Aisha Bint Abu-Bakr
Her background
A’isha Bint Abu-Bakr
• A’isha was born to Muslim parents
• Daughter of Abu Bakr (the first rightly guided caliph)
• Married Muhammad at the age of 7 years old, she was
Muhammad's third wife after the Hijra when the followers
fled to Medina.
• Provided inspiration and leadership for both men and women
of Islam.
• Not allowed to remarry after Muhammad's death.
The Impact of A’isha bint
AbuBakar
• Marriage was arranged for political gain,
though widely believed that Muhammad and
A’isha were genuinely fond of each other.
• It is said that she was his favourite wife.
• A’isha enjoyed prestige and influence because
of this marriage
• Muslim’s believe all Muhammad’s marriages
were halal (legitimate) because they were
commanded by Allah and all the wives were
exceptional women.
• Jibril brought Muhammad Aisha’s image in a
piece of silk and said, “Marry her, she is your
wife.”
• Challenged to purdah (traditional Hindu or
Muslim system of keeping women secluded) and
role model for women as she didn’t fit cultural
stereotype.
• Believed by many that he died
with his head in her lap
• After Muhammad’s death,
she became known as the
“Mother of Believers”.
• Influenced establishment of Islam as a
religious tradition
• Active in her participation in
Muslim rituals and prayer
• Aisha was;
- Role model for Muslim women
- Strength of personality
- A Leader
Aisha was instrumental in the development and
expression of Islam.
A’isha
Her knowledge of the Quran
• A’isha and the Qur’an - A’isha journeys led to
two revelations in the Quran. The first incident
occurred when Muhammad was returning
home from the fight against bana al- mustaliq.
• The second journey impacted on the way
Muslims perform ablution (The ritual washing
of the hands and face in preparation for
prayer).
• A great poet, orator
A’isha was a great public speaker and her ability
to write and speak fluently helped her spread
the word of Muhammad
• Had a knowledge of the history of Arabs
• A’isha knew the about the past of the Arabs
which made her able to relate and understand
the Arabs. Her memory was outstanding
which is demonstrated through her ability to
remember 2000 Hadiths (recorded teaching of
Muhammad outside the Quran).
• Aisha is usually described as Muhammad's
favorite wife, and it was in her company that
Muhammad reportedly received the most
revelations.
• Revelation is when Allah is revealed.
• Aisha could memorise the whole Quran .
Which showed her knowledge and
understanding of Islam.
• Aisha was able to speak with authority about
issues concerning the Islamic religion due to
her knowing first-hand about the hadiths and
Quran so she was well-respected by the
community
Aisha Bint Abu-Bakr
Her contributions
to the recording
of the Hadiths
“Hadith”
‘What was transmitted on the authority of the Prophet, his deeds and sayings’
Includes narratives of the life of Muhammad and about the companions (Sahabah),
including Aisha.
Aishah lived on almost fifty years after the passing away of the
Prophet. She had been his wife for a decade. Much of this time
was spent in learning and acquiring knowledge of the two most
important sources of God's guidance, the Quran and the Sunnah
of His Prophet. Aishah was one of three wives (the other two
being Hafsah and Umm Salamah) who memorised the
Revelation. Like Hafsah, she had her own script of the Quran
written after the Prophet had died.
Aisha important source for Hadith writers,
verifying accuracy.
So far as the hadith or sayings of the Prophet is concerned, Aishah is
one of four persons (the others being Abu Hurayrah, Abdullah ibn
Umar, and Anas ibn Malik) who transmitted more than two thousand
sayings. Many of these pertain to some of the most intimate aspects of
personal behavior which only someone in Aishah's position could have
learnt. What is most important is that her knowledge of hadith was
passed on in written form by at least three persons including her
nephew Urwah who became one of the greatest scholars among the
generation after the Companions.
Many of the learned companions of the Prophet and their followers
benefitted from Aishah's knowledge. Abu Musa al-Ashari once said: "If
we companions of the Messenger of God had any difficulty on a
matter, we asked Aishah about it."
