- In full:
- ʿĀʾishah bint Abī Bakr
- Born:
- 614, Mecca, Arabia [now in Saudi Arabia]
- Died:
- July 678, Medina (aged 64)
ʿĀʾishah
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Who was ʿĀʾishah?
Ā'ishah(614–678 CE) was one of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad. She was the daughter of Abu Bakr, an important supporter of Muhammad, and their marriage was intended to strengthen this alliance.Although some accounts suggest she was older,
Ā'ishahwas about 18 when Muhammad died in 632 CE. She remained politically inactive until the reign ofUthmān, the third caliph (leader of the Islamic community), when she played a significant role in the opposition that led to his murder in 656.Ā'ishahthen led an army againstAlī,Uthmān's successor, but was defeated in the Battle of the Camel and allowed to return to Medina. There, she spent the rest of her days dispensing alms, transmitting Hadith (the sayings of the Prophet), and interpreting the Qurʾān.Traditional sources describe
Ā'ishahas learned in religion, issuing legal opinions and consulting with the older male Companions of the Prophet. Modern Muslim feminists viewĀ'ishahas embodying an early Islamic idealization of women as the social and legal equal of men.2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What role did ʿĀʾishah play in early Islamic history?
ʿĀʾishah, wife of the Prophet Muhammad, had political importance after his death. Muhammad married her to strengthen ties with her father, Abū Bakr, a key supporter. Though ʿĀʾishah had no major influence on Muhammad's policies while he was alive, he valued her knowledge of Islam.
After Muhammad's death in 632, ʿĀʾishah became politically active, opposing ʿUthmān, the third caliph, and leading to his murder in 656. She led an army against ʿAlī, ʿUthmān’s successor, but was defeated in the Battle of the Camel. Afterward, she returned to Medina, where she spent her time giving to charity, sharing Hadith (sayings of the Prophet), and interpreting the Qurʾān. Traditional sources portray her as learned in religion, issuing legal opinions and consulting with the Prophet's older male companions. Modern Muslim feminists view ʿĀʾishah as embodying an early Islamic ideal of women as socially and legally equal to men, valued for their contributions in private and public life.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
Why is ʿĀʾishah considered an important figure in Islam?
ʿĀʾishah was the third wife of the Prophet Muhammad and is regarded as an important figure in Islam for several reasons. Muhammad is said to have recognized her knowledge of Islam by counseling his Companions to "take half your knowledge from Humayra," Humayra being his term of endearment for her.
Traditional sources describe ʿĀʾishah as learned in religion, issuing legal opinions and consulting with the older male Companions of the Prophet. About a sixth of the hadiths recorded by al-Bukhari in his famed work Al-Jāmiʿ al-ṣaḥīḥ are cited on her authority. Modern Muslim feminists view ʿĀʾishah as embodying an early Islamic idealization of women as the social and legal equal of men, valued for their contributions in both the private and public spheres.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What contributions did ʿĀʾishah make to the recording of Islamic teachings?
ʿĀʾishah, one of Prophet Muhammad's wives, significantly contributed to recording Islamic teachings. She was known for her knowledge of Islam, and Muhammad advised his followers to seek her wisdom.
ʿĀʾishah transmitted Hadith (sayings and traditions of the Prophet). Traditional sources describe her as learned in religion, issuing legal opinions and consulting with the older male Companions of the Prophet. About one-sixth of the hadiths recorded by al-Bukhari are cited on her authority. She and Umm Salama are among the most prolific of the Companions who relayed hadiths on various topics.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
ʿĀʾishah (born 614, Mecca, Arabia [now in Saudi Arabia]—died July 678, Medina) was the third wife of the Prophet Muhammad (the founder of Islam), who played a role of some political importance after the Prophet’s death.
All Muhammad’s marriages had political motivations, and in this case the intention seems to have been to cement ties with ʿĀʾishah’s father, Abū Bakr, who was one of Muhammad’s most important supporters. ʿĀʾishah’s physical charms, intelligence, and wit, together with the genuine warmth of their relationship, secured her a place in his affections that was not lessened by his subsequent marriages. It is said that in 627 she accompanied the Prophet on an expedition but became separated from the group. When she was later escorted back to Medina by a man who had found her in the desert, Muhammad’s enemies claimed that she had been unfaithful. A subsequent Qurʾānic revelation asserted her innocence; the Qurʾān furthermore criticized and stipulated punishment for those who slander virtuous women.
ʿĀʾishah had no important influence on her husband’s political or religious policies while he lived, but he is said to have recognized her knowledge of Islam by counseling his Companions to “take half your knowledge from Humayra,” Humayra (“Little Red One”) being his term of endearment for her.
When Muhammad died in 632, ʿĀʾishah was left a childless widow of about 18, although some sources suggest she was older. She remained politically inactive until the time of ʿUthmān (644–656; the third caliph, or leader of the Islamic community), during whose reign she played an important role in fomenting opposition that led to his murder in 656. She led an army against his successor, ʿAlī, when he refused to bring ʿUthmān’s murderers to justice, but she was defeated in the Battle of the Camel. The engagement derived its name from the fierce fighting that centred around the camel upon which ʿĀʾishah was mounted. Afterward she was allowed to return to Medina. She spent the rest of her days there in disbursing alms, transmitting Hadith (the sayings of the Prophet), and interpreting the Qurʾān.
Traditional sources describe ʿĀʾishah as learned in religion, issuing legal opinions and engaging in consultation with the older male Companions of the Prophet. About a sixth of the hadiths recorded by al-Bukhari in his famed work Al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaḥīḥ are cited on her authority. Modern Muslim feminists regard ʿĀʾishah as personifying an early Islamic idealization of women as the social and legal equal of men, valorized for their contributions in both the private and public spheres.