The Prophet Mohammed married Ayesha Siddiqa after the death of his
first wife Khadija. One account claims that she was betrothed at the age of six
and married when she was nine, but later studies have established beyond doubt
that she was more than 19 years old at the time of marriage. She lived with her
husband in Medina till he breathed his last; a period of ten crucial and
formative years in the history of the new religion.
All biographical accounts of Ayesha show that her personality was a
rich combination of beauty and brains. She possessed an inquisitive mind and
showed great aptitude for learning not only the religion and its laws but was
equally interested in literature, poetry, history and medicine. Islamic law
recognise Quran and Sunna, including Hadith (Prophetic actions and saying), as
the main sources of religious law and morality and Ayesha is reputed to have
been proficient in both. -- Arif M. Khan
By Arif M Khan
In Hadith literature, more than 2,210 narrations are attributed to
Ayesha, thus placing her in the top bracket with three others who have given
credible reports of the holy Prophet’s actions and sayings. What is interesting
is that in many cases, she did not hesitate to question the authenticity of the
version given by some of her prominent contemporaries, and proffered both her
own version and context in which the Prophet had made an observation, to set the
record straight.
The Prophet Mohammed married Ayesha Siddiqa after the death of his
first wife Khadija. One account claims that she was betrothed at the age of six
and married when she was nine, but later studies have established beyond doubt
that she was more than 19 years old at the time of marriage. She lived with her
husband in Medina till he breathed his last; a period of ten crucial and
formative years in the history of the new religion.
All biographical accounts of Ayesha show that her personality was a
rich combination of beauty and brains. She possessed an inquisitive mind and
showed great aptitude for learning not only the religion and its laws but was
equally interested in literature, poetry, history and medicine. Islamic law
recognise Quran and Sunna, including Hadith (Prophetic actions and saying), as
the main sources of religious law and morality and Ayesha is reputed to have
been proficient in both.
In Hadith literatures, more than 2,210 narrations are attributed to
her, thus placing her in the top bracket with three others who have given
credible reports of the holy Prophet’s actions and
sayings.
What is interesting is that in many cases, she did not hesitate to
question the authenticity of the version given by some of her prominent
contemporaries, and proffered both her own version and the context in which the
Prophet had made an observation, to set the record straight. In such cases, she
used to preface her version with the sentence, “I do not say that these persons
are lying, but often ears make a mistake in hearing.”
These soothing words ensured that those whose version was questioned
felt no offence. Some people told Ayesha that Abu Huraira (the most prolific
reporter of Hadith) relates that the Prophet had said “inauspiciousness consists
in three: in women, horses and houses”.
Ayesha said that this was not correct and Abu Huraira had heard only
a part of the statement.
The statement of the Prophet was: “The Jews say that inauspiciousness
consists in three things, in women, in horses and in
houses.”
Likewise when she heard that Abu Huraira had said that if a donkey,
dog or woman crosses in front of the man saying prayers, the prayers are
annulled Ayesha protested strongly saying that she was often in the room, and
near him when the Prophet was praying. Once Abu Huraira came and sat beside the
apartment of Ayesha and began to narrate prophetic traditions which annoyed
Ayesha, who was offering her prayers. Abu Dawood (1638) records how she scolded
him publicly for his quick and vague narrations. Then she recalled the manner of
speech of the Prophet and said that he was so measured that if someone wanted to
count the number of his words, he could do so.
Bukhari (5.316) has reported that Ibn Umar and Ibn Abbas, on the
authority of Caliph Umar, related a prophetic saying that “the dead person in
punished on account of the crying and lamentation of his family”. When this was
reported to Ayesha, she denied it and said that what the Prophet had said was
“the dead person is punished for his crimes and sins while his family cries over
him”. Aisha further added, “The Quran is sufficient for you to clear this point,
as Allah says: ‘Nor can a bearer of burdens bear another’s buredn’
(35.18)”.
Ayesha possessed not only great Qualities of mind but used her charm
and wit to win the love of her husband. Once she asked him: How strong is your
love for me? He replied that it was like a rope’s knot, implying it was strong
and secure. Later she would often tease him: How is the knot? And he would
affirm “ala halihi” meaning “as ever”.
Source: The Sunday Guardian
9:23 PM
Sultan Shahin
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