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ʿĀʾishah
The Mother of the Believers
  ‫ر‬
‫عا‬ 

Summarised from
Siyar Aʿlām Al-Nubalāʾ

Translated by
Abdul Aleem Al-Malibari

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All Rights Reserved.

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 Translator's Note

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Praise

and blessings be upon the Messenger ‫ ﷺ‬.

This humble work is a translation of select passages from

the biography of ʿĀʾishah (r.a) from the book Siyar Aʿlam
al-Nubalāʾ by Imam Al-Dhahabi.

I have added chapter names which are not part of the origi-
nal work in Arabic for the sake of easy navigation.

The translations, especially those of the hadīth, should not

be considered authoritative as these are my own. These
should be simply used as a guide to understand the Arabic.

Abdul Aleem Al-Malibari,

Kerala, India
17 Rabīʿ I, 1445 AH, 2 October 2023
 Contents
1. Introduction.....1

2. Her Marriage to the Prophet.....7

3. The Incident of the Slander.....11

4. Al-Hassān ibn Thābit’s Poetry about Her.....26

5. The Prophet ‫’ﷺ‬s Love for Her and Her Playfulness

with Him.....28

6. Her Incredible Knowledge.....30

7. Ibn ʿAbbās’s Praise of Her.....31

8. The Senior Companions Would Ask Her About the

Religion.....34

9. Her Generosity.....35

10. She Was Allah’s Messenger ‫’ ﷺ‬s Beloved.....36

11. Allah’s Messenger ‫ ﷺ‬Died on Her Chest.....37

12. She is His Wife in this World and the Next.....39

13. Her Nine Distinctions That No One Else Was

Given.....40

14. She is Mentioned in the Quran.....42

15. Her Death and Burial.....43

www.fluentarabic.net.
 1. Introduction

َّ ‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى‬
ِ ‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه‬ َّ ‫خل ِيفَة ِ َر ُسو ِل‬ َ ،‫اأْلَك ْبَ ِر‬ ْ ‫الصدِّي ِق‬ ِّ ‫ام‬ ِ ْ ‫ْت‬
ِ ‫اإْل َم‬ ُ ‫بِن‬
‫ان ب ْ ِن َعا ِم ِر ب ْ ِن َعمْ ِرو ب ْ ِن‬َ ‫حافَة َ عُث َْم‬ َ ُ ‫اهَّلل ِ ب ْ ِن أ َبِي ق‬
َّ ‫َو َسل َّ َم أ َبِي بَكْ ٍر َعب ْ ِد‬
،ُ‫ب ب ْ ِن ل َُؤيٍّ ؛ ال ْ ُقرشِ يَّة ُ التَّي ْ ِميَّة‬ ِ ْ ‫ ب ْ ِن َكع‬،َ‫ب ب ْ ِن َسع ْ ِد ب ْ ِن تَي ْ ِم ب ْ ِن ُم َّرة‬ ِ ْ ‫َكع‬
َ
،‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسلَّم‬
َ َّ ‫ي َصلَّى‬ ِّ ‫جة ُ الن َّ ِب‬
َ ْ‫ َزو‬،‫ين‬ َ ِ‫ أُم ُّ ال ْ ُمؤْ ِمن‬،ُ‫ النَّبَ ِويَّة‬،ُ‫كيَّة‬ ِّ ‫ال ْ َم‬
ِ ْ ‫اأْلُمَّة ِ َعلَى‬
.‫اإْلط ْ َاَل ِق‬ ْ ِ ‫ساء‬ َ ِ ‫أ َف ْ َقهُ ن‬

The daughter of the most prominent ‘truthful one’, the suc-

cessor of the Allah’s Messenger ‫ﷺ‬, Abū Bakr ʿAbdillāh
Ibn Abī Quḥāfa, ʿUthmān ibn ʿĀmir ibn ʿAmr ibn Kaʿb
ibn Saʿd ibn Taym ibn Murrah ibn Kaʿb ibn Luʾayy, from
the Quraysh, from Makkah, from the Prophet’s household,
the mother of the believers, the Prophet’s ‫ ﷺ‬wife, and the
most learned woman of the Ummah, unequivocally.

‫َّاب‬ ِ ْ‫ ب ْ ِن َعب ْ ِد َشم‬،‫ْت َعا ِم ِر ب ْ ِن عُ َوي ْ ِم ِر‬

ِ ‫ ب ْ ِن َعت‬،‫س‬ ُ ‫ان بِن‬
َ ‫وم‬ َ ‫َوأُم ُّ َها ه َِي أُم ُّ ُر‬
.ُ‫كنَانِيَّة‬ِ ْ ‫ب ْ ِن أ ُ َذيْنَة َ ال‬

Her mother was Ummu Rūmān bint ʿĀmir ibn ʿUwaymir

ibn ʿAbd al-Shams ibn ʿAttāb ibn Udhaynah, from Kinān.

َ َ ‫اهَّلل ِ قَبْل َ ُم َه‬

ِ ‫اج ِره ِ بَع ْ َد وفَاة‬ َّ ‫ي‬ ُّ ‫ج َها ن َ ِب‬
َ َّ‫ َوتَ َزو‬،‫اها‬ َ ِ ‫اج َر ب ِ َعائ‬
َ ‫شة َ أ َب َ َو‬ َ ‫َه‬
‫شر‬ ‫ضعة ِ ع‬ ْ ‫ و���ذلِك قبل الْهجرة ِ بب‬،‫ِيجة َ بِن ْتِ خويل ِ ٍد‬ َ ‫خد‬ َ ِ ‫ِّيقة‬
َ ‫الصد‬
َ َ َ َ ِِ َ ْ ِ َ ْ َ َ َ َ ْ َ ُ َّ
- ُ‫ ُمن ْ َصرفَه‬،‫خل ب ِ َها فِي َش َّوا ٍل َسنَة َ اثْنَتَي ْ ِن‬ ‫ ود‬.‫ بعامين‬:‫ وقِيل‬،‫شهرا‬
َ َ َ ََ ِ ْ َ َِ َ َ ًْ َ
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 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

.ٍ‫ َوهِي ابْنَة ُ ت ِْسع‬،‫ ِمنْ َغ ْز َوة ِ بَدْ ٍر‬- ُ ‫الس َاَلم‬ َّ ِ ‫َعلَيْه‬
َّ ‫الص َاَلة ُ َو‬
َ
Her parents emigrated with her, and the Prophet of Allah
married her before his hijrah after the death Khadījah bint
Khuwaylid ‘the truthful’. This was a little over 10 months
prior to the hijrah; it is also said that it was 2 years prior.
He consummated the marriage with her in the second year
of the hijrah, in the month of Shawwāl, on his return from
the Battle of Badr, while she was nine years old.

،‫ َو َعنْ عُ َمر‬.‫يها‬
َ َ ِ ‫ َو َعنْ أ َب‬.ِ‫ِيرا طَيِّبًا ُمبَ َاركًا فِيه‬ ْ ِ
ً ‫ت َعنْهُ عل ًما َكث‬ ْ ‫ف َ َر َو‬
.‫ب‬
ٍ ْ‫امة َ بِن ْتِ َوه‬
َ ‫ج َد‬ُ ‫ َو‬،‫ي‬ ِّ ‫اأْل َْسل َ ِم‬ َ ‫ َو‬،‫ َو َسع ْ ٍد‬،َ‫َوفَاطِ َمة‬
ْ ‫حمْ َزةَ ب ْ ِن َعمْ ٍرو‬

She narrated a large amount of excellent and bless-

ed knowledge from him, from her father, from ʿUmar,
Fāṭimah, Saʿd, Ḥamzah ibn ʿAmr al-Aslamiyy, and
Judāmah bint Wahb.

‫ ات َّفَ َق لَ َها‬.‫ِيث‬
َ ‫َحاد‬ َ ‫ش َرةَ أ‬ َ ‫شة َ يَبْل ُ ُغ أَلْفَي ْ ِن َو ِمائَتَي ْ ِن َو َع‬
َ ِ ‫سنَ ُد « َعائ‬ ْ ‫ُم‬
َ ُ ‫ َوانْفَ َر َد الْب‬،‫حدِيثًا‬
ُّ ‫خا ِري‬ َ ‫ِين‬َ ‫سل ٌِم َعلَى ِمائَة ٍ َوأ َْرب َ َعة ِ َو َسبْع‬ ْ ‫خا ِري ُّ َو ُم‬َ ُ ‫الْب‬
َ ِّ ‫س َعة ٍ َو ِست‬
.‫ين‬ ْ ِ ‫سل ٌِم بِت‬ ْ ‫ َوانْفَ َر َد ُم‬،‫ين‬ َ ‫س‬ ِ ْ‫خم‬ َ ‫بِأ َ ْرب َ َعة ٍ َو‬

ʿĀʾishah’s musnad (collection of hadīth narrated by her)

reaches 2210 hadīth. 174 of these are agreed upon by both
al-Bukhāri and Muslim, 54 are unique to al-Bukhāri, and
69 to Muslim.

2
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

َ ‫ َوه َِي أ َْص َغ ُر ِمنْ فَاطِ َمة َ بِث َ َمانِي ِسن‬،‫اإْل ْس َاَل ِم‬
،‫ِين‬ ِ ْ ‫شة ُ ِممَّنْ ُول ِ َد فِي‬ َ ِ ‫َو َعائ‬
َ ‫ لَم ْ أَعْقِل ْ أ َب َ َوي َّ إ ِ َّاَّل َو ُه َما يَدِينَا ِن الد‬:ُ‫ت تَ ُقول‬
.‫ِّين‬ ْ َ ‫َوكَان‬

ʿĀʾishah was of those who were born into the fold of

Islam, and she was younger than Fāṭimah by 8 years. She
would say, ‘I don’t remember my parents except that they
were [already] following the religion.’

ِ ‫ َولَم ْ يَتَ َزوَّج‬.ُ‫ح َمي ْ َراء‬ ُ ْ ‫ ال‬:‫ َو ِمنْ ثَم َّ ي ُ َقال ُ لَ َها‬.ً‫ج ِميلَة‬ َ َ‫َوكَانَتِ امْ َرأَة ً بَي ْ َضاء‬
ُ ً ‫ب امْ َرأَة‬
‫ َو َاَل‬،‫حب َّ َها‬ َّ ‫َح‬َ ‫ َو َاَل أ‬،‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسل َّ َم بِك ًْرا َغي ْ َر َها‬
َّ ‫ي َصلَّى‬ ُّ ‫الن َّ ِب‬
،‫ساء ِ ُمطْل َ ًقا‬ َ ِّ ‫ بَل ْ َو َاَل فِي الن‬،‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسل َّ َم‬
َّ ‫مَحُم َّ ٍد َصلَّى‬ َ ُ ِ ‫أَعْلَمُ فِي أُمَّة‬
.‫امْرأَة ً أَعْلَم ِمن ْ َها‬
َ َ

She was a woman of fair complexion and beauty. Whence

she got the name, al-Humayrāʾ )The fair one). The Prophet
‫ ﷺ‬did not marry a maiden other than her, nor did he love

a woman like he loved her. I (the author) don’t know in

the Ummah of Muhammad ‫ ﷺ‬or even amongst all women
(throughout history), someone more knowledgeable than
her.

‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى‬
َّ ُ ‫ قَال َ َر ُسول‬:‫ت‬ َ ِ ‫ َعنْ َعائ‬،ِ‫ َعنْ أ َبِيه‬،َ‫ِشام ُ ب ْ ُن عُ ْر َوة‬
ْ َ‫ قَال‬،َ‫شة‬ َ ‫ه‬
‫ك فِي‬ ُ َ ‫جاءَ بِكِ ال ْ َمل‬َ ،ٍ‫ث لَيَال‬ ِ َ‫ أ ُ ِريتُكِ فِي ال ْ َمن‬:‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسل َّ َم‬
َ ‫ام ث َ َاَل‬ َّ
ِ‫جهِكِ فَإ ِ َذا أَنْت‬ ْ ‫ فَأَك ْشِ ُف َعنْ َو‬،‫ك‬ َ ْ‫َس َرقَة ٍ ِمن‬
َ ُ ‫ َه ِذه ِ امْ َرأَت‬:ُ‫ح ِري ٍر فَيَ ُقول‬

3
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

ِ ْ‫اهَّلل ِ يُم‬
.ِ‫ضه‬ ُ َ‫ إِن ْ ي‬:ُ‫ فَأَقُول‬،ِ‫فِيه‬
َّ ‫ك َه َذا ِمنْ ِعن ْ ِد‬

ʿĀʾishah reported that Messenger of Allah ‫ ﷺ‬said: ‘You

were shown to me in a dream for three nights. An angel
brought you [wrapped] in a silk cloth, saying, ‘This is your
wife’, and I would uncover your face, and there you were.
I would say, “If this [matter] is from Allah, then let him
carry it out.’

‫ فَتَ َزوَّ َج‬،َ‫ِيجة‬ َ ‫خد‬ َ ِ ‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسل َّ َم ب ِ َها إِث ْ َر َوفَاة‬
َّ ‫يجهُ َصلَّى‬ ُ ‫ان تَ ْز ِو‬
َ َ‫َوك‬
ٍ‫ فَتَفَ َّر َد ب ِ َها ث َ َاَلثَة َ أَع ْ َوام‬،َ‫س ْو َدة‬ َ ِ ‫خل َ ب‬َ ‫ ثُم َّ َد‬،‫ح ٍد‬ ِ ‫ت َوا‬ ٍ ْ ‫س ْو َدةَ فِي َوق‬ َ ِ ‫ب ِ َها َوب‬
،‫اها‬َ ‫ ف َ َما تَ َزوَّ َج بِك ًْرا ِس َو‬،‫شة َ فِي َش َّوا ٍل بَع ْ َد َوق ْ َعة ِ بَدْ ٍر‬ َ ِ ‫حت َّى بَنَى ب ِ َعائ‬ َ
‫ َو ُه َو‬،‫اص‬ ِ ‫ث إِن َّ َعمْرو ب ْ َن ال ْ َع‬ ُ ْ ‫حي‬َ ِ ‫ ب‬،ِ‫اه ُر بِه‬
َ َ‫ان يَتَظ‬
َ َ‫ِيدا ك‬ً ‫حبًّا َشد‬ ُ ‫َحب َّ َها‬ َ ‫َوأ‬
َ
:‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسلَّم‬
َ َّ ‫ي َصلَّى‬ َّ ‫ َسأَل َ الن َّ ِب‬،ِ‫ج َرة‬ ْ ِ‫ِممَّنْ أ َْسل َ َم َسنَة َ ث َ َما ٍن ِم َن الْه‬
‫جا ِل؟‬ َ ‫الر‬
ِّ ‫ ف َ ِم َن‬:َ‫ قَال‬.ُ‫شة‬ َ ِ ‫ َعائ‬:َ‫اهَّللِ؟ قَال‬ َّ َ ‫ك يَا َر ُسول‬ َ ْ ‫ب إِلَي‬ ُّ ‫َح‬
َ ‫اس أ‬ ِ َّ ‫أ َي ُّ الن‬
.‫وها‬
َ ُ ‫ أ َب‬:َ‫قَال‬

The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬marriage to her was following Khadijah’s

death; he married her, and Sawdah at the same time.
He then consummated with Sawdah and remained with
her exclusively for 3 years — until he consummated his
marriage with ʿĀʾishah in the month of Shawwāl, after the
battle of Badr. He did not marry any maiden other than her
and loved her deeply; he would often show this love out-
wardly. So much so that ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ — he was from

4
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

those who entered Islam in 8th year of the hijrah — asked

the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬, ‘Who is the most beloved person to you O
Allah’s Messenger? He said, ‘ʿĀʾishah.’ ʿAmr asked, ‘And
from the men?’. He replied, ‘Her father.’

