Her Marriage to Prophet Muhammad (S): Aisha was six years old

when she was married to Muhammad (S), and the wedding ceremony between her and the Prophet Muhammad (S) took place when she was nine years old. The wedding ceremony was a simple one. Muhammad (S) took a drink from a bowl containing milk and offered it to Aisha to drink, which she did after some insistence from her sister Asmaa.

Living with Prophet Muhammad (S): Her room was next to the masjid. It was there where many verses of the Qur'an where revealed to Muhammad (S). It was in that room where Muhammad (S) passed away and was buried. Muhammad (S) respected Aisha's young age and let her play with her friends, and also let her watch Abyssinians who put on a fighting display with their weapons. She and Muhammad (S) also raced with each other on two occasions, the first race which she won and the second which he (S) won. She never had any children with Prophet Muhammad (S) which saddened her, but she did take care of her sister's (Asmaa) son, Abdullah, as well as her other nephews and nieces later on.

Overcoming Slander: Muhammad (S) would normally take one of his wives with him when he (S) was travelling or taking part in Jihad. He (S) took Aisha with him in the war against Banil Mustaliq. The battle was complete and the Muslims stopped to rest on their way back to Madinah. Aisha had stepped out of her private area (hawdaj) to relieve herself. She was thirteen at the time and was light so the people who carried the hawdaj did not realize she had left it, so they continued to proceed to Madinah with her. Aisha had lost her necklace and traced her steps to find it, which led her back to the area where the Muslims had stopped to rest. When she got back she found everybody had left. She stayed there wrapping herself in her jilbab (outer garment) waiting for somebody to retrieve her. After some time Safwan Ibn Al-Mu'atill who was trying to reach the area spotted her. He had her mount the camel while he walked on foot leading the camel by rope back to Madinah. Muhammad (peace be upon her) was happy to see her back. This is when the hypocrites and Madinah started their slander and gossip. The slander started in the house of Abdullah Ibn Salool, the head of the hypocrites, that Aisha and Safwan had some sort of inappropriate relations with each other. This slander eventually reached Muhammad (S). Aisha was unaware of what was going on since she became sick upon returning for more than twenty days and stayed with her mother so she could take care of her. It was there that she found out the slander that hypocrites were spreading. Aisha spent the night crying asking Allah to prove her innocence. Muhammad (S) finally went to Abu Bakr's house. He (S) asked Aisha about the claims the hypocrites were saying. Emotions were high until Muhammad (S) received a revelation from Allah Ta'Alaa. "Celebrate O Aisha! Allah has revealed proof of your innocence!", said the Prophet (S). Muhammad (S) left for the masjid where he recited the verses proving Aisha's innocence. They are (what means): "Verily those who brought forth the slander are a group among you. Consider it not a bad thing for you. Unto every man among them will be paid that which he had earned of the sin, and as for him among them who had the greater share therein, his will be a great torment. Why then did not the believers, men and women, when you heard it, think good of their people and say, 'This is an obvious lie?' Why did they not produce four witnesses? Since they have not produced witnesses, then with Allah they are the liars. Had it not been for the Grace of Allah and His Mercy unto you in this world and the Hereafter, a great torment would have touched you for that which you had spoken. When you were propagating it with your tongues and uttering it with your mouths and that which you had no knowledge, you counted it a little thing, while with Allah it was very great. And why did you not when you heard it say, 'it is not right for us to speak of this. Glory be to You (Allah) this is a great lie'? Allah forbids you from it and warns you not to repeat the like of it forever if you are believers" (Surah Nur 24:11-17, up to 19) Aisha never uttered a bad word against those who slandered her. The Muslims realized her piety and had the utmost respect for her.

Losing Prophet Muhammad (S): During the years Aisha was married to Muhammad (peace be upon) she acquired great knowledge from the Qur'an and Sunnah. When Muhammad (S) returned from Hajj he became ill. His wives took turns taking care of him until he became increasingly ill and desired to be with Aisha. It was late in the morning when Muhammad (S) was laying his head on Aisha's bosom. He (S) used her brother's miswak to clean his teeth and Aisha was wiping his (S)'s forehead with cool water to combat the sweat on his (S)'s forehead. He (S) gave a reminder about the prayer. He (S) also said, "O Aisha, verily death as its agonies." He (S) then would say, "No but the most highest companions in Paradise.' He repeated these words until he (S) passed away. She lowered his (S)'s head on a pillow and started crying. Muhammad (S) was later buried in the same room where he (S) died.

A True Scholar: Aisha is known as one of the greatest scholars in Islam. She was one of four companions who transmitted over two thousand ahadeeth. Abu Musa said, "whenever a hadeeth was doubtful to us, we would ask Aisha about it." She would give lessons behind a veil, and many men learn from her as well as women. She was greatly involved in the affairs of Muslims after the death of Muhammad (S). She admitted when she made mistakes, and she was a true believer.

Aisha passed away when she was sixty-six years old without any children, but still as the mother of the believers.

References: Al-Jumu'ah Magazine, Vol. 12, Issue 5/6 1420 AH

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