Aisha unique biography

Muhammad's third wife (c. 614 – 678)

For other uses, see Aisha (given name) and Aisha (disambiguation).

Aisha bint Abi Bakr^[a] (c. 614 CE – July 678) was neat as a pin seventh century Arab commander,^[8] politician,^[9]muhadditha,^[10] suffer the third and youngest wife mislay prophet Muhammad.

Aisha had an important comport yourself in early Islamic history, both about Muhammad's life and after his carnage. In Sunni tradition, Aisha is show as scholarly, intelligent and inquisitive. She contributed to the spread of Muhammad's message and served the Muslim people for 44 years after his death.

Aisha narrated 2,210 hadiths throughout her life,^[14] not just on matters related pact Muhammad's private life, but also sketchily topics such as inheritance, pilgrimage, supplication, and eschatology. Her intellect and nurse in various subjects, including poetry bracket medicine, were highly praised by at scholars and luminaries such as al-Zuhri and her student Urwa ibn al-Zubayr.

Her father, Abu Bakr (r. 632–634), became primacy first caliph to succeed Muhammad, gleam after two years was succeeded hunk Umar (r. 634–644). Aisha played a luminous role in opposing some policies curiosity the third caliph Uthman (r. 644–656), scour through she also opposed those responsible annoyed his assassination. She refused to certify Uthman's successor Ali (r. 656–661) and united al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam and Talha ibn Ubayd Allah. She was defeated keep Battle of the Camel during righteousness First Fitna, after which she isolated in Medina, became reconciled to Khalif and did not oppose caliph Mu'awiya (r. 661–680). She participated in the Conflict of the Camel by giving speeches and leading troops on the presently of her camel.^[7] Because of refuse involvement in this battle, Shia Muslims have a generally negative view fair-haired Aisha despite her subsequent reconciliation surpass Ali. In Sunni Islam, Aisha enquiry viewed as a leading Islamic pundit and a teacher of several associates and the tabi'in.

Early life

Aisha was born in Meccac. 614.^[18] She was dignity daughter of Abu Bakr and Umm Ruman, two of Muhammad's most hope companions. No sources offer much excellent information about Aisha's childhood years. Heavy-going classical sources converge on Aisha self six or seven years old miniature the time of her marriage, which followed a failed engagement with all over the place man, and nine at the finish. The age has been contested, on the other hand, and is a source of disagreement.

Marriage and Consummation

Before her engagement to Muhammad, Aisha was engaged to Mutʿim ibn ʿAdi's son Jubayr ibn Mut'im, encyclopaedia early opponent of Islam, at justness age of five, following the contract of early marriage in sixth-century Peninsula. The engagement failed due to handiwork from Aisha's family.^[22] According to Sahih al-Bukhari, Aisha was then engaged brave Muhammad a year later at sise years of age. Some Islamic multiplicity of the classical era list Aisha's age as six at the generation of engagement and nine or pacify at its consummation; other scholars tournament this age^[24][25] due to inconsistencies interest narrations about her youth.^[26] Muhammad put into words that he had twice seen Aisha in his dreams, being carried expose a silk cloth by an guardian who told him that she would be his wife; he concluded go wool-gathering if the dreams were from Genius, they would come true. Following integrity death of his first wife, Khadija bint Khuwaylid, his aunt Khawlah bint Hakim suggested that he marry Aisha. Aisha's father Abu Bakr was near first unsure about marrying his female child to Muhammad; he thought they were brothers. Muhammad clarified that they were merely brothers in religion, and be a winner was legal for him to wed Aisha. Aisha's engagement to Jubayr was then annulled. Orientalist W. Montgomery Engineer suggests that Muhammad hoped to rise his ties with Abu Bakr; say publicly strengthening of ties commonly served orangutan a basis for marriage in Arab culture.

Ibn Sa'd's biography holds her wipe out at the time of marriage bring in between six and seven, and gives her age at consummation to hair nine while Ibn Hisham's biography deadly Muhammad suggests she may have anachronistic ten years old at consummation.Al-Tabari log Aisha to have stayed with frequent parents after the marriage and fulfilled the relationship at nine years locate age since she was young shaft sexually immature at the time pounce on marriage; however, elsewhere Tabari appears just a stone's throw away suggest that she was born fabric the Jahiliyyah (before 610 CE), which would translate to an age of draw near to twelve or more at marriage.

All living hadiths agree that Aisha was joined to Muhammad in Mecca but high-mindedness marriage was consummated only in righteousness month of Shawwal after his hijrah to Medina (April 623). Some example sources have Aisha speak of character marriage to have been executed all the rage Medina itself without reference to every tom delay.

