Aisha Bint Abu Bakr

Name Aisha Title Siddiqa, known as Umm Al Mumineen. Since she had adopted her sister’s son Abdullah bin Zubair as such she was also known as Umm-e-Abdullah. In addition she was also given the title of Hamera (Fair)

Genealogy
The family tree of Hazrat Aisha according to various authentic authors is as follows:

Father
Abu Bakr –Abi Kahan -Usman- Amer –Umar- Khab- Saad -Tayeem -Marta -Kab Luoyy -Ghalib -Fahir -Malik. –Nazar –Kanaa –Ghazima –Madrak –Ilayas –Muzar Nazar –Sad bin Adnan

Mother
Umm e Ruman -Amir -Awamir -Abdu Shams -Atab -Azania –Sabi- Whaman Harithah -Ghanam -Malik -Kunana.

Parents
Hazrat Aisha was the daughter of Hazrat Abu Bakr- Siddiq, who was born in 573 AD at Mecca. Thus he was two years younger than the Holy Prophet. He belonged to a respectable and noble family, the Bani Tamim, a branch of Quraish Tribe. His lineage joins with that of the Holy Prophet six generations before. His name was Abdullah and Abu Bakr was his patronymic name (or Kuniyah), which became so famous that most of the people did not know his real name. After his conversion to Islam he received the title of “As-Siddiq” (The Truthful). Though he was a strict man but he was extremely respected for wide knowledge, gentle manners and an agreeable presence. His father’s name was Usman who was known by his patronymic name, Abu Quhafah. His mother’s name was Salma but she too was also known by her patronymic name, Ummul Khair.

Abu Bakr had four wives, Qatilah bint ‘Abdul ‘Aziz, Umm-e-Ruman, Asma and Habibah. The lineage of Hazrat Aisha’s mother Umm-e- Ruman joined with that of the Holy Prophet eleven generations before. She was first married to Abdullah Azwe and after his death she was married to Abu Bakr. From her Abu Bakr had two children one son Abdul Rehman and a daughter Aisha.

Her father died in 13 Hijrah in Madinah. As regards her mother’s death different versions exist. According to one of them she died in 5 or 6 Hijrah but it cannot be true as various Hadiths consign that she was alive till the time of Hazrat Usman. In the Hadith in which the story of Afak is narrated her name is referred time and again. According to Bukhari during the incident of Takbir in the 9 Hijrah she was still alive.

Brothers and Sisters
Hazrat Aisha’s mother Umm-e-Ruman was the second wife of Hazrat Abu Bakr. She had one real bother, Abdur Rehman, two-step sisters Asma and Umm Kulthum (born to Qatilah and Habiba) and two-step brothers Abdullah and Muhammad (born to Qatilah).

Early life
There are various reports regarding her date of birth. However according to various records she was born in July 614 i.e the 5^th year of the Prophet-hood and 9 years before the Hijrat in the city of Mecca. She was destined to become the wife of the Holy Prophet and to be remembered for her vast knowledge and beauty.

In her youth, already known for her striking beauty and her formidable memory, she came under the loving care and attention of the Holy Prophet himself. As his wife and close companion she acquired from him knowledge and insight such as no woman has ever acquired. The life of Hazrat Aisha is a proof that a woman can be far more learned than men can and that she can be the teacher of scholars and experts. Her life provides ample proof that a woman can exert influence over men and women and provide them with inspiration, encouragement and leadership. Her life also indicates that the same woman can be totally feminine and be a source of pleasure, joy and comfort to her husband.

Marriage Proposal by The Holy Prophet
After the death of Hazrat Khadijah, Usman bin Mazuon’s wife Khaulah bint Hakim requested the Holy Prophet to get married again. She suggested the names of Sudah bint Zama (widow) and Aisha bint Abu Bakr (virgin). On getting the positive response from the Holy Prophet she went over to Abu Bakr’s house and conveyed him the desire of the Prophet. Abu Bakr’s reply though was in affirmative but he informed her that as Aisha’s hand has already been asked by Jabrin bin Matiem for their son therefore he would first ask them and then intimate accordingly. When the family of Jabrin was consulted, since they had not yet become a convert, they were very apprehensive, that, if Aisha came to their house they might have to change their religion, as such, they themselves refused to continue with the bondage.

