The Mothers of the Believers: Aisha Bint Abu Bakr

Aisha was the daughter of Abu Bark, one of the closest friends of the Prophet (ﷺ) and her mother was Umm Ruman. She was borned in Makkah into a righteous household. She was beloved to the Prophet (ﷺ), his loved for her was known by everyone. Some people waited until it is the turn of Aisha to send gifts to the Prophet (ﷺ). Aisha had remarkable and enjoyable nine years with the Prophet (ﷺ). However she was slandered by the hypocrites which is known for the incident of Al-Ifk. Aisha narrated the incident in Bukhari. This incident was a trial and difficult moment for Aisha, the Prophet (ﷺ) and the muslim. Allah revealed her innocence in the Quran and condemned the hypocrites and those who are involved in spreading the slander. Aisha was clever, wise, intelligent, and had remarkable memories. After the death of the Prophet (ﷺ) she became one of the sources of knowledge for the companions and she narrated 2210 hadiths.  She was generous, there are several incidents where Aisha was given money or food, she would distribute everything by the end of the day and forget to leave something for her. 

The Beloved of the Prophet (ﷺ)

Narrated Amr bin Al-As: The Prophet (ﷺ) deputed me to read the Army of Dhat-as-Salasil. I came to him and said, "Who is the most beloved person to you?" He said, "Aisha." I asked, "Among the men?" He said, "Her father." I said, "Who then?" He said, "Then Umar bin Al-Khattab." He then named other men. (Bukhari, 3662)

Shown in the dream of the Prophet (ﷺ) as his wife

Narrated Aisha: That the Prophet (ﷺ) said to her, "You have been shown to me twice in my dream. I saw you pictured on a piece of silk and some-one said (to me). 'This is your wife.' When I uncovered the picture, I saw that it was yours. I said, 'If this is from Allah, it will be done.'" (Bukhari, 3895) 

Narrated Ammar bin Yasir: "She is his wife in the world and in the Hereafter." meaning: Aishah [may Allah be pleased with her]." (Tirmidhi, 3889)

Note: Aisah was one of the Mothers of the Believers, she was shown to the Prophet (ﷺ) in a dream as his wife and she will be his wife in Hereafter as well. 

Marriage to the Prophet (ﷺ)

Narrated Hisham's father: "Khadija died three years before the Prophet (ﷺ) departed to Medina. He stayed there for two years or so and then he married Aisha when she was a girl of six years of age, and he consummated that marriage when she was nine years old." (Bukhari, 3896)

Narrated Aisha: "That the Prophet (ﷺ) married her when she was six years old and he consummated his marriage when she was nine years old. Hisham said: I have been informed that Aisha remained with the Prophet (ﷺ) for nine years (till his death)." (Bukhari, 5134)

Narrated Aisha: "The Prophet (ﷺ) engaged me when I was a girl of six (years). We went to Medina and stayed at the home of Bani-al-Harith bin Khazraj. Then I got ill and my hair fell down. Later on my hair grew (again) and my mother, Umm Ruman, came to me while I was playing in a swing with some of my girl friends. She called me, and I went to her, not knowing what she wanted to do to me. She caught me by the hand and made me stand at the door of the house. I was breathless then, and when my breathing became alright, she took some water and rubbed my face and head with it. Then she took me into the house. There in the house I saw some Ansari women who said, "Best wishes and Allah's Blessing and good luck." Then she entrusted me to them and they prepared me (for the marriage). Unexpectedly Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came to me in the forenoon and my mother handed me over to him, and at that time I was a girl of nine years of age." (Bukhari, 3894)

Narrated Aisha: I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Suppose you landed in a valley where there is a tree of which something has been eaten and then you found trees of which nothing has been eaten, of which tree would you let your camel graze?" He said, "(I will let my camel graze) of the one of which nothing has been eaten before." (The sub-narrator added: Aisha meant that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had not married a virgin besides herself.)" (Bukhari, 5077)

Giving the choice to divorce or remain married: 

Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala said:

"O Prophet! Say to your wives: "If you desire the life of this world, and its glitter, then come! I will make a provision for you and set you free in a handsome manner (divorce)"" (33:28)

"But if you desire Allah and His Messenger, and the home of the Hereafter, then verily, Allah has prepared for good-doers amongst you and enormous reward." (33:29) 

Narrated Aisha: "(the wife of the Prophet) when Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was ordered to give option to his wives, he started with me, saying, "I am going to mention to you something, but you shall not hasten (to give your reply) unless you consult your parents." The Prophet (ﷺ) knew that my parents would not order me to leave him. Then he said, "Allah says: 'O Prophet (Muhammad)! Say to your wives: If you desire the life of this world and its glitter...a great reward." (33:28-29) I said, "Then why do I consult my parents? Verily, I seek Allah, His Messenger and the Home of the Hereafter." Then all the other wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) did the same as I did." (Bukhari, 4786)