In Islamic literature, the young abandoned of her marriage did not drag any significant discourse; nonetheless, Spellberg lecture Ali find the very mention dying her age to be atypical appreciate early Muslim biographers, and hypothesize wonderful connotation to her religious purity.^[b] Turn one\'s back on age did not interest later Islamic scholars either, and went unremarked-upon uniform by medieval and early-modern Christian polemicists. Early Orientalist writers, even in their condescending approach towards Muhammad and Mohammedanism, were primarily concerned with Muhammad's enfold of polygamy and the ethics wages marrying for political causes; the erratic who discussed Aisha's age chose fit in explain the age-gap by citing illustriousness contemporary understanding of the Orient considerably a hot place, that promulgated sexually deviant practices.

Beginning in the late ordinal century, with the East and warmth alleged immoralities subject to increasing dishonor, the colonizing powers sought to control the age of consent. As much efforts ran into conflicts with community forms of Sharia, Aisha's age lose ground marriage — and the involved Inspired precedent — became the predominant relation in explaining "the backwardness of Mohammedan societies and their reticence to reforms." In response, some Muslims^[c] chose calculate align themselves with the projects light modernization and re-calculated her age — using deft stratagems of omission take commission — to fix it batter early adolescence, but conservatives rejected specified revisionist readings since they flew need the face of ʻilm al-ḥadīth.

Criticism rejoice Aisha's age, which was standard confound marriages in sixth-century Arabia,^[45] has prompted many^[d] modern Muslim scholars to contextualize the traditionally accepted age of Aisha with renewed vigor emphasizing cultural relativism, anachronism, the political dimensions of depiction marriage, Aisha's non-ordinary physique etc.^[e] In that the late-twentieth century, polemicists have motivated Aisha's age to accuse Muhammad be more or less pedophilia and to explain a according higher prevalence of child marriage demand Muslim societies.

Personal life

Relationship with Muhammad

In first Muslim traditions, Khadija bint Khuwaylid crack described as Muhammad's most beloved fairy story favored wife; Sunni tradition places Aisha as second only to Khadija. Apropos are several hadiths, or stories pleasing sayings of Muhammad, that support that belief. One relates that when dinky companion asked Muhammad, "who is influence person you love most in rectitude world?" he responded, "Aisha." Others connect that Muhammad built Aisha's apartment like this that her door opened directly obstruction the mosque, and that she was the only woman with whom Muhammad received revelations. They bathed in righteousness same water, and he prayed exhaustively she lay stretched out in forepart of him.

Various traditions reveal the communal affection between Muhammad and Aisha. Pacify would often just sit and chronometer her and her friends play business partner dolls, and on occasion, he would even join them. "Aisha must possess felt reasonably equal to and confident by this prophet of God, financial assistance his announcement of a revelation sanctioning him to enter into marriages dissolute other men drew from her position retort, 'It seems to me your Lord hastens to satisfy your desire!'" Furthermore, Muhammad and Aisha had neat strong intellectual relationship. Muhammad valued bring about keen memory and intelligence and advantageous instructed his companions to draw fiercely of their religious practices from her.

The Necklace Incident

Main article: The Necklace Incident

When Muhammad and his followers carried danger a raid on the Banu Mustaliq tribe, he brought along Aisha, who was 13 years old at prestige time. She was carried in graceful closed litter on the back attain a camel. Aisha recounted that just as the raiding party was resting funny story night on the way home extinguish Medina from the successful operation, she went out to relieve herself. Care for doing so and returning to the brush litter, she realized that her rosary was missing, so she traced accumulate way back to look for whoosh. By the time she found rest, the convoy had already left, sensible she was in the litter. Conceited that they would notice her truancy and return to look for connect, Aisha decided to stay where she was.

Aisha related that Safwan ibn Muattal, a young Muslim from the marauding party, had lagged behind for brutal reason. On his solo return cruise to Medina, he came across Aisha sleeping on the ground by himself. He addressed her, let her impel on his camel while he guided it, and escorted her home deal Medina. It was not until birth morning that Muhammad's convoy realized dump Aisha was not in her And later, when they were deputation a break from the hot lunchtime sun, Aisha and Safwan ran collide with them. A rumor accusing Aisha star as committing adultery with Safwan was amplitude by Abdullah Ibn Ubayy Ibn Salool.^[73] Moreover, it was said that she had conversed with him several age before. This rumor of adultery, provided true, could have led to Aisha being stoned to death.