Marriage with The Holy Prophet
Hazrat Aisha became the Prophet’s wife in Mecca. There is a difference of opinion in the age and the year in which her Nikah and Rukhsati took place. The details are:

Before and after her wedding she maintained a natural jollity, innocence and did not seem at all over awed by the thought of being wedded to the Messenger of God, whom all his companions, including her own mother and father, treated with such love and reverence as they gave to no one else. About her wedding, she related that shortly before she was to leave her parent’s house, she slipped out into the courtyard to play with a passing friend:

“I was playing on a see-saw and my long streaming hair was disheveled,” she said, “They came and took me from my play and made me ready.” They dressed her in a wedding-dress made from fine red-striped cloth from Bahrain and then her mother took her to the newly built house where some women of the Ansar were waiting outside the door. They greeted her with the words “For good and for happiness may all be well!”

Then, in the presence of the smiling Prophet, a bowl of milk was brought. The Holy Prophet drank from it himself and offered it to Aisha. She shyly declined it but when he insisted she did so and then offered the bowl to her sister Asma who was sitting beside her. Others also drank of it and that was as much as there was of the simple and solemn occasion of their wedding. There was no wedding feast, however it was clear that it was Aisha whom he loved the most, because from time to time, one or the other of his companions would ask: “O Messenger of God, whom do you love most in the world?” He did not always give the same answer to this question for he felt great love for his daughters and their children, for Abu Bakr, for Ali, for Zayd and his son Usama. But of his wives the only one he named in this connection was Aisha.

She too loved him greatly in return and often would seek reassurance from him that he loved her. Once she asked him: “How is your love for me? “Like the rope’s knot,” he replied meaning that it was strong and secure. And time after time thereafter, she would ask him: “How is the knot?” and he would reply: “Ala haaliha in the same condition.”

Hazrat Aisha a Treasure of Knowledge
She was very intelligent, proficient, observant and gained immense knowledge of multifarious problems from the Prophet while she was still quite young. Even though she did not graduate from any university, but still her utterances are studied in faculties of literature. Her legal pronouncements are studied in colleges of law and her life and works are studied and researched by students and teachers of Muslim history as they have been for over a thousand years.

Her nephew Urwah asserts that she was proficient not only in fiqh (jurisprudence) but also in medicine (tibb) and Arabic history of genealogy and poetry. Many of the senior companions of The Holy Prophet used to seek advice on various aspects of inheritance and the scholars regarded her as one of the earliest Fuqua of Islam along with persons like Umar ibn al-Khattab, Ali and Abdullah ibn Abbas. The Holy Prophet referring to her extensive knowledge of Islam is reported to have said:

“Learn a portion of your religion (Din) from this red coloured lady.” “Humayra” meaning “Red-coloured”.

Hazrat Aisha not only possessed vast knowledge but also took an active part in education and social reforms. As a teacher she had a clear and persuasive manner of speech. Her power of oratory has been described in superlative terms by al-Ahnaf, who said, “I have heard speeches of Abu Bakr, Umar, Usman and Ali and the Khulafa, but I have not heard speech more persuasive and more convincing from the mouth of any person than from the mouth of Aisha.” 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 inquiries, 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. Some of her students were outstanding and among them her nephew Urwah is known as a distinguished reporter of hadith. Among her women pupils is the name of Umrah bint Abdur Rehman. She is regarded by scholars as one of the trustworthy narrators of hadith and is said to have acted as Aisha’s secretary, receiving and replying to letters addressed to her. The example of Hazrat Aisha 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.

Life with The Holy Prophet
Despite her feelings of jealousy, which nonetheless were not of a destructive nature, she was really a generous soul and a patient one. She bore with the rest of the Holy Prophet’s household poverty and hunger that often lasted for long periods. For days no fire would be lit in the sparsely furnished house of the Holy Prophet for cooking or baking bread and they would live merely on dates and water. Poverty did not cause her distress or humiliation; self-sufficiency when it did come did not corrupt her style of life.

