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On the other hand, the Shi'a consider the reports present in the texts of Ahl al-Sunnah about 'A'isha to be fabricated and exaggerated. They cite reports which mention her actions to have caused the Prophet (s) to become angry and unhappy, or quote the Prophet to have complained on her account. Likewise, they cite reports mentioning 'A'isha's jealousy towards the Prophet's other wives and her vicious actions against them. Some of these reports even appear in authentic texts of Ahl al-Sunnah. | On the other hand, the Shi'a consider the reports present in the texts of Ahl al-Sunnah about 'A'isha to be fabricated and exaggerated. They cite reports which mention her actions to have caused the Prophet (s) to become angry and unhappy, or quote the Prophet to have complained on her account. Likewise, they cite reports mentioning 'A'isha's jealousy towards the Prophet's other wives and her vicious actions against them. Some of these reports even appear in authentic texts of Ahl al-Sunnah. | ||
Some [[:category:Quranic exegeses|Quranic exegeses]] of the Ahl al-Sunnah report the 11th verse of the [[sura al-Hujurat]] to be revealed about 'A'isha. According to them, 'Aisha ridiculed [[ | Some [[:category:Quranic exegeses|Quranic exegeses]] of the Ahl al-Sunnah report the 11th verse of the [[sura al-Hujurat]] to be revealed about 'A'isha. According to them, 'Aisha ridiculed [[Umm Salama]] or Zaynab and in effect, this verse was revealed. | ||
===The incident of Ifk=== | ===The incident of Ifk=== | ||
According to narrations that appear under the exegesis of certain verses of [[sura al-Nur]], it is related that in the year [[5]] AH, on the return from the [[battle of Bani Mustalaq]] when the caravan had halted for rest, 'A'isha distanced herself from the caravan to relieve herself. When she found her necklace to be missing, she went looking for it. The caravan, not aware that she was missing, left carrying her palanquin with them assuming she was inside it. Upon returning to the place the caravan was pitched and finding it vacant, she stayed there until a man named Safwan b. Mu'attal came to her and gave her his camel and escorted her to her caravan. This incident caused some companions of the Prophet (s), who according to Islamic texts were hypocrites, to defame 'A'isha. They accused 'A'isha of unchastely behaviour and consequently the aforementioned verses of the Quran announced slander of chaste women to be a grave sin. However, some of these verses are said to be about [[Mariyah | According to narrations that appear under the exegesis of certain verses of [[sura al-Nur]], it is related that in the year [[5]] AH, on the return from the [[battle of Bani Mustalaq]] when the caravan had halted for rest, 'A'isha distanced herself from the caravan to relieve herself. When she found her necklace to be missing, she went looking for it. The caravan, not aware that she was missing, left carrying her palanquin with them assuming she was inside it. Upon returning to the place the caravan was pitched and finding it vacant, she stayed there until a man named Safwan b. Mu'attal came to her and gave her his camel and escorted her to her caravan. This incident caused some companions of the Prophet (s), who according to Islamic texts were hypocrites, to defame 'A'isha. They accused 'A'isha of unchastely behaviour and consequently the aforementioned verses of the Quran announced slander of chaste women to be a grave sin. However, some of these verses are said to be about [[Mariyah Qibtiyya]], another wife of the Prophet (s). | ||
===The incident of Tahrim=== | ===The incident of Tahrim=== | ||