:‫ت‬ َ ِ ‫ َعنْ َعائ‬،ِ‫ َعنْ أ َبِيه‬،َ‫ام ب ْ ِن عُ ْر َوة‬

ْ َ‫ قَال‬،َ‫شة‬ َ ‫ َعنْ ه‬،‫اد ب ْ ُن َزي ْ ٍد‬
ِ ‫ِش‬ ُ َّ ‫حم‬
َ َ ‫قَال‬
ِ ‫جتَ َمع ْ َن َص َوا‬
‫ح ِبي‬ ْ ‫ فَا‬:‫ت‬ َ ِ ‫اهم ْ يَ ْومَ َعائ‬
ْ َ‫ قَال‬.َ‫شة‬ ُ َ‫ح َّروْ َن ب ِ َه َداي‬
َ َ‫اس يَت‬
ُ َّ ‫ان الن‬
َ َ‫ك‬
َ ِ ‫اهم ْ يَ ْومَ َعائ‬
‫ َوإِنَّا‬،َ‫شة‬ ُ َ‫ح َّروْ َن ب ِ َه َداي‬
َ َ‫اس يَت‬ ْ ُ
َ َّ ‫ إِن َّ الن‬:‫ ف َ ُقل َن لَ َها‬،َ‫إِلَى أم ِّ َسل َ َمة‬
َّ ‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى‬
ِ ‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه‬ َّ ‫ ف َ ُقولِي ل ِ َر ُسو ِل‬،ُ‫شة‬ َ ِ ‫يده ُ َعائ‬
ُ ‫خي ْ َر َك َما ت ُ ِر‬ َ ْ ‫يد ال‬
ُ ‫ن ُ ِر‬
ْ
،‫ك‬َ ِ ‫ت أُم ُّ َسل َ َمة َ لَهُ َ���ذل‬ َ َ‫اس أَن ْ يُهْ ُدوا لَهُ أ َيْنَ َما ك‬
ْ ‫ ف َ َذ َك َر‬،‫ان‬ َ َّ ‫َو َسل َّ َم يَأ ُم ُر الن‬
ِ‫ فَلَمَّا كَانَت‬،‫ فَلَم ْ يَ ُردَّ َعلَي ْ َها‬،َ‫ت الث َّانِيَة‬ ِ ‫اد‬ َ ‫ ف َ َع‬،‫ فَلَم ْ يَ ُردَّ َعلَي ْ َها‬،‫ت‬ ْ ‫ك‬ َ ‫س‬ َ َ‫ف‬
ْ ‫اهَّلل ِ َما ن َ َزل‬ َ ِ ‫ َاَل تُؤْذِينِي فِي َعائ‬،َ‫ يَا أُم َّ َسل َ َمة‬:َ‫الث َّالِثَة ُ قَال‬
َّ ‫ فَإِنَّهُ َو‬،َ‫شة‬
.ِ‫كنَّ َغي ْ ِر َها ُمت َّفَ ٌق َعلَى ِصحَّتِه‬ ُ ْ ‫اف امْ َرأَة ٍ ِمن‬
ِ ‫ح‬َ ِ ‫ي ال ْ َوحْ ُي َوأ َنَا فِي ل‬
َّ َ ‫َعل‬

ʿĀʾishah said: ‘The people would pick ʿĀʾishah’s day to

send gifts (to the Prophet ‫)ﷺ‬. So, my companions (the
Prophet’s ‫ ﷺ‬other wives) gathered with Umm Salamah.
They said to her, “The people pick ʿĀʾishah’s day to send
their gifts, but we want provisions like ʿĀʾishah wants
them. So, tell Allah’s Messenger ‫ ﷺ‬to ask the people to
send their gifts wherever he his. So Umm Salamah men-
tioned this to him, and he remained silent. So, she repeated
it a second time, and he still didn’t reply. When she said it
the third time, he said, “O Umm Salamah, do not bother
me regarding ʿĀʾishah, for indeed, by Allah, the revelation

5
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

has not come to me when I was under the blanket of any

woman from you, apart from her.”

Agreed upon.

6
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

2. Her Marriage to the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬

َّ ‫ َعنْ يَحْيَى ب ْ ِن َعب ْ ِد‬،‫مَحُم َّ ِد ب ْ ِن َعمْ ٍرو‬

‫الرحْ َم ِن ب ْ ِن‬ َ ُ ْ‫ َعن‬،‫يس‬
َ ‫اب ْ ُن إِدْ ِر‬
‫ْت‬
ُ ‫خ ْولَة ُ بِن‬
َ ‫ت‬ْ َ‫جاء‬َ ،ُ‫ِيجة‬ َ ‫خد‬ َ ‫ت‬ ْ َ‫ لَمَّا َمات‬:ُ‫شة‬ َ ِ ‫ت َعائ‬
ْ َ‫ قَال‬:َ‫ قَال‬،‫ب‬ ٍ ِ‫حاط‬َ
ْ َ‫ َو َمنْ؟ قَال‬:َ‫ أ ََاَل تَ َزوَّ ُج؟ قَال‬،ِ‫اهَّلل‬
‫ إِن ْ شِ ئ َْت‬:‫ت‬ َّ َ ‫ يَا َر ُسول‬:‫ت‬ ِ ‫ح‬
ْ َ‫كي ٍم ف َ َقال‬ َ
،‫ أَمَّا ال ْ ِبك ُْر‬:‫ت‬ ُ ِّ ‫ َم ِن ال ْ ِبك ُْر َو َم ِن الثَّي‬:َ‫بِك ًْرا َوإِن ْ شِ ئ َْت ثَيِّبًا؟ قَال‬
ْ َ‫ب؟ قَال‬
،َ‫ْت َزمْ َعة‬
ُ ‫س ْو َدة ُ بِن‬
َ َ ‫ ف‬،‫ب‬ُ ِّ ‫ َوأَمَّا الثَّي‬،‫ك‬ َ ْ ‫اهَّلل ِ إِلَي‬
َّ ‫خل ْ ِق‬َ ‫ب‬ ِّ ‫َح‬ َ ‫شة ُ ابْنَة ُ أ‬َ ِ ‫ف َ َعائ‬
‫ان‬
َ ‫وم‬َ ‫ت أُم َّ ُر‬
ُ ْ ‫ فَأَتَي‬:‫ت‬ْ َ‫ قَال‬.‫ي‬ َّ َ ‫ اذ ْ ُك ِريهِ َما َعل‬:َ‫ قَال‬.‫ْك‬ َ ‫ك َوات َّبَ َعت‬
َ ِ‫ت ب‬ ْ َ ‫آمن‬
َ ْ‫قَد‬
ْ َ‫خي ْ ِر َوالْبَ َر َكةِ! قَال‬
:‫ت‬ َ ْ ‫كم ْ ِم َن ال‬ ُ ْ ‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَي‬
َّ َ ‫خل‬ َ ْ‫ َما َذا أَد‬،‫ان‬ َ ‫ يَا أُم َّ ُر‬:‫ت‬
َ ‫وم‬ ُ ْ ‫ف َ ُقل‬
.َ‫شة‬ َ ِ ‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسل َّ َم يَ ْذ ُك ُر َعائ‬
َّ ‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى‬
َّ ُ ‫ َر ُسول‬:‫ت‬ ْ َ‫َما َذا؟ قَال‬

ʿĀʾishah narrated: When Khadijah died, Khawlah bin

Ḥakīm came to the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬and said, ‘O Allah’s
Messenger, shall you not get married?’. He asked, ‘To
whom?’. She said, ‘If you wish, a maiden, or if you wish,
a previously married woman.’ He asked, ‘Who is the maid-
en, and who is the previously married woman (that you
recommend)?’. She said, ‘As for the maiden, ʿĀʾishah the
daughter of the most beloved person from Allah’s creation
to you, and as for the previously married woman, Sawdah
bint Zamʿah, for she has believed in you, and followed
you.’ He said, ‘Mention me to both of them.’ She said,
‘So I went to Umm Rūmān and said, ‘O Umm Rūmān,
what goodness and blessing has come to you!’ She said,
‘What?’. Khawla said, ‘Indeed the Messenger of Allah ‫ﷺ‬
has mentioned ʿĀʾishah.’

7
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

،ُ‫ك لَه‬ َ ِ ‫ت َ���ذل‬ْ ‫ ف َ َذ َك َر‬،‫جاءَ أ َبُو بَكْ ٍر‬ َ َ ‫ ف‬،‫آت‬ ٍ ‫ فَإِن َّ أ َبَا بَكْ ٍر‬،‫ظ ِري‬ ِ َ‫ انْت‬: ِ‫قَالَت‬
َّ ‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى‬
ِ ‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه‬ َّ ُ ‫ح لَهُ َوهِي ابْنَة ُ أَخِيهِ؟ ف َ َقال َ َر ُسول‬ ُ ُ ‫صل‬ ْ َ‫ أ ََو ت‬:َ‫ف َ َقال‬
َ
ْ َ‫ ف َ َقال‬،‫ ف َ َقامَ أ َبُو بَكْ ٍر‬،‫ح لِي‬
‫ت‬ ُ ُ ‫صل‬ ْ َ‫ َوابْنَتُهُ ت‬،‫خوه ُ َو ُه َو أَخِي‬ ُ َ ‫ أ َنَا أ‬:‫َو َسل َّ َم‬
‫اهَّلل ِ َما‬
َّ ‫ َو َو‬،ِ‫ان قَدْ َذ َك َر َها َعلَى ابْنِه‬ َ َ‫ إِن َّ ال ْ ُمطْع َِم ب ْ َن َعدِيٍّ ك‬:‫ان‬ َ ‫وم‬َ ‫لِي أُم ُّ ُر‬
‫ َما تَ ُقول ُ فِي‬:َ‫ ف َ َقال‬،‫ فَأَتَى أ َبُو بَكْ ٍر ال ْ ُمطْعِم‬:‫ت‬
َ ْ َ‫ قَال‬.ُّ‫أُخْل ُِف َوع ْ ًدا قَط‬
‫ت‬ُ ْ ‫ين؟ فَأَقْبَل‬ َ ِ ‫ َما تَ ُقول‬:َ‫ ف َ َقال‬،ِ‫ فَأَقْبَل َ َعلَى امْ َرأَتِه‬:َ‫جا ِريَةِ؟ قَال‬ َ ْ ‫أَمْ ِر َه ِذه ِ ال‬
‫خلُهُ فِي‬ ِ ْ‫ك تُد‬ َ ْ ‫حنَا َه َذا الْفَتَى إِلَي‬ ْ ‫ك‬ َ ْ ‫ لَ َعلَّنَا إِن ْ أَن‬:‫ت‬ْ َ‫ ف َ َقال‬،‫َعلَى أ َبِي بَكْ ٍر‬
‫ إِن َّ َها لَتَ ُقول ُ َما‬:َ‫ت؟ قَال‬ َ ْ ‫ َما تَ ُقول ُ أَن‬:َ‫ ف َ َقال‬،‫ك! فَأَقْبَل َ َعلَيْه ِ أ َبُو بَكْ ٍر‬ َ ِ‫دِين‬
ْ ِ ْ ‫ ف َ َقامَ أ َبُو بَكْ ٍر ولَي‬،‫س َم ُع‬
:‫ ف َ َقال َ لَ َها‬،ٌ‫يء‬ ْ ‫س في نَف ِْسه ِ ِم َن ال َم ْو ِع ِد َش‬ َ َ ْ َ‫ت‬
:‫ت‬ْ َ‫ قَال‬.‫ك َها‬ َ َ ‫ف َ َمل‬،َ‫جاء‬ َ َ ‫ ف‬،‫ت‬ ِ ْ ‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسلَّم فَلْيَأ‬
َّ ‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى‬ َّ ‫قُولِي ل ِ َر ُسو ِل‬
َ
.‫ِيث‬
َ ‫حد‬ َ ْ ‫ت ال‬ ِ ‫ير َو َذ َكر‬
َ ٌ ‫خ َك ِب‬ ٌ ْ ‫وها َشي‬ َ ُ ‫ َوأ َب‬،َ‫ْت إِلَى َس ْو َدة‬
ُ ‫ثُم َّ انْطَلَق‬

Umm Rūmān said, ‘Wait. Abū Bakr will arrive soon.’

Khawla says, ‘So Abū Bakr came, and she mentioned this
to him. He said, “Is she suitable for him when she is the
daughter of his brother?”. So, Allah’s Messenger said, “I
am his brother, and he is mine; and his daughter is suitable
for me.” So, Abū Bakr got up. And Umm Rūmān told me,
“Indeed Muṭʿim ibn ʿAdiyy, had mentioned her for his son,
and I will never break my promise.” So, Abū Bakr went to
Muṭʿim, and said, “What do you say about the girl?” He
then, turned to his wife, and asked, “What do you say?”
She turned to Abū Bakr, and said, “If we marry the boy
to your family, you might make him enter your religion!”

8
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

So Abū Bakr turned to Muṭʿim, and asked, “What do

you have to say?” He said, “She has said what you have
heard.” So, Abū Bakr got up, not disappointed at all from
the meeting. And he told Khawla, “Tell Allah’s Messenger
that he can come (to ask ʿĀʾishah’s hand in marriage).”
So, he came, and married her. I then went to Sawdah—her
father was an old man—and mentioned the [previous]
conversation (with Allah’s Messenger ‫)ﷺ‬.’

ِ َ‫ب بِالْبَن‬
:َ‫ ف َ َقال‬،‫ات‬ ُ ‫اهَّلل ِ َوأ َنَا أَل ْ َع‬
َّ ُ ‫ي َر ُسول‬ َّ َ ‫خل َ َعل‬َ ‫ َد‬:‫ت‬ ْ َ‫شة َ قَال‬َ ِ ‫َو َعنْ َعائ‬
.‫ِك‬َ ‫ ف َ َضح‬،ٌ‫حة‬َ ِ‫جن‬ ْ َ ‫ان َولَ َها أ‬ َ ‫خيْل ُ ُسلَي ْ َم‬ َ :‫ت‬ ُ ْ ‫شةُ؟ قُل‬َ ِ ‫َما َه َذا يَا َعائ‬

ʿĀʾishah narrated: Allah’s Messenger entered upon me,

and I was playing with the girls. He said, ‘What is this
O ʿĀʾishah (meaning her toy)?’ She said, ‘The horse of
Sulaymān with wings’, and he laughed.

‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى‬
َّ َ ‫ت َر ُسول‬
ُ ْ ‫ لَ َقدْ َرأ َي‬:‫ت‬ َ ِ ‫ َعنْ َعائ‬،َ‫ َعنْ عُ ْر َوة‬،ُّ‫ال ُّزهْ ِري‬
ْ َ‫ قَال‬،َ‫شة‬
ِ ‫ون بِالْح َِر‬
‫اب‬ َ ُ ‫شة ُ يَل ْ َعب‬
َ َ ‫حب‬ َ ْ ‫ َوال‬،‫ج َرت ِي‬ ْ ‫ح‬ُ ‫اب‬ ِ َ ‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسل َّ َم يَ ُقوم ُ َعلَى ب‬
َّ
‫ ثُم َّ يَقِ ُف‬،ْ‫ي أَنْظ ُر إِلَى لَعِ ِبهِم‬
َ َ ِ ‫ست ُ َرنِي ب ِ ِر َدائِه ِ ل‬
ْ ‫ك‬ ْ َ‫ َوإِنَّهُ لَي‬،ِ‫جد‬ ِ ‫س‬ ْ ‫فِي ال ْ َم‬
ِ ‫حدِيثَة‬َ ْ ‫جا ِريَة ِ ال‬
َ ْ ‫ فَاق ْ ُد ُروا قَدْ َر ال‬،‫ون أ َنَا الَّت ِي أَن ْ َص ِر ُف‬ َ ‫حت َّى أ َ ُك‬ َ ‫جل ِي‬ ْ َ ‫ِمنْ أ‬
.‫يصة ِ َعلَى اللَّهْ ِو‬ َ ْ ‫السنِّ ال‬
َ ‫ح ِر‬ ِّ

ʿĀʾishah narrated: I witnessed Allah’s Messenger stand

by the door of my apartment, while the Abyssinians were

9
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

playing with their spears in the mosque. And he would

cover me with his cloak, so that I could look at their sport;
and he would stand there until I am the one to depart. So,
consider the case of the young girl, who is eager for enter-
tainment.

