Aisha: Difference between revisions

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'''ʿĀʾisha''' (Arabic: {{iarabic|عائشة}}) (d. [[58]]/678) was the daughter of [[Abu Bakr b. Abi Quhafa]], the [[:Category:Wives of the Prophet (s)|wife of the Prophet Muhammad (s)]] and was amongst the influencing women of the Islamic era. From amongst the wives of the Prophet, 'A'isha was very well-known for her political activities and standpoints as well as for the prominent role she played in narrating traditions from [[the Prophet (s)]]. The school of [[Ahl al-Sunna]], citing traditions which mention her virtues as well as her popularity with the Prophet, hold her to an esteemed position. On the other hand, the [[Shi'a]] strongly criticize her personality and behaviour on account of her hostile stance and actions during the period of [[Imam Ali]]'s [[caliphate]].

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 bt. Khuzayma]] and in effect, this verse was revealed.

According to narrations that appear under the exegesis of certain verses of [[sura al-Nur]], it is related that in the year [[5]]/626-627, 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 [[Mariya al-Qibtiyya]], another wife of the Prophet (s).

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|Hafsa]] that whenever the Prophet (s) visited either of them, they should immediately remark, "Have you had the maghafir gum?!" Maghafir was a type of foul smelling gum. The Prophet (s), too, was self-conscious about his mouth smelling foul. When the Prophet (s) visited Hafsa 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; [[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 Hafsa became co-conspirators against the Prophet (s). Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Qayyim believe the 10th verse of sura al-Tahrim to be revealed about 'A'isha and Hafsa.

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 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 role 'A'isha played in stimulating a massive uprising against the caliphate of Imam 'Ali (a), which led to the [[Battle of the Camel]], was a huge indicator of her enmity towards him. Some writers from Ahl al-Sunnah believed her to be under the influence of instigative evil-doers and supposed her gathering of an army for [[Basra]] to be for the revenge from 'Uthman's killers and not an act of opposition to Imam 'Ali (a). They considered this an error in [[ijtihad]] for which 'A'isha herself was later repentant.

In spite of reports of monetary gifts extended to 'Aisha by [[Mu'awiya b. Abi Sufyan|Mu'awiya]] that exist in historic sources, 'Aisha became an opponent and critic of Mu'awiya during a part of his rule. She was particularly displeased with him when her brother [[Muhammad b. Abi Bakr]] was killed upon the command of Mu'awiya. She also criticized him on killing [[Hujr b. 'Adi]], a [[companion]] of the Prophet. It is narrated that upon hearing the news of the arrest of Hujr b. 'Adi, she sent someone to Mu'awiya to intercede for him, but this messenger reached [[Damascus]] when Hujr and his companions had already been martyred.

Amongst the issues that sustained the Shi'a's criticism of 'A'isha was her not allowing the burial of [[Imam al-Hasan]]'s body next to the grave of the Prophet (s). The resting place of the Prophet was in 'A'isha's house and after that, had been the burial place of the first two caliphs too. With the martyrdom of Imam al-Hasan (a), his brother [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] initially intended to bury him next to the grave of the Prophet (s) in accordance with his will; but 'A'isha, with the help of the governor of Medina, prevented its fulfillment. To avoid discord, Imam al-Husayn (a) resigned from it.

'A'isha was amongst the most important narrators of the words and the life of the Prophet (s). The number of traditions related from her exceeds 2100. Parts of the reports narrated by her which are present in historic texts have been subject to research and criticism by the Shi'a researchers and academics.

* The material for this article is mainly taken from [http://fa.wikishia.net/عایشه عایشه] in Farsi WikiShia.

{{Sahaba}}

{{Ahl al-Bayt's women}}

[[Category:Wives of the Prophet (s)]]

[[Category:Nakithun]]