Once the Prophet stayed away from his wives for a month because they had distressed him by asking of him that which he did not have. This was after the Khyber expedition when an increase of riches whetted the appetite for presents. Returning from his self-imposed retreat, he went first to Aisha’s apartment. She was delighted to see him but he said he had received Revelation that required him to put two options before her. He then recited the verses from surah Al-Ahzab (33:28)

O Prophet! say to thy Consorts: “If it be that ye desire the life of this world and its glitter then come! I will provide for your enjoyment and set you free in a handsome manner.” (33:28)

Hazrat Aisha’s reply was “Indeed I desire God and His Messenger and the abode of the Hereafter,” and all the others followed her response. She stuck to her choice both during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet and afterwards. Later when the Muslims were favoured with enormous riches, she was given a gift of one hundred thousand dirhams. She was fasting when she received the money and she distributed the entire amount to the poor and the needy even though she had no provisions in her house. Shortly after, a maidservant said to her: “Could you buy meat for a dirham with which to break your fast? “If I had remembered, I would have done so,” she said.

Aisha a Loving Wife
The Holy Prophet’s love for Hazrat Aisha was not only for her physical attractions and beauty, for there were among his wives others who were equally, if not more beautiful and charming than her, but it was for her intelligence and her total submission and devotion for the Apostle of Allah. She was very obedient and served the Prophet well.

In spite of having a maid to assist her she prepared and did the work herself. She used to grind and make paste for flour, cook food and make his bed (Bukhari and Trimzi).

She brought water for his ablution. (Musnad).

When he sent camels for sacrifice, she herself used to twist garlands for the hadis of the Prophet (Bukhari).

She combed his hair and scented his hair and body and washed his clothes herself (Bukhari).

When he went to bed she put miswak and water near his bed (Ahmed).

She also cleaned his miswak to remove any dirt (Abu Dawud).

Whenever any of his guests arrived in the house she served them (Qais Gaffri). One of the associates of Suffah stated, one day Allah’s Messenger told us to go to Aisha’s house. When we reached there, he said, Aisha give us some food. She brought some cooked food. Then he asked her for more food and she brought harirah made of dried dates. Thereafter he asked for some drink and she brought milk in a big bowl and then water in a small cup. (Abu Dawud).

She lived with him for 9 years and served him, meeting all his needs and demands, without ever disobeying him. In fact, she felt pleasure and delight in his service.

Whenever he showed his dislike for anything, she at once abstained from that thing and removed it from her compartment (Bukhari).

In addition to daily prayers and Tahajjud prayer, she also offered Ishraq prayer (between sunrise and noon) with the Prophet. She often fasted (other then the fasting in Ramadan) along with the Prophet and sometimes she also shared with him the duty of itikaf (confining oneself to the mosque for special devotions) in the last ten days of the month of Ramadan. She would get a tent put up for her for this purpose. The Holy Prophet would come to her after the morning prayers for a while. (Bukhari).

Hazrat Aisha reported that Allah’s Prophet used to put his head out of the mosque while he was in itikaf inside, and she would comb and oil his hair.

Though the use of silk and gold is permissible for women in Islam, but the Prophet did not like the members of his household to wear it for he had a natural dislike for worldly decoration and ornamentation.

Once Aisha wore gold bangles and he said, “shall I tell you a better plan? Take of these bangles and get two silver bangles and put saffron colour on them” (Nasai).

A relationship of love and affection existed between her and the Prophet and there are score of instances in the books of hadiths and seerah, which reveal the nature of this loving and cordial relationship. It is reported by Hazrat Aisha that the people used to choose Aisha’s day to bring them gifts seeking there by to please Allah’s Messenger. She said that the Holy Prophet’s wives were in two groups, one including Aisha, Hafsah, Safiyah and Saudah and the other including Umm Salamah and the rest. Umm Salamah’s group requested her (i.e. to Umm Salamah) to ask the Messenger of Allah to tell the people “If anyone wishes to make a present to Allah’s Messenger, let him bring to him whenever he happens to be with them,” she did so. But he replied, “Do not annoy me regarding Aisha, for revelation has not come to me when I was in any women’s garment except Aisha’s. “She said I repent to Allah for annoying you, Allah’s Messenger.” They then called Hazrat Fatimah and sent her to Allah’s Messenger and she spoke to him about this matter but he replied, “Do you not like what I like, my girl?” She said, “Certainly”. So he said, “love this woman” (Bukhari and Muslim). When she came back unsuccessful, they then chose Hazrat Zaynab, for she was suitable for this purpose. She delivered the message with great courage and tried very effectively to prove that Hazrat Aisha did not deserve the position (she had been given by the Holy Prophet). Hazrat Aisha kept quiet and looked at the face of the Holy Prophet. When Hazrat Zaynab finished her speech. Hazrat Aisha, availing the opportunity, stood up and spoke so convincingly that Hazrat Zaynab had no answer. The Holy Prophet said, “why not? After all, she is the daughter of Abu Bakr,” (Muslim). Even in abnormal circumstances, her love for the Holy Prophet remained as intense as ever and their martial relationship become all the closer.