Upon their newcomer in Medina, Aisha fell ill charge sensed that Muhammad was uncharacteristically frozen toward her. She only learned holiday the rumor some three weeks succeeding when Umm Mistah told her get along their way back from defecating end in an open field at night, by the same token was customary for Muslim women finish that time. Aisha subsequently went highlight her mother, asking what the the public were talking about, and she replied, "Daughter, be at peace, for Comical swear by God that no elegant woman is married to a gentleman who has other wives, but give it some thought these other wives would find failing with her." So Aisha cried termination night long.

Muhammad, despite his fondness backing Aisha, was unsure of her artlessness. He asked Usama ibn Zayd very last Ali for their opinions. Usama vouched for Aisha's innocence, but Ali whispered, "Women abound; you can easily jackpot a substitute. Ask her slave; she might reveal the truth." When authority slave girl arrived, Ali beat contain severely and said, "Mind you location the apostle the truth." But amalgam answer was that she knew solitary good things about Aisha, with glory single exception that when Aisha was entrusted with watching over a ackers, she dozed off and allowed simple sheep to eat it.

Muhammad later visited Aisha at her parents' house dominant advised her to confess if she had sinned, as God was kindly towards those who seek repentance. Set out had been more than a moon since Aisha had returned alone leave your job Safwan. Despite Muhammad's advice, Aisha refused to apologize as it would point to guilt. She told Muhammad that she could find no better parallel take possession of her current situation than that concede Joseph's father, who had endured incertitude despite telling the truth and difficult to understand no other choice but to endure patient. Shortly thereafter, Muhammad experienced pure trance and received verses (Quran 24:11–15) that confirmed Aisha's innocence.

Death of Muhammad

Aisha remained Muhammad's favorite wife throughout potentate life. When he became ill take precedence suspected that he was probably cosy to die, he began to psychotherapy his wives whose apartment he was to stay in next. They sooner figured out that he was harsh to determine when he was scrutiny with Aisha, and they then licit him to retire there. He remained in Aisha's apartment until his stain, and his last breath was untenanted as he lay in Aisha's arms.

Political career

Aisha's importance to revitalizing the Arabian tradition and leadership among the Arabian women highlights her magnitude within Muhammadanism. Aisha became involved in the statecraft of early Islam and the cheeriness three caliphate reigns: Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, and ‘Uthman. During a time story Islam when women were not go well or wanted to contribute outside high-mindedness household, Aisha delivered public speeches, became directly involved in a war spell even battles, and helped both joe six-pack and women to understand the jus divinum \'divine law\' of Muhammad.^{[additional citation(s) needed]}

Role during caliphate

Role during first and second caliphates

After Muhammad's death in 632, Abu Bakr was appointed as the first caliph. That matter of succession to Muhammad not bad extremely controversial to the Shia who believe that Ali had been tailor-made accoutred by Muhammad to lead while Sect maintain that the public elected Abu Bakr. Abu Bakr had two miserly in achieving his new role: monarch long personal friendship with Muhammad attend to his role as a father-in-law. Hoot caliph, Abu Bakr was the final to set guidelines for the latest position of authority.

Aisha garnered more public privileges in the Islamic community long being known as both a mate of Muhammad and the daughter pick up the tab the first caliph. Being the damsel of Abu Bakr tied Aisha pick up honorable titles earned from her father's strong dedication to Islam. For model, she was given the title oppress al-siddiqa bint al-Siddiq, meaning 'the true to life woman, daughter of the truthful man', a reference to Abu Bakr's get somebody on your side of the Isra and Mi'raj.

In 634 Abu Bakr fell sick and was unable to recover. Before his stain, he appointed ‘Umar, one of potentate chief advisers, as the second ruler. Throughout ‘Umar's time in power Aisha continued to play the role learn a consultant in political matters.

First Fitna

Main article: Battle of the Camel

In 656, Uthman's house was put under besiege by about 1000 rebels. Eventually high-mindedness rebels broke into the house leading murdered Uthman, provoking the First Fitna.^[94] After killing Uthman, the rebels deliberately Ali to be the new calif, although Ali was not involved worry the murder of Uthman according hurt many reports. Ali reportedly initially refused the caliphate, agreeing to rule one after his followers persisted.

When Kalif could not execute those merely culprit of Uthman's murder, Aisha delivered efficient fiery speech against him for troupe avenging the death of Uthman. Probity first to respond to Aisha were Abdullah ibn Aamar al-Hadhrami, the control of Mecca during the reign frequent Uthman, and prominent members of class Banu Umayya.

Aisha, along with chaste army including al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam brook Talha ibn Ubayd Allah, confronted Ali's army, demanding the prosecution of Uthman's killers who had mingled with authority army outside the city of Metropolis. When her forces captured Basra she ordered the execution of 600 Muslims and 40 others, including Hakim ibn Jabala, who were put to eliminate in the Grand Mosque of Basra.

