The Story of the Wife of the Prophet SAW
One of the Islamic stories that should be known by all Muslims is Aisha bint Abi Bakr. This interesting story can be summarized as follows: Based on existing records that Aisha bint Abi Bakr was born in 614 AD and died in 678 AD Aishah was one of the daughters of the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad or followers of the Prophet Muhammad, Abu Bakr, and then Aisha became the third wife of the Prophet. This is after the death of Khadijah (the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad). Among the wives of the Prophet SAW, Aishah was the foremost among them after the death of his wife; Khadija al-Kubra.
After the caliphate of Sayyidina Umar ibn Khattab (the period of Islamic rule), Aishah was among those who opposed some of the policies of the third Caliph Uthman ibn Affan. But when Sayyidina ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib became the 4th Caliph, Aisha demanded the death of Uthman. Aisha bint Abi Bakr joined some of the Prophet’s companions and rebelled against Sayyidina Ali bin Abi Talib (4th caliph). Ali defeated Aisha’s army in the war of Jamal (war of the camels) and Aisha bint Abi Bakr was captured and Ali sent her well to Medina, and then Aisha died in 678, after about 20 years.
All Muslims honor and respect to Aisha, as the wife of the Prophet Muhammad who narrated many hadiths from the Prophet Muhammad. In fact, Aisha is also considered as the authority for the interpretation of the Koran. Aisha’s life is proof that a woman can also have high knowledge even though she became a teacher for many great scholars at that time even though Aisha was not formally educated. His sayings and legal statements are studied and discussed in various learning centers by Islamic scholars around the world.
Aisha is a Woman with the Strongest Memory
Her father, named Abu Bakr, was the first Khalifat of Islam who succeeded the Prophet Muhammad, Abu Bakr was a close friend of the Prophet SAW since the beginning of the spread of Islam. Aisha has an extraordinary memory, and this is what made her so famous in her youth. Furthermore, as the wife and friend of the Prophet, Aisha gained a lot of direct knowledge from the Prophet SAW that has not been obtained by women and even by other people in general.
There is controversy about Aisha’s age at the time of marriage. But a lot of literature says that Aisha married when she was 9 years old, but the actual wedding did not take place until the second year after the hijrah (the migration to Madina), when she was about fourteen or fifteen years old.
After marrying the Messenger of Allah SWT. He never thought of being married to a messenger of God of the universe, someone who was loved by all his friends, not only loved, but respected and loved even as a human being with perfect morals. This is clear as the task of the Prophet SAW, namely to perfect noble character.
It is clear that among all the wives of the Prophet, Aisha was the one he loved the most. One time, Aisha asked the Prophet (saw). “How do you love me”. He replied: “Like the rope’s knot,” this means it is very strong and safe and will not break. After all this time, she would ask him: “How is the knot?” and he would reply: “’Ala haaliha” (=in the same condition.) Later, Aisha used to say: “I was not jealous from any of the other Prophet’s wives, as I was jealous from Khadijah. That is because of his constant mentioning of her and because Allah had commanded him to give her good tidings of a mansion in Paradise of precious stones. And whenever he sacrificed a sheep he would send a fair portion of it to those who had been her intimate friends. Many a time I said to him: as if there was no other woman in this world besides Khadijah!”
Aishah bint Abu Bakr was a very generous and caring woman. She lived as is with the Prophet SAW, along with other family members also even this lasted for a very long time. Once upon a time: There was nothing to cook, But he lived by eating only dates and water. Poverty does not make him suffer and sufficiency does not destroy his soul.
Once upon a time Aisha was given a hundred thousand dirhams (the Arab currency at that time). She fasts when there is money and the money is given entirely to the poor even though she has no food supply at home. Once a waitress asked “can you buy one dirham of meat for iftar?” Aisha replied “if I remember, then I will do it”.
The Prophet’s love for Aisha remained until the end of his life. When the Prophet was sick, He stayed at Aisha’s house and this was on the advice of his other wives. It was with Aishah that the Prophet (PBUH) spent the last days of this life.
After the wafat (passing away) of the Prophet SAW, Aisha lived almost 50 years. She became the wife of the Prophet Muhammad for almost a decade. Most of her time is spent with the Prophet SAW to learn about the two sources of Islamic law, namely the Koran and Hadith. Aisha is one of the 3 wives of the Prophet SAW who memorized the Koran. The other two are Hafsah and Umm Salamah.
One of the Greatest Hadith Narrators
Talking about the hadith or sayings of the Prophet SAW, then Aisha is one of the four companions who spread the hadith the most, the other three being Abu Hurayrah, Abdullah ibn Umar, and Anas ibn Malik. Aisha has narrated the hadith of more than 2000 sayings of the Prophet Muhammad. Most of them are related to intimate matters and can only be learned by people in the position of Aisha (wife of the Prophet SAW).
Many of the companions of the Prophet SAW who were good at religion because they took many benefits from Aishah ra. Abu Musa al-Ash’ari said: “If we companions of the Messenger of God had any difficulty on a matter, we asked Aisha about it.”
His nephew Urwah once stated “Aisha was proficient not only in Islamic law (fiqh), but also in medicine and poetry. Many of the companions of the Prophet SAW came to her for advice on inheritance which required a very skilled knowledge of mathematics.
Also read: The History of Zamzam Water Well in Mecca
Among Islamic scholars since ancient times, Aisha bint Abu Bakr is considered a very early scholar of Islamic law. Among the other companions were Umar bin Khattab, Abdullah ibn Abbas and Sayyidina Ali. There is a famous saying about Aishah: “Learn a portion of your religion from this red colored lady.” “Humayra” meaning “red-colored”. It was a description given to Aisha by the Prophet SAW.
Aishah not only has extensive knowledge but also plays an important role in education and social reform. As a teacher, Aisha has a clear and persuasive way of speaking. the power of his speeches has been described in superlative terms by al-Ahnaf who said: “I have heard speeches of Abu Bakr and Umar, Uthman and Ali Karamallahuwajhah and the Khulafa (rulers of them Muslims) up to this day, but I have not heard speech more persuasive and more beautiful from the mouth of any person than from the mouth of Aisha RA.”