Revelation for Her
In the words of Hazrat Aisha “Whenever Allah’s Apostle intended to go on a journey, he would draw lots amongst his wives and would take with him the one upon whom the lot fell.” During a Ghazwa of his, he drew lots amongst us and the lot fell upon me, and I proceeded with him after Allah had decreed the use of the veil by women. I was carried in a Howdah (on the camel) and dismounted while still in it. After the Ghazwa, on our way back to Medinah when the order of setting off for the night was given, I walked till I was past the army to answer the call of nature. After finishing I returned (to the camp) to depart (with the others) and suddenly became conscious of the fact that my necklace over my chest was missing. So, I returned to look for it and was delayed because of that. The individuals assigned the responsibility for carrying me on the camel, came to my howdah and placed it on the back of the camel, presuming that I was in it. Since I was a young lady and did not weigh much, those individuals did not feel the difference in the heaviness of the howdah and they moved for the new destination. On finding the necklace I came to the campsite only to find that the army had moved on so, I went to the place where I stayed, thinking that soon they would discover my absence and come back in my search. While in that state, I felt sleepy and slept.

Safwan bin Mu’attal As-Sulami Adh-Dhakwani was behind the army and reached my abode in the morning. When he saw a sleeping person, he came closer, but as he had seen me before the decree of veiling, I immediately got up when I heard him saying, “Inna lil-lah-wa inn a ilaihi rajiun (We are for Allah, and we will return to Him) on recognizing me. He made his camel to kneel down and I sat over it while Safwan set out walking; leading the camel by the rope till we reached the army, which had halted to take rest at midday. Then whoever was meant for destruction, fell into destruction, (some people accused me falsely) and the leader of the false accusers was ‘Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul. After that we returned to Medinah, and I became ill for one month while the people were spreading the fabricated statements of the false accusers. I was feeling during my ailment as if I was not receiving the usual kindness from the Prophet, which I used to receive from him when I got sick. But he would come, greet and say, ‘How is that (girl)?’ I did not know anything of what was going on till I recovered from my ailment and went out with Um Mistah to the Manasi where we used to answer the call of nature, and we used not to go to answer the call of nature except from night to night and that was before we had lavatories near to our houses. And this habit of ours was similar to the habit of the old ‘Arabs in the open country (or away from houses). So. Um Mistah bint Ruhm and I went out walking. Um Mistah stumbled because of her long dress and on that she said, ‘Let Mistah be ruined.’ I said, “You are saying a bad word”. Why are you abusing a man who took part in (the battle of) Badr?’ She said, ‘O Hanata (you there) didn’t you hear what they said?’ Then she told me the rumours of the false accusers.

My sickness was aggravated, and when I returned home, Allah’s Apostle came to me, and after greeting he said, ‘How is that (girl)?’ I requested him to allow me to go to my parents. I wanted then to be sure of the news through them. Allah’s Apostle allowed me, and I went to my parents and asked my mother, ‘What are the people talking about?’ She said, ‘O my daughter! Don’t worry much about this matter. By Allah, never is there a charming woman loved by her husband who has other wives, but the women would fabricate news about her.’ I said, ‘Glorified be Allah! Are the people really talking of this matter?’ That night I kept on weeping and could not sleep till morning. In the morning Allah’s Apostle called Ali bin Abu Talib and Usama bin Zayd when he saw the Divine Inspiration delayed, to consult them about divorcing his wife (i.e. ‘Aisha). Usama bin Zayd 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.’ On that Allah’s Apostle called Buraira and said, ‘O Buraira. Did you ever see anything, which roused your suspicions about her?’ Buraira said, ‘No, by Allah Who has sent you with the Truth, I have never seen in her anything faulty except that she is a girl of immature age, who sometimes sleeps and leaves the dough for the goats to eat.’ On that day Allah’s Apostle ascended the pulpit and requested that somebody support him in punishing ‘Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul. Allah’s Apostle said, “Who will support me to punish that person (‘Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul) who has hurt me by slandering the reputation of my family”? By Allah, I know nothing about my family but good, and they have accused a person about whom I know nothing except good, and he never entered my house except in my company.

