Horizon of the Ladies of Islam: ‘Aisha bint Abu Bakr (RA) - Part II

Moments of Trial

Whispers spread. Rumors circulated. Tongues moved faster than hearts could verify. And in the middle of it all stood ‘Aisha (RA): young, honest, beloved, now accused of what she was most innocent of. This was the moment when Allah would elevate her with verses recited until the end of time. But before the light came, she walked through a sadness that only those closest to Allah are tested with. Narrated by ‘Aisha:

Whenever Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) intended to go on a journey, he used to draw lots amongst his wives, and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to take with him the one on whom lot fell. He drew lots amongst us during one of the Ghazwat which he fought. The lot fell on me and so I proceeded with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) after Allah's order of veiling (the women) had been revealed. I was carried (on the back of a camel) in my howdah and carried down while still in it (when we came to a halt). So, we went on till Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had finished from that Ghazwa of his and returned. When we approached the city of Medina he announced at night that it was time for departure. So, when they announced the news of departure, I got up and went away from the army camps, and after finishing the call of nature, I came back to my riding animal. I touched my chest to find that my necklace which was made of Zifar beads (i.e. Yemenite beads partly black and partly white) was missing. So, I returned to look for my necklace and my search for it detained me. (In the meanwhile) the people who used to carry me on my camel came and took my howdah and put it on the back of my camel on which I used to ride, as they considered that I was in it. In those days women were light in weight for they did not get fat, and flesh did not cover their bodies in abundance as they used to eat only a little food. Those people, therefore, disregarded the lightness of the howdah while lifting and carrying it; and at that time, I was still a young girl. They made the camel rise and all of them left (along with it).

I found my necklace after the army had gone. Then I went to their camping place to find no call maker of them, nor one who would respond to the call. So, I intended to go to the place where I used to stay, thinking that they would miss me and come back to me (in my search). While I was sitting in my resting place, I was overwhelmed by sleep and slept. Safwan bin Al-Muattal As-Sulami Adh-Dhakwani was behind the army. When he reached my place in the morning, he saw the figure of a sleeping person, and he recognized me on seeing me as he had seen me before the order of compulsory veiling (was prescribed). So, I woke up when he recited Istirja' (i.e. "Inna li l-lahi wa inna llaihi raji'un") as soon as he recognized me. I veiled my face with my head cover at once, and by Allah, we did not speak a single word, and I did not hear him saying any word besides his Istirja'. He dismounted from his camel and made it kneel down, putting his leg on its front legs and then I got up and rode on it. Then he set out leading the camel that was carrying me till we overtook the army in the extreme heat of midday while they were at a halt (taking a rest).

(Because of the event) some people brought destruction upon themselves and the one who spread the Ifk (i.e. slander) more, was `Abdullah bin Ubai Ibn Salul." (Urwa said, "The people propagated the slander and talked about it in his (i.e. `Abdullah's) presence and he confirmed it and listened to it and asked about it to let it prevail." `Urwa also added, "None was mentioned as members of the slanderous group besides (`Abdullah) except Hassan bin Thabit and Mistah bin Uthatha and Hamna bint Jahsh along with others about whom I have no knowledge, but they were a group as Allah said. It is said that the one who carried most of the slander was `Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul." 'Urwa added, " 'Aisha disliked having Hassan abused in her presence and she used to say, 'It was he who said: My father and his (i.e. my father's) father and my honor are all for the protection of Muhammad's honor from you."). 

'Aisha added, "After we returned to Medina, I became ill for a month. The people were propagating the forged statements of the slanderers while I was unaware of anything of all that, but I felt that in my present ailment, I was not receiving the same kindness from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as I used to receive when I got sick. (But now) Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) would only come, greet me and say,' How is that (lady)?' and leave.

That roused my doubts, but I did not discover the evil (i.e. slander) till I went out after my convalescence, I went out with Um Mistah to Al-Manasi' where we used to answer the call of nature and we used not to go out (to answer the call of nature) except at night, and that was before we had latrines near our houses. And this habit of our concerning evacuating the bowels, was similar to the habits of the old 'Arabs living in the deserts, for it would be troublesome for us to take latrines near our houses. So, I and Um Mistah who was the daughter of Abu Ruhm bin Al-Muttalib bin `Abd Manaf, whose mother was the daughter of Sakhr bin 'Amir and the aunt of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq and whose son was Mistah bin Uthatha bin `Abbas bin Al-Muttalib, went out. I and Um Mistah returned to my house after we finished answering the call of nature. Um Mistah stumbled by getting her foot entangled in her covering sheet and on that she said, 'Let Mistah be ruined!' I said, 'What a hard word you have said. Do you abuse a man who took part in the battle of Badr?' On that she said, 'O you Hantah! Didn't you hear what he (i.e. Mistah) said? 'I said, 'What did he say?' Then she told me the slander of the people of Ifk. So my ailment was aggravated, and when I reached my home, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came to me, and after greeting me, said, 'How is that (lady)?' I said, 'Will you allow me to go to my parents? As I wanted to be sure about the news through them. Allah's Apostle allowed me (and I went to my parents) and asked my mother, 'O mother! What are the people talking about?' She said, 'O my daughter! Don't worry, for scarcely is there a charming woman who is loved by her husband and whose husband has other wives besides herself that they (i.e. women) would find faults with her.'