10
 ‫‪ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS‬‬

‫‪3. The Incident of the Slander‬‬

‫اهَّلل ُ‬ ‫س ِم َن الْهِ ْ‬
‫ج َرةِ‪َ ،‬وعُمْ ُر َها َر ِضي َّ‬ ‫خم ْ ٍ‬
‫سيع ِ َسنَة َ َ‬ ‫ان فِي َغ ْز َوة ِ ال ْ ُمري ْ ِ‬
‫َ‬ ‫كَ َ‬
‫َ‬
‫َعن ْ َها ‪ -‬يَ ْو َمئِذٍ اثْنَتَا َعشْ رةَ َسنَةً‪.‬‬
‫َ‬

‫‪This [incident] was during the expedition of Muraysīʿ, in‬‬

‫‪the fifth year of the hijrah; her age (may Allah be pleased‬‬
‫‪with her) then, was 12 years.‬‬

‫ب‪َ ،‬و َعل ْ َق َمة ُ ب ْ ُن‬ ‫ْ‬

‫سي َّ ِ‬‫س‪َ ،‬ع ِن اب ْ ِن شِ َهابٍ ‪ :‬أَخْبَ َرنِي عُ ْر َوةُ‪َ ،‬واب ْ ُن ال ُم َ‬ ‫يُون ُ ُ‬
‫ِين قَال َ لَ َها‬ ‫شة َ ح َ‬ ‫حدِيثِ َعائ ِ َ‬ ‫اهَّللِ‪َ ،‬عنْ َ‬
‫اهَّلل ِ ب ْ ُن َعب ْ ِد َّ‬
‫اص‪َ ،‬وعُبَي ْ ُد َّ‬ ‫َوق َّ ٍ‬
‫حدَّثَنِي بِطَائِفَة ٍ ِمنْ‬ ‫اإْلفْكِ َما قَال ُوا‪ ،‬فَبَ َّرأ ََها َّ‬
‫اهَّلل ُ تَ َعالَى‪َ .‬وكُل ٌّ َ‬ ‫أَهْل ُ ْ ِ‬
‫ان بَع ْ ُض ُهم ْ أَوْ َعى‬
‫حدِيثِهِم ْ ي ُ َصد ُِّق بَع ْ ًضا‪َ ،‬وإِن ْ كَ َ‬
‫حدِيث َِها‪َ ،‬وبَع ْ ُض َ‬
‫َ‬
‫اد‬ ‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى َّ‬
‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسل َّ َم إ ِ َذا أ ََر َ‬ ‫ان َر ُسول ُ َّ‬ ‫ت‪ :‬كَ َ‬ ‫ض‪ ،‬قَالَ ْ‬ ‫لَهُ ِمنْ بَع ْ ٍ‬

‫خ َر َج ب ِ َها َم َعهُ‪ ،‬فَأَق ْ َرعُ‬ ‫خ َر َج َسهْ ُم َها َ‬ ‫سائِهِ‪ ،‬فَأَيَّت ُ ُهنَّ َ‬ ‫َسفَ ًرا أ َق ْ َرعَ بَي ْ َن ن ِ َ‬
‫ت َم َعهُ بَع ْ َد َما ن َ َزل َ‬ ‫ج ُ‬ ‫خ َر ْ‬ ‫خ َر َج َسهْ ِمي‪ ،‬ف َ َ‬ ‫اها‪ ،‬ف َ َ‬ ‫بَيْنَنَا فِي َغ ْز َوة ٍ َغ َز َ‬
‫حت َّى إ ِ َذا ف َ َرغَ‬ ‫س ْرنَا‪َ ،‬‬ ‫اب‪َ ،‬وأ َنَا أُحْ َمل ُ فِي َه ْو َدج ٍ َوأُن ْ َزل ُ فِيهِ‪ ،‬ف َ ِ‬ ‫ِج ُ‬ ‫الْح َ‬
‫ك‪َ ،‬وقَفَل َو َدن َ ْونَا ِم َن‬
‫َ‬ ‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى َّ‬
‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسل َّ َم ِمنْ َغ ْز َوتِه ِ ت ِل ْ َ‬ ‫َر ُسول ُ َّ‬
‫ت‬‫او ْز ُ‬ ‫ج َ‬ ‫حت َّى َ‬ ‫ت َ‬ ‫شي ْ ُ‬ ‫ت حِينَئِذٍ ف َ َم َ‬ ‫ل‪ ،‬ف َ ُقمْ ُ‬ ‫الرحِي ِ‬ ‫ال ْ َمدِينَةِ‪ ،‬آ َذ َن لَيْلَة ً ب ِ َّ‬
‫ت إِلَى َرحْل ِي‪ ،‬فَإ ِ َذا ِعقْ ٌد لِي َمنْ‬ ‫اجت ِي‪ ،‬أ َقْبَل ْ ُ‬ ‫ح َ‬ ‫ت َ‬ ‫جي ْ َش‪ .‬فَلَمَّا ق َ َضي ْ ُ‬ ‫ال ْ َ‬
‫ج ْز ِع ظَفَا ٍر ق َ ِد ان ْ َقطَ َع‪،‬‬ ‫َ‬

‫‪ʿĀʾishah narrated regarding the incident in which the peo-‬‬

‫‪ple of ifk made allegations about her and Allah the most‬‬

‫‪11‬‬
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

high proclaimed her innocence:

When Allah’s Messenger wanted to travel, he would draw

lots amongst his wives, and he would take whomever the
lot fell to. So, he drew lots for an expedition he went on,
and the lot fell to me. So, I went with him — this was after
the legislation of the hijab was revealed. I was carried and
taken down in a hawdaj (a curtained litter). We carried on
until Allah’s Messenger was done with his expedition, and
when we approached Madinah, he announced that we will
be leaving (soon). I stood and walked until I was distant
from the army. When I was done with my need (attending
to the call of nature) I returned to my mount, and lo, my
necklace of zifar beads had gone missing.

‫ون‬
َ ُ ‫حل‬ َ ‫ط الَّذ‬
َ ‫ِين كَانُوا يَ ْر‬ ُ ْ‫الره‬ ُ ‫سنِي الْت َِم‬
َّ َ ‫ َوأ َقْبَل‬،ُ‫اسه‬ َ َ ‫حب‬ ْ ‫فَالْتَ َم‬
َ ‫ َو‬،ُ‫ستُه‬
ِ ‫ون أَن ِّي فِيه‬ َ ُ ‫سب‬ َ ْ‫ َو ُهم ْ يَح‬،‫ ف َ َرحَّلُوه ُ َعلَى بَعِي ِري‬،‫بِي فَاحْتَ َملُوا َه ْو َد ِجي‬
‫اك خِفَافًا لَم ْ يُثْقِل ْ ُهنَّ اللَّحْمُ إِن َّ َما يَأْكُل ْ َن الْعُل ْ َقة َ ِم َن‬
َ ‫ساء ُ إِذ ْ َذ‬ َ ِّ ‫ان الن‬
َ َ‫ َوك‬-
ً ‫جا ِريَة‬
َ ‫ْت‬ ُ ‫ َو ُكن‬،ُ‫ِين َرفَعُوه‬ َ ‫لح‬ ِ ‫خف َّة َ ال ْ َمحْ َم‬ ِ ‫ك ُروا‬ِ ْ ‫ستَن‬
ْ َ‫ فَلَم ْ ي‬- ‫ام‬ ِ ‫الط َّ َع‬
،‫ج َمل َو َس ُاروا‬ْ ‫ فَبعثُوا ال‬،ِّ‫السن‬
ِّ َ ‫حدِيثَة‬
َ َ ََ َ

So, I went searching for it, and my search delayed me. The
people who were in charge of my mount, lifted my haw-
daj, placed it on my mount and left — thinking that I was
in it. The women at that time were light and they were not
heavy with flesh as they used to eat very little food. So,

12
 ‫‪ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS‬‬

‫‪they did not notice the lightness of the carriage when they‬‬
‫‪lifted it — and I was [also] a young [petite] girl.‬‬

‫س‬ ‫ْت َمنَا ِزلَ ُهم ْ َولَي ْ َ‬

‫جئ ُ‬‫ش‪ ،‬ف َ ِ‬ ‫استَ َم َّر ال ْ َ‬
‫جي ْ ُ‬ ‫ت ِعقْدِي بَع ْ َد َما ْ‬ ‫جدْ ُ‬‫ف َ َو َ‬
‫ْت فِيهِ‪َ ،‬وظَنَن ُ‬
‫ْت أ َن َّ ُهم ْ‬ ‫ت َمن ْ ِزلِي الَّذِي ُكن ُ‬ ‫يب‪ ،‬فَأَمَّمْ ُ‬
‫ج ٌ‬ ‫اع َو َاَل ُم ِ‬
‫ب ِ َها َد ٍ‬
‫ت‪.‬‬ ‫جال ِ َ‬
‫سةٌ َغلَبَتْنِي َعيْنِي‪ ،‬فَنِمْ ُ‬ ‫ي‪ ،‬فَبَيْنَا أ َنَا َ‬ ‫َسيَفْقِ ُدونِي فَيَ ْر ِجعُ َ‬
‫ون إِلَ َّ‬

‫‪I then found my necklace after the army had gone. So, I‬‬
‫‪came to their previous position and found neither caller‬‬
‫‪nor answerer. I then went to the place I had been at, think-‬‬
‫‪ing that they would notice me to be missing and come‬‬
‫‪back for me. As I was sitting there, my eyes overcame me,‬‬
‫‪and I slept.‬‬

‫ي‪ِ ،‬منْ َو َراء ِ ال ْ َ‬

‫جي ْ ِش‪،‬‬ ‫َّ‬
‫ي‪ ،‬ثُم َّ الذك َْوان ِ ُّ‬
‫السل َ ِم ُّ‬
‫ل ُّ‬‫ان َصف َْوانُ ب ْ ُن ال ْ ُم َعط َّ ِ‬
‫َوكَ َ‬
‫سا ٍن نَائِمٍ‪ ،‬فَأَتَانِي‪ ،‬ف َ َعرفَنِي‬
‫َ‬ ‫اد إِن ْ َ‬ ‫ح ِعن ْ َد َمن ْ ِزلِي‪ ،‬ف َ َرأ َى َس َو َ‬ ‫ج‪ ،‬فَأ َ ْصبَ َ‬ ‫فَأَدْلَ َ‬
‫استَي ْ َقظ ْ ُ‬
‫ت‬ ‫ج َع‪ ،‬ف َ ْ‬ ‫استَ ْر َ‬‫اب‪ ،‬ف َ ْ‬ ‫ِج ِ‬ ‫ان يَ َرانِي قَبْل َ الْح َ‬ ‫ِين َرآنِي‪َ ،‬وكَ َ‬ ‫ح َ‬
‫اهَّلل ِ َما كَل َّ َمنِي‬
‫جلْبَابِي‪َ ،‬و َّ‬ ‫جهِي ب ِ ِ‬ ‫ت َو ْ‬ ‫خم َّ ْر ُ‬ ‫ت‪ ،‬ف َ َ‬‫ِين َع َرف ْ ُ‬ ‫جا ِعه ِ ح َ‬ ‫است ِْر َ‬
‫بِ ْ‬
‫ِ‬
‫حلَتَهُ‪ ،‬ف َ َوطئ َ‬ ‫اخ َرا ِ‬‫جا ِعهِ‪ ،‬فَأَن َ َ‬ ‫است ِْر َ‬ ‫ت ِمنْهُ كَل َِمة ً َغي ْ َر ْ‬ ‫كَل َِمةً‪َ ،‬و َاَل َس ِمع ْ ُ‬
‫جي ْ َش‬ ‫حت َّى أ َتَيْنَا ال ْ َ‬‫حلَة َ َ‬ ‫الرا ِ‬
‫ود ب ِ َي َّ‬ ‫َعلَى يَ َدي ْ َها ف َ َركِبْت ُ َها‪ ،‬فَانْطَل َ َق يَ ُق ُ‬
‫ان‬
‫ي‪َ ،‬وكَ َ‬ ‫ك َمنْ َهل َ َ ِ‬
‫ك ف َّ‬ ‫يرةِ‪ ،‬ف َ َهل َ َ‬ ‫ين فِي نَحْ ِر الظَّه‬ ‫بَع ْ َد َما ن َ َزل ُوا ُمو ِغ ِر َ‬
‫ِ َ‬
‫ي ب ْ ِن َسلُولٍ‪.‬‬ ‫اهَّلل ِ ب ْ ُن أُب َ ِّ‬
‫اإْلفْكِ َعب ْ ُد َّ‬ ‫الَّذِي تَ َولَّى ك ِبَ َر ْ ِ‬

‫‪Ṣafwān ibn al-Muʿaṭṭal al-Sullamī al-Dhakwānī was‬‬

‫‪13‬‬
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

behind the army, and he had set out at the last part of the
night. He reached near my position, saw the figure of a
sleeping person, and came closer. He recognised me when
he saw me as he had seen me before the hijab was made
compulsory. So, he said istirjāʿ (i.e., the words: innā lillāhi
wa innā ilayhi rajiʿūn). I was woken up by his istirjāʿ
when I heard it, and I covered my face with my cloak. By
Allah, he never said a word to me, nor did I hear a word
from him except for his istirjāʿ. He then descended from
his mount and pressed down on its hind legs to make it
kneel. I mounted it and we set out with him leading my
mount until we reached the army when they had stopped
for a rest in the mid-day heat. And then, some were ruined
concerning me (the matter of ifk), and the one who was the
most responsible for spreading the slander was ʿAbdullāh
ibn Ubayy ibn Salūl.

‫ون فِي قول أَهِل‬

َ ِ َْ َ ‫ِيض‬ ُ ‫اس يُف‬ ُ َّ ‫ َوالن‬،‫ت َشهْ ًرا‬ َ َ‫ فَاشْ ت‬،َ‫ف َ َق ِدمْنَا ال ْ َمدِينَة‬
ُ ْ ‫كي‬
‫جعِي أَن ِّي َاَل أَع ْ ِر ُف‬ َ ‫ َويَ ِريبُنِي فِي َو‬،‫ك‬ َ ِ ‫يء ٍ ِمنْ َ���ذل‬ْ ‫ش‬َ ِ ‫اإْلفْكِ َو َاَل أَشْ عُ ُر ب‬
ِْ
ُ‫ْت أ ََرى ِمنْه‬ ُ ‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسل َّ َم اللُّط ْ َف الَّذِي ُكن‬
َّ ‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى‬َّ ‫ِمنْ َر ُسو ِل‬
َّ ‫كمْ؟ ثُم‬ ُ ‫ َكي ْ َف ت ِي‬:ُ‫ ثُم َّ يَ ُقول‬،ُ‫سلِّم‬َ ُ ‫ فَي‬،‫ي‬َّ َ ‫خل ُ َعل‬ ُ ْ‫ إِن َّ َما يَد‬،‫كي‬ِ َ‫ِين أَشْ ت‬
َ ‫ح‬
،‫ك الَّذِي يَ ِريبُنِي َو َاَل أَشْ عُ ُر بِالشَّ ِّر‬
َ ِ ‫يَن ْ َص ِر ُف ف َ َ���ذل‬

When we reached Madinah, and I became ill for a month.

The people were engaging in the allegations of the people
of ifk, and I knew nothing of it. But what struck me as odd

14
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

during my sickness was that I did not see the gentleness

from Allah’s Messenger that I would usually see from him
when I was sick. He would simply enter upon me and ask:
‘How is she?’ And then leave. This is what I found to be
strange, but I knew of nothing bad (that was happening).