Transmitted more than 2000 Hadiths
Aisha aided by her sharp, accurate memory, her
intelligence and her great ability to learn quickly,
enabled her to report a great number of hadiths
(around 2000).
She is considered one of the great four, (Abu Hurairah,
Abdullah Ibn Omar, Anas Ibn Malik and Aisha Bint Abu
Bakr) who contributed to the creation of the Hadith.
She would ask the Prophet for peace and blessings to
be upon him, so she could overcome anything she
found unclear and could pass on to all Muslims.
Meant that a woman was recorded in the isnad (chain of
authorities via which the Hadith were handed down)
The life of Aishah is proof that a woman can be
far more learned than men and that she can be
the teacher of scholars and experts. Her life is
also proof that a woman can exert influence
over men and women and provide them with
inspiration and leadership. Her life is also proof
that the same woman can be totally feminine
and be a source of pleasure, joy and comfort to
her husband.
Narrated the Hadith to students
Aishah not only possessed great knowledge but took an active
part in education and social reform. As a teacher she had a clear
and persuasive manner of speech and her power of oratory has
been described in superlative terms by al-Ahnaf who said: "I
have heard speeches of Abu Bakr and Umar, Uthman and Ali and
the Khulafa up to this day, but I have not heard speech more
persuasive and more beautiful from the mouth of any person
than from the mouth of Aishah."
She met vigorous standards of piety, morality and scholarship and so her scholarship
and the stories of her and her companions have survived in the respected Hadiths.
Men and women came from far and wide to benefit from
her knowledge. The number of women is said to have
been greater than that of men. Besides answering
enquiries, she took boys and girls, some of them orphans,
into her custody and trained them under her care and
guidance. This was in addition to her relatives who
received instruction from her. Her house thus became a
school and an academy.
Preserved the tradition
She is regarded by scholars as one of the
trustworthy narrators of hadith and is said to
have acted as Aishah's secretary receiving and
replying to letters addressed to her. The example
of Aishah in promoting education and in
particular the education of Muslim women in
the laws and teachings of Islam is one which
needs to be followed.
Reference
http://www.alim.org/library/biography/compani
on/content/BIO/60/Aishah%20bint%20Abi%20B
akr
Aisha’s
Scholarship
• Aisha was brought up by her
knowledgeable father
• She had a remarkable memory
• Aisha’s ability to discuss issues
with the prophet reflected her
thirst for knowledge and her
understanding of the world.
• Aisha began her scholarship at
the death of Muhammad
• Aisha’s depth and breadth of
scholarship surpassed most scholars.
• The prophet said “If knowledge of all
men and all Mothers of Believers is
gathered at one place, the
knowledge of Aisha would be vaster’
• Aisha’s work is used as a guide for
Muslims today.
A’isha Bint
Abu-Bakr
Political Life
Political Life
 After
the death of Muhammad, Abu
Bakr became the first political leader of
Islamic community, ruled for two years. A
first man to hold the position of Caliph or
political successor to Muhammad,
as Muhammad had no heirs and
designated no other political leader
before his death.
Political Life
 Marriage
to Muhammad was political – to
establish traditional family ties
 Favourite wife and the daughter of
Muhammad’s favourite male friend – Abu
Bakr
 Shi’a believe Ali should have been
chosen to succeed Muhammad.
 Sunni - the community chose Abu Bakr in
accordance with Muhammad’s wishes.
Political Life
 A’isha
supported Abu Bakr and raised an
army against Ali after Umar’s death.
 Shi’a believe that in opposing Ali she
committed a grievous sin.
 Lead thousand in battle prodding them
on with her speeches and poetry
 Ali captured A’isha but didn’t harm her.
 She saw the incident as a great mistake.
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Active in her social reform.
Took boys and girls under her care.
Her home became and academy.
Some of her students became great scholars.
Promoted the education of Muslim women.
She lived simply often going hungry giving to
those more needy.