R.A). Since it was the turn of Aishah (R.A) so he was with her on that day. He was also buried in her apartment.
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She Achieved the Prophecy of her Dreams
Aishah had dreamt about the three moons that were descended into her apartment. When the Prophet (P.B.U.H) passed away, he was buried in her apartment. Similarly, her father Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (R.A) was also buried in her apartment. And later, Umar Farooq (R.A) was also buried there. In this way, the prophecy of her dream was fulfilled.
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Angels encircled her apartment with Love and Respect
She saw angel Jibril twice and received greetings from him. She was the only wife to witness the revelation process to Muhammad (P.B.U.H). Due to her wealth of knowledge and services for the cause of Islam, angels sent her praises and encircled her apartment with love.
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Allah arranged for her to Break the Fast
She doesn’t use to think while giving money to the needy. On one occasion, she gave 70,000 dirhams for the charity. One day, she was fasting and the beggar came to her door. She had nothing but a piece of bread. Without thinking a moment, she gave that peace to the beggar. Her maid, however, reminded her of the fast but she doesn’t care and said that Allah will provide for her.
Later that evening, someone from her neighbours sent her cooked meat which was enough for her. She is the best role model to follow.
After the death of the Prophet (P.B.U.H), she spent the rest of her life for the cause of Islam. She died on 17th Ramadhan at the age of 66 and was buried in Jannatul Baqi. The Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.W) loved Aishah so much that he used to eat from where she has bitten the meat. They shared a special bond with each other and had set remarkable examples for the husband-wife relationship.
Lessons to Learn from her Life
- Aishah (RA) stood with patience and faith even in her most difficult battle when the slanderers accused her of adultery.
- She had no worldly desires. She always chose to feed the poor even if she had to starve for that.
- She courageously took part in the Battle of Uhud, al-Khandaq, Banu Qurayza, Banu Mustaliq, Hudaybiya, and the Meccan conquest.
- She brought water in the battle for the armies and also heal the wounded ones.
- By staying on the front in the religious and political activities and wars, she showed that women can be more powerful than men.
Her life is a great lesson for all of us. May Allah guide us to the right path, Ameen!
Meanwhile, I would love to know if I had done my part in making you aware of the noble lady, Hazrat Aishah (RA). Do I?
I prefer books and diaries more than phones and Facebook. Soulfully connected to Pakistan. And I passionately believe that I can change the world through blogging.