ِ ‫اصع‬ ِ َ‫سطَح ٍ قِبَل ال ْ َمن‬

َ ْ ‫ت َم َع أُم ِّ ِم‬ ُ ‫ج‬ ْ ‫خ َر‬
َ َ ‫ ف‬،‫ت‬ ُ ْ‫ت بَع ْ َد َما ن َ َقه‬ُ ‫ج‬ْ ‫خ َر‬ َ ‫حت َّى‬ َ
َ ‫ك قَبْل َ أَن ْ تُت‬
‫َّخ َذ‬ َ ِ ‫ َو َ���ذل‬،‫ل‬
ٍ ْ ‫ َو ُكنَّا َاَل نَخ ُْر ُج إ ِ َّاَّل لَي ْ ًاًل إِلَى لَي‬،‫َو ُه َو ُمتَبَ َّر ُزنَا‬
‫اأْلُول ِمن الت َّبرز قِبل‬ ْ ‫ وأَمرنا أَمر الْعرب‬،‫الْكنف قريبا ِمن بيوت ِنا‬
َ َ ِ ُّ َ َ ِ َ ِ َ َ ُ ْ َ ُ ْ َ َ ُ ُ ْ ً ِ َ ُ ُ ُ
ُ ‫ فَانْطَلَق‬،‫كنُ ِف أَن ْ نَت َِّخ َذ َها ِعن ْ َد بُيُوت ِنَا‬
‫ْت أ َنَا‬ ُ ْ ‫ َو ُكنَّا نَتَأَذَّى بِال‬، ِ‫ال ْ َغائ ِط‬
‫ َوأُم ُّ َها ابْنَة ُ َصخْ ِر ب ْ ِن َعا ِم ٍر‬،‫اف‬ ٍ َ‫ْت أ َبِي ُرهْ ِم ب ْ ِن َعب ْ ِد َمن‬ ُ ‫سطَح ٍ بِن‬ ْ ‫َوأُم ُّ ِم‬
ِ ‫ح ب ْ ُن أُثَاثَة َ ب ْ ِن ال ْ ُمطَّل‬
،‫ِب‬ ُ َ ‫سط‬ ْ ‫ َوابْنُ َها ِم‬،‫الصدِّي ِق‬ ِّ ‫خالَة ُ أ َبِي بَكْ ٍر‬ َ

Until I got a bit better and went out with Umm Mistah to
al-manāṣiʿ, the place where we would go to attend the call
of nature — and we would go there only at night; this was
before we built latrines near our houses. So, we would
do as the previous Arabs did to answer the call of nature
(i.e., go out into the desert) and we used to be repelled by
the idea of having latrines near our houses. So, I went out
with Umm Misṭaḥ bint Abī Ruhm ibn ʿAbd Manāf, whose
mother was the daughter of Ṣakhr ibn ʿĀmir, the aunt of
Abū Bakr al-Siddīq, and son was Misṭaḥ ibn Uthāthah ibn
al-Muṭṭalib.

15
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

ٍ ‫سطَح‬ ْ ‫ت أُم ُّ ِم‬ْ ‫ ف َ َعث َ َر‬،‫ قَدْ ف َ َرغْنَا ِمنْ َشأْنِنَا‬،‫ت أ َنَا َوهِي قِبَل َ بَيْت ِي‬ُ ْ ‫فَأَقْبَل‬
َ
‫ بِئ َْس َما‬:‫ت لَ َها‬ ُ ْ ‫سطَ ٌح! ف َ ُقل‬ ْ ‫ِس ِم‬ َ ‫ تَع‬:‫ت‬ ْ َ‫ ] ف َ َقال‬156 :‫ [ ص‬،‫فِي ِم ْر ِط َها‬
‫س َمعِي َما‬ ْ َ‫ أ َي ْ َهنْتَاه ُ أ ََو لَم ْ ت‬:‫ت‬
ْ َ‫ج ًاًل َشهِ َد بَدْ ًرا؟ قَال‬
ُ ‫ين َر‬
َ ِّ ‫سب‬ُ َ‫قُلْتِ ! أ َت‬
.‫ت َمر ًضا َعلَى َمر ِضي‬‫ فازدد‬،‫اك؟ فَأَخْبَرتْنِي الْخبر‬ ُ ْ ‫قَالَ؟ قُل‬
َ ‫ َو َما َذ‬:‫ت‬
َ َ ُ ْ َْ َ ََ َ َ

And when we turned back towards our house after finish-

ing our need, Umm Mistah stumbled by stepping on her
garment, and she said, ‘May Mistah be destroyed!’ I said,
‘What a terrible thing to say! Do you insult a man who
took part in Badr?’ She said, ‘O you, did you not hear what
he said?’ I asked, ‘What is it?’ and she told me the news.
This increased me in sickness upon my sickness.

‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسلَّم‬

َ َّ ‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى‬
َّ ُ ‫ي َر ُسول‬ َّ َ ‫خل َ َعل‬ َ ‫ َو َد‬،‫ت إِلَى بَيْت ِي‬ ُ ْ ‫جع‬ َ ‫فَلَمَّا َر‬
‫ أ َتَأ ْ َذنُ لِي أَن ْ آت ِي أ َب َ َويَّ؟ َوأ َنَا‬:‫ت‬ ُ ْ ‫كمْ؟ ف َ ُقل‬ ُ ‫ َكي ْ َف ت ِي‬:َ‫سل َّ َم ثُم َّ قَال‬ َ َ‫ف‬
َ
،َّ‫ْت أ َب َ َوي‬ ُ ‫جئ‬ ِ َ ‫ ف‬،‫ فَأَذ َِن لِي‬،‫خبَ َر ِمنْ قِبَلِهِ َما‬ ُ ‫حِينَئِذٍ أ ُ ِر‬
َ ْ ‫يد أَن ْ أ ََستَيْقِ َن ال‬
، ِ‫ َه ِّونِي َعلَيْك‬،ُ‫ يَا بُنَيَّة‬:‫ت‬ ْ َ‫اس؟ قَال‬ ُ َّ ‫ث الن‬ ُ َّ‫حد‬ َ َ‫ َما يَت‬،ُ‫ يَا أُمَّتَاه‬:‫ت‬ ُ ْ ‫ف َ ُقل‬
‫حب ُّ َها لَ َها َضرائ ِ ُر إ ِ َّاَّل َكث ُ ْر َن‬
َ
ِ ُ‫ل ي‬
ٍ ‫ج‬ُ ‫اهَّلل ِ لَ َقل َّ َما كَانَتِ امْ َرأ َ ٌة َو ِضيئَةٌ ِعن ْ َد َر‬
َّ ‫ف َ َو‬
!‫اس ب ِ َه َذا؟‬
ُ َّ ‫ث الن‬ َ َّ‫حد‬َ َ‫اهَّللِ! َوقَدْ ت‬
َّ ‫ان‬ َ ‫ح‬َ ْ ‫ ُسب‬:‫ت‬ ُ ْ ‫ ف َ ُقل‬،‫َعلَي ْ َها‬

When I came back to my house, Allah’s Messenger ‫ﷺ‬

entered and said, ‘How is she?’ I said, ‘Would you permit
me to go to my parents?’ and I wanted to make sure of the
news by hearing it from them. So, he gave me permission,

16
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

and I came to my parents. I said, ‘O my mother, what is

this [matter that] the people are talking about?’ She said,
‘O my daughter, don’t worry. By Allah, rarely does a man
have a charming wife whom he loves, and he has other
wives, except that they (the wives) find fault with her.’
I said, ‘Subhānallāh! Do the people [really] say such a
thing?!’

‫ت‬ُ ْ‫ ثُم َّ أ َْصبَح‬.ٍ‫حت َّى َاَل يَ ْرقَأ ُ لِي َدمْ ٌع َو َاَل أَك ْتَحِل ُ بِنَ ْوم‬ َ َ ‫ت اللَّيْلَة‬ ُ ْ ‫كي‬ َ َ‫فَب‬
‫ب‬ٍ ِ ‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسل َّ َم َعل َِّي ب ْ َن أ َبِي طَال‬ َّ ‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى‬ َّ ُ ‫ ف َ َد َعا َر ُسول‬،‫كي‬ ِ ْ ‫أ َب‬
،ِ‫اق أَهْلِه‬ ِ ‫ستَأ ْ ِم ُر ُه َما فِي فِ َر‬ ْ َ‫ ي‬،‫ث ال ْ َوحْ ُي‬ َ َ ‫استَلْب‬ ْ ‫ِين‬ َ ‫ ح‬،‫امة َ ب ْ َن َزي ْ ٍد‬ َ ‫َوأ ُ َس‬
،ِ‫اهَّلل ِ بِالَّذِي يَعْلَمُ ِمنْ بَراءَة ِ أَهْلِه‬
َ َّ ‫ فَأ َ َش َار َعلَى َر ُسو ِل‬،ُ‫امة‬ َ ‫فَأَمَّا أ ُ َس‬
‫ َو َاَل‬،‫ك‬ َ ُ ‫ أَهْل‬،ِ‫اهَّلل‬ َّ َ ‫ يَا َر ُسول‬:َ‫ ف َ َقال‬،ِّ‫َوبِالَّذِي يَعْلَمُ لَ ُهم ْ فِي نَف ِْسه ِ ِم َن ال ْ ُود‬
‫اها‬َ ‫ساء ُ ِس َو‬ َ ِّ ‫ َوالن‬،‫ك‬ َّ ‫ لَم ْ ي ُ َضي ِّ ِق‬:َ‫ َوأَمَّا َعل ٌِّي ف َ َقال‬.‫خي ْ ًرا‬
َ ْ ‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَي‬ َ ‫نَعْلَمُ إ ِ َّاَّل‬
َّ ‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى‬
ِ ‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه‬ َّ ُ ‫ ف َ َد َعا َر ُسول‬،‫ك‬ َ ْ ‫ص ُدق‬ ْ َ‫ ت‬،َ‫جا ِريَة‬ َ ْ ‫اسأ َ ِل ال‬
ْ ‫ َو‬،‫ِير‬ ٌ ‫َكث‬
‫ َاَل‬:‫ت‬ ْ َ‫يء ٍ يَ ِريبُكِ ؟ قَال‬ ْ ‫ َهل ْ َرأ َيْتِ ِمنْ َش‬،ُ‫يرة‬ ‫ أ َي بر‬:‫وسلَّم بريرة فقال‬
َ َِ ْ َ ََ َ َ َِ َ َ َ
‫صهُ َعلَي ْ َها أَك ْثَر ِمنْ أ َن َّ َها‬
َ ُ ‫ت َعلَي ْ َها أَمْ ًرا أَغْ ِم‬ َ ْ ‫ك بِال‬
ُ ْ ‫ إِن ْ َرأ َي‬، ِّ‫حق‬ َ َ ‫َوالَّذِي ب َ َعث‬
.ُ‫ فَيَأْكُلُه‬،‫اج ُن‬ ِ َّ‫ فَيَأْت ِي الد‬،‫ين أَهْل َِها‬ ِ ‫ج‬ ِ ‫ تَنَام ُ َعنْ َع‬،ِّ‫السن‬ ِّ ُ ‫حدِيثَة‬ َ ٌ‫جا ِريَة‬ َ

I then cried all night — I could neither stop crying nor

fall asleep —then I cried more in the morning. When the
revelation was delayed, Allah’s Messenger ‫ ﷺ‬called ʿAli
ibn Abī Ṭālib and Usāmah ibn Zayd to consult them about
divorcing his wife. As for Usāmah, he spoke of what he

17
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

knew of my innocence, and what he had in his heart of

reverence for me, he said, ‘O Allah’s Messenger, she is
your wife and we know of nothing but good of her.’ As for
ʿAli, he said, ‘Allah has not restricted you, and there are
plenty of other women; and ask the maidservant, she will
tell you the truth. So, Allah’s Messenger ‫ ﷺ‬called Barīrah,
and asked her: ‘O Barirah, have you seen anything suspi-
cious?’ She said, ‘No, by the One who sent you with the
truth, I have never seen anything blameworthy from her,
except that she is a young girl who sometimes sleeps while
leaving her family’s dough uncovered and the livestock
comes and eats it.

ِّ َ ‫اهَّلل ِ ب ْ ِن أُب‬
‫ي‬ َّ ‫استَع ْ َذ َر ِمنْ َعب ْ ِد‬ َّ ‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى‬
ْ َ ‫ ف‬،‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسل َّ َم‬ َّ ُ ‫ف َ َقامَ َر ُسول‬
‫ َمنْ يَعْذ ُُرنِي‬،‫ين‬ َ ‫سل ِ ِم‬ ْ ‫ش َر ال ْ ُم‬ َ ْ ‫ يَا َمع‬:‫ ف َ َقال َ َو ُه َو َعلَى ال ْ ِمنْبَ ِر‬،ٍ‫ب ْ ِن َسلُول‬
‫ت َعلَى أَهْل ِي‬ ُ ْ‫اهَّلل ِ َما َعلِم‬ َّ ‫ ف َ َو‬،‫ل بَيْت ِي‬ ِ ْ‫ل قَدْ بَل َ َغنِي أ َ َذاه ُ فِي أَه‬ ٍ ‫ج‬ ُ ‫ِمنْ َر‬
ُ ‫خل‬ ُ ْ‫ان يَد‬ َ ‫ت َعلَيْه ِ إ ِ َّاَّل‬
َ َ‫خي ْ ًرا َو َما ك‬ ُ ْ‫ج ًاًل َما َعلِم‬ ُ ‫ َولَ َقدْ َذ َك ُروا َر‬،‫خي ْ ًرا‬َ ‫إ ِ َّاَّل‬
‫ أ َنَا‬،ِ‫اهَّلل‬
َّ َ ‫ يَا َر ُسول‬:َ‫ ف َ َقال‬،‫ ف َ َقامَ َسع ْ ُد ب ْ ُن ُم َعا ٍذ‬،‫َعلَى أَهْل ِي إ ِ َّاَّل َمعِي‬
‫ان ِمنْ إِخ َْوانِنَا ِم َن‬
َ َ‫ َوإِن ْ ك‬،ُ‫ت عُنُ َقه‬ ُ ْ ‫ َض َرب‬،‫اأْلَوْ ِس‬ ْ ‫ان ِم َن‬ َ َ‫ إِن ْ ك‬،ُ‫أَعْذ ُُر َك ِمنْه‬
َ ْ ‫ال‬
،‫ فَفَ َعلْنَا أَمْر َك‬،‫ أ ََم ْرتَنَا‬،ِ‫خ ْز َرج‬
َ

So, Allah’s Messenger ‫ ﷺ‬stood upon the mimbar and

complained about ʿʿAbdullāh ibn Ubayy ibn Salūl and
said: ‘O Muslims, who will relieve me of a man who has
harmed me concerning my family? For by Allah, I have

18
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

known nothing except good about my family, and they

have made an allegation about a man about whom I have
known nothing but good, and would never enter upon my
family except while I’m there.’ So Ṣaʿd ibn Muʿādh stood
up and said, ‘O Allah’s Messenger, I will relieve you of
him. If he is from Aws (tribe) I will strike his neck, and if
he is from our brothers from the Khazraj, command us,
and we will carry out your order.

