The third wife of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) was Aisha Siddiqa bint Abu Bakr. What follows is a very short biography for her and her marriage to the Prophet (PBUH), since most of the information we as Muslims have probably come across regarding any of the Prophet's wives was probably about her, so I assume we all know a lot about her, insha allah. My reason for starting the series of posts on all the wives of the Prophet are in the hopes that we all learn something new about one of his lesser famous wives, inshallah, but because of Aisha's (may Allah be pleased with her) great importance both to the Prophet (pbuh), and to Islam and all Muslims; no series of his wives would be complete without mention of her.
Aisha was born in Mecca in 614 CE to Umm Ruman and Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq. Most accounts report that Aisha was six years old at the time of her marriage and nine when the marriage was consummated. Although the bridal age of Aisha sometimes draws criticism, child marriages in 7th century Arabia were culturally and morally acceptable, just as they were in Biblical times.
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was known to have an impeccable character, and his marriage to a child bride was an exception to his other marriages. Aisha was the only child and one of only two virgins to marry the Prophet (pbuh). His other wives were all widowed or divorced. And some already had children.
A Strategic Marriage
Aisha’s marriage to the Prophet (pbuh) represents another cultural norm of her time – marriages which solidified family, tribal or political ties. Aisha’s father, Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq, was an early follower of Islam, close personal friend of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and a prominent figure in Mecca. Marriage to Aisha allowed the Prophet (peace be upon him) and Abu Bakr to establish a public alliance, while the young bride received honored status as wife of the Prophet (pbuh).
The Prophet’s Favorite Wife
Although the marriage was strategic, historical accounts report genuine affection between the two, and Aisha became known as the Prophet’s (pbuh) favorite wife. It was in her lap that he rested his head when he died, and under the floor of her house that he was buried. The Prophet's Mosque (Masjid Nabawi) now stands on that site in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
Aisha was reported to have been very beautiful, but it is her piety, intelligence and remarkable memory that make her a notable figure in Islamic history. She absorbed vast religious knowledge from the Prophet (pbuh) – including memorizing the entire Qur'an – and was witness to much of the early history of Islam. She helped preserve the details of those events, as well as the details of the private and public life of Muhammad (pbuh), by narrating more than two thousand hadith.
Aisha was only 18 when the Prophet (pbuh) passed away, but she was already regarded a religious scholar. Over the next four decades, until her own death, Muslims consulted Aisha for her extensive understanding of Qur'an, Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), Islamic teachings and traditions (Sunnah). She helped educate Islamic scholars and took custody of children – some orphans – to raise then in Islam.
The Battle of the Camel
The first violent division among Muslims occurred when the third caliph, Uthman, was killed and some suspected that Ali, his successor, conspired in the murder. The battle which ensued, and which Ali won, became known as the Battle of the Camel because Aisha gave directives from a howdah on the back of a camel.
Aisha Remembered
Aisha passed away in 678 at the age of 65. Her scholarly contributions to Islam, as well as her pious example, have earned her special status among the “Mothers of the Believers,” a term of honor given to all the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
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