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Aisha bint Abu Bakr (died 678) (Arabic عائشة Transliteration: ʿāʾisha, [ʕaːʔɪʃæh] also transcribed as A'ishah, Ayesha, 'A'isha, Aishah, or 'Aisha) Although the Quran did not mention her name or history[1][2][3], oral traditions states that Aisha is the daughter of the second leader of the Muslim community, Abi Bakr, and the only wife of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad that was neither a widow nor a divorcee, respected as the Mother of the Believers a reference to Muhammad's wives and considered by Sunni traditions as one of the major scholars of Islam, known for her knowledge in Islamic law, medicine, poetry,[4] a political leader and a brilliant wise woman, she is recognized as Muhammad favorite wife after the death of his only wife of 24-years Khadijah bint Khuwaylid[5][6], Sunni traditions commend her important role in Islamic history, both during the life time of the Islamic Prophet and beyond, she is also believed to have been a source of several thousand hadiths, of which no less than 2110 are considered authentic and mentioned in the Six major Hadith collections.

Early life

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Aisha was the daughter of Um Ruman and Abu Bakr of Mecca. Abu Bakr belonged to the Banu Taym sub-clan of the tribe of Quraysh. It is not obvious when Aisha was born; scholars typically calculate her age by reference to the time of her marriage to the prophet (622 C.E.) and then deduct her age at marriage. However, there are many theories as to her age at the time of the marriage.

Marriage to Muhammad

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According to oral tradition, after the death of (Khadijah bint Khuwaylid) Muhammad's first and only wife during the 24-years of their marriage, he was saddened by her death and named that year the Year of Sorrow, later on Khawlah bint Hakim suggested that Muhammad marry Aisha after the death of Muhammad's dearly-loved first wife (Khadijah bint Khuwaylid), previous agreement regarding the marriage of Aisha with Jubayr ibn Mut'im was put aside by common consent.[7] British historian William Montgomery Watt suggests that Muhammad hoped to strengthen his ties with Abu Bakr;[7][verification needed] the strengthening of ties commonly served as a basis for marriage in Arabian culture.[8]

According to oral traditions accepted by major scholars such as Al-Bukhari and Al-Muslim, Aisha was six years old when she was engaged to Muhammad and married him in contract but stayed in her parents home for several years until the age of nine when the marriage took place,[7][9][10][11][12][third-party source needed][13] and ten according to al-Tabari[9]furthermore al-Tabari accepted an oral tradition that states that Aisha continued to play with her toys after the wedding, and that Muhammad entered into the spirit of these games.[14]. On the other hand, there is evidence from early Muslim traditions including authentic ones of an older age.

According to an article in Arab news the largest English-language news papers in Saudi Arabia, Aisha was a fully-grown woman at the time of the proposal and would have been 19 or 20 at the time of her marriage to the Prophet based on authentic Hadiths[15], The article about her in Arab news states that: "she would have been 19 or 20 at the time of her marriage to the Prophet. There are strong indications and various reports confirming this conclusion...…, we will not go into further details now. All we need to say is that the Hadith that puts Aishah’s age at nine years when she married the Prophet is questionable on more than one count. Hence, compared to the various points of evidence, some of which are based on authentic Hadiths, it cannot stand."[16]

American historian Denise Spellberg states that "these specific references to the bride's age reinforce Aisha's pre-menarcheal status and, implicitly, her virginity."[9] This issue of her virginity was of great importance to supporters of the Abbasid Caliphate. Abbasid supporters considered that as Muhammad's only virgin wife, Aisha was divinely intended for him, and therefore the most credible regarding the debate over the succession to Muhammad.[9]

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It should be noted that Al-Tabari in addition to Al-Bukhari and Al-Muslim are not eye witnesses, thy recorded the above information over a century after Aisha's death from hundreds of thousands of oral traditions (stories). in other words this is their judgment based on their acceptance and trust of the narrators (storytellers) How are Not eyewitness , Thus, their stories are not necessarily accurate facts, For example the Muslim historian al-Tabari accepted an oral tradition (storie) that states that Aisha continued to play with her toys after the wedding, and that Muhammad entered into the spirit of these games.[17]

Despite the great deal of controversy that still surrounds the age at which Aisha married the prophet, However, Most agree that their marriage was a pleasant, happy one.


