Aisha: Difference between revisions

During the Caliphate

After the Prophet's death, Aisha strongly supported the rule of her father Abu Bakr, then Umar b. al-Khattab, and even during the first half of Uthman b. Affan's caliphate, she was a staunch supporter of the government of the time.<ref>The Role of Aisha in the History of Islam, vol. 1, p. 45.</ref> In the second half of Uthman's rule, she became dissatisfied with him, but after his assassination, she demanded revenge for his blood and confronted Imam Ali (a) in the Battle of the Camel.<ref>Encyclopedia of Hadith, p. 147.</ref>

Aisha was defeated in the Battle of the Camel, and Imam Ali (a) returned her to Medina with respect.<ref>The Role of Aisha in the History of Islam, vol. 1, p. 46; Encyclopedia of Amir al-Mu'minin Based on the Quran, Hadith, and History, vol. 4, p. 415.</ref> She lived in Medina until Imam Ali's martyrdom (40 AH) and did not leave the city afterward.<ref>The Role of Aisha in the History of Islam, vol. 1, p. 46.</ref> Due to Aisha's stance against Ali (a)—especially her role in the Battle of the Camel—she has faced criticism from Shi'a scholars,<ref>The Role of Aisha in the History of Islam, vol. 1, pp. 205–206, vol. 3, p. 322; Al-Sahih min Sirat al-Nabi al-A'zam (s), vol. 3, p. 291; Encyclopedia of al-Baqi' al-Sharif, p. 449.</ref> and she also prevented the burial of Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba (a) next to the Prophet.<ref>Encyclopedia of Amir al-Mu'minin Based on the Quran, Hadith, and History, vol. 4, p. 415.</ref>

Status

Aisha is regarded as a prominent figure in the early Islamic period for her contributions in political, theological, hadith, and jurisprudential matters.<ref>"Clarifying the Scientific Role and Status of Aisha bint Abu Bakr…," p. 42.</ref> She is said to have been a jurist,<ref>Tahdhib al-Kamal fi Asma' al-Rijal, vol. 35, pp. 233–235; Encyclopedia of Hadith, p. 148.</ref> a Quran memorizer, an eloquent speaker,<ref>Encyclopedia of Amir al-Mu'minin Based on the Quran, Hadith, and History, vol. 4, p. 513.</ref> and was known for her remarkable memory.<ref>"Clarifying the Scientific Role and Status of Aisha bint Abu Bakr…," pp. 43 & 48; The Role of Aisha in the History of Islam, vol. 1, p. 47.</ref> Sunni scholars have written extensively about her virtues.<ref>Tahdhib al-Kamal fi Asma' al-Rijal, vol. 35, pp. 233–235; Siyar A'lam al-Nubala', vol. 2, pp. 140–141.</ref> She narrated many hadiths from the Messenger of Allah (s);<ref>"Clarifying the Scientific Role and Status of Aisha bint Abu Bakr…," p. 42.</ref> it is said that after the Prophet's death, she was a scholarly reference for the companions.<ref>Tahdhib al-Kamal fi Asma' al-Rijal, vol. 35, pp. 233–235; "Clarifying the Scientific Role and Status of Aisha bint Abu Bakr…," p. 42; Encyclopedia of Hadith, p. 148.</ref> After Abu Hurayrah and Abdullah b. Umar b. al-Khattab, she is the third most prolific narrator of hadith from the Prophet (s). The number of her hadiths is said to exceed two thousand.<ref>Encyclopedia of Hadith, p. 149.</ref>

Hadiths from Aisha include accounts about Masjid al-Haram<ref>See: Sirat b. Kathir, vol. 4, pp. 410 & 413.</ref> and other places like al-Baqi'; for instance, she narrated that the Prophet would visit al-Baqi' and pray for forgiveness for those buried there.<ref>Islamic Monuments of Mecca and Medina, Jafarian, p. 347.</ref>

Masjid al-Tan'im

{{Main|Masjid al-Tan'im}}

Masjid al-Tan'im is a site designated as a Miqat (place for donning ihram) for Umrah al-Mufradah. It was once popularly known as Aisha's Mosque because the Prophet (s) instructed her to assume ihram from this location.<ref>Islamic Monuments of Mecca and Medina, p. 172.</ref> An inscription from the mosque's renovation in 310 AH also mentions Aisha's name.<ref>Islamic Monuments of Mecca and Medina, p. 172.</ref>

According to the well-known view, the Prophet (s) is buried in Aisha's chamber (his residence with Aisha) within Al-Masjid an-Nabawi. Later, Abu Bakr and Umar b. al-Khattab were also buried there.<ref>Islamic Monuments of Mecca and Medina, p. 278.</ref>

Aisha's Column

Aisha's Tomb in Al-Baqi'

According to her will, Aisha was buried in Al-Baqi' Cemetery, alongside the other Mothers of the Believers.<ref>The Role of Aisha in the History of Islam, vol. 1, p. 46; "The Sleepers of al-Baqi' (13)," p. 49.</ref> Her grave is near the burial site of Jabir b. Abdullah al-Ansari.<ref>Encyclopedia of al-Baqi' al-Sharif, p. 154.</ref> Later, an open enclosure was built over her grave and those of some of the other wives buried nearby. In the 9th century AH, a dome was constructed over it, which became known as Qubbat al-Zawjat (The Dome of the Prophet's Wives).<ref>Al-Baqi' in the Mirror of Artistic Depictions, p. 23.</ref>