Love and jealousy

Narrated Aisha: "I did not feel jealous of any of the wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) as much as I did of Khadija though I did not see her, but the Prophet (ﷺ) used to mention her very often, and when ever he slaughtered a sheep, he would cut its parts and send them to the women friends of Khadija. When I sometimes said to him, "(You treat Khadija in such a way) as if there is no woman on earth except Khadija," he would say, "Khadija was such-and-such, and from her I had children." (Bukhari, 3818)

Narrated Urwa from Aisha: "The wives of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) were in two groups. One group consisted of Aisha, Hafsa, Safiyya and Sauda; and the other group consisted of Um Salama and the other wives of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). The Muslims knew that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) loved Aisha, so if any of them had a gift and wished to give to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), he would delay it, till Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)  had come to Aisha's home and then he would send his gift to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) in her home. The group of Um Salama discussed the matter together and decided that Um Salama should request Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) to tell the people to send their gifts to him in whatever wife's house he was. Um Salama told Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) of what they had said, but he did not reply. Then they (those wives) asked Um Salama about it. She said, "He did not say anything to me." They asked her to talk to him again. She talked to him again when she met him on her day, but he gave no reply. When they asked her, she replied that he had given no reply. They said to her, "Talk to him till he gives you a reply." When it was her turn, she talked to him again. He then said to her, "Do not hurt me regarding Aisha, as the Divine Inspirations do not come to me on any of the beds except that of Aisha." On that Um Salama said, "I repent to Allah for hurting you." Then the group of Um Salama called Fatima, the daughter of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)  and sent her to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) to say to him, "Your wives request to treat them and the daughter of Abu Bakr on equal terms." Then Fatima conveyed the message to him. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "O my daughter! Don't you love whom I love?" She replied in the affirmative and returned and told them of the situation. They requested her to go to him again but she refused. They then sent Zainab bint Jahsh who went to him and used harsh words saying, "Your wives request you to treat them and the daughter of Ibn Abu Quhafa on equal terms." On that she raised her voice and abused Aisha to her face so much so that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) looked at Aisha to see whether she would retort. Aisha started replying to Zainab till she silenced her. The Prophet (ﷺ) then looked at Aisha and said, "She is really the daughter of Abu Bakr." (Bukhari, 2581)

Narrated Aisha: "The Prophet (ﷺ) used to stay (for a period) in the house of Zainab bint Jahsh (one of the wives of the Prophet (ﷺ)) and he used to drink honey in her house. Hafsa and I decided that when the Prophet (ﷺ) entered upon either of us, she would say, "I smell in you the bad smell of Maghafir (a bad smelling raisin). Have you eaten Maghafir?" When he entered upon one of us, she said that to him. He replied (to her), "No, but I have drunk honey in the house of Zainab bint Jahsh, and I will never drink it again." Then the following verse was revealed: 'O Prophet (ﷺ)! Why do you ban (for you) that which Allah has made lawful for you? (up to) If you two (wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) turn in repentance to Allah.' (66:1-4) The two were Aisha and Hafsa And also the Statement of Allah: 'And (Remember) when the Prophet (ﷺ) disclosed a matter in confidence to one of his wives!' (66:3) his saying, "But I have drunk honey." Hisham said: It also meant his saying, "I will not drink anymore, and I have taken an oath, so do not inform anybody of that." (Bukhari, 6691)

Aisha the wife of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), reported that "One day Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came out of her (apartment) during the night and she felt jealous. Then he came and he saw me (in what agitated state of mind) I was. He said: Aisha, what has happened to you? Do you feel jealous? Thereupon she said: How can it be (that a woman like me) should not feel jealous in regard to a husband like you. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: It was your devil who had come to you, and she said: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), is there along with me a devil? He said: Yes. I said: Is a devil attached to everyone? He said: Yes. I (Aisha) again said: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), is it with you also? He said: Yes, but my Lord has helped me against him and as such I am absolutely safe from his mischief." (Muslim, 2815)

It was narrated that Aishah said: "I noticed that the Messenger of Allah was not there one night, and I thought that he had gone to one of his other wives, so I reached out for him, and found him bowing or prostrating, and saying: 'Subhanaka wa bi hamdika la ilaha illa anta (Glory and praise be to You, there is none worthy of worship but You).' I said: 'May my father and mother be sacrificed for you; you were doing one thing, and I was thinking of something else.'" (An-Nasai, 3961)

It was narrated from Umm Salamah that "She brought some food in a dish of hers to the Messenger of Allah and his Companions, then Aishah came, wrapped up in a garment, with a stone pestle and broke the dish. The Prophet (ﷺ) gathered the broken pieces of the dish and said: "Eat; your mother got jealous," twice. Then the Messenger of Allah took the dish of Aisha and sent it to Umm Salamah and he gave the dish of Umm Salamah to Aishah." (An-Nasai, 3956)