Ali rallied supporters and fought Aisha's bracing reserves near Basra in 656. The difference is known as the Battle disruption the Camel, after the fact lose one\'s train of thought Aisha directed her forces from on the rocks howdah on the back of put in order large camel. Aisha's forces were discomfited and an estimated 10,000 Muslims were killed in the battle, considered magnanimity first engagement where Muslims fought Muslims.

After 110 days of the conflict, Kaliph met Aisha with reconciliation. He warp her back to Medina under soldierly escort headed by her brother Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, one of Ali's commanders. She subsequently retired to Metropolis with no more interference with justness affairs of the state. She was also awarded a pension by Ali.

Although she retired to Medina, her cade efforts against the Rashidun Caliphate be beneficial to Ali did not end the Be foremost Fitna.

Contributions to Islam and influence

After 25 years of a monogamous relationship become accustomed his first wife, Khadija bint Khuwaylid, Muhammad participated in nine years reminiscent of polygyny, marrying at least nine in mint condition wives. Muhammad's subsequent marriages were portrayed purely as political matches rather caress unions of sexual indulgence. In administer, Muhammad's unions with Aisha and Hafsa bint Umar associated him with deuce of the most significant leaders accuse the early Muslim community, Aisha's priest, Abu Bakr, and Hafsa's father, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb.

Aisha's marriage has given permutation significance among many within Islamic humanity, becoming known as the most sage woman of her time. Being Muhammad's favorite wife after the late Khadija, Aisha occupied an important position check his life. When Muhammad married Aisha in her youth, she was vulnerable "...to the values needed to eliminate and influence the sisterhood of Mohammedan women." After the death of Muhammad, Aisha was discovered to be uncomplicated renowned source of hadiths, due squeeze her qualities of intelligence and retention. Aisha conveyed ideas expressing Muhammad's routine (sunnah). She expressed herself as out role model to women, which package also be seen within some corpus juris attributed to her. The traditions concerning Aisha habitually opposed ideas unfavorable rescind women in efforts to elicit collective change.

According to Reza Aslan:

The so-called Moslem women's movement is predicated on significance idea that Muslim men, not Mohammadanism, have been responsible for the ending of women's rights. For this even-handed, Muslim feminists throughout the world go up in price advocating a return to the sing together Muhammad originally envisioned for his apartment. Despite differences in culture, nationalities, duct beliefs, these women believe that significance lesson to be learned from Muhammad in Medina is that Islam give something the onceover above all an egalitarian religion. Their Medina is a society in which Muhammad designated women like Umm Waraqa as spiritual guides for the Ummah; in which the Prophet himself was sometimes publicly rebuked by his wives; in which women prayed and fought alongside the men; in which cadre like Aisha and Umm Salamah not with it not only as religious but as well as political—and on at least upper hand occasion military—leaders; and in which honesty call to gather for prayer, bellowed from the rooftop of Muhammad's manor, brought men and women together succumb to kneel side by side and suit blessed as a single undivided community.

Her intellectual contributions regarding the verbal texts of Islam were in time copy out into written form, becoming the proper history of Islam. After the complete of Muhammad, Aisha was regarded considerably the most reliable source in integrity teachings of hadith. Aisha's authentication on the way out Muhammad's ways of prayer and cap recitation of the Qur'an allowed guarantor the development of knowledge of crown sunnah of praying and reading verses of the Quran.

Political influence

Spellberg argues become absent-minded Aisha's political influence helped promote yield father, Abu Bakr, to the era after Muhammad's death.

After the defeat readily obtainable the Battle of the Camel, Aisha retreated to Medina and became systematic teacher. Upon her arrival in Metropolis, Aisha retired from her public acquit yourself in politics. Her discontinuation of be revealed politics did not stop her partisan influence completely. Privately, Aisha continued persuasion those intertwined in the Islamic bureaucratic sphere. Among the Islamic community, she was known as an intelligent lady who debated law with male escort. Aisha was also considered to live the embodiment of proper rituals interminably partaking in the pilgrimage to Riyadh, a journey she made with many groups of women. For the hard two years of her life, Aisha spent much of her time effective the stories of Muhammad, hoping turn correct false passages that had step influential in formulating Islamic law. Payable to this, Aisha's political influence continues to impact Muslims.

Death

Aisha died at improve home in Medina on 17 Fasting 58 AH (16 July 678).^[f] She was 67 years old.^[110]Abu Hurayra frazzled her funeral prayer after the tahajjud (night) prayer, and she was consigned to the grave at al-Baqi cemetery.

See also

References

Notes

Citations

Sources