'Aa'ishah: the mother of the believers

When the Prophet emigrated from Makkah to Al-Madeenah he was
accompanied by Abu Bakr ('Aa'ishah's father) who had the most
knowledge about the Quraysh -- both the good and badaspects. He was a
well-known honorable merchant to whom people came to seek and gain
more knowledge.
'Aa'ishah's mother was called Umm Rummaan bint 'Umayr bin 'Amer coming
from the sons of Al-Haarith bin Ghanam bin Ka'ab, and she was among
the first group who embraced Islam. She had been married to 'Abdullaah
bin 'Abdul-Asad before she married Abu Bakr, and she had a son from
her first husband called At-Tufayl, and she gave birth to 'Aa'ishah
and 'Abdur-Rahmaan from Abu Bakr . She emigrated to Al-Madeenah after
the establishment of Islam there. When she died, Abu Bakr said: "O
Allaah! You know best how Umm Rummaan was hurt for Your sake and the
sake of Your Prophet ."
The Prophet used to entrust 'Aa'ishah to Umm Rummaan's charge and say:
"O Umm Rummaan, be kind to 'Aa'ishah and be mindful of me by this
kindness."
In fact, the Prophet used to love the clean and pure household of Abu
Bakr because the man of the house -- Abu Bakr -- was a man who needed
no introduction; his character and lineage were not something to
inquire about.
The Messenger of Allaah thought about proposing to 'Aa'ishah for
marriage when Khawlah bint Haakim Al-Aslamiah said to him: "What do
you say about marrying 'Aa'ishah the daughter of Abu Bakr?"; he,
sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam then moved his head in the affirmative,
saying yes. Then Khawlah went to Umm Rummaan to tell her the news and
said: "O Umm Rummaan, youcannot imagine how Allaah has blessed your
house!"
Khawlah said: "The Messenger of Allaah sent me to seek 'Aa'ishah for
marriage." Umm Rummaan said: "Wait for Abu Bakr, he is coming soon."
When Abu Bakr came back, Khawlah told him the news and he said: "Is
she suitable for him? She is his niece." Khawlah then went back to the
Prophet andtold him what Abu Bakr had told her, and he said: "Go back
and tell Abu Bakr that he is my brother in Islam and I am his, and his
daughter is good enough for me."
Abu Bakr thought deeply about this and then went to Mut'am bin'Uday,
who had proposed 'Aa'ishah for marriage to his son Jubayr. These
people were still disbelievers. When Abu Bakr entered their house,
they said: "O son of Abu Quhaafah, we fear that if our son married
your daughter 'Aa'ishah, then she would convince him of Islam and we
do not want this to happen."
Abu Bakr did not answer, buton the contrary he was very pleased with
that. In this way he was freed of their promise and he could give his
full agreement for the blessed marriage.
'Aa'ishah narrated how she became married to the Messenger of Allaah,
sallallaahu ''alayhi wa sallam, and said: "The Prophet came to our
house, and many people gathered there to meet him. Then my mother came
to me while I was playing, she took me to the door where the Prophet
was sitting. I wasso embarrassed and I melted in shyness. Then my
mother put mebeside the Prophet and said: "This is your wife, may
Allaah bless her for you, and bless you for her." People then left the
room, and at that night nothing was slaughtered for me and I was nine
years old at that time." Although she was young, she was a mature girl
who had reached puberty. People described 'Aa'ishah on her wedding day
and said: "She was animble, wide-eyed bride, with curly hair and a
shiny face."
Whereas Khadeejah was already a wise and mature woman when she married
the Prophet Muhammad 'Aa'ishah was a spirited young girl who still had
a great deal to learnwhen she married the Prophet . However, she was
very quickto learn, for she had a clear heart,a quick mind and an
accurate memory. She was not afraid to talk back in order to find out
the truth or make it known, and whenever she beat someone else in
argument, the Prophet would smile and say: "She is the daughter of Abu
Bakr!"
Moosaa bin Talhah once said: "I have not seen anyone more eloquent
than 'Aa'ishah." 'Aa'ishah became so wise that one of her
contemporaries used to say that if the knowledgeof 'Aa'ishah were
placed on one side of the scales and that of all other women on the
other, 'Aa'ishah's side would outweigh the others. She used to sit
with the other women and pass on the knowledge that she had received
from the Prophet . She was a source of knowledge and wisdom for both
women andmen long after the Prophet died and as long as she lived.
AbuMoosaa once said: "Whenevera report appeared doubtful to us (the
Companions of the Prophet) and we asked 'Aa'ishah about it, we always
learned something from her about it."
In addition to being extremely intelligent, 'Aa'ishah became a very
graceful young woman. When she first came to live in theProphet's
household as a young girl, a strong and lasting friendship grew up
between her and Sawdah, and Sawdah took care of her along with the
rest of the household. When 'Aa'ishah grew up, Sawdah, who was by then
an old woman, gave up her share of the Prophet's time in favor of
'Aa'ishah and was content to manage his household and be Umm al
Mu'mineen 'The Mother of the Believers' -- a title of respect that
was given to all the wives of the Prophet which confirmed what the
Quran clearlystates that no man could marry any of them after they had
been married to the Prophet :
{The Prophet is more worthy of the believers than themselves, and his
wives are (in the position of) their mothers.} [Quran 33:6]
During the nine years that 'Aa'ishah was married to Prophet Muhammad
she witnessed many of the great events that shaped the destiny ofthe
first Muslim community of Al-Madeenah al Munawarra: It was during the
course of their marriage that the direction of theQiblah was changed
from Jerusalem to Makkah, thereby distinguishing the Muslims more
clearly from Jews and Christians. It was during the course of their
marriage that she must have listened to many of the Jews, Christians
and idol worshippers who came not to listen to the Prophet but to
argue with him, in the hope that they could find a plausible excuse to
justify their rejection of him. It was through exchanges such as
thesethat 'Aa'ishah learned to distinguish what was true from what was
false.
As the prophetic guidance continued to be revealed throughthe Prophet
Muhammad, sallallaahu ''alayhi wa sallam, 'Aa'ishah's way of life,
along withthat of all the Muslims, was gradually reshaped and refined.
Itwas during the course of their marriage that drinking alcohol was
finally forbidden, it was made clear what food was allowed (Halaal)
and what was prohibited (Haraam), it became necessary for women to
wear theHijaab in public and while praying, guidance regarding how to
fast was revealed, paying the Zakaat became obligatory on all Muslims
and all rites of Hajj were purified and clarified.
In fact, every aspect of life -- frombirth to death and everything
that happens in between -- was illuminated by the way in which the
Prophet behaved. It was this way of behavior (the Sunnah), that
'Aa'ishah helped to preserve and protect, not only by embodying it
herself, but also by teaching it to others.
The life of 'Aa'ishah 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 a 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 retain her feminity and be a source
of pleasure, joy and comfort to her husband.
'Aa'ishah spent her life with the Prophet until he died in her lap,
whereupon she said: "He died between my chest and my neck, then I put
his head on a pillow when people became very quiet while I was
mourning and suffering deep sadness."