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Aisha or Ayesha (Arabic عائشه for living) was a wife of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
Early life of Aisha It is not clear when she was born, as various traditions conflict. Her birth date has been calculated as anywhere from 605 to 613. She was the daughter of Abu Bakr of Mecca, one of the first converts to Islam. They belonged to Muhammad's tribe, the Quraysh. Aisha herself is said to have adopted Islam soon after her father.
Before marrying Muhammad, Aisha was engaged to Jubair son of Mut`am ibn `Adi, a Meccan elder. After the death of Khadija, Muhammad's first wife, her father broke the engagement and betrothed her to Muhammad.
Aisha's marriage to Muhammad The marriage was delayed until after the Hijra, or migration to Medina, in 622. Aisha and her older sister Asma only moved to Medina after Muhammad had already fled there. Abu Bakr gave Muhammad the money to build a house for himself. After this, the wedding was celebrated very simply, by the bride and groom drinking a bowl of milk in front of witnesses.
Was Aisha Muhammad's favorite wife? Even though the marriage may have been politically motivated, to mark the ties between Muhammad and his companion Abu Bakr, most early accounts say that that Muhammad and Aisha became sincerely fond of each other. Aisha is usually described as Muhammad's favorite wife.
Shias, however, disagree. The various Shiite groups believe that Ali, Muhammad's son-in-law, was the prophet's appointed successor, and that the offspring of Ali and Fatimah, Muhammad's daughter, are Islam's rightful rulers. Aisha opposed Fatimah and Ali. Consequently, Shias tend to see Aisha in a negative light. This extends to the Shia versions of Aisha and Muhammad's marriage. Shias stress Aisha's jealousy, both of the deceased Khadijah, Fatimah's mother, and of Muhammad's other, living, wives. They also point to an episode in which Aisha was accused of adultery to show that Muhammad was not always happy with his headstrong young wife.
The story of the honey Muhammad's wife Zainab bint Jahsh was given a skin filled with honey, which she shared with her husband. He was fond of sweets and stayed overlong with Zainab -- at least in the opinion of Aisha and her co-wife Hafsa. Aisha and Hafsa conspired. Each of them was to tell Muhammad that the honey had given him bad breath. When he heard this from two of wives, he believed that it was true and swore that he would eat no more of the honey. For this, he was rebuked in a revelation. Whatever had been made lawful by Allah was his to eat. (Qur'an 66:1)
Perhaps as a result of this incident, word spread in the small Muslim community that Muhammad's wives were tyrannizing over the mild-mannered prophet, speaking sharply to him and conspiring against him. Umar, Hafsa's father, scolded his daughter and also spoke to Muhammad of the matter. Muhammad, saddened and upset, separated from his wives for a month, sleeping by himself on a lumpy mattress. By the end of this time, his wives were humbled and harmony, of a sort, was restored.
Aisha accused of adultery Aisha was accused of adultery on one occasion, after she was left behind on a trip and returned after a day's absence.
In one hadith (http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/048.sbt.html#003.048.829) narated by Aisha herself it is stated:
"In the morning Allah's Apostle called 'Ali bin Abu Talib and Usama bin Zaid when he saw the Divine Inspiration delayed, to consul them about divorcing his wife (i.e. 'Aisha). Usama bin Zaid said what he knew of the good reputation of his wives and added, 'O Allah's Apostle! Keep your wife, for, by Allah, we know nothing about her but good.' 'Ali bin Abu Talib said, 'O Allah's Apostle! Allah has not imposed restrictions on you, and there are many women other than she, yet you may ask the woman-servant who will tell you the truth.'"
Aisha further adds that after a speech of the Prophet:
"I requested my father to reply to Allah's Apostle on my behalf. My father said, By Allah, I do not know what to say to Allah's Apostle.' I said to my mother, 'Talk to Allah's Apostle on my behalf.' She said, 'By Allah, I do not know what to say to Allah's Apostle."
And at the end of the hadith we read:
"Allah's Apostle also asked Zainab bint Jahsh (i.e. the Prophet's wife about me saying, 'What do you know and what did you see?' She replied, 'O Allah's Apostle! I refrain to claim hearing or seeing what I have not heard or seen. By Allah, I know nothing except goodness about Aisha." Aisha further added "Zainab was competing with me (in her beauty and the Prophet's love), yet Allah protected her (from being malicious), for she had piety." "
In the same hadith Aisha states:
"By Allah, Allah's Apostle had not got up and nobody had left the house before the Divine Inspiration came to Allah's Apostle. So, there overtook him the same state which used to overtake him, (when he used to have, on being inspired divinely). He was sweating so much so that the drops of the sweat were dropping like pearls though it was a (cold) wintry day. When that state of Allah's Apostle was over, he was smiling and the first word he said, 'Aisha! Thank Allah, for Allah has declared your innocence.' My mother told me to go to Allah's Apostle. I replied, 'By Allah I will not go to him and will not thank but Allah.' So Allah revealed: "Verily! They who spread the slander are a gang among you . . ." (Qur'an 24.11) "
This passage of the Qur'an is usually taken as a rebuke to those who slandered Aisha.