I said, 'Subhan-Allah! (I testify the uniqueness of Allah). Are the people really talking in this way?' I kept on weeping that night till dawn I could neither stop weeping nor sleep then in the morning again, I kept on weeping. When Divine Inspiration was delayed. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) called `Ali bin Abi Talib and Usama bin Zaid to ask and consult them about divorcing me. Usama bin Zaid said what he knew of my innocence, and the respect he preserved in himself for me. Usama said, '(O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)!) She is your wife, and we do not know anything except good about her.' `Ali bin Abi Talib said, 'O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Allah does not put you in difficulty and there are plenty of women other than her, yet, ask the maidservant who will tell you the truth.' On that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) called Barira (i.e. the maidservant) and said, 'O Barira! Did you ever see anything which aroused your suspicion?' Barira said to him, 'By Him Who has sent you with the Truth. I have never seen anything in her (i.e. Aisha) which I would conceal, except that she is a young girl who sleeps leaving the dough of her family exposed so that the domestic goats come and eat it.'

So, on that day, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) got up on the pulpit and complained about `Abdullah bin Ubai (bin Salul) before his companions, saying, 'O you Muslims! Who will relieve me from that man who has hurt me with his evil statement about my family? By Allah, I know nothing except good about my family and they have blamed a man about whom I know nothing except good, and he used never to enter my home except with me.' Sa`d bin Mu`adh the brother of Banu `Abd Al-Ashhal got up and said, 'O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! I will relieve you from him; if he is from the tribe of Al-Aus, then I will chop his head off, and if he is from our brothers, i.e. Al-Khazraj, then order us, and we will fulfill your order.' On that, a man from Al-Khazraj got up. Um Hassan, his cousin, was from his branch tribe, and he was Sa`d bin Ubada, chief of Al-Khazraj. Before this incident, he was a pious man, but his love for his tribe goaded him into saying to Sa`d (bin Mu`adh). 'By Allah, you have told a lie; you shall not and cannot kill him. If he belonged to your people, you would not wish him to be killed.' On that, Usaid bin Hudair who was the cousin of Sa`d (bin Mu`adh) got up and said to Sa`d bin 'Ubada, 'By Allah! You are a liar! We will surely kill him, and you are a hypocrite arguing on the behalf of hypocrites.' On this, the two tribes of Al-Aus and Al Khazraj got so much excited that they were about to fight while Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was standing on the pulpit. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) kept on quietening them till they became silent and so did he.

All that day I kept on weeping with my tears never ceasing, and I could never sleep. In the morning my parents were with me, and I wept for two nights and a day with my tears never ceasing, and I could never sleep till I thought that my liver would burst from weeping. So, while my parents were sitting with me and I was weeping, an Ansari woman asked me to grant her admittance. I allowed her to come in, and when she came in, she sat down and started weeping with me. While we were in this state, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came, greeted us and sat down. He had never sat with me since that day of the slander. A month had elapsed, and no Divine Inspiration came to him about my case. Allah's Apostle then recited Tashah-hud and then said, 'Amma Badu, O `Aisha! I have been informed so and so about you; if you are innocent, then soon Allah will reveal your innocence, and if you have committed a sin, then repent to Allah and ask Him for forgiveness for when a slave confesses his sins and asks Allah for forgiveness, Allah accepts his repentance.' When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) finished his speech, my tears ceased flowing completely that I no longer felt a single drop of tear flowing. I said to my father, 'Reply to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) on my behalf concerning what he has said.' My father said, 'By Allah, I do not know what to say to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) .' Then I said to my mother, 'Reply to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) on my behalf concerning what he has said.' She said, 'By Allah, I do not know what to say to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ).' Although I was a young girl and had a little knowledge of Qur'an, I said, 'By Allah, no doubt I know that you heard this (slanderous) speech so that it has been planted in your hearts (i.e. minds) and you have taken it as a truth. Now if I tell you that I am innocent, you will not believe me, and if confess to you about it, and Allah knows that I am innocent, you will surely believe me. By Allah, I find no similitude for me and you except that of Joseph's father when he said, '(For me) patience in the most fitting against that which you assert; it is Allah (Alone) Whose Help can be sought.' Then I turned to the other side and lay on my bed; and Allah knew then that I was innocent and hoped that Allah would reveal my innocence. But, by Allah, I never thought that Allah would reveal about my case, Divine Inspiration, that would be recited (forever) as I considered myself too unworthy to be talked of by Allah with something of my concern, but I hoped that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) might have a dream in which Allah would prove my innocence.

