Aisha: Difference between revisions

| known for = Wife of the [[Prophet (s)]]

| Wellknown Relatives = the [[Prophet (s)]], [[Abu Bakr]]

'''ʿĀʾisha''' (Arabic: {{ia|عائشة}}) (d. [[58]]/678) was the daughter of [[Abu Bakr b. Abi Quhafa]], the [[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]].

The exact point in time of 'A'isha's marriage to the Prophet (s) is unknown. According to a report, this marriage took place after the demise of [[Lady Khadija (a)]], and two or three years prior to the [[Hijra|migration of the Prophet (s) to Medina]].<ref>Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 22, p. 235; Ibn Ḥajar, ''al-Iṣāba'', vol. 8, p. 232.</ref> According to this report, this was the Prophet's first marriage after the demise of Lady Khadija (a). However, other more famous reports mention that the Prophet (s) married [[Sawda bt. Zam'at b. Qays|Sawda]] before marrying 'A'isha.<ref>Ibn Saʿd, ''al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol. 8, p. 46;  Ibn Qutayba, ''al-Maʿārif'', p. 133-134.</ref> According to popular sources of history, 'A'isha was around six or seven years old at the time of her marriage to the Prophet (s)<ref>Ibn Saʿd, ''al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol. 8, p. 47-48. </ref> but before that, was supposed to marry [[Jubayr b. Mut'am]]. However, after being suggested to marry the Prophet (s), this arrangement was called off and she married the Prophet (s). The consummation of their marriage took place a few years later after the migration to [[Medina]] when 'A'isha was nine years old.<ref>Ibn Saʿd, ''al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol. 8, p. 47-48. </ref>

In the face of this report, some researchers have referred to different historic accounts and have known 'A'isha's age at the time of marriage to be 18 years. Amongst the sources these researchers cite, is the report from Ibn Ishāq who mentions 'A'isha to be one of the first Muslims and indicates that 'A'isha was a child at that time. If at the time of [[bi'that]] 'A'isha was at least seven years old, then she should be seventeen years old at the time of her marriage to the Prophet.<ref>Taqīzāda Dāwarī, ''Taṣwīr-i khāniwāda-yi Payāmbar'', p. 92-93.</ref>

Some [[Quranic exegeses]] of the Ahl al-Sunnah report the 11th [[verse]] of the [[Qur'an 49]] 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 [[Qur'an 24]], it is related that in the year [[5]]/626-627, on the return from the [[Battle of Banu l-Mustaliq]] 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 behavior and consequently the aforementioned verses of the Quran announced slander of chaste women to be a grave sin.<ref>Ibn Hishām, ''al-Sīra al-nabawīyya'', vol. 2, p. 297-302; Bukhārī, ''Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī'', vol. 5, p. 223-227.</ref> However, some of these verses are said to be about [[Mariya al-Qibtiyya]], another wife of the Prophet (s).<ref>ʿĀmilī, ''al-Ṣaḥīḥ min sīrat al-nabīyy'', vol. 12, p. 320-326.</ref>

The incident of tahrim is mentioned in the first verse of the [[Qur'an 66]] 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-i 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.<ref>Bābāyī, ''Barguzīda-yi tafsīr-i nimūna'', vol. 5, p. 222.</ref>

This account has been mentioned in various sources with some variation; [[al-Bukhari, Muhammad b. Isma'il|Bukhari]], too has narrated it.<ref>Bukhārī, ''Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī'', vol. 5, p. 4964.</ref> 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).<ref>Bukhārī, ''Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī'', vol. 4, p. 1868.</ref> Al-Qurtubi<ref>Qurṭubī, ''al-Jāmiʿ l-aḥkām al-Qurʾān'', vol. 18, p. 202.</ref> and Ibn Qayyim<ref>Ibn Qayyim, ''al-Amthāl'', vol. 1, p. 57.</ref> believe the 10th verse of Qur'an 66 to be revealed about 'A'isha and Hafsa.

'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 (s) itself. Her dislike towards Imam 'Ali (a) and the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]] was to the extent that she did not participate in the mourning ceremony of the martyrdom of [[Lady Fatima al-Zahra (a)]] with the [[Banu 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 Banu 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).

Amongst the issues that sustained the Shi'a's criticism of 'A'isha was her not allowing the burial of [[Imam al-Hasan (a)|Imam al-Hasan's (a)]] 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.

However, some reports pronounce [[Mu'awiya]] as the cause for her death. According to one narration, this incident took place in the Islamic month of [[Dhi l-Hijja]]. Al-A'amash al-Kufi has narrated that 'A'isha's death was attributed to Mu'awiya.

* The material for this article is mainly taken from {{ia|[[:fa:عایشه|عایشه]]}} in Farsi WikiShia.