The death of Muhammad Ibn Ishaq, in his Sirat Rasulallah, states that during Muhammad's last illness, he sought Aisha's apartments and died with his head in her lap. The Sunni take this as evidence of the Prophet's fondness for Aisha. The Shia will only admit that he died in her presence.
Aisha never remarried after Muhammad's death. A passage in the Qur'an forbids any Muslim to marry the prophet's widows.
Aisha's father becomes the first caliph After Muhammad's death in 632 C.E., Aisha's father Abu Bakr became the first caliph, or leader of the Muslims. The Shia believe that this was achieved by collusion and deception, to the detriment of the rightful heir, Ali. The Sunni reject these claims, and say that Abu Bakr was freely chosen by the Muslims assembled in Medina, as he was the most respected of Muhammad's followers.
The earliest accounts, such as the Sirat Rasulallah, do suggest that the choice of the first caliph was contentious and that the party of Aisha and Abu Bakr, and the party of Fatimah and Ali, were henceforth in opposition, covert or overt. For example, Fatimah advanced a claim to inherit Muhammad's lands in Fadak, a claim that Abu Bakr refused.
Aisha and Uthman Abu Bakr's reign was short, and in 634 C.E. he was succeeded by Umar, as caliph. Umar reigned 10 years, and was then followed by Uthman in 644 C.E. Both of these men had been among Muhammad's earliest followers, were linked to him by clanship and marriage, and had taken prominent parts in various military campaigns.
Aisha, in the meantime, lived in Medina and made several pilgrimages to Mecca.
Some stories from the early Muslim historian Tabari suggest that Aisha opposed Uthman during his reign.
"While Ibn Abbas was setting out for Mecca, he found Aisha in al-Sulsul (seven miles south of Medina). Aisha said: "O' Ibn Abbas, I appeal to you by God, to abandon this man (Uthman) and sow doubt about him among the people, for you have been given a sharp tongue. (By the current siege over Uthman) people have shown their understanding, and light is raised to guide them. I have seen Talha has taken the possession of the keys to the public treasuries and storehouses. If he becomes Caliph (after Uthman), he will follow in the path of his parental cousin Abu-Bakr." Ibn Abbas said: "O Mother (of believers), if something happens to that man (i.e., Uthman), people would seek asylum only with our companion (namely, Ali)." Aisha replied: "Be quiet! I have no desire to defy or quarrel with you." " Reference: History of al-Tabari, English version, v 15, pp 238-239.
Another Sunni historian, al-Baladhuri, in his history (al-Ansab al-Ashraf) said that when the situation became extremely grave, Uthman ordered Marwan Ibn al-Hakam and Abdurrahman Ibn Attab Ibn Usayd to try to persuade Aisha to stop campaigning against him and to help him pass this difficult time. They went to her while she was preparing to leave for pilgrimage, and they told her:
"We pray that you stay in Medina, and that Allah may save this man (Uthman) through you." Aisha said: "I have prepared my means of transportation and vowed to perform the pilgrimage. By God, I shall not honor your request... I wish he (Uthman) could fit to one of my sacks so that I could carry him. I would then through him into the sea." Reference: "al-Ansab al-Ashraf", by al-Baladhuri, v4, part 1, p75
Uthman's death and the Battle of the Camel In 656 C.E. Uthman was Uthman house surrounded by rebels that where uncontent with Uthmans Caliphat. They refused him food and water during manny days in order to force him to abdicate. During this rebelion, Uthman was murdered while Alis both sons, Zubairs son and a fourth one tried to defend Uthmans life. Following the death of Uthman, Ali was offered the caliphate by the majority of the people. He is reported to have refused the caliphate, saying, "You are not a people fit for my rulership nor are I a master fit for you people". Threatened with death, he finally accepted the caliphate.
This course of action displeased Aisha. Later on after Ali having been chosen as the fourth Caliph,Aisha started a rebellion against Ali regardless of her earlier opposition to Uthman.
She did that under the banner of Ali not being able to find Uthmans murderer and wanting to claim Qias for Uthamns murder. She is said to have gone to the mosque of Mecca, veiled, and there delivered a fiery speech calling for vengeance.
Ali replied by pointig to the fact that Aisha is not related with Uthman and was not in position to demand Uthmans Qias, in contrary to Uthmans living relatives, which did not participate in the rebellion as well as the fact that Ali hade sent his two sons, Hasan and Husayn, to defend Uthman.
Regardless of her earlier opposition to Uthman. She is said to have gone to the mosque of Mecca, veiled, and there delivered a fiery speech calling for vengeance.
Aisha raised force of over 20 000 which confronted Ali's army outside the city of Basra. Battle ensued and Aisha's forces were defeated. Aisha This 656 battle is therefore called the Battle of the Camel.
Ali captured Aisha but declined to harm her. He sent her back to Medina under military escort. Thenceforth she lived a retired life until she died in approximately 678.
