Understanding
Aisha Siddiqah
Aisha bint Abi Bakr holds a unique and distinguished place in Islamic history as one of its foremost women. She was the daughter of the first Caliph, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, and later became the esteemed wife of the Prophet of Islam. She was one of the leading scholars of the Quran, and in the field of Hadith she attained the status of a mujtahidah, a woman qualified for independent juristic reasoning.
Her father was Abu Bakr ibn Abi Quhafah, and her mother was Umm Ruman bint Amir. She was born in Makkah in the fifth year of Prophethood. After examining various reports, Mawlana Sayyid Sulayman Nadvi concluded that her probable date of birth was Shawwal 9 BH, corresponding to July 614 CE. (Sirat Aisha, Shibli Academy, Azamgarh, p. 19)
Aisha had an extraordinary memory. She remembered many events even from her early childhood. She had memorized a large body of Arabic poetry and would often quote verses suited to different occasions. In the thirteenth year of Prophethood, when the Prophet of Islam migrated from Makkah to Madinah with Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, Aisha also migrated with her family. Along with her remarkable memory, she was exceptionally intelligent and perceptive. Though she was only eight years old at the time of the Hijrah, she remembered its events in great detail. No other Companion preserved such a continuous and detailed account of the Hijrah as she did.
The Prophet of Islam’s first marriage was to Khadijah bint Khuwaylid in Makkah, when he was twenty-five years old. Khadijah passed away three years before the Hijrah. After her death, he married Aisha bint Abi Bakr. The proposal was conveyed through Khawlah bint Hakim. Hadith sources show that the marriage contract took place in Makkah when Aisha was six years old. Her formal departure to the Prophet’s household took place in Madinah after the Hijrah, when she was nine years old. (Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No. 24867)
The marriage contract was conducted by her father, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq. (Al-Mustadrak al-Hakim, Hadith No. 2704) According to the narrations, her mahr, a mandatory marriage gift, was five hundred dirhams. (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 1426)
In ancient Arabia, literacy was not common, and only a few people knew how to read and write. Abu Bakr al-Siddiq was among this small educated group. Because of this family tradition, Aisha also had the opportunity to learn reading and writing. She would read the Quran from the written text, and according to some reports, she could also write. Thus, she was able to reply to letters in writing. (Aurat Memar e Insaniyat)