‫ج ًاًل‬ َ ِ ‫ان قَبْل َ َ���ذل‬

ُ ‫ك َر‬ َ ْ ‫ َو ُه َو َسي ِّ ُد ال‬- َ‫ادة‬
َ َ‫ َوك‬،ِ‫خ ْز َرج‬ َ َ‫ف َ َقامَ َسع ْ ُد ب ْ ُن عُب‬
!ِ‫اهَّلل‬ َ ْ ‫ َك َذب‬:‫سع ْ ٍد‬
َّ ‫ت لَ َعمْ ُر‬ َ ْ ‫ك ِن احْتَ َملَت ْهُ ال‬
َ ِ ‫ ف َ َقال َ ل‬- ُ ‫ح ِميَّة‬ ً ِ ‫َصال‬
ِ ‫ َو َل‬،‫حا‬
ِّ ‫ َو ُه َو اب ْ ُن َعم‬- ‫ح َضي ْ ٍر‬ ُ ‫ ف َ َقامَ أ ُ َسي ْ ُد ب ْ ُن‬،ِ‫ َو َاَل تَقْد ُِر َعلَى قَتْلِه‬،ُ‫َاَل تَقْتُلُه‬
‫ك ُمنَافِ ٌق‬ َ َّ ‫ فَإِن‬،ُ‫اهَّلل ِ لَنَقْتُلَنَّه‬
َّ ‫ت! لَ َعمْ ُر‬ َ ْ ‫ َك َذب‬:َ‫ ف َ َقال‬- ‫َسع ْ ِد ب ْ ِن ُم َعا ٍذ‬
‫حت َّى َهمُّوا‬ َ ْ ‫اأْلَوْ ُس َوال‬
َ ،‫خ ْز َر ُج‬ ْ :‫حيَّا ِن‬ َ ْ ‫او َر ال‬ َ ِ‫جادِل ُ َع ِن ال ْ ُمنَافِق‬
َ َ ‫ فَتَث‬،‫ين‬ َ ُ‫ت‬
ْ ‫ فَلَم‬،‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسل َّ َم قَائ ِ ٌم َعلَى ال ْ ِمنْبَ ِر‬
َّ ‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى‬َّ ُ ‫ َو َر ُسول‬،‫أَن ْ يَقْتَتِلُوا‬
.‫ت‬ َ ‫ك‬ َ ‫كتُوا َو َس‬ َ ‫حت َّى َس‬َ ْ ‫يَ َزل ْ يَخْف ُِض ُهم‬

So Saʿd ibn ʿUbādah, the chief of the Khazraj, stood up —

previously, he was a righteous man, but he was overcome
by tribalism — and said, ‘By Allah’s Life, you have lied.
You will not kill him, nor will you be able to kill him. So
Usayd ibn Khuḍayr, the cousin of Ṣaʿd ibn Muʿādh stood
up, and said, ‘You have lied. By Allah’s Life, we will kill
him. Verily you are munāfiq arguing about the munāfiqīn.
And the two tribes, Aws and Khazraj, started shouting at

19
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

each other, until they almost started fighting. All the while,
Allah’s Messenger ‫ ﷺ‬was left standing on the pulpit, at-
tempting to calm them down. Finally, they became silent,
and so did he.

،ٍ‫ َاَل يَ ْرقَأ ُ لِي َدمْ ٌع َو َاَل أَك ْتَحِل ُ بِنَ ْوم‬،‫ك َولَيْلَت ِي‬ َ ِ ‫ت يَ ْو ِمي َ���ذل‬ ُ ْ ‫كي‬َ َ‫ فَب‬:‫ت‬ ْ َ‫قَال‬
،ٍ‫ت لَيْلَتَي ْ ِن َويَ ْو ًما َاَل أَك ْتَحِل ُ بِنَ ْوم‬ ُ ْ ‫كي‬ َ َ ‫ َوقَدْ ب‬،‫اي ِعنْدِي‬ َ ‫ح أ َب َ َو‬َ َ‫فَأ َ ْصب‬
‫ فَبَيْنَ َما ُه َما‬،‫كاءَ فَال ِ ُق َك ِبدِي‬ َ ُ ‫ْت أَن َّ الْب‬ُ ‫حت َّى ظَنَن‬ َ ،‫َو َاَل يَ ْرقَأ ُ لِي َدمْ ٌع‬
ُ ْ ‫ فَأ َ ِذن‬،‫اأْلَن ْ َصا ِر‬
‫ت‬ ْ ‫ي امْرأ َ ٌة ِم َن‬ ‫ استأْذنت عل‬،‫كي‬ ِ ْ ‫ َوأ َنَا أ َب‬،‫سا ِن ِعنْدِي‬ َ ِ ‫جال‬
َ َّ َ َ ْ َ َ َ ْ َ
‫خل َعلَيْنَا‬ ‫ د‬،‫ فبينما نحن على ���ذلِك‬،‫كي َمعِي‬ ِ ْ ‫ت تَب‬ْ ‫س‬ َ َ ‫جل‬ َ َ ‫ ف‬،‫لَ َها‬
َ َ َ َ َ َ َ ُ ْ َ َ َْ ََ
‫ِس‬ْ ‫جل‬ ْ َ‫ َولَم ْ ي‬،‫س‬ َ َ ‫جل‬ َ َّ ‫ ثُم‬،‫سل َّ َم‬ َّ ‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى‬
َ َ ‫ ف‬،‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسل َّ َم‬ َّ ُ ‫َر ُسول‬
‫وحى إِلَيْه ِ فِي َشأْنِي‬ َ ُ ‫ث َشهْ ًرا َاَل ي‬ َ ِ ‫ َولَ َقدْ لَب‬،َ‫ِعنْدِي ُمن ْ ُذ قِيل َ لِي َما قِيل‬
.ٌ‫يء‬ْ ‫َش‬

ʿĀʾishah continued: I then cried all night, my tears refus-

ing to stop, and sleep eluding me. In the morning my par-
ents came to me, and I had been crying continuously for
two nights and a day, without my tears stopping, and not
being able to sleep until I thought that crying would make
my liver burst. When they (my parents) were sitting with
me, and I was still crying, a woman from the Ansār sought
permission to enter. I let her, and she sat and started crying
with me. When this was going on, Allah’s Messenger ‫ﷺ‬
entered, and greeted us. He then sat, and he had not sat
with me after what was said was said. And he had waited

20
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

a month wherein no revelation came to him regarding my

matter.

‫ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ بَل َ َغنِي َعنْكِ َك َذا‬،ُ‫شة‬ َ ِ ‫ يَا َعائ‬،‫ أَمَّا بَع ْ ُد‬:َ‫ ثُم َّ قَال‬،‫شه َّ َد‬
َ َ ‫ فَت‬:‫ت‬
ْ َ‫قَال‬
،‫ب‬ٍ ْ ‫ َوإِن ْ ُكن ْتِ أَل ْ َممْتِ ب ِ َذن‬،ُ‫اهَّلل‬
َّ ِ‫سيُبَ ِّرئُك‬ َ َ ‫ ف‬،ً‫ فَإِن ْ ُكن ْتِ ب َ ِريئَة‬،‫َو َك َذا‬
ْ
َ َ‫ فَإِن َّ ال َعب ْ َد إ ِ َذا اعْتَ َر َف ب ِ َذن ْ ِبه ِ ثُم َّ ت‬،ِ‫ َوتُوبِي إِلَيْه‬،َ‫اهَّلل‬
،‫اب‬ َّ ‫استَغْف ِ ِري‬ ْ َ‫ف‬
ُ‫ِس ِمنْه‬ ُّ ‫حت َّى َما أُح‬ َ ‫ص َدمْعِي‬ ِ
َ َ ‫ قَل‬،ُ‫ فَلَمَّا ق َ َضى َم َقالَتَه‬،‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه‬ َّ ‫اب‬ َ َ‫ت‬
‫اهَّلل ِ َما أَدْ ِري َما‬
َّ ‫ َو‬:َ‫ قَال‬،َ‫يما قَال‬ َ ِ‫اهَّلل ِ ف‬َّ َ ‫ب َر ُسول‬ ْ ‫ أ َِج‬:‫ت ِأِلَبِي‬ ُ ْ ‫ ف َ ُقل‬،ً‫قَط ْ َرة‬
َ ‫ أ َِجي ِبي َر ُسول‬:‫ت ِأِلُمِّي‬ َّ ‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى‬
ُ ْ ‫ ف َ ُقل‬،‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسل َّ َم‬ َّ ‫أَقُول ُ ل ِ َر ُسو ِل‬
‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى‬
َّ ‫ َما أَدْ ِري َما أَقُول ُ ل ِ َر ُسو ِل‬:‫ت‬ َّ ‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى‬
ْ َ‫ قَال‬،‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسل َّ َم‬ َّ
،‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسلَّم‬
َّ
َ

He then recited the tashahhud, and then said, ‘O ʿĀʾishah,

verily so and so has reached me about you. If you are
innocent, then Allah will clear your name. And if you did
commit the sin, then seek forgiveness with Allah, and re-
pent to Him. For if the slave confesses his sin, and then re-
pents, Allah accepts his repentance. When he had finished
his speech, my tears stopped, and I couldn’t feel a single
teardrop. I said to my father, ‘Answer Allah’s Messenger
about what he said.’ He said, ‘I do not know what to say
to Allah’s Messenger ‫ﷺ‬.’ I then told me mother, ‘Answer
Allah’s Messenger ‫ﷺ‬.’ She said, ‘I do not know what to
say to Allah’s Messenger ‫ﷺ‬.’

21
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

َّ ‫ إِن ِّي َو‬:‫ِيرا ِم َن ال ْ ُق ْرآ ِن‬

ِ ‫اهَّلل‬ ُ ْ ُ ْ ‫ف َ ُقل‬
َ ٍ‫ت َوأ َنَا يَ ْو َمئِذ‬
ً ‫السنِّ َاَل أ َق َرأ َكث‬
ِّ ُ ‫حدِيثَة‬
،ْ‫كم‬ ُ ‫س‬ ِ ُ‫استَ َق َّر فِي أَنْف‬ْ ‫حت َّى‬ َ ‫ِيث‬
َ ‫حد‬ َ ْ ‫ لَ َقدْ َس ِمعْتُم ْ َه َذا ال‬،‫ت‬ َ ْ‫لَ َقدْ َعلِم‬
‫ َاَل‬- ٌ‫اهَّلل ُ يَعْلَمُ أَن ِّي ب َ ِريئَة‬ َّ ‫ َو‬- ٌ‫ إِن ِّي ب َ ِريئَة‬:ْ‫كم‬ ُ ْ ‫ فَلَئِنْ قُل‬،ِ‫َو َصدَّقْتُم ْ بِه‬
ُ َ‫ت ل‬
َّ ‫ َو‬،‫كم ْ بِأَمْ ٍر‬
،ٌ‫اهَّلل ُ يَعْلَمُ أَن ِّي ب َ ِريئَة‬ ُ َ‫ت ل‬ُ ْ ‫ َولَئ ِِن اعْتَ َرف‬،‫ك‬ َ ِ ‫ت ُ َص ِّدقُونِي ب ِ َ���ذل‬
‫ ف َ َصب ْ ٌر‬:‫وس َف‬ ُ ُ ‫كم ْ َمث َ َاَل إ ِ َّاَّل ق َ ْول َ أ َبِي ي‬ُ َ‫اهَّلل ِ َما أ َِج ُد لِي َول‬
َّ ‫ َو‬،‫لَت ُ َص ِّدقُن ِّي‬
‫ت‬
ُ ْ ‫جع‬َ َ‫اضط‬ ْ َ ‫ ف‬،‫ت‬ ُ ْ ‫ح َّول‬ َ ُ‫ستَ َعانُ َعلَى َما تَصِ ف‬
َ َ‫ون ثُم َّ ت‬ ْ ‫اهَّلل ُ ال ْ ُم‬
َّ ‫ج ِميلٌ َو‬ َ
‫ يُبَ ِّرئُنِي‬- ‫ تَ َعالَى‬- َ‫اهَّلل‬ َّ َّ ‫ َوأَن‬،ٌ‫ َوأ َنَا أَعْلَمُ أَن ِّي ب َ ِريئَة‬،‫َعلَى فِ َراشِ ي‬
،‫اهَّللَ يُن ْ ِزل ُ فِي َشأْنِي َوحْيًا يُتْلَى‬ َّ َّ ‫ْت أَن‬ ُ ‫اهَّلل ِ َما ظَنَن‬
َّ ‫كنْ َو‬ ِ ‫بِبَراءت ِي َو َل‬
َ َ
ِ َّ ‫كلَّم‬ ‫ان فِي نَف ِْسي أَحقر ِمن أَن ْ يت‬ ْ
ْ‫كن‬ ِ ‫ َو َل‬،‫ي بِأَمْ ٍر يُتْل ِي‬ َّ ‫اهَّلل ُ ف‬ َ َ ََ ْ ََْ َ َ‫شأنِي ك‬ َ َ‫َول‬
‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسلَّم فِي الن َّ ْو ِم ُر ْؤيَا‬
َّ ‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى‬
َّ ُ ‫جو أَن ْ يَ َرى َر ُسول‬ ُ ‫ْت أ َْر‬
ُ ‫ُكن‬
َ
َّ ‫يُبَ ِّرئُنِي‬
.‫اهَّلل ُ ب ِ َها‬

I said — and I was young at that time and did not mem-
orise much of the Quran —: You have kept hearing this
allegation until it has settled in your minds, and you have
believed it. If I say to you that I am innocent — and Allah
knows that I am innocent — you wouldn’t believe me.
And if I confess to something — and Allah knows that I
am innocent — you would then believe me. I don’t find
anything more fitting to describe our situation, that the
words of Yusuf’s father: So ˹I can only endure with˺
beautiful patience! It is Allah’s help that I seek to bear
your claims [Al-Quran, 12:28]. I then turned away, and
lied down on my bed, and I knew I was innocent, and that

22
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

Allah, the Exalted, will clear my name because of my

innocence, but by Allah, I did not think that He would sent
down revelation, that will be recited [by Muslims], for my
sake — I had considered myself too insignificant for Allah
to speak about me in the Recitation (the Quran), but I
hoped that Allah’s Messenger would see a dream in which
Allah shows him my innocence.

‫خر َج‬ ‫ واَل‬،‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى اهَّلل عليه ِ وسلَّم‬ َّ ُ ‫اهَّلل ِ َما قَامَ َر ُسول‬
َّ ‫ ف َ َو‬:‫ت‬ ْ َ‫قَال‬
َ َ َ َ َ َ َ ْ َ َ ُ َّ
ُ ‫خذُه‬ ُ ْ ‫ان يَأ‬َ َ‫حت َّى ن َ َزل َ َعلَيْه ِ ال ْ َوحْ ُي ؛ فَأَخْ َذه ُ َما ك‬
َ ، ِ‫ل الْبَيْت‬ ِ ْ‫َح ٌد ِمنْ أَه‬ َ ‫أ‬
‫ َو ُه َو‬،‫ج َما ِن ِم َن ال ْ َعر ِق‬
َ ُ ْ ‫حدَّ ُر ِمنْهُ ِمث ْل ُ ال‬ َ ،ِ‫حاء‬
َ َ‫حت َّى إِنَّهُ لَيَت‬ َ ‫ِم َن الْب ُ َر‬
‫ي َعنْهُ َو ُه َو‬ ِ َّ ْ ِ ‫ ِمنْ ث ِ َق‬،‫ات‬ ٍ ‫فِي ي ْومٍ َش‬
َ ‫ فَلَمَّا ُس ِّر‬،‫ل ال َق ْو ِل الذِي يَن ْ ِزل ُ َعلَيْه‬ َ
َّ ‫اهَّلل ِ لَ َقدْ ب َ َّرأ َ ِك‬
،ُ‫اهَّلل‬ َّ ‫ أ ََما َو‬،ُ‫شة‬ َ َ‫ان أ َوَّل َ كَل َِمة ٍ ت‬
َ ِ ‫ يَا َعائ‬:‫كل َّ َم ب ِ َها‬ َ َ‫ ك‬،‫ك‬
ُ ‫ح‬َ ‫ض‬ ْ َ‫ي‬
َّ ‫ َو َاَل أَحْ َم ُد إ ِ َّاَّل‬،ِ‫اهَّلل ِ َاَل أَقُوم ُ إِلَيْه‬
.َ‫اهَّلل‬ َّ ‫ َو‬:‫ت‬ ُ ْ ‫ ف َ ُقل‬،ِ‫ قُو ِمي إِلَيْه‬:‫ت أُمِّي‬ ْ َ‫ف َ َقال‬
ِ َ‫كم ْ ال ْ َعشْ ر ْاآْلي‬
‫ات‬ ْ ُ‫اإْلفْكِ ع‬
ُ ْ ‫صبَةٌ ِمن‬ ِ ْ ِ ‫جاءُوا ب‬ َ ‫ إِن َّ الَّذ‬:‫اهَّلل ُ تَ َعالَى‬
َ ‫ِين‬ َّ َ ‫َوأَن ْ َزل‬
َ
.‫كُل َّ َها‬

And by Allah, Allah’s Messenger did not stand up, nor

did anyone in the house leave before revelation had come
down. And the usual difficulty (of receiving the revelation)
had affected him — until beads of sweat started rolling
down from him like pearls, although it was cold winter’s
day, due to the weight of the words being revealed to him.
When this was over, he started smiling and the first words
he spoke was, ‘O ʿĀʾishah, by Allah, He has proclaimed

23
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

your innocence.’ My mother said, ‘Go to him (Allah’s

Messenger).’ I said, ‘By Allah, I will not go to him, and
I will not praise anyone besides Allah.’ And Allah had
revealed the ten verses, [starting with]: Verily! They who
spread the slander are a gang, among you [Al-Quran,
24:11].