The incident of tahrim is mentioned in the first verse of the [[sura al-Tahrim]] in the Quran wherein [[Allah]] reprimands the Prophet (s) for prohibiting upon himself that which Allah had made permissible, for the pleasure of his wives. According to a report in ''[[Tafsir Nimuna]]'', the context of revelation of this verse is that, at times when the Prophet (s) visited one of his wives, [[Zaynab bt. Jahsh]], she offered him a drink of honey that she prepared. 'A'isha did not like this and she conspired with [[Hafsah]] that whenever the Prophet visited either of them, they should immediately remark, “Have you had the maghafir gum?!” Maghafir was a type of foul smelling gum. The Prophet, too, was self-conscious about his mouth smelling foul. When the Prophet visited Hafsah and heard the same words from her, he swore to never have that honey again. | The incident of tahrim is mentioned in the first verse of the [[sura al-Tahrim]] in the Quran wherein [[Allah]] reprimands the Prophet (s) for prohibiting upon himself that which Allah had made permissible, for the pleasure of his wives. According to a report in ''[[Tafsir Nimuna]]'', the context of revelation of this verse is that, at times when the Prophet (s) visited one of his wives, [[Zaynab bt. Jahsh]], she offered him a drink of honey that she prepared. 'A'isha did not like this and she conspired with [[Hafsa bt. 'Umar|Hafsah]] that whenever the Prophet visited either of them, they should immediately remark, “Have you had the maghafir gum?!” Maghafir was a type of foul smelling gum. The Prophet, too, was self-conscious about his mouth smelling foul. When the Prophet visited Hafsah and heard the same words from her, he swore to never have that honey again. | ||
This account has been mentioned in various sources with some variation; [[Bukhari]], too has narrated it. Bukhari narrates another hadith in relation to this from the [[Umar|second caliph]] stating that 'A'isha and Hafsah became co-conspirators against the Prophet (s). Qurtubi and Ibn Qayyim believe the 10th verse of sura Tahrim to be revealed about 'A'isha and Hafsah. | This account has been mentioned in various sources with some variation; [[al-Bukhari, Muhammad b. Isma'il|Bukhari]], too has narrated it. Bukhari narrates another hadith in relation to this from the [['Umar b. Khattab|second caliph]] stating that 'A'isha and Hafsah became co-conspirators against the Prophet (s). Qurtubi and Ibn Qayyim believe the 10th verse of sura al-Tahrim to be revealed about 'A'isha and Hafsah. | ||
=='A'isha and the caliphs== | =='A'isha and the caliphs== | ||
During the period of the caliphate of Abu Bakr and '[[Umar]], 'A'isha did not directly interfere in political matters in spite of being the wife of the Prophet (s), the daughter of [[Abu Bakr|the first caliph]], occupying a high social status and being well served by the first two caliphs. According to a group of Shi'a authors, 'A'isha played an important role in making Abu Bakr reach caliphate, and in the last days of the Prophet's life, strove to create the groundwork for her father's caliphate. Likewise she narrated traditions from the Prophet (s) mentioning the virtues of Abu Bakr and 'Umar in order to help establish and legitimize their caliphate. There are accounts which relate the first two caliphs offering gifts and reaching out to 'A'isha and extending continuous help and offerings to her much more compared to the other wives of the Prophet (s). These reports have caught the attention of the Shi'a and have been regarded as a form of unfairness. | During the period of the caliphate of Abu Bakr and '[['Umar b. Khattab|Umar]], 'A'isha did not directly interfere in political matters in spite of being the wife of the Prophet (s), the daughter of [[Abu Bakr|the first caliph]], occupying a high social status and being well served by the first two caliphs. According to a group of Shi'a authors, 'A'isha played an important role in making Abu Bakr reach caliphate, and in the last days of the Prophet's life, strove to create the groundwork for her father's caliphate. Likewise she narrated traditions from the Prophet (s) mentioning the virtues of Abu Bakr and 'Umar in order to help establish and legitimize their caliphate. There are accounts which relate the first two caliphs offering gifts and reaching out to 'A'isha and extending continuous help and offerings to her much more compared to the other wives of the Prophet (s). These reports have caught the attention of the Shi'a and have been regarded as a form of unfairness. | ||