Sad bin Mu’adh got up and said, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! By Allah, I will relieve you from him. If that man is from the tribe of the Aus, then we will chop his head off, and if he is from our brothers, the Khazraj, then order us, and we will fulfill your order.’ On that Sad bin ‘Ubada, the chief of the Khazraj and before this incident, he had been a pious man, got up, motivated by his zeal for his tribe and said, ‘By Allah, you have told a lie; you cannot kill him, and you will never be able to kill him.’ On that Usaid bin Al-Hadir got up and said (to Sad bin ‘Ubada), ‘By Allah! You are a liar. By Allah, we will kill him; and you are a hypocrite, defending the hypocrites.’ On this the two tribes of Aus and Khazraj got excited and were about to fight while Allah’s Apostle was still standing on the pulpit. He got down and quietened them till they became silent and he kept quiet. On that day I kept on weeping so much so that neither did my tears stop, nor could I sleep.

In the morning my parents were with me and I had wept for two nights and a day, till I thought my liver would burst from weeping. While they were sitting with me and I was weeping, an Ansari woman asked my permission to enter. I allowed her to come in and as she sat down she started weeping with me. While we were in this state, Allah’s Apostle came and sat down and he had never sat with me since the day they fabricated the accusation. No revelation regarding my case came to him for a month. He recited Tashahhud (i.e. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is His Apostle) and then said, ‘O ‘Aisha! I have been informed such-and-such about you; if you are innocent, then Allah will soon reveal your innocence, and if you have committed a sin, then repent to Allah and ask Him to forgive you, for when a person confesses his sin and asks Allah for forgiveness, Allah accepts his repentance. When Allah’s Apostle finished his speech my tears ceased completely and there remained not even a single drop of it. 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.”

I was a young girl and did not have much knowledge of the Qur’an, but I said, “I know that you have listened to what people are saying and that has been planted in your mind and you have taken it as a truth. Now, if I told you that I am innocent and Allah knows that I am innocent, you would not believe me and if I confessed to you falsely that I am guilty, and Allah knows that I am innocent you would believe me. I don’t compare my situation with you except to the situation of Joseph’s father (i.e. Jacob) who said, “So (for me) patience is most fitting against that which you assert and it is Allah (alone) whose help can be sought.” Then I turned to the other side of my bed hoping that Allah would prove my innocence. I had never thought or even imagined that Allah would reveal Divine Inspiration in my case, as I considered myself too inferior to be talked of in the Holy Qur’an. I had hoped that Allah’s Apostle might have a dream in which Allah would prove my innocence. The Hoy Prophet had not got up and nobody had left the house before the Divine Inspiration came to him. 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 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 immediately go to the Prophet. I replied, “I will not go to him and will not thank but Allah.” So Allah revealed this verse of Surah An-Nur (24:11)

Those who brought forward the lie are a body among yourselves: think it not to be an evil to you: on the contrary it is good for you: to every man among them (will come the punishment) of the sin that he earned and to him who took on himself the lead among them will be a Penalty grievous. (24.11)

When Allah gave the declaration of my innocence, Hazrat Abu Bakr, who used to provide for Mistah bin Uthatha for he was his relative, said, “I will never provide Mistah with anything because of what he said about Aisha”. But Allah later revealed in Surah An-Nur (24:22):

Let not those among you who are endued with grace and amplitude of means resolve by oath against helping their kinsmen those in want and those who have left their homes in Allah’s cause: let them forgive and overlook: do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? For Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful. (24.22)

After that Hazrat Abu Bakr asked for God Almighty’s forgiveness and resumed helping Mistah as before.

The Prophet had also asked Zaynab bint Jahsh (i.e. the Prophet’s wife) if she had heard or seen any thing about me. To which she replied, “O Allah’s Apostle! I refrain to claim hearing or seeing what I have not heard or seen. I know nothing except goodness about ‘Aisha.” Aisha further added, “Zaynab was competing with me (in her beauty and the Prophet’s love), yet Allah protected her (from being malicious), for she had piety.”