‫ان يُنْف ُِق َعلَى‬ َ َ‫ َوك‬- ‫ قَال َ أ َبُو بَكْ ٍر‬،‫اهَّلل ُ َه َذا فِي ب َ َراءَت ِي‬ َّ َ ‫فَلَمَّا أَن ْ َزل‬
‫سطَح ٍ َشيْئًا أ َب َ ًدا بَع ْ َد‬ ْ ‫اهَّلل ِ َاَل أُنْف ُِق َعلَى ِم‬
َّ ‫ َو‬:- ِ ‫سطَح ٍ ل ِ َق َرابَتِه ِ َوفَقْ ِره‬ْ ‫ِم‬
ْ ‫الس َعة ِ أَن‬َّ ‫كم ْ َو‬ ُ ْ ‫ل ِمن‬ِ ‫ض‬ ِ َ‫ َو َاَل يَأْت‬:‫ت‬
ْ َ‫ل أُول ُو الْف‬ ْ َ‫ فَأُن ْ ِزل‬،َ‫شة‬
َ ِ ‫الَّذِي قَال َ ل ِ َعائ‬
‫اهَّلل ِ َولْيَعْفُ َوا‬ ِ ‫ين فِي َسبِي‬ ِ ‫ِين َوال ْ ُم َه‬ ْ ْ ُ
َّ ‫ل‬ َ ‫اج ِر‬ َ ‫ساك‬ َ ‫يُؤْتُوا أولِي ال ُق ْربَى َوال َم‬
ُّ ‫ إِن ِّي َأَلُح‬،ِ‫اهَّلل‬
‫ِب‬ َّ ‫ بَلَى َو‬:َ‫كم ْ قَال‬ َّ ‫ون أَن ْ يَغْف َِر‬
ُ َ‫اهَّلل ُ ل‬ َ ُّ ‫حب‬ ِ ُ ‫حوا أ ََاَل ت‬ ُ َ‫صف‬ْ َ‫َولْي‬
َ َ‫سطَح ٍ النَّفَ َقة َ الَّت ِي ك‬
،ِ‫ان يُنْف ُِق َعلَيْه‬ ْ ‫ج َع إِلَى ِم‬ َ ‫ ف َ َر‬،‫اهَّلل ُ لِي‬َّ ‫أَن ْ يَغْف َِر‬
.‫اهَّلل ِ َاَل أَن ْ ِزعُ َها ِمنْهُ أ َب َ ًدا‬
َّ ‫ َو‬:َ‫َوقَال‬

And when Allah revealed this regarding my innocence,

Abū Bakr, who used to spend on Misṭah due to his family
ties, and poverty, said, ‘By Allah I will not spend anything
on Misṭah after what he said about ʿĀʾishah.’ And 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 [Al-Quran, 24.22].

24
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

Abū Bakr said, ‘Of course, I would like Allah to forgive

me. He then resumed what he would pay to Misṭah. He
said, ‘By Allah I will never deprive him of it’

25
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

4. Al-Hassān ibn Thābit’s Poetry about Her

َ ِ ‫سانُ فِي َعائ‬

:َ‫شة‬ َّ ‫ح‬
َ َ ‫اق؛ َوقَال‬
َ ‫ح‬َ ‫قَال َ اب ْ ُن إ ِ ْس‬

Al-Hassān ibn Thābit said about ʿĀʾishah:

ِ ِ ‫ات َغ َوائ‬
‫ل‬ ِ َ‫ِم َن ال ْ ُمحْ َصن‬
ِ ‫ات َغي ْ ِر َذ‬ ً ‫ح َّرة‬ َّ ِ‫ َولْيَغْف ِْر لَك‬- ِ‫َرأ َيْتُك‬
ُ - ُ ‫اهَّلل‬

I have seen you—may Allah forgive you—to be an hon-

ourable one from amongst the chaste; not of those wrong-
ful

ِ ِ‫وم ال ْ َغــوـَاف‬
‫ل‬ ُ ‫ح َغ ْرثَى ِمنْ ل‬
ِ ‫ُح‬ ُ ‫ص ِب‬
ْ ُ ‫َوت‬ ٍ ‫ـــزن ُّ ب ِ ِريــبة‬
َ َ ُ ‫ـصــا ٌن َر َزا ٌن َمــا ت‬
َ ‫ح‬َ

Pure, dignified, and above all suspicion; she wakes up

hungry from the flesh of the innocent (i.e., she does not
backbite)

‫ل‬ ِ ‫بَل ْ قِيل ُ امْ ِرئٍ ُمــتَ َما‬

ِ ‫ح‬ ‫س ب ِ َاَلئ ِ ٍق بِكِ الدَّهْر‬ ِ َّ
َ َ ْ ‫َوإِن َّ الذِي قَدْ قيل َ لَي‬

You are indeed far above that which was said; Nay, they
were the words of a talebearer

‫ي أ َنَا ِمل ِي‬ َّ َ ‫ــجو ُكــم ْ َك‬

َّ َ‫ت َس ْوطِي إِل‬
ْ ‫ف َ َاَل َرف َ َع‬ ُ‫ــما بَلغُو ُكم‬ ُ ْ‫ــت أَه‬
ُ ْ ‫فَإِن ْ ُكــن‬

If I have attacked you like it has reached you, then, let my

whip never be raised up towards me by my fingertips (i.e.,

26
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

May I perish if I was indeed involved in the slander)

‫ل‬ َ ‫اهَّلل ِ َزي ْ ِن ال ْ َم‬

ِ ِ‫ــــحاف‬ َّ ‫ِآِل ِل َر ُســـو ِل‬ ‫صرت ِي‬ ‫َو َكي ْ َف َو ُودِّي ما حــييت ون‬
َ ْ َُ ُ ِ َ َ

How can it be when my love and loyalty lie with the fam-
ily of Allah’s Prophet—the beauty of the congregations—
for as long as I’m alive?

ُ َ‫َوطَال َ الْعِــ ُّز ُكــل َّ التّــَط‬

‫او ِل‬ ‫اس ُدونَــهُ قِ َص ًارا‬
ُ َّ ‫ــرى الن‬ ‫وإن َّ لــهم ِعــزا ي‬
َ ُ ًّ ْ ُ َ ِ َ

Verily, their honour is so great that it makes the rest of the

people look inadequate; their honour extends every way

ِ ِ ‫ج ُد ُهم ْ َغي ْ ُر َزائ‬

‫ل‬ ْ ‫سا ِعي َم‬ ْ ِ ‫ك ِر‬ ٍ ِ ‫ـن َغال‬ َ ُ ‫ي ِمـــنْ ل‬ َ ُ ‫َعقِيلَة‬
َ ‫ام ال َم‬َ
‫ب‬ ِ ْ ‫ــؤي ِّ ب‬ ٍّ ‫ح‬

The noble wife of a man from [the progeny of] Luʾayy ibn
Ghālib; their accolades are many, and their magnificence
everlasting

ِ ِ‫َوطَهّــ َ َر َها ِمنْ ُكـــل ِّ ُســــوء ٍ َوبَــاط‬

‫ل‬ ‫ـها‬
َ ‫ِيــم‬
َ ‫اهَّلل ُ خ‬
َّ ‫ب‬ َّ َ ‫ُم‬
َ َّ ‫ــهــذبَةٌ قَــدْ طَي‬

She is of sublime character; Allah has ennobled her roots,

and purified her of all evil and falsehood

27
 ‫‪ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS‬‬

‫‪’s Love for Her and Her Playfulness‬ﷺ ‪5. The Prophet‬‬
‫‪with Him‬‬

‫ام ب ْ ِن‬
‫ِش ِ‬ ‫ان ب ْ ِن ب ِ َاَللٍ‪َ ،‬عنْ ه َ‬ ‫حدَّثَنِي أَخِي‪َ ،‬عنْ ُسلَي ْ َم َ‬ ‫س‪َ :‬‬ ‫اب ْ ُن أ َبِي أ ُ َوي ْ ٍ‬
‫ك‬
‫ت لَ ْو أ َن َّ َ‬ ‫اهَّللِ‪ ،‬أ ََرأ َي ْ َ‬
‫ت‪ :‬يَا َر ُسول َ َّ‬ ‫ت‪ :‬قُل ْ ُ‬
‫شةَ‪ ،‬قَالَ ْ‬‫عُ ْر َوةَ‪َ ،‬عنْ أ َبِيهِ‪َ ،‬عنْ َعائ ِ َ‬
‫جرة ً لَم ْ يُؤْكَل ْ ِمن ْ َها‪،‬‬ ‫ت َوادِيًا فِيه ِ شجرة قد أُك ِل ِمنها‪ ،‬ووجدت ش‬ ‫ن َ َزل ْ َ‬
‫َ ٌََ َ ْ َ َْ ََ َ ْ َ َ ََ‬
‫ت‪:‬‬ ‫ج َرةَ الَّت ِي لَم ْ يُؤْكَل ْ ِمن ْ َها‪ .‬قَالَ ْ‬ ‫ِير َك؟ قَالَ‪ :‬الشَّ َ‬ ‫فأَيهما كن ْت ترت ِع بع‬
‫َ َّ ُ َ ُ َ ُ ْ ُ ِ َ‬
‫ج بِك ًْرا‬ ‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى َّ‬
‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسل َّ َم لَم ْ يَتَ َزوَّ ْ‬ ‫فَأَنَا هِي‪ .‬تَعْنِي‪ :‬أَن َّ َر ُسول َ َّ‬
‫َ‬
‫َغيْر َها‪.‬‬
‫َ‬

‫‪ʿĀʾishah narrated: I said, ‘O Allah’s Messenger, if you‬‬

‫‪were to descend a valley in which there is a tree which‬‬
‫‪has been eaten from, and then you find another tree which‬‬
‫‪hasn’t been eaten from, which of the two will you let you‬‬
‫‪camel feed on?’ He said, ‘The tree which hasn’t been fed‬‬
‫‪upon.’ She said, ‘I am that tree (meaning that Allah’s mes-‬‬
‫’‪senger hasn’t married a maiden other than her).‬‬

‫حدَّثَنَا‬
‫اص‪َ :‬‬ ‫خ َّو ُ‬‫حدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى ال ْ َ‬ ‫ي‪َ :‬‬‫اهَّلل ِ الن َّ ْر ِس ُّ‬
‫أَحْ َم ُد ب ْ ُن عُبَي ْ ِد َّ‬
‫ت‪ :‬أ َتَانِي‬‫شة َ قَالَ ْ‬‫ام ب ْ ِن عُ ْر َوةَ‪َ ،‬عنْ أ َبِيهِ‪َ ،‬عنْ َعائ ِ َ‬‫ِش ِ‬ ‫اض ٌر‪َ ،‬عنْ ه َ‬ ‫ح ِ‬ ‫ُم َ‬
‫جعًا‪،‬‬‫ب ِمن ِّي َض ْ‬ ‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسل َّ َم فِي َغي ْ ِر يَ ْو ِمي يَطْل ُ ُ‬
‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى َّ‬
‫َر ُسول ُ َّ‬
‫ت لَهُ‪ ،‬ف َ َقالَ‪َ :‬ما ُكن ْتِ‬ ‫ت‪ ،‬فَفَتَحْ ُ‬ ‫ج ُ‬‫خ َر ْ‬ ‫ت الدَّقَّ‪ ،‬ثُم َّ َ‬ ‫س ِمع ْ ُ‬ ‫ف َ َدقَّ‪ ،‬ف َ َ‬
‫ك‬ ‫ت أَن ْ يَعْل َ َم الن ِّ َ‬
‫ساء ُ أ َن َّ َ‬ ‫كنَّنِي أَحْبَب ْ ُ‬
‫ت‪ :‬بَلَى‪َ ،‬ولَ ِ‬ ‫ِين الدَّقَّ؟ قُل ْ ُ‬‫س َمع َ‬ ‫تَ ْ‬

‫‪28‬‬
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

.‫أ َتَيْتَنِي فِي َغي ْ ِر يَ ْو ِمي‬

ʿĀʾishah narrated: Allah’s Messenger ‫ ﷺ‬came to me on

a day that wasn’t mine wanting to have intercourse. So,
he knocked, and I heard his knocking, and then I came
out and opened the door for him. He said, ‘Weren’t you
hearing the knocking?’ I said, ‘Of course, but I wanted the
women to know that you came to me on a day that wasn’t
mine’

‫ي َصلَّى‬
ُّ ‫ َساب َ َقنِي الن َّ ِب‬:‫ت‬ َ ِ ‫ َعنْ َعائ‬،ِ‫ َعنْ أ َبِيه‬،َ‫ِشام ُ ب ْ ُن عُ ْر َوة‬
ْ َ‫ قَال‬،َ‫شة‬ َ ‫ه‬
،‫ َساب َ َقنِي‬،ُ‫حت َّى إ ِ َذا َره َِقنِي اللَّحْم‬َ ،َ‫سبَقْتُهُ َما َشاء‬ َ َ ‫ ف‬،‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسل َّ َم‬
َّ
.‫ك‬ َ ْ ‫شة ُ َه ِذه ِ بِت ِل‬
َ ِ ‫ يَا َعائ‬:َ‫ ف َ َقال‬،‫سبَ َقنِي‬ َ َ‫ف‬

ʿĀʾishah narrated: The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬raced me, and I beat

him by as much as he wished. Until I gained weight, and
then, he raced me, and he beat me. He said, “O ʿĀʾishah,
this one for that.”