How old was Aisha when she was married? This is an extremely contentious issue. On the one hand, we have several hadiths, said to have been narrated by Aisha herself, claiming that she was 6 years old when betrothed and 9 when the marriage was consummated. On the other hand, there is some contradictory evidence from early Muslim chroniclers like Ibn Ishaq and Tabari that indicate Aisha may have been 12 to 14 years old, just past the age of puberty, or perhaps even older.
Most Muslim scholars have accepted the tradition that Aisha was 9. This has in turn led critics to denounce Muhammad for marrying a girl so young. The usual response has been that Aisha was indeed post-pubescent at 9 (even though that is medically unlikely) and that such early marriages were accepted practice in those days.
However, some Muslim scholars point to other traditions that conflict with those attributed to Aisha in this matter. If the other traditions are right, this would imply that Aisha was either confused in her dating, was exaggerating her youth at marriage, or that her stories (which were not written down until more than 100 years after her death) had been garbled in transmission. If we believe traditions that say she was post-pubescent when married --extremely likely in light of practices in other societies where early marriage is common -- then these other traditions, from Ibn Ishaq and Tabari and others, seem much more convincing.
Evidence that Aisha was 9 when married These traditions are from the hadith collections of Bukhari (d. 870) and Muslim b. al-Hajjaj (d. 875). These two collections are regarded as the most authentic by Sunni Muslims. - Sahih Muslim Book 008, Number 3310: 'Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) married me when I was six years old, and I was admitted to his house when I was nine years old.
- Sahih Bukhari Volume 7, Book 62, Number 64 Narrated 'Aisha: that the Prophet married her when she was six years old and he consummated his marriage when she was nine years old, and then she remained with him for nine years (i.e., till his death).
- Sahih Bukhari Volume 7, Book 62, Number 65 Narrated 'Aisha: that the Prophet 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 for nine years (i.e. till his death)."
- Sahih Bukhari Volume 7, Book 62, Number 88 Narrated 'Ursa: The Prophet wrote the (marriage contract) with 'Aisha while she was six years old and consummated his marriage with her while she was nine years old and she remained with him for nine years (i.e. till his death).
- Sahih Bukhari vol. 5, Book 58, Number 234 Narrated 'Aisha: The prophet engaged me when I was a girl of six. We went to Medina and stayed at the home of Harith Kharzraj. Then I got ill and my hair fell down. Later on my hair grew (again) and my mother, Um 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 all right, 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 a good luck." Then she entrusted me to them and they prepared me (for the marriage).
Evidence that Aisha was much older than 9 - According to Ibn Hisham's recension of Ibn Ishaq's (d. 768) biography of Prophet Muhammad, the Sirat Rashul Allah, the earliest surviving biography of Muhammad, Aisha accepted Islam before Umar ibn al-Khattab. If true, then Aisha accepted Islam during the first few years of Islam. She could not have been less than 14 years in 1 AH - the time she got married. Sira, Ibn Hisham, Vol. 1, Pg. 227
- Tabari reports that when Abu Bakr planned on migrating to Ethiopia (8 years before Hijrah), he went to Mut`am - with whose son Aisha was engaged at that time - and asked him to take Aisha as his son's wife. Mut`am refused because Abu Bakr had converted to Islam. If Aisha was only six years old at the time of her marriage, she could not have been born at the time Abu Bakr decided on migrating to Ethiopia. Tehqiq e umar e Siddiqah e Ka'inat, Habib ur Rahman Kandhalwi, Pg 38
- Tabari in his treatise on Islamic history reports that Abu Bakr had four children and all four were born during the Jahiliyyah - the pre Islamic period. If Aisha was born in the period of jahiliyyah, she could not have been less than 14 years in 1 AH. Tarikh al-umam wa al-mamloo'k, Al-Tabari, Vol. 4, Pg. 50
- According to Ibn Hajar, Fatima was five years older than Aisha. Fatima is reported to have been born when Muhammad was 35 years old. Muhammad migrated to Medina when he was 52, making Aisha 14 years old in 1 AH. Tamyeez al-Sahaabah, Ibn Hajar al-Asqalaniy, Vol. 4, Pg. 377
Sunni and Shia views of Aisha Sunni historians praise Aisha as a Mother of Believers and a learned woman, who tirelessly recounted stories from the life of Muhammad and explained Muslim history and traditions.
Shi'a historians take a much dimmer view of Aisha. They believe that 'Ali should have been the first caliph, and that the other three caliphs were usurpers. Aisha not only supported the usurpers, she raised an army against her son-in-law. The Shia believe that she openly fought the divinely appointed successor of Muhammad, thus commiting a grievous sin.
See Also
External Links Sunni view of Aisha: - Biography of Aisha (http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/history/biographies/sahaabah/bio.AISHAH_BINT_ABI_BAKR.html)
Shi'a view of Aisha: Questioning hadith: - Ayesha's age at marriage (http://www.understanding-islam.com/related/text.asp?type=question&qid=375)
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