Holy Prophet Joins The Life Hereafter
The Holy Prophet’s affection for Hazrat Aisha remained to the last. During his final illness, it was to her apartment that he went on the suggestion of his wives. For much of the time he lay there on a couch with his head resting on her lap. She chewed the tooth stick in order to soften it and the Prophet, despite his weakness; rubbed his teeth with it vigorously. Not long afterwards, he lost consciousness and Aisha thought it was the onset of death, but after an hour he opened his eyes. Hazrat Aisha has preserved for us these dying moments of the most honoured of God’s creation, His beloved Messenger may He shower His choicest blessings on him. When he opened his eyes again, Aisha remembered Iris having said to her: “No Prophet is taken by death until he has been shown his place in Paradise and then offered the choice, to live or die.” “He will not now choose us,” she said to herself. Then she heard him murmur: “With the supreme communion in Paradise, with those upon whom God has showered His favour, The Prophets, the martyrs and the righteous.” Again she heard him murmur: “O Lord, with the supreme communion,” and these were the last words she heard him speak. Gradually his head grew heavier upon her lap, until others in the room began to lament, and Aisha laid his head on a pillow and joined them in lamentation. In the floor of her room near the couch where he was lying, a grave was dug in which was buried the Seal of the Prophet amid much bewilderment and great sorrow.

Efforts for spreading Islam
Hazrat Aisha lived on almost fifty years after the passing away of the Prophet. She had been his wife for a decade and 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. Aisha was one of the three wives (the other two being Hafsah and Umm Salamah) who memorized the Revelation. Like Hafsah, she had her own script of the Quran written after the Holy Prophet had died.

So far as the hadiths or sayings of the Prophet are concerned, Hazrat Aisha is one of four persons (the others being Abu Hurairah, 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 Aisha’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 Holy Prophet and their followers benefited from her knowledge. Abu Musa al-Ashari once said: “If we companions of the Messenger of God had any difficulty on a matter, we asked Aisha about it

Difference with Hazrat Ali
Hazrat Aisha and Hazrat Ali though very close to each other and favourites of the Holy Prophet went at war (the battle of Camel) as adversaries. The sole reason was the instigation by few members of the family of Hazrat Usman, Talha and Zubair in forcing Hazrat Ali to expedite in taking the revenge from the assassins of Hazrat Usman. Unfortunately at that time the city of Medinah was not free from the grip of Sabaites and there was a general feeling against Umayyads in the public. Hazrat Ali was anxious to restore peace first so that the assassins could be punished subsequently. However, in spite of the deliberate efforts being put in by Hazrat Ali every day the things went from bad to worse.

Hazrat Aisha had not correctly assessed the delicate situation in Medinah and while remaining in Mecca prepared for her march towards Medinah at the head of about two thousand men with the object of dealing with the assassins herself. Her supporters and the army of Hazrat Ali came face to face at Basra. Due to efforts of both the bloodshed had almost been avoided and they had reached an agreement but some agents of Abdullah bin Saba (Sabaites) and Hakim bin Hublah, did not allow any settlement. Ultimately a full-scale war started in which both sides lost approx 10 thousand lives. Finally Hazrat Aisha’s supporter lost the battle. According to Tabari the following Sabaites were the leaders behind this most tragic event in the history: Ashtar Nakh’i Ibn Sauda, Khalid bin Muljam, Alba bin Haitham and Shuaib bin Aufa. Ibn Saba was the ringleader.

Joining the Eternal Life
The last phase of Amir Muawiya regime was also the last moments of Hazrat Aisha. At that time she was 64 years of age. In 58 hijri during the month of Ramzan she fell ill which proved to be fatal, as she never recovered from it. During her those last moments of this worldly life she made her will that as she had committed a sin as such she should not be buried next to the Prophet. She emphasized to be buried along with the other wives of the Prophet in the Janat-ul-Baqi during the same night of her death.

She died after the Namaz-e-witr during the night of 17 of Ramadan 58 AH (13 June 678 AD). As soon as the news of her death spread there were cries of mourning from every house. It is said that a very large procession gathered and as she instructed, was buried in the Jannat ul-Baqi in the City of Light, beside other companions of the Prophet.

It is said that after Hazrat Khadijah al-Kubra (the Great) and Fatimah az-Zahra (the Resplendent), Aisha -Siddiqah (the one who affirms the Truth) is regarded as the best woman in Islam. Because of the strength of her personality, she was a leader in every field, in knowledge, in society, in politics and in war. She often regretted her involvement in war but lived long enough to regain position as the most respected woman of her time.

End Notes
1 Encyclopedia of seerah by Afzal ur Rehman and seerat-e-Aisha by Syed Suleman Nadvi.