Status as "favorite wife"

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Aisha is usually described as Muhammad's favorite wife after the death of his only wife of 24-years Khadijah bint Khuwaylid[18][6], in contrast Shiʿite traditions recognizes Fatima the prophet’s daughter and her mother Khadija as the central female figures in Muhammad’s life.

Accusation of adultery

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In the event when Aisha was accused of adultery, Muhammad's adopted son Zayd ibn Harithah defended Aisha's reputation. Several Sunni Scholars assume that shortly after this, Muhammad had received a divine revelation (Quran 24:4-11) confirming Aisha's innocence and directing that charges of adultery be supported by four eyewitnesses.[19][third-party source needed] These verses also rebuked Aisha's accusers,[20][third-party source needed] in addition the prophet ordered that they receive forty lashes.[21][22][verification needed] On the other hand, Shiʿite Scholars, disagree and do not believe that the Quranic verses (24:4-11) are about Aisha.

Story of the honey

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Soon after the event of the honey which involved Aisha, Muhammad reported that he had received a revelation, in which he was told that he could eat anything permitted by God.[23][third-party source needed]

Some Sunni commentators on the Qur'an sometimes give this story as the "occasion of revelation" for Sura 66,[third-party source needed] which opens with the following verses: "Prophet, why do you prohibit that which God has made lawful for you, in seeking to please your wives? God is forgiving and merciful. God has given you absolution from such oaths."[24][verification needed]

Aisha the widow

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Since Aisha is respected as the Mother of Believers She could not remarry after Muhammad's death based on the teaching of the Qur'an wish forbids any Muslim to marry a widow of the prophet:[25][third-party source needed]

Nor is it right for you that ye should annoy God's Apostle, or that ye should marry his widows after him at any time. Truly such a thing is in God's sight an enormity.

— Qur'an 33:53
  1. ^ http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/search.html
  2. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_figures_in_the_Qur'an
  3. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_persons_mentioned_by_name_in_the_Qur'an
  4. ^ http://archive.arabnews.com/?page=5&section=0&article=119165&d=13&m=2&y=2009
  5. ^ Sayings of the Islamic Prophet (PBUH) in the virtue and status of Khadijah bint Khuwaylid in Islamic traditions [1]
  6. ^ a b Goodwin, Jan. Price of Honour: Muslim Women Lift the Veil of Silence on the Islamic World. UK: Little, Brown Book Group, 1994[verification needed]
  7. ^ a b c Watt, "Aisha", Encyclopedia of Islam Online
  8. ^ Amira Sonbol, Rise of Islam: 6th to 9th century, Encyclopedia of Women and Islamic Cultures
  9. ^ a b c d D. A. Spellberg, Politics, Gender, and the Islamic Past: the Legacy of A'isha bint Abi Bakr, Columbia University Press, 1994, p. 40
  10. ^ Karen Armstrong, Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet, Harper San Francisco, 1992, p. 157.
  11. ^ Barlas (2002), p. 125-126
  12. ^ Sahih al-Bukhari, 5:58:234, 5:58:236, 7:62:64, 7:62:65, 7:62:88, Sahih Muslim, 8:3309, 8:3310, 8:3311, 41:4915, Sunan Abu Dawood, 41:4917
  13. ^ Tabari, Volume 9, Page 131; Tabari, Volume 7, Page 7
  14. ^ Watt, Muhammad: Prophet and Statesman, Oxford University Press 1961, page 102.
  15. ^ http://archive.arabnews.com/?page=5&section=0&article=118438&d=23&m=1&y=2009
  16. ^ http://archive.arabnews.com/?page=5&section=0&article=118438&d=23&m=1&y=2009
  17. ^ Watt, Muhammad: Prophet and Statesman, Oxford University Press 1961, page 102.
  18. ^ Sayings of the Islamic Prophet (PBUH) in the virtue and status of Khadijah bint Khuwaylid in Islamic traditions [2]
  19. ^ Surah 24:4
  20. ^ Surah 24:11
  21. ^ Watt, M. "Aisha bint Abi Bakr". In P.J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs (ed.). Encyclopaedia of Islam Online. Brill Academic Publishers. ISSN 1573-3912.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)[verification needed]
  22. ^ Glubb (2002), p. 264f.[verification needed]
  23. ^ 66:1
  24. ^ translation by N. J. Dawood[verification needed]
  25. ^ Surah 33:53
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