But, by Allah, before Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) left his seat and before any of the household left, the Divine inspiration came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). So there overtook him the same hard condition which used to overtake him, (when he used to be inspired Divinely). The sweat was dropping from his body like pearls though it was a wintry day and that was because of the weighty statement which was being revealed to him. When that state of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was over, he got up smiling, and the first word he said was, 'O `Aisha! Allah has declared your innocence!' Then my mother said to me, 'Get up and go to him (i.e. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)). I replied, 'By Allah, I will not go to him, and I praise none but Allah. So, Allah revealed the ten Verses: "Verily! They who spread the slander Are a gang, among you............." (24.11-20) Allah revealed those Qur'anic Verses to declare my innocence.

Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, who used to disburse money for Mistah bin Uthatha because of his relationship with him and his poverty, said, 'By Allah, I will never give Mistah bin Uthatha anything after what he has said about Aisha.' Then Allah revealed: "And let not those among you who are good and wealthy swear not to give (any sort of help) to their kinsmen, those in need, and those who have left their homes for Allah's cause, let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is oft Forgiving Most Merciful." (24.22) Abu Bakr As-Siddiq said, 'Yes, by Allah, I would like that Allah forgive me.' and went on giving Mistah the money he used to give him before. He also added, 'By Allah, I will never deprive him of it at all.'

Aisha further said: "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) also asked Zainab bint Jahsh (i.e. his wife) about my case. He said to Zainab, 'What do you know and what did you see?" She replied, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! I refrain from claiming falsely that I have heard or seen anything. By Allah, I know nothing except good (about `Aisha).' From amongst the wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) Zainab was my peer (in beauty and in the love she received from the Prophet) but Allah saved her from that evil because of her piety. Her sister Hamna started struggling on her behalf and she was destroyed along with those who were destroyed. The man who was blamed said, 'Subhan-Allah! By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, I have never uncovered the cover (i.e. veil) of any female.' Later, the man was martyred in Allah's Cause.’’

Tayammum – A Favor Bestowed Upon Muslims Because of Her

Once again, during a journey back to Madinah, ‘Aisha (RA) lost her necklace. The Prophet ﷺ sent several Companions to search for it, and they looked for so long that dawn approached. There was no water available, and the Companions feared they would miss the Fajr prayer because they could not perform ablution. Frustration spread, and some of them began to complain about the situation caused by ‘Aisha’s lost necklace.

At that very moment, Allah revealed a verse that became a lasting mercy for the entire Ummah. He said: “... But if you are ill, on a journey, or have relieved yourselves, or been intimate with your wives and cannot find water, then purify yourselves with clean earth, wiping your faces and hands. And Allah is Ever-Pardoning, All-Forgiving.” — Surah An-Nisa’ (4:43)

With this Ayat, the ruling of tayammum, purification with clean earth when water is unavailable, was revealed. The situation changed instantly. The very people who had moments earlier complained now praised ‘Aisha, realizing that through her, Allah had granted the Muslims a decree of ease that would remain until the Day of Judgment.

Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (RA), who had just scolded her out of irritation, now smiled with joy. He realized how pleased Allah was with his daughter and prayed that she would live a long and blessed life, for she had become a source of mercy and ease for the entire Ummah.

And when they finally prepared to depart, the lost necklace was found lying beneath one of the camels.

Death of the Prophet ﷺ

When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ fell gravely ill, ‘Aisha also was unwell at the same time. With tenderness, the Prophet told her that if she were to die before him, he would personally bathe, shroud, and pray for her, and lower her into her grave. Playfully, she replied that it sounded as though he would celebrate her death, adding that if she passed away first, he should bring another wife into her room. The Prophet smiled at her words. Yet it was during this very illness that he departed from this world to meet his Lord. ‘Aisha later said she was deeply honored that the Prophet passed away in her apartment, on her day, resting against her chest.