29
 ‫‪ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS‬‬

‫‪6. Her Incredible Knowledge‬‬

‫ِيث‬
‫حد ٌ‬ ‫ض الن َُّسخِ‪َ ،‬وفِي بَع ْ ِ‬
‫ض الن َُّسخِ‪َ :‬ه َذا َ‬ ‫حهُ الت ِّ ْر ِمذِي ُّ فِي بَع ْ ِ‬
‫َصحَّ َ‬
‫س ٌن‪.‬‬
‫ح َ‬
‫َ‬

‫الربِيعِ‪:‬‬
‫اد ب ْ ُن َّ‬
‫حدَّثَنَا ِزيَ ُ‬‫س َع َدةَ َ‬ ‫ح َمي ْ ُد ب ْ ُن َم ْ‬ ‫َوقَال َ الت ِّ ْر ِمذِيُّ‪َ :‬‬
‫حدَّثَنَا ُ‬
‫ْ‬
‫وسى‬‫ي‪َ ،‬عنْ أ َبِي ب ُ ْر َدةَ‪َ ،‬عنْ أ َبِي ُم َ‬‫خال ِ ُد ب ْ ُن َسل َ َمة َ ال َمخ ُْزو ِم ُّ‬
‫حدَّثَنَا َ‬ ‫َ‬
‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسلَّم ‪-‬‬
‫مَحُم َّ ٍد ‪َ -‬صلَّى َّ‬
‫اب ُ َ‬‫ح َ‬ ‫كل َ َعلَيْنَا ‪ -‬أ َْص َ‬ ‫قَالَ‪َ :‬ما أَشْ َ‬
‫َ‬
‫ِيث‬
‫حد ٌ‬‫جدْنَا ِعن ْ َد َها ِمنْهُ ِعل ْ ًما‪َ .‬ه َذا َ‬‫شةَ‪ ،‬إ ِ َّاَّل َو َ‬ ‫سأَلْنَا َعائ ِ َ‬ ‫حد ٌ ُّ‬
‫ِيث قَط‪ ،‬ف َ َ‬ ‫َ‬
‫يب‪.‬‬
‫س ٌن َغ ِر ٌ‬
‫ح َ‬
‫َ‬

‫‪Abū Mūsā said, ‘Never did a hadīth confound us (i.e., the‬‬

‫‪) except that we would ask‬ﷺ ‪companions of Muhammad‬‬
‫’‪ʿĀʾishah, and she would have knowledge regarding it.‬‬

‫‪30‬‬
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

7. Ibn ʿAbbās’s Praise of Her

‫ َع ِن اب ْ ِن أ َبِي‬،ٍ‫خثَيْم‬ َ ‫اهَّلل ِ ب ْ ُن عُث َْم‬

ُ ‫ان ب ْ ِن‬ َّ ‫حدَّثَنَا َعب ْ ُد‬
َ :‫ل‬ َّ َ‫بِشْ ُر ب ْ ُن ال ْ ُمف‬
ِ ‫ض‬
َّ ‫اس َر ِضي‬
ُ ‫اهَّلل‬ ٍ َّ ‫جاءَ اب ْ ُن َعب‬ َ :َ‫حدَّثَهُ قَال‬ َ ،‫ أ َبَا َعمْ ٍرو‬:‫ان‬ َ ‫ أَن َّ َذك َْو‬:َ‫كة‬ َ ْ ‫ُملَي‬
َ
ِ ‫ َوهِي فِي ال ْ َم ْو‬،َ‫شة‬ ْ ْ ‫ ي‬- ‫عنْهما‬
‫ْت َو ِعن ْ َد‬ ُ ‫جئ‬ ِ َ ‫ ف‬:َ‫ قَال‬.‫ت‬ َ َ ِ ‫ستَأ ِذنُ َعلَى َعائ‬ َ َ ُ َ
‫اس‬ٍ َّ ‫ َه َذا اب ْ ُن َعب‬:‫ت‬ ُ ْ ‫ ف َ ُقل‬،‫الرحْ َم ِن‬
َّ ‫ِيها َعب ْ ِد‬ َّ ‫َرأ ْ ِس َها َعب ْ ُد‬
َ ‫اهَّلل ِ اب ْ ُن أَخ‬
،ِ‫ َو َاَل بِتَ ْزك ِيَتِه‬،ِ‫اجة َ لِي بِه‬ َ ‫ح‬ َ ‫ َاَل‬،‫اس‬ ٍ َّ ‫ َدعْنِي ِم َن اب ْ ِن َعب‬:‫ت‬ ْ َ‫ قَال‬.ُ‫ستَأ ْ ِذن‬ ْ َ‫ي‬
‫ك‬ ٍ َّ ‫ إِن َّ اب ْ َن َعب‬،ْ‫ يَا أُمَّه‬:ِ‫اهَّلل‬
ُ ُ‫ ي ُ َودِّع‬، ِ‫اس ِمنْ َصالِحِي بَن ِيك‬ َّ ‫ف َ َقال َ َعب ْ ُد‬
. ِ‫سلِّمُ َعلَيْك‬ َ ُ ‫َوي‬

Narrated Dhakwān, Abū ʿAmr: Ibn ʿAbbās (r.a) sought

permission to enter upon ʿĀʾishah when she was on her
deathbed. He said, ‘I came and found ʿAbdullāh, the son
of her brother ʿAbdurrahmān by her head. I said, ‘Ibn
ʿAbbās is here, and he seeks permission to enter.’ She said,
‘I don’t want to meet Ibn ʿAbbās; I have no need for him,
or his praise.’ So ʿAbdullāh said, ‘O mother, Ibn ʿAbbās is
from the righteous of your sons, and he wants to bid you
farewell and say salam to you.’

:َ‫ قَال‬،‫ فَلَمَّا ق َ َع َد‬،‫اس‬ َ َ ‫ ف‬:َ‫ قَال‬.‫ فَائ ْ َذن ْ لَهُ إِن ْ شِ ئ َْت‬:‫ت‬
ٍ َّ ‫جاءَ اب ْ ُن َعب‬ ْ َ‫قَال‬
‫مَحُم َّ ًدا‬
َُ ‫ي‬ ْ ٍ ‫اهَّلل ِ َما بَيْنَكِ َوبَي ْ َن أَن ْ تُفَا ِرقِي كُل َّ ن َ َص‬
ْ ‫ َوتَل َق‬،‫ب‬ َّ ‫ ف َ َو‬،‫أ َبْشِ ِري‬
.‫س َد ِك‬ َ ‫ج‬ َ ِ‫وحك‬ ُ ‫ إ ِ َّاَّل أَن ْ تُفَا ِر َق ُر‬،َ‫حبَّة‬ ْ ‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسلَّم َو‬
ِ َ‫اأْل‬ َّ ‫َصلَّى‬
َ

She said, ‘Then let him enter, if you would like’. Then, Ibn

31
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

ʿAbbās came and when he sat, he said, ‘Take glad tidings,

for by Allah, there is nothing between you and getting rid
of all difficulty, and meeting Muhammad ‫ ﷺ‬and the ones
you love, except your soul leaving your body.’

َّ ‫ساء ِ َر ُسو ِل‬

‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى‬ َ ِ‫ب ن‬
َّ ‫َح‬
َ ‫ ُكن ْتِ أ‬:َ‫اس! قَال‬
ٍ َّ ‫ يَا اب ْ َن َعب‬،‫يها‬
ً ِ ‫ إ‬:‫ت‬
ْ َ‫قَال‬
ْ َ‫ َس َقط‬،‫ِب إ ِ َّاَّل طَيِّبًا‬
‫ت‬ ُّ ‫كنْ يُح‬ ُ َ‫ َولَم ْ ي‬- ِ ‫ إِلَيْه‬:‫ يَعْنِي‬- .‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسل َّ َم‬
َّ
َّ ‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى‬
‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسلَّم‬
َ َّ ُ ‫ح َر ُسول‬ َ َ‫ َوأ َْصب‬،ِ‫اأْلَب ْ َواء‬
ْ َ ‫قِ َاَل َدتُكِ لَيْلَة‬
‫ِيدا‬ َّ َ ‫ فَأَن ْ َزل‬،ٌ‫س َم َع ُهم ْ َماء‬
ً ‫اهَّلل ُ فَتَيَم َّ ُموا َصع‬ َ ْ ‫اس لَي‬
ُ َّ ‫ح الن‬ َ َ‫ فَأ َ ْصب‬،‫لِيَلْقِطَ َها‬
ُّ ‫اأْلُمَّة ِ ِم َن‬
.ِ‫الرخ َْصة‬ ْ ِ ‫اهَّلل ُ ب ِ َه ِذه‬ َ ِ ‫ان َ���ذل‬
َّ َ ‫ َو َما أَن ْ َزل‬، ِ‫ك ِمنْ َسب َ ِبك‬ َ ‫ك‬َ َ ‫طَيِّبًا ف‬
‫ح‬َ َ‫ فَأ َ ْصب‬،‫ات‬ ٍ ‫ بَراءتَكِ ِمنْ ف َ ْو ِق َسبْع ِ َس َماو‬- ‫ تَ َعالَى‬- ُ ‫اهَّلل‬ َّ َ ‫ثُم َّ أَن ْ َزل‬
َ َ َ
ِ ِ َّ َّ ‫يها‬
َ‫اهَّلل ُ إِاَّل ب َ َراءَتُكِ تُتْلَى فيه آنَاء‬ َ ِ‫اج َد ي ُ ْذ َك ُر ف‬
ِ ‫س‬َ ‫ج ٌد ِمنْ َم‬ ِ ‫س‬ ْ ‫س َم‬ َ ْ ‫لَي‬
‫ت أَن ِّي‬ُ ْ‫اهَّلل ِ لَ َو ِدد‬
َّ ‫ ف َ َو‬،‫اس‬ َ ْ ‫ َدعْنِي َعن‬:‫ت‬
ٍ َّ ‫ك يَا اب ْ َن َعب‬ ْ َ‫ قَال‬.‫ل َوالن َّ َها ِر‬ ِ ْ ‫اللَّي‬
.‫سيًا َمن ِْسيًّا‬ ْ َ ‫ْت ن‬ُ ‫ُكن‬

She said, ‘Continue O Ibn ʿAbbās.’ He said, ‘You were

the most beloved of Allah’s Messenger ‫’ﷺ‬s women, and
he never loved except the pure. Your necklace fell on the
night of Abwāʾ1, and Allah’s Messenger ‫ ﷺ‬started search-
ing for it, and the people ran out of water. Then, Allah
revealed ‘then purify yourselves with clean earth’ (the
āyah) and that was because of you, and what Allah had
sent down for this nation of concession. And then, Allah
1 A famous valley that abounds with water and plants and where the two valleys, Al-Far‘
and Al-Qaaha, meet. It is also known as Waddaan and the valley of Al-Khuraybah. https://terminolo-
gyenc.com/en/browse/term/75885

32
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

the Exalted sent down the news of your innocence from

above the seven heavens, and it became so that there is not
a single mosque from mosques wherein Allah’s name is
mentioned, except that the news of your innocence is recit-
ed therein throughout the night and day.’ She said, ‘Leave
me be O Ibn ʿAbbās, for by Allah, I wish I was nothing,
and was long forgotten.’

33
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

8. The Senior Companions Would Ask Her About the

Religion

ْ َ ‫ َهل ْ كَان‬:ُ‫ قُلْنَا لَه‬:َ‫ قَال‬،ٍ‫س ُروق‬

‫ت‬ ْ ‫ َعنْ َم‬،‫حى‬ َ ‫الض‬ ُّ ‫ َعنْ أ َبِي‬:‫ش‬ ْ
ُ ‫اأْلَع ْ َم‬
‫مَحُم َّ ٍد َصلَّى‬
َ ُ ‫اب‬
َ ‫ح‬َ ‫ت أ َْص‬ َّ ‫ َو‬:َ‫س ُن الْفَ َرائ ِ َض؟ قَال‬
ُ ْ ‫ لَ َقدْ َرأ َي‬،ِ‫اهَّلل‬ ِ ْ‫شة ُ تُح‬ َ ِ ‫َعائ‬
.‫ض‬ ِ ِ ‫سأَل ُون َ َها َع ِن الْفَرائ‬ ْ ‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسلَّم‬
ْ َ‫اأْلَكَاب ِ َر ي‬ َّ
َ َ

Abū al-Dhuhā narrated: We asked him (Masrūq), ‘Had

ʿĀʾishah mastered [the laws of] inheritance?’ He said, ‘I
have seen the senior companions of Muhammad ‫ ﷺ‬asking
her regarding inheritance.’

34
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

9. Her Generosity

‫ت‬ َ ِ ‫ َعنْ َعائ‬،َ‫ َعنْ عُ ْر َوة‬،َ‫ َعنْ تَ ِمي ِم ب ْ ِن َسل َ َمة‬،‫ش‬

ْ َ ‫ أ َن َّ َها تَ َصدَّق‬:َ‫شة‬ ْ
ُ ‫اأْلَع ْ َم‬
َّ ‫ب د ِْر ِع َها َر ِضي‬
.‫اهَّلل ُ َعن ْ َها‬ ِ َ ‫ِين أَلْفًا؛ وإِن َّ َها لَتُرق ِّ ُع‬
َ َ ‫جان‬ َ َ َ ‫سبْع‬ َ ِ‫ب‬

ʿUrwah narrated about ʿĀʾishah: She gave away seventy

thousand (dīnārs) in charity, while she would mend her
own clothing; may Allah be pleased with her.

ْ َ‫ قَال‬،َ‫ َعنْ أُم ِّ َذ َّرة‬،‫ك ِد ِر‬

:‫ت‬ َ ْ ‫ َع ِن اب ْ ِن ال ْ ُمن‬،َ‫ام ب ْ ِن عُ ْر َوة‬
ِ ‫ِش‬
َ ‫ َعنْ ه‬،َ‫أ َبُو ُم َعا ِويَة‬
،‫كونُ ِمائَة َ أَل ْ ٍف‬ ُ َ‫ ي‬،‫شة َ ب ِ َما ٍل فِي ِغ َر َارتَي ْ ِن‬ َ ِ ‫ث اب ْ ُن ال ُّزبَي ْ ِر إِلَى َعائ‬
َ ‫ب َ َع‬
‫ َهات ِي‬:‫ت‬ ْ َ‫ قَال‬،‫ت‬ ْ ‫س‬َ ْ‫ فَلَمَّا أَم‬،‫اس‬ ِ ِّ ‫ت ت ُ َق‬
َ َّ ‫سمُ في الن‬ ْ َ ‫ج َعل‬َ َ ‫ ف‬،‫ت بِطَبَ ٍق‬ ْ ‫ف َ َد َع‬
ْ ‫استَطَعْتِ أَن‬ ْ ‫ أ ََما‬،‫ين‬ َ ِ‫ يَا أُم َّ ال ْ ُمؤْ ِمن‬:َ‫ت أُم ُّ َذ َّرة‬ ْ َ‫ ف َ َقال‬،‫جا ِريَة ُ فُط ُو ِري‬ َ ‫يَا‬
.‫ت‬ُ ْ ‫ لَ ْو أَذ ْ َك ْرت ِينِي لَفَ َعل‬،‫ َاَل ت ُ َعنِّف ِينِي‬:‫ت‬ ْ َ‫تَشْ تَ ِري لَنَا لَحْ ًما بِد ِْر َهمٍ؟ قَال‬

Umm Dharrah narrated: Ibn Zubayr sent money to

ʿĀʾishah in two sacks which would amount to one hundred
thousand (dīnārs). So she called for plates to be brought,
and started dividing it between the people. By evening, she
said: O girl, bring my meal. So Umm Dharrah replied, ‘O
Mother of the Believers, could you not have bought meat
for us for a dirham? She said, ‘Do not be harsh towards
me; if you had reminded me, I would have done so.’

35
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

10. She Was Allah’s Messenger ‫’ ﷺ‬s Beloved

:َ‫ قَال‬،‫ب ب ْ ِن َسع ْ ٍد‬ ِ ‫ص َع‬ ْ ‫ َعنْ ُم‬،‫اق‬ َ ‫ح‬ ٍ ‫ُمطَ ِّر ُف ب ْ ُن ط َ ِر‬
َ ‫ َعنْ أ َبِي إ ِ ْس‬،‫يف‬
َ ِ ‫اد َعائ‬
َ ‫شة‬ َ ‫ َو َز‬،‫ف‬ ٍ ‫شرةَ َآاَل‬ ‫ ع‬،‫ف‬ ٍ ‫شرةَ َآاَل‬ ‫ات الْمؤ ِمنِين ع‬ ِ ‫فَر َض عُ َم ُر ِأِلُمَّ َه‬
َ َ َ َ َ َ َ ْ ُ َ
َّ ‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى‬
.‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسلَّم‬
َ َّ ‫ح ِبيبَة ُ َر ُسو ِل‬َ ‫ إِن َّ َها‬:َ‫ َوقَال‬،‫أَلْفَي ْ ِن‬

Muṣʿab ibn Saʿd narrated: ʿUmar allocated ten thousand

for the Mothers of the Believers; then he increased two
thousand for ʿĀʾishah and said, ‘She is Allah’s Messenger
‫’ﷺ‬s beloved.’

