Aisha Bint Abu Bakr
Aisha Bint Abu Bakr has a major and significant role in adjusting the Muslim Ummah. It was she who was named the mother of the believers, it was she who transmitted 2210 ahadeeth that we find in books of Prophetic narrations that we read today and it was she who memorised the amazing and glorious book of Allah (s. w. t) the Quran, but who is this decent women? Aisha Bint Abu Bakr was one of the wives of The Prophet Muhammad (s. a. w). She has contributed a lot for the sake of Islam as many hadiths have been narrated from her. Aisha (R. A) was born in 614 CE in the well-known city of Mecca after both her parents had embraced Islam.
This was an advantage for Aisha (R. A) as she was free from any polytheism since she was born. However her death took place in Medina when she was at the age of 65 in 678 CE during the blessed month of Ramadan. Aisha was born to Umm Ruman and Abu Bakr As-Sadiq who was the closest companion to our beloved Prophet Muhammad (s. a. w) and had the significant role of being the first khalifa of Islam. Most scholars say that Aisha (r. a) was only 9 when The Prophet (s. a. w) asked for her hand in marriage and he was at the age of 43; however she only went to live with the prophet when she reached maturity at the age of 12.
Aisha had a very amazing and astonishing personality that surprised Other women Aisha everyone. Aisha (r. a) had significant intelligence and was very knowledgeable. Aisha (RA) was a very brave person that wasn’t frightened of talking back to people in order to find out the truth. When she would beat someone in an argument, The Prophet (s. a. w) would display a smile upon his face and would comment ‘she is the daughter of Abu Bakr (R. A). It was once said that Aisha was so wise that if her knowledge was placed on one side of the scales and all of the other women on the other, Aisha’s side would outweigh the other.
Aisha bint Abu Bakr (R. A) is undoubtedly one of the greatest teachers produced by Islam. She had an important role in education and social reform as many Muslim boys and girls were trained with her assistance. Therefore her house had become an Islamic Academy. As a successful teacher, she had a clear persuasive manner of speech. One of the early Muslims stated “I have heard speeches of Abu Bakr (R. A) and Umar (R. A), Uthman (R. A) and Ali (R. A) up to this day, but I have not heard speech more persuasive and more beautiful from the mouth of Aisha (R.
A)”. Aisha (R. A) was married to our beloved Prophet Muhammad (s. a. w) for 9 years. During the period of time that they were married, many important events occurred that helped shape up the destiny of the first Muslim Community of Medina. It was during their progress of marriage that the qibla was changed from facing the direction of Jerusalem to the direction of the Kaa’bah. Not only did the qibla change, but drinking alcohol was completely forbidden and it also became essential for women to wear the hijab in public and during prayer.
The guidance of how to fast was revealed, zakat had become compulsory on every Muslim and all rites of the hajj were purified and clarified during the course of her marriage to The Prophet (S. A. W). Most of Aisha’s life spent with The Prophet (S. A. W) was gaining knowledge from Allah’s two main sources of guidance; the Quran and the Sunnah of The Prophet Muhammad (s. a. w). Aisha was one of the four people who transmitted more than 2000 hadiths. Many of these hadiths would be about The Prophet (S. A. W)’s personal behaviour or hygiene that only a person as close as Aisha could have learned about. During Aisha’s marriage, The Prophet (s. . w) married many other women for several reasons from strengthening ties between important families or tribes to relieving the adversity of women who had been divorced or widowed. However the most important reason for these marriages was because Allah willed them as they were righteous women. When Aisha (R. A) lived with The Prophet Muhammad (s. a. w), a lasting and strong friendship was built between her and Sawda; who was also one of The Prophet (s. aw. )’s wives. Sawda took care of Aisha and the household. When Aisha grew up she was given the title of ‘Umm al –Mumineen’ meaning the ‘Mother of the Believers’.
This title was given to all of The Prophet (s. a. w)’s wives as they were very respectable women. The Quran clearly states that it is forbidden for any man to marry any of the wives after The Prophet Muhammad (s. a. w) for: “The Prophet is closer to the believers than their ownselves, and his wives are as their mothers. ” (Qur’an: 33:6) “O you wives of the Prophet, if any of you is openly indecent, the punishment for her will be doubled – and that is easy for Allah. And whoever of you submits to Allah and His Messenger has right action, We shall give her a reward twice over and We have prepared a generous provision for her.
O you wives of the Prophet, you are not like any other women. If you are fearful of Allah then do not be soft in yspeech, lest someone whose heart is sick is attracted to you, but speak words that are wise. And stay quietly in your houses, do not make a dazzling display like that of the time of ignorance before and establish prayer and pay the Zakat and obey Allah and His Messenger. Surely Allah wishes to remove impurity far from you, O People of the House, and to purify you completely. And remember that ayahs of Allah that are recited in your houses and the wisdom.
Surely Allah is Alpervading, All Aware. ” (Quran 33:30-34). In conclusion, Aisha (r. a)’s life is a significant example of how women should live. Before Islam, women had a very low status. However when islam was revealed, women were given an important and high position. We should learn from Aisha to be knowledgeable and modest Muslims. She had an important role in islam as she transmitted more than 2000 hadiths that we read today, and she taught many people about islam that is passed down from generation to generation.
References:
- #http://www. isemuslimwomen. org/muslimwomen/bio/aisha_bint_abu_bakr/ #http://www. islamawareness. net/FAQ/aisha_new. html #www. smashwords. com/books/download/30155/… /aisha-ra. rtf
- http://harunyahya. com/en/works/114361/Our_mother_Hazrat_Aishas_(ra)_knowledge_ #http://southernmuslimah. wordpress. com/2007/09/06/great-women-in-islam-aisha-bint-abu-bakr/
- http://www. islamawareness. net/Muhammed/ibn_kathir_wives. html #http://magicalprincessdiaries. blogspot. com. au/2009/02/aisha-ra. html #http://almoltaqa. ps/english/showthread. php? t=4177