In his final moments, her brother ‘Abdur-Rahman entered holding a miswak (a tooth-cleaning stick). The Prophet ﷺ looked toward it, and ‘Aisha understood his wish. She took the miswak, softened it with her teeth, and offered it to him. He used it, then wiped his face repeatedly, saying, “There is none worthy of worship but Allah. Verily, death has its agonies.” Finally, he raised his hand toward the sky and said three times, “oh Allah, the Highest Companion,” before his soul peacefully departed to meet his Lord.

Earlier, ‘Aisha had dreamed that three moons would descend into her room. When the Prophet was buried there, her father, Abu Bakr, told her that one part of her dream had come true and the Prophet ﷺ was the best of her moons. Years later, when Abu Bakr and then ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) were buried beside him, the dream was fulfilled completely.

Imam Thabit narrated that the Prophet ﷺ once said, “A prophet’s soul is taken in the place he loves most.” This confirms that the dearest place to him in his final breath on earth was the home of ‘Aisha (RA).

Her Life After the Prophet ﷺ - A Legacy of Generosity and Knowledge

‘Urwa ibn az-Zubayr, ‘Aisha’s nephew, said that no one’s prayer resembled the Prophet’s ﷺ prayer as much as ‘Aisha’s. She prayed just as he prayed, with great khushu‘ (focus during prayer), humility, and a beautiful, steady recitation. She would stand in long night prayers, repeating the same Ayat for hours, just as the Prophet ﷺ used to do. She fasted frequently, and even after the Prophet’s death, she chose to live at the same level of simplicity she had lived with him. She ate little, kept little, and gave in charity everything she received. Her trust in Allah outweighed her trust in whatever wealth she possessed.

‘Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr described his aunt and mother, ‘Aisha and Asma’, as exceptionally generous women who spent everything in the path of Allah. Their methods differed: ‘Aisha would gather wealth, then disperse it all at once, while Asma’ would give immediately, even if it meant going into debt. When people questioned her willingness to incur debt, Asma’ explained that she trusted Allah to support those who sincerely intended to repay and sought His mercy through acts of generosity.

‘Aisha’s acts of charity were extraordinary. She once distributed 70.000 dirhams in a single sitting. On another occasion, she gave away 100.000 dirhams, forgetting to save anything for herself though she was fasting. When her maid reminded her, she replied, “You should have reminded me earlier.” Another day, she gave away her only piece of bread to a beggar, trusting Allah to provide, and by the evening, food had been sent to her. She even sold a house she possessed and gave all its proceeds to charity.

Her affection for her nephew, ‘Abdullah bin az-Zubayr, was tested when he suggested in public she should moderate her generosity. Hurt by the comment, she vowed not to speak to him, but eventually they reconciled, and she freed several slaves as expiation for breaking her oath. Freeing slaves was a recurring act of her life.

‘Aisha was also very compassionate. Once, before the Prophet’s ﷺ death, she gave three dates to a poor mother with two children and watched as the mother split her own date in half to feed them both. Moved by the scene, ‘Aisha wept, overwhelmed by the woman’s selflessness and maternal love.

Her home became a sanctuary for orphans. She brought them in, fed them, clothed them, and, most importantly, educated them. She taught them Qur’an, grammar, poetry, religion, and good character. When the orphans were girls, she raised them until marriage and sponsored their weddings. Her home became a center of learning for women and girls throughout Madinah.

From a young age, ‘Aisha (RA) possessed remarkable intelligence and a sharp capacity to learn. She absorbed vast knowledge directly from the Prophet ﷺ and became one of the greatest narrators of his teachings. No woman in the Ummah had a deeper understanding of Islam. Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari (RA) said: “Whenever we, the Companions of Muhammad ﷺ, faced difficulty understanding a Hadith, we would ask ‘Aisha and she always had knowledge of it.”

‘Aisha held a position of great honor and respect due to her exceptional knowledge, wisdom, and profound understanding of Islam. She was frequently consulted by both male and female Companions on intricate matters of faith and law. A vast number of authentic Hadiths, around 2,210, were narrated by her, making her one of the most significant transmitters of the Prophet’s teachings. Scholars state that nearly one-fourth of Islamic rulings trace back to her.

Her intellect and grasp of Islamic jurisprudence, especially inheritance law, were widely recognized. Having been raised by her father, Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, a man of profound faith and knowledge, and having lived closely with the Prophet ﷺ from a young age, she developed a remarkable mastery of religious knowledge. Her nephew ‘Urwah frequently visited her for religious discussions, and other Companions envied his access, as her mahram, to her knowledge.