Narrated al-Qasim: Aisha said that "Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) intended to go on a journey, he drew lots among his wives (so as to take one of them along with him). During one of his journeys the lot fell on Aisha and Hafsa. When night fell the Prophet (ﷺ) would ride beside Aisha and talk with her. One-night Hafsa said to Aisha, "Won't you ride my camel tonight and I ride yours, so that you may see (me) and I see (you) (in a new situation)?" Aisha said, "Yes, (I agree.)" So Aisha rode, and then the Prophet (ﷺ) came towards Aisha's camel on which Hafsa was riding. He greeted Hafsa and then proceeded (beside her) till they dismounted (on the way). Aisha missed him, and so, when they dismounted, she put her legs in the Idhkhir and said, "O Lord (Allah)! Send a scorpion or a snake to bite me for I am not to blame him (the Prophet (ﷺ))." (Bukhari, 5211)

The race and moments of romantic with the Prophet (ﷺ) 

Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: "While she was on a journey along with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): I had a race with him (the Prophet) and I outstripped him on my feet. When I became fleshy, (again) I had a race with him (the Prophet) and he outstripped me. He said: This is for that outstripping." (Abu Dawud, 2578)

Aisha narrated that "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came to my house while two girls were singing beside me the songs of Bu'ath (a story about the war between the two tribes of the Ansar, i.e. Khazraj and Aus, before Islam.) The Prophet (ﷺ) reclined on the bed and turned his face to the other side. Abu Bakr came and scolded me and said protestingly, "Instrument of Satan in the presence of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)  turned his face towards him and said, "Leave them." When Abu Bakr became inattentive, I waved the two girls to go away, and they left. It was the day of `Id when negroes used to play with leather shields and spears. Either I requested Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)  or he himself asked me whether I would like to see the display. I replied in the affirmative. Then he let me stand behind him and my cheek was touching his cheek and he was saying, "Carry on, O Bani Arfida!" When I got tired, he asked me if that was enough. I replied in the affirmative and he told me to leave." (Bukhari, 2906-2907)

Aishah said: "I would eat flesh from a bone when I was menstruating, then hand it over to the Prophet(ﷺ) and he would put his mouth where I had put my mouth: I would drink, then hand it over to him, and he would put his mouth (at the place) where I drank." (Abu Dawud, 259)

The horse with wings

Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: "When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) arrived after the expedition to Tabuk or Khaybar (the narrator is doubtful), the draught raised an end of a curtain which was hung in front of her store-room, revealing some dolls which belonged to her. He asked: What is this? She replied: My dolls. Among them he saw a horse with wings made of rags, and asked: What is this I see among them? She replied: A horse. He asked: What is this that it has on it? She replied: Two wings. He asked: A horse with two wings? She replied: Have you not heard that Solomon had horses with wings? She said: Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) laughed so heartily that I could see his molar teeth." (Abu Dawud, 4932)

Angel sending her salaam 

Narrated Aisha: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "O Aisha! This is Gabriel sending his greetings to you." I said, "Peace, and Allah's Mercy be on him." Aisha added: The Prophet (ﷺ) used to see things which we used not to see. (Bukhari, 6201)

Virtue of Aisha

Narrated Anas bin Malik: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)  said, "The superiority of Aisha over other women is like the superiority of Tharid to other meals." (Bukhari, 3770)

The Prophet's nurse

Narrated Urwa: Aisha said, "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) in his fatal illness, used to ask, 'Where will I be tomorrow? Where will I be tomorrow?", seeking Aisha's turn. His wives allowed him to stay wherever he wished. So, he stayed at Aisha's house till he died while he was with her." Aisha added, "The Prophet (ﷺ) died on the day of my turn in my house, and he was taken unto Allah while his head was against my chest and his saliva mixed with my saliva." Aisha added, "Abdur-Rahman bin Abu Bakr came in, carrying a Siwak he was cleaning his teeth with. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) looked at it and I said to him, 'O AbdurRahman! Give me this Siwak.' So he gave it to me and I cut it, chewed it (it's end) and gave it to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) who cleaned his teeth with it while he was resting against my chest." (Bukhari, 4450)

The three moon

It is narrated in Hakim that Aisha once told her father that she dreamt of seeing three moons falling into her room. When the Prophet (ﷺ) passed away, He (ﷺ)was buried in her chamber. Her father told her "This is one of your moons, and he is the best of them." Later Abu Bakr and Umar bin Khattab were buried next to the Prophet (ﷺ) in the chamber of Aisha. 

Aisha witnessed the reign of Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali, may Allah be pleased with them.

Her Death

Aisha became ill in the month of Ramadan in the 58th year of Hijra during the reign of Mu’awiya. She passed away in the year 58th on the 17th of Ramadan at the age of 66 and was buried in Al-Baqi.