'A'isha's relation with '[[Uthman]] was cordial during the first few years of his caliphate, but soured during the end. During the first half of his caliphate, she narrated plenty of traditions in favor of him; amongst which are: | 'A'isha's relation with '[[Uthman b. 'Affan|Uthman]] was cordial during the first few years of his caliphate, but soured during the end. During the first half of his caliphate, she narrated plenty of traditions in favor of him; amongst which are: | ||
:"The Prophet (s) was lying on the bed and had spread my cloak over him. At this time, Abu Bakr asked permission to enter; the Prophet (s) gave permission and responded to his request in that state. Thereafter, 'Umar asked permission and the Prophet (s) responded to his request in a similar fashion. Then, 'Uthman asked permission and the Prophet (s) commanded me to dress myself. I asked him: O Prophet of God, you did not become so perplexed by the entering of Abu Bakr and 'Umar; but now for welcoming 'Uthman you make such preparations and dress yourself?! The Prophet (s) replied: How can I not regard and respect him when, I swear by God, that the angels exhibit modesty and bashfulness in his presence!" | :"The Prophet (s) was lying on the bed and had spread my cloak over him. At this time, Abu Bakr asked permission to enter; the Prophet (s) gave permission and responded to his request in that state. Thereafter, 'Umar asked permission and the Prophet (s) responded to his request in a similar fashion. Then, 'Uthman asked permission and the Prophet (s) commanded me to dress myself. I asked him: O Prophet of God, you did not become so perplexed by the entering of Abu Bakr and 'Umar; but now for welcoming 'Uthman you make such preparations and dress yourself?! The Prophet (s) replied: How can I not regard and respect him when, I swear by God, that the angels exhibit modesty and bashfulness in his presence!" | ||
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'A'isha was amongst the opponents of [[Imam 'Ali (a)]]. Some writers have recognized this conflict to have begun during the lifetime of the Prophet itself. Her dislike towards Imam 'Ali (a) and the Ahl al-Bayt was to the extent that she did not participate in the mourning ceremony of the martyrdom of [[Lady Fatima al-Zahra (a)]] with the [[Bani Hashim]]; some others have said that she even rejoiced on account of it. She said to [[Ibn 'Abbas]]: "No city is more hated to me than the city in which the Bani Hashim reside". Her animosity with Imam 'Ali (a) caused her to sometimes refrain from even uttering his name. Towards the end of the Prophet's life, she is reported to have said: "Two people held the Prophet from under his shoulders, Qutham b. 'Abbas and the other one.” The narrator says that she meant Imam 'Ali (a). | 'A'isha was amongst the opponents of [[Imam 'Ali (a)]]. Some writers have recognized this conflict to have begun during the lifetime of the Prophet itself. Her dislike towards Imam 'Ali (a) and the Ahl al-Bayt was to the extent that she did not participate in the mourning ceremony of the martyrdom of [[Lady Fatima al-Zahra (a)]] with the [[Bani Hashim]]; some others have said that she even rejoiced on account of it. She said to [[Ibn 'Abbas]]: "No city is more hated to me than the city in which the Bani Hashim reside". Her animosity with Imam 'Ali (a) caused her to sometimes refrain from even uttering his name. Towards the end of the Prophet's life, she is reported to have said: "Two people held the Prophet from under his shoulders, Qutham b. 'Abbas and the other one.” The narrator says that she meant Imam 'Ali (a). | ||
'A'isha was of a mind that after 'Uthman, the caliphate should return to the tribe of [[Bani | 'A'isha was of a mind that after 'Uthman, the caliphate should return to the tribe of [[Bani Taym]]. After the murder of 'Uthman, it was said to her that [[Talha b. 'Ubayd Allah|Talha]] has been selected caliph. This news caused her happiness and she set to journey towards Medina until she reached a land called Saraf. There, she learned that the people had paid allegiance to Imam 'Ali and immediately after hearing this, returned back to Mecca and raised the cry of 'Uthman's oppressed state. She used to say that one night of 'Uthman's rule was equal to the entire life of Imam 'Ali's (a). | ||
====The Battle of the Camel==== | ====The Battle of the Camel==== | ||