Az-Zuhri (RA) said: “If all the knowledge of the women of this Muslim nation, including the wives of the Prophet ﷺ, were gathered, ‘Aisha’s knowledge would surpass them all.” But her knowledge wasn’t just superior to that of women. ‘Urwah ibn az-Zubayr said: “I have never seen anyone more knowledgeable in Qur’an, Hadith, Fiqh, poetry, Arabic history, or lineage than ‘Aisha.”

There are also reports from early scholars that highlight her exceptional eloquence, to the point that some remarked she spoke with a clarity and mastery that even surpassed the oratory of great figures of her time: Abu Bakr, Umar ibn al-Khattab, Uthman ibn Nawfal and ‘Ali ibn Talib. While these statements are not tied to a single fully authenticated chain, they reflect the widespread recognition of her unmatched intellect and rhetorical skill in the earliest generations of Muslims.

Her death

She passed away at the age of 66, on Tuesday, the 17th of Ramadan, 58 A.H. Her funeral prayer was led by Abu Hurayrah (RA), and she was buried at the same night in Jannatul Baqi’. She was not laid to rest in her own chamber beside the Prophet ﷺ as she had selflessly given up that space for ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattab (RA).

Conclusion

The life of ‘Aisha (RA) is an example to what a believing woman can become when guided by faith, sincerity, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge. She was not only the beloved wife of the Prophet ﷺ, but also a scholar, jurist, teacher, poet, caregiver, reformer, and one of the greatest intellectual authorities in Islamic history.

‘Aisha’s (RA) life demonstrates that a woman can have even greater knowledge than men and be a mentor to scholars and experts. It also shows that a woman can inspire and lead both men and women, all while embracing her femininity and providing joy, comfort, and companionship to her husband.

As we reflect on her legacy, we must ask ourselves:

1. In what ways can we use our influence, big or small, to benefit those around us?

2. Are we handling challenges, disagreements, or misunderstandings with wisdom and dignity?

3. What legacy do we hope to leave behind, and what steps are we taking to build it?

May Allah grant us wisdom like that of ‘Aisha (RA), patience in hardship, sincerity in worship, and the strength to uplift others. May He fill our hearts with light, our homes with peace, and our lives with purpose. May he make us among those who inspire, learn, and who walk the path that leads to His pleasure. And may He reunite us with the Prophet ﷺ and with ‘Aisha in the highest gardens of Paradise.
Ameen.

References

Primary Sources

Qur’an 4:43. (n.d.). Quran.com. Retrieved from Surah An-Nisa - 43 - Quran.com 

Qur’an 24:11–20. (n.d.). Quran.com. Retrieved from Surah An-Nur - 11-20 - Quran.com

Qur’an 24:22. Quran.com. Retrieved from Surah An-Nur - 22 - Quran.com

Al-Bukhari, M. I. (n.d.). Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 4141. Retrieved from Sahih al-Bukhari 4141 - Military Expeditions led by the Prophet (pbuh) (Al-Maghaazi) - كتاب المغازى - Sunnah.com - Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)

Al-Bukhari, M. I. (n.d.). Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 5217. Retrieved from Sahih al-Bukhari 5217 - Wedlock, Marriage (Nikaah) - كتاب النكاح - Sunnah.com - Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)

Secondary Sources

Ghadanfar, M. A. (2012, January 13). Great Women of Islam Who Were Given the Good News of Paradise. DARUSSALAM Publishers & Distributors. Retrieved from Great Women of Islam : Mahmood Ahmad Ghadanfar : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Islamweb. (2013, March 11). ‘Aa’ishah bint Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq. Retried from ‘Aishabint Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq

Islamweb. (2016, January 3). 'Aa'ishah: the mother of the believers. Retrieved from Aaishah the mother of the believers

Qutb, M. A. (2022, January 23). Women Around The Messenger. International Islamic Publishing House. Retrieved from en_Women_Around_The_Messenger : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Suleiman, O. (2023, February 15). Aisha bint Abu Bakr (ra): Slander and Death of the Prophet ﷺ | The Firsts | Dr. Omar Suleiman. Yaqeen Institute. Retrieved from Aisha bint Abu Bakr (ra): Slander and Death of the Prophet ﷺ | The Firsts | Dr. Omar Suleiman

Suleiman, O. (2023, February 22). Aisha bint Abu Bakr (ra): Legacy and Life after Rasulallah ﷺ | The Firsts | Dr. Omar Suleiman. Yaqeen Institute. Retrieved from Aisha bint Abu Bakr (ra): Legacy and Life after Rasulallah ﷺ | The Firsts | Dr. Omar Suleiman

Note:
All Qur’anic and Hadith references cited in this article are drawn from authentic and widely recognized Islamic sources. Interpretations are based on classical tafsir and contemporary scholarship for educational and reflective purposes.