(50): In defence of A’isha (R.A)

Muhammad Muhsin Ibrahim
@muhsin234

I wrote this rejoinder to counter insults of Nana A'isha (R. A) by a coterie of apparently sponsored-Shiite members on Nairaland Forum on 12th Dec., 2010. The recent spate of blasphemy against the virtues of the Prophet behoved me to reproduce the article here with a few changes.

Based on numerous accounts of authentic hadeeths and undistorted historical scores, Sayyidat A’isha bint Abubakar (R.A) was the favourite wife of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W). Some Muslim sects do, nonetheless, attack and accuse her with enthusiasm, backing their untoward actions on some free-emptied arguments and fabricated histories of what transpired after the death of her husband, the Prophet, between her and Sayyid Ali (RA). Besides, other Muslims – I am one of them – regard, revere and respect her in their best possible way; and she remains a role model for their women. The greatness of A’isha, to us, is nothing contestable and hence one needs everything but persuasion to believe in its validity and cogency. It’s a fact right below our noses.

Therefore, I always wonder at those “others”, who choose to dent and defame her. The A’isha’s highness, at least considering her being a widow of the noble Prophet, couldn’t and oughtn’t to have been, right from the scratch, subjected to question, criticism let alone cursing her in a crudest way you can think of! Something is really wrong. That, to say the least, definitely typifies paucity in knowledge, immature and unreflective thinking, shallow understanding and above all, recklessness. Unless they desist and repent, Allah’s wrath awaits them in the hereafter.

Sometimes, as I came to discern, they hide under the façade that she is, alas, not among the Ahl Al-Bayt (family members) of the Prophet, whom they always pretend adoring. Could that have been the case even if it were true? No! She still remains who she is: his wife. And, I’ll make it clear in the following lines that A’isha is aptly a bona fide Ahl Al-Bayt of the Prophet.

Though one might argue that she’s not among the four families (family of Ali, of Ja’afar, of Abbas and that of Aqeel) who are basically the Ahl Al-Bayt of the Prophet forbidden to receive charity after his death, she and other wives of the Prophet remain as true members. There are Qur’anic proofs which encapsulate that wife is a family member of a man. For instance, I don’t know how in other languages but as in mine (Hausa), if a married man (who only has a wife and no child) is asked: how is the family (i.e. ya iyalin?) he replies: (lafiya ta/su ke [she’s fine]) and he’s lexically, grammatically, syntactically, semantically, correct. So is also the case in Qur’anic (Arabic) language.

See below:
Prophet Loot’s wife [family]

“So We saved him and his family except his wife, who was of those who lagged behind.” Q7:83

Why the word except his wife after mentioning his family? Simply it’s because she’s a member!

Prophet’s Ibrahim’s wife [family]

“They [angels] said: "Do you wonder at Allah's decree? May Allah's mercy and His blessings be upon you, O residents of the household; for He is indeed worthy of all praise, full of all glory.” Q11:73

The expression in the verse for the “O residents of the household” is Ahl Al-Bayt.

Likewise when the Almighty talks about the Prophet Muhammad’s wives, he says:

“…O members of the household of Rasool (Prophet), Allah only intends to remove uncleanliness from you and to purify you completely.” Q33:33

“This is a clear statement that the wives of the Prophet are included among the members of his family (Ahl Al-Bayt) here, because they are the reason why this Ayah was revealed, and the scholars are unanimously agreed that they were the reason for revelation in this case, whether this was the only reason for revelation or there was also another reason, which is the correct view.” – Ibn Kathir.

There are various instances such as the King’s wife address to her husband in Suratul Yusuf (Q12), etc, etc, etc. Besides, how do the Shi’ites even dare to muddy up the already beaming and glowing pictures of those upon whom Allah, the Exalted, has this to say:

“The Prophet is closer to the believers than their own selves and his wives are as their mothers. Blood relatives have a greater claim on one another than the other believers and the Muhajirin (early Muslims who migrated from Makkah to Madinah) according to the Book of Allah: although you are permitted to some good (through leaving bequests) for your friends. This has been written in the Book of Allah.” Q33:6

I am certain for once that we don’t have dispute that Allah knows of what had happened, is happening and will happen, true? Who was A’isha when that verse was revealed? Prophet’s wife. And Allah plainly says she’s our mother. BUT (a big but!) what reliable source told you she did what you claim she did? Isn’t it just some mere (read: doctored) history that reported that account? It’s now up to you to choose which is which: Qur’anic verse or those histories.

Lastly, I intentionally avoid citing a single hadith here, for I know they may claim the hadith is unsound or is a record of some armchair narrators (as if you were alive during the actual incidents, or you were cocksure your sources are not interpolated, which they apparently are). And yes, I am not claiming any authority in this field, but upholding the virtues of anything related to the Rasool is a duty upon every true Muslim.


May Allah enable us see truth as truth and falsehood as falsehood and guide us follow the truth and avoid the falsehood, amin.

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