Maaham Ahmad, South Wimbledon
Many people may be surprised to learn that when Islam was in its early stages, and the Arab world was being pulled out of its medieval ways, it was a woman who was acting in part as a scholar and leader in this primarily patriarchal society.
As one of the wives of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), Hazrat* ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), left a legacy that continues to inspire men and women, such that many refer to her as the “Mother of the Believers”. ‘Aishah was not just a devoted wife of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) but was also his beloved companion and confidante. ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) was very knowledgeable about Islam and had even memorized many verses of the Holy Quran. Her knowledge of Islam was so great that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) once said that half the religion of Islam could be learnt by her. She was even known to take classes from behind a curtain and share her knowledge and opinions on religious topics with the men and women who attended[1]. It is narrated that whenever the companions of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) would be confronted with a difficulty concerning any matter, they would consult with ‘A’ishah. This illustrates how great her memory was. Once a prolific speaker of the time, said, “I have never heard any speaker more eloquent than ‘A’ishah nor anyone more intelligent.” [2]
Indeed, after his passing, the Prophet’s companions would come to confer with her on many issues pertaining to Islamic teachings. She is also attributed with narrating up to 2,200 Ahadith, or sayings of the Prophet. ‘Aishah’s (may Allah be pleased with her) dedication to Islam was so great that she persevered in spreading its message, sharing her knowledge and acting as one of the earliest teachers of the faith. As a woman living in a society which was finally learning to uphold the status of women, she was granted such dignity that allowed her to contribute to the rise of Islam, the impact of which we still witness today. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that among all his wives, it was only in ‘Aishah’s abode that he received revelation[3].
There has always been some debate about the age of ‘Aishah ( may Allah be pleased with her) at the time of marriage. Her nikah to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) took place earlier but according to local custom she continued to live with her parents. A study of the circumstances reveals that at the time of leaving her parents’ home to start her married life, Hazrat ‘Aishah was 12 years old, and fully mature, the age of maturity of course very much dependent on climate and environment. Her married life began two years after the migration to Medina. [4]
When we think of role models to look up to, there is no need to look further than ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), a young woman who saw the truth for what it was and worked to spread it in as many ways as she could. ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) was influential not just because she was a beloved wife of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be with him), but because she carried with her such deep knowledge of Islam, history, medicine, and even poetry. Islam brought with it the rights of women, and ‘Aishah was a living example of these rights.
These qualities of ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) were cherished by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) so much so that once, upon being asked who was the most beloved of the people to him, he replied, “Aishah” He was then asked, “And who is most beloved to you from among the men?” he replied, “Her father” [5].
Through her love for the Holy Prophet and her love for Allah and service to Islam, she will always hold the distinction of being a leader, teacher, and inspiration to the many generations of Muslim women to come.
*An honorific Arabic title used to honour a person.
[1] Address at Waqf-e-Nau Ijtema 2015. By His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, current head of the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in 2015. Summary available at URL: https://www.alislam.org/articles/address-at-waqf-e-nau-ijtema-2015-girls/
[2] Mother of the Believers – Hazrat ‘A’ishahra. By Hafiz Muzaffar Ahmad, translated by Murtaza Ahmad. Available at URL: https://www.reviewofreligions.org/9186/the-noble-wives-of-the-holy-prophet-sa-3/
[3] Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith no. 3775. https://www.alhakam.org/hazrat-aisha-bint-abi-bakr-r-a/
[4] https://www.alislam.org/library/books/Seal-of-Prophets-Vol-2.pdf
Voice of British Muslim Women 
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