36
 ‫‪ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS‬‬

‫‪ Died on Her Chest‬ﷺ ‪11. Allah’s Messenger‬‬

‫شةُ‪ :‬ت ُ ُوفِّي‬‫ت َعائ ِ َ‬ ‫كةَ‪ ،‬قَالَ‪ :‬قَالَ ْ‬ ‫اب ْ ُن عُلَيَّةَ‪َ ،‬عنْ أ َيُّوبٍ ‪َ ،‬ع ِن اب ْ ِن أ َبِي ُملَي ْ َ‬
‫َ‬
‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسلَّم فِي بَيْت ِي‪َ ،‬وفِي يَ ْو ِمي َولَيْلَت ِي‪َ ،‬وبَي ْ َن‬ ‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى َّ‬ ‫َر ُسول ُ َّ‬
‫َ‬
‫ب‪،‬‬ ‫اك َرط ْ ٌ‬ ‫الرحْ َم ِن ب ْ ُن أ َبِي بَكْ ٍر‪َ ،‬و َم َعهُ ِس َو ٌ‬‫خل َ َعب ْ ُد َّ‬ ‫َسحْ ِري َونَحْ ِري‪َ .‬و َد َ‬
‫ضتُهُ‬ ‫خ ْذتُهُ‪ ،‬ف َ َم َضغْتُهُ َونَفَ ْ‬‫يدهُ‪ ،‬فَأ َ َ‬‫ْت أ َنَّهُ ي ُ ِر ُ‬
‫حت َّى ظَنَن ُ‬ ‫فَنَظَ َر إِلَيْهِ‪َ ،‬‬
‫ستَنًّا قَطُّ؛‬ ‫استَنَّ بِه ِ كَأَحْ َ‬
‫س ِن َما َرأ َيْتُهُ ُم ْ‬ ‫َوطَيَّبْتُهُ‪ ،‬ثُم َّ َدفَعْتُهُ إِلَيْهِ‪ ،‬ف َ ْ‬

‫‪Ibn Abī Mulaykah narrated: ʿĀʾishah said, ‘Allah’s‬‬

‫;‪ died in my house; on my day and night‬ﷺ ‪Messenger‬‬
‫‪and between my chest and neck. And ʿAbd al-Rahmān ibn‬‬
‫ﷺ ‪Abī Bakr entered, and he had fresh piece of siwāk. He‬‬
‫‪looked at it until I understood that he wanted it. So, I took‬‬
‫‪it, chewed on it (to soften it), shook it (to remove excess‬‬
‫‪water), and prepared it. I then gave it to him. He then used‬‬
‫‪it as well as I had seen him use it.‬‬

‫ت أَدْعُو لَهُ ب ِ ُد َعاء ٍ كَ َ‬

‫ان‬ ‫خ ْذ ُ‬‫ت يَ ُدهُ‪ ،‬فَأ َ َ‬ ‫س َقطَ ْ‬ ‫ي‪ ،‬ف َ َ‬‫ب يَ ْرفَعُهُ إِلَ َّ‬ ‫ثُم َّ َذ َه َ‬
‫ان ُه َو يَدْعُو بِه ِ إ ِ َذا َم ِر َض‪ ،‬فَلَم ْ يَدْعُ بِه ِ فِي‬
‫يَدْعُو بِه ِ لَهُ ِجب ْ ِريلُ‪َ ،‬وكَ َ‬
‫ت‬
‫اض ْ‬
‫اأْلَعْلَى‪َ ،‬وف َ َ‬ ‫يق ْ‬ ‫الس َماءِ‪َ ،‬وقَالَ‪َّ :‬‬
‫الرفِ َ‬ ‫اك‪ ،‬ف َ َرف َ َع ب َ َص َره ُ إِلَى َّ‬‫َم َر ِضه ِ َذ َ‬
‫ج َم َع بَي ْ َن ِريقِي َو ِريقِه ِ فِي آ ِ‬
‫خ ِر يَ ْومٍ ِم َن‬ ‫هَّلِل ِ الَّذِي َ‬
‫حمْ ُد ِ َّ‬ ‫نَف ُْسهُ‪ ،‬فَال ْ َ‬
‫الدُّنْيَا‪.‬‬

‫ِيح‪.‬‬
‫ِيث َصح ٌ‬
‫حد ٌ‬‫َه َذا َ‬

‫‪37‬‬
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

Then he started raising it towards me, but his hand

dropped. So, I began supplicating for him with the suppli-
cation Jibrīl would make for him, and which he ‫ ﷺ‬would
also make when he was sick; but he hadn’t done so in that
period of sickness. He then raised his sight towards the
sky, and said, “[With] the Lofty Companions” and his soul
left. So praised be Allah who on his last day in this world,
brought my saliva together with his.’

This is a sound hadīth.

38
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

12. She is His Wife in this World and the Next

:ِّ‫اأْل ُ َم ِوي‬
ْ ‫ستَدْركِه ِ ِمنْ ط َ ِري ِق يحْيَى ب ْ ِن َسعِي ٍد‬
َ َ ْ ‫حاك ِمُ في ُم‬
ِ َ ْ ‫َوأَخ َْر َج ال‬
:ُ‫شة‬ َ ِ ‫حدَّثَت ْنَا َعائ‬ َ :َ‫ قَال‬،ِ‫ َعنْ أ َبِيه‬،‫ِيد ب ْ ُن َكث ِي ٍر‬ ُ ‫س َسع‬ ِ َ ‫حدَّثَنَا أ َبُو ال ْ َعنْب‬ َ
،‫ت أ َنَا‬ ُ ْ‫كلَّم‬ َ َ‫ فَت‬:‫ت‬ َّ ‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى‬
ْ َ‫ قَال‬.َ‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسل َّ َم َذ َك َر فَاطِ َمة‬ َّ َ ‫أَن َّ َر ُسول‬
‫ بَلَى‬:‫ت‬ ُ ْ ‫ قُل‬.ِ‫جت ِي فِي الدُّنْيَا َو ْاآْلخ َِرة‬ َ ْ‫كونِي َزو‬ ُ َ‫ أ ََما تَ ْر َضي ْ َن أَن ْ ت‬:َ‫ف َ َقال‬
.ِ‫جت ِي فِي الدُّنْيَا َو ْاآْلخِرة‬ َ ْ‫ فَأَنْتِ َزو‬:َ‫ قَال‬،ِ‫اهَّلل‬ َّ ‫َو‬
َ

ʿĀʾishah narrated: Allah’s Messenger ‫ ﷺ‬spoke [highly]

of Fatima, and I said something (disapprovingly). He then
said, ‘Will you not be pleased to be my wife in this world
and the hereafter?’ I said, ‘Of course, by Allah’ He said,
‘Then you are my wife in this world and the hereafter.’

39
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

13. Her Nine Distinctions That No One Else Was

Given

‫ أَن َّ َعب ْ َد‬:‫الضحَّا ِك‬ َّ ‫ أَخْبَ َرنَا َعب ْ ُد‬:‫خال ِ ٍد‬

َّ ‫الرحْ َم ِن ب ْ ُن‬ َ ‫إ ِ ْس َما ِعيل ُ ب ْ ُن أ َبِي‬
،‫َح ٍد‬ َ ‫كنْ ِأِل‬ ُ َ‫ لَم ْ ت‬،‫ لِي خ َِاَللٌ ت ِْس ٌع‬:‫ت‬ ْ َ‫ ف َ َقال‬،َ‫شة‬ َ ‫اهَّلل ِ ب ْ َن َصف َْو‬
َ ِ ‫ان أ َتَى َعائ‬ َّ
‫اهَّلل ِ َما أَقُول ُ َه َذا فَخ ًْرا َعلَى‬َّ ‫ َو‬.- ُ ‫الس َاَلم‬ َّ ‫إ ِ َّاَّل َما آتَى‬
َّ ‫ َعلَي ْ َها‬- ‫اهَّلل ُ َم ْريَ َم‬
.‫َص َواحِبَات ِي‬

‫ورت ِي إِلَى َر ُسو ِل‬ َ ‫ص‬ُ ِ‫ك ب‬ ُ َ ‫جاءَ ال ْ َمل‬ َ :‫ت‬ْ َ‫ َو َما ُهنَّ؟ قَال‬:‫ان‬ َ ‫ف َ َقال َ اب ْ ُن َصف َْو‬
‫ َوأ َنَا َو ُه َو فِي‬،‫ان يَأْت ِيه ِ ال ْ َوحْي‬َ َ‫جنِي بِك ًْرا ؛ َوك‬ َ َّ‫جنِي ؛ َوتَ َزو‬ َ َّ‫ فَتَ َزو‬،ِ‫اهَّلل‬
َّ
ُ
ُ ‫اأْلُمَّة‬
ْ ‫ت‬ ِ ‫اد‬
َ َ‫ ك‬،‫ات‬ ٍ ‫اس إِلَيْه ِ ؛ ون َ َزل َ فِي آي‬ ِ َّ ‫ب الن‬ َ ‫ْت ِمنْ أ‬
ِّ ‫َح‬ ُ ‫اف ؛ َو ُكن‬ ٍ ‫ح‬ َ ِ‫ل‬
َ َّ َ
َ ِ ‫َح ٌد ِمنْ ن‬
‫سائِه ِ َغي ْ ِري ؛ َوق ُ ِب َض‬ َ ‫ َولَم ْ يَ َره ُ أ‬،َ‫ت ِجب ْ ِريل‬ َ ِ‫ك ف‬
ُ ْ ‫يها ؛ َو َرأ َي‬ ُ َ ‫تَهْل‬
َ ْ ‫حهُ ال‬
.ُ‫حاك ِم‬ َ َّ‫ إ ِ َّاَّل أ َنَا َصح‬- ِ‫ َغي ْ ُر ال ْ َملَك‬- ‫َح ٌد‬ َ ‫ لَم ْ يَلِه ِ أ‬،‫فِي بَيْت ِي‬

ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn al-Ḍahhāk narrated: ʿAbdullāh ibn

Ṣafwān visited ʿĀʾishah, and she said, ‘I have nine distinc-
tions that no one else has, except for that which Allah gave
Maryam (alayhassalām) — I don’t say this to boast over
my companions (the Prophet’s other wives).

So Ṣafwān asked, ‘What are they?’ She said,

‘The Angel came bringing my form to Allah’s Messenger,

and he married me’,

40
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

‘He married my whilst a maiden’,

‘The revelation would come to him when we were together

under the same blanket’,

‘I was one the most beloved people to him’,

‘Verses were revealed about me—concerning a matter in

which the ummah was almost destroyed’

‘I saw Jibrīl, and none of his other wives saw him’ and

‘He passed away in my house, no one closer to him than

me except for the Angel’

Al-Hākim graded this as Sahih.

41
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

14. She is Mentioned in the Quran

َ ‫ إِن َّ الَّذ‬:‫اس‬
‫ِين‬ ُ ‫ َعنْ َسعِي ِد ب ْ ِن‬،‫ب‬
ٍ َّ ‫ َع ِن اب ْ ِن َعب‬،‫جبَي ْ ٍر‬ َ ‫ال ْ َع َّوام ُ ب ْ ُن‬
ٍ ‫ح ْو َش‬
.ً‫اصة‬َّ ‫خ‬ َ َ ‫شة‬ َ ِ ‫ت فِي َعائ‬ ِ َ‫ون ال ْ ُمحْ َصن‬
ْ َ‫ ن َ َزل‬:َ‫ات ْاآْليَة َ قَال‬ َ ‫يَ ْر ُم‬

Ibn ʿAbbās said (about the verse), Verily, those who

accuse chaste women: It was specifically revealed about
ʿĀʾishah.

42
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

15. Her Death and Burial

‫سرةَ َعنْ َسال ِ ٍم‬ ‫ عن موسى بن مي‬،‫ حدثنا ابن أ َبي سبرة‬:‫قَال َ ال ْ َواقِدِي‬
َ َ ْ َ ِ ْ َ ُ ْ َ َ َ ْ َ ِ ُ ْ َ َ َّ َ ُّ
َ ‫الساب ِ َعة ِ َعشْ َرةَ ِمنْ َشهْ ِر َر َم َض‬
‫ان بَع ْ َد‬ َّ ِ ‫ت فِي اللَّيْلَة‬ ْ َ‫ أ َن َّ َها َمات‬:‫َسبَ َاَل َن‬
ْ ‫ فَلَم‬،‫ح َض ُروا‬ ْ ‫جتَ َم َع‬
َ ‫ َو‬،‫اأْلَن ْ َص ُار‬ ْ ‫ فَا‬،‫ت أَن ْ تُدْف َ َن ِمنْ لَيْلَت َِها‬ ْ ‫ فَأ َ َم َر‬،‫ال ْ ِوت ْ ِر‬
.ِ‫ت بِالْبَقِيع‬ ْ َ ‫ ف َ ُدفِن‬،‫ ن َ َزل َ أَهْل ُ ال ْ َع َوالِي‬.‫اسا ِمن ْ َها‬
ً َ ‫ي ُ َر لَيْلَة ً أَك ْث َ َر ن‬

Narrated Sālim Sabalān: She died in seventh night of

Ramaḍān, after the witr prayer; she ordered that she be
buried on the same night. The Ansār gathered and attend-
ed (the funeral) and a night with more people was never
witnessed. The people from the surroundings of Madīnah
came (too) and she was buried in al- Baqīʿ.

‫ت‬
ْ َ ‫ َوكَان‬- ُ ‫شة‬ َ ِ ‫ت َعائ‬
ْ َ‫ قَال‬:َ‫ قَال‬،‫س‬ ٍ ْ ‫ َعنْ قَي‬،‫خال ِ ٍد‬َ ‫إ ِ ْس َما ِعيل ُ ب ْ ُن أ َبِي‬
ُ ْ ‫ إِن ِّي أَحْ َدث‬:‫ت‬
‫ت بَع ْ َد َر ُسو ِل‬ ْ َ‫ ف َ َقال‬،‫ِّث نَف َْس َها أَن ْ تُدْف َ َن فِي بَيْت َِها‬
ُ ‫حد‬ َ ُ‫ت‬
ْ َ ‫ ف َ ُدفِن‬،ِ‫اجه‬
‫ت‬ ِ ‫ ادْفِنُونِي َم َع أ َ ْز َو‬،‫ح َدثًا‬ َّ ‫اهَّلل ِ َصلَّى‬
َ ‫اهَّلل ُ َعلَيْه ِ َو َسل َّ َم‬ َّ
َّ ‫بِالْبَقِيع ِ َر ِضي‬
.‫اهَّلل ُ َعن ْ َها‬
َ
Qays narrated: ʿĀʾishah said—and she was considering
being buried in her house—‘I done an innovation after
Allah’s Messenger ‫[ ;ﷺ‬so] bury me with his wives.’ So,
she was buried in Baqīʿ, may Allah be pleased with her.

،ً‫امة ً كُلِّيَّة‬
َ ‫ت ن َ َد‬
ْ ‫ فَإِن َّ َها نَد َِم‬،‫ل‬ َ ْ ‫ير َها يَ ْومَ ال‬
ِ ‫ج َم‬ ِ ‫ تعنِي بالْحدثِ م‬:‫قلْت‬
‫س‬
َ َ َ َ ِ ْ َ ُ ُ
43
 ʿĀʾISHAH THE MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

َ ْ ‫اص َدة ً لِل‬

،‫خي ْ ِر‬ َ ِ ‫ت َ���ذل‬
ِ َ ‫ك إ ِ َّاَّل ُمتَأ َ ِّولَة ً ق‬ َ ِ ‫ت ِمنْ َ���ذل‬
ْ َ ‫ َعلَى أ َن َّ َها َما ف َ َعل‬:‫ك‬ ْ َ ‫َوتَاب‬
‫اعةٌ ِم َن‬
َ ‫ج َم‬ ِ ‫ َوال ُّزبَي ْ ُر ب ْ ُن ال ْ َع َّو‬،ِ‫اهَّلل‬
َ ‫ َو‬،‫ام‬ َ ْ ‫جتَ َه َد طَل‬
َّ ‫حة ُ ب ْ ُن عُبَي ْ ِد‬ ْ ‫َك َما ا‬
َ ْ ‫اهَّلل ُ َع ِن ال‬
.ِ‫ج ِميع‬ َّ ‫كبَا ِر َر ِضي‬
َ
ِ ْ ‫ال‬

I (the author) say: She meant her journey on the Day of the
Camel, for she had regretted it completely, and repented
from it — even though she did it based on her interpre-
tation and with good intentions, as did Ṭalḥah ibn ʿU-
baydullāh, Zubayr ibn al-ʿAwwām, and a group of senior
(companions), may Allah be pleased with all.

َ ‫ث َو ِست‬
.‫ُّون َسنَة ً َوأَشْ ُه ٌر‬ ٌ ‫ ث َ َاَل‬:‫َو ُمدَّة ُ عُمْ ِر َها‬

Her age (when she died) was, sixty-three years, and a few
months.

44