Aisha bint Abi Bakr: Medieval Islamic Scholar (2024)

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Aisha bint Abi Bakr: Medieval Islamic Scholar? ›

Aisha had an important role in early Islamic history, both during Muhammad's life and after his death. In Sunni tradition, Aisha is portrayed as scholarly, intelligent and inquisitive. She contributed to the spread of Muhammad's message and served the Muslim community for 44 years after his death.

She was a wife, a scholar, and a political leader who made significant contributions to the growth and development of Islam. Aisha (RA) was born in Mecca in 614 CE. She was the daughter of Abu Bakr (RA), who would later become the first caliph of Islam, and his wife, Umm Ruman (RA).

Asma was one of the first to accept Islam, being listed fifteenth on Ibn Ishaq's list of those who accepted Islam at the invitation of Abu Bakr. When Muhammad and Abu Bakr sought refuge in the cave of Thawr outside Mecca on their migration to Medina in 622, Asma used to carry food to them under cover of dark.

A sharp thinker and a veracious scholar of the Quran and sunnah, Aisha was a highly revered and respected leader of the early Muslim community. She was seen as an authority on matters of religion as well as politics and law. After the Prophet's death, Aisha was a key player in politics.

Aisha Abd al-Rahman, writing under her pen name Bint al-Shati ("Daughter of the Riverbank"), was one of the first to undertake Quranic exegesis, and though she did not consider herself to be a feminist, her works reflect feminist themes.

Aisha had an important role in early Islamic history, both during Muhammad's life and after his death. In Sunni tradition, Aisha is portrayed as scholarly, intelligent and inquisitive. She contributed to the spread of Muhammad's message and served the Muslim community for 44 years after his death.

Born to Abu Quhafa and Umm al-Khayr of the Banu Taym, Abu Bakr was amongst the earliest converts to Islam and propagated dawah to the Mushrikites. He was considered the first Muslim missionary as several companions of Muhammad converted through Abu Bakr.

It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin Buraidah that his father said: "Abu Bakr and 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, proposed marriage to Fatimah but the Messenger of Allah said: 'She is young.' Then 'Ali proposed marriage to her and he married her to him."

There is consensus that Hazrat Aisha was 10 years younger than her elder sister Asma, whose age at the time of the hijrah, or migration to Madina, was about 28. It can be concluded that Hazrat Aisha was about 18 years old at migration. On her moving to the Prophet's house, she was a young woman at 21.

Asma a was one of the few persons who knew of the Prophet's plan to leave for Madinah. The utmost secrecy had to be maintained because of the Quraysh plans to murder the Prophet. On the night of their departure, Asmaa was the one who prepared a bag of food and a water container for their journey.

Who is Aisha in the Quran? ›

ʿĀʾishah (born 614, Mecca, Arabia [now in Saudi Arabia]—died July 678, Medina) was the third wife of the Prophet Muhammad (the founder of Islam), who played a role of some political importance after the Prophet's death.

Through both her roles as wife and public/political leader, Aisha demonstrates not only Muhammad's favoritism, but the influence she would have throughout Islam. Aisha's role as wife and as a political and public figure makes her a prominent figure in the early developments in Islam.

To consider the marriages of the prophet outside of these calculations is profoundly ahistorical. What the records are clear on is that Muhammad and Aisha had a loving and egalitarian relationship, which set the standard for reciprocity, tenderness and respect enjoined by the Qur'an.

We can now take an informed estimate of her age at consummation. Aisha's Median Age at Consummation = 9 years and 3 months. Muhammad's Age = 52 years and 0 months. Age Difference = 42 years and 9 months.

She was an enlightened thinker who reported the Prophet's characteristics and exhibited exemplary morality. She spread all the issues stated by the messenger of Allah straightly to future generations. She was a rara avis, a science expert who set an example to all humanity with her superior virtues.

During a time in Islam when women were not expected, or wanted, to contribute outside the household, Aisha delivered public speeches, became directly involved in war and even battles, and helped both men and women to understand the practices of Muhammad.

It is attributed to Abu Bakr's daughter Aisha that Fatima was the most beloved of women to the prophet, and Ali was the most beloved of men to him, according to the Sunni al-Hakim al-Nishapuri and al-Tirmidhi ( d. 892) and the Shia al-Qadi al-Nu'man, among others. A similar tradition is cited by the Sunni al-Suyuti.

All of his sons died in infancy. All the prophet Muhammad's children were born to his first wife, Khadijah, except his son Ibrahim, who was born to Mariam al-Qibtiyya. No children were born to Aisha, or ten of his other wives.