Author: Obaidullah Nimruzi
Hazrat Ayesha Siddiqa, From marriage to Allah’s test (3rd part)
The love of the Messenger of Allah, PBUH, in the heart of Hazrat Ayesha
Hazrat Ayesha Siddiqa, may Allah be pleased with her, embraced her married life with a heart full of faith and intelligence mixed with the wisdom of Islam.
She was a unique character and an exemplary wife who understood her husband in all its meanings, respecting his rights with complete sincerity and honesty. Due to her pure love for him, she willingly did everything that brought happiness to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.
Driven by a strong love and interest towards the Prophet, peace be upon him, she consistently aimed to reduce the pains, sufferings, and hardships that afflicted the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, and assisted him in overcoming challenges.
Understanding the Prophet’s efforts in spreading and delivering his message, Ayesha never demanded much from the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, always seeking to gain his satisfaction and avoiding anything that could cause annoyance. Whenever there was a possibility of causing displeasure to the Prophet, peace be upon him, she would avoid it at all costs.
Due to the Prophet’s wise and compassionate dealings with Hazrat Ayesha and her appreciation of the greatness and dignity of the Holy Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, her love for the Prophet blossomed.
The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, also showed special attention to her. She was the only woman among his wives who married him while still a virgin, and she was raised under the Prophet’s guidance from childhood.
These factors combined to cultivate a deep love for the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, in Aisha, to the extent that she resonated with the love in the Messenger.
Moreover, Ayesha aspired to attain a position and dignity similar to Khadija bint Khuwaylid, whom she admired deeply. Although she desired to have children like Khadija, time passed, but she did not birth any children.
Out of kindness, the Prophet, peace be upon him, directed her to choose a nickname after her niece, Abdullah Bin Zubair, leading her to be known as Umm Abdullah.
Ayesha’s love in the heart of the Prophet “PBUH”
Flourished due to her good qualities, understanding, and unwavering support in all aspects, this love secured a permanent place in the Prophet’s heart, where no traces of anger, sarcasm, envy, or darkness could reside.
Hazrat Ayesha, may Allah be pleased with her, gained a special position and dignity among the women of the Prophet because of her special worthiness, intelligence.
The Prophet, PBUH, loved him very much, and his love surged in the heart of the precious Messenger of Islam, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, a heart that had no path to anger, sarcasm, envy, and darkness.
One day, Hazrat Amr bin Aas inquired: O Messenger of Allah! Whom do you love the most?
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, responded: “Ayesha.”
Amr queried further about men, to which the Prophet said: “Ayesha’s father (Abu Bakr Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him).”
When the Prophet’s wives saw that the Holy Prophet, PBUH, had more love and affection for Ayesha, one day they sent Hazrat Fatima Zahra, R.H, and told her: Tell your father to treat us like Ayesha.
Hazrat Fatima Zahra, may Allah be pleased with her, delivered the message.
The Prophet, PBUH, answered: O Fatima! Do you love me?
Hazrat Fatima answered: Yes father, I love you from the bottom of my heart.
The Prophet said: So, love Ayesha too and be kind to her.
The Prophet, PBUH, had a special love for Ayesha and had a great place in his heart, as the Prophet himself, PBUH, said: “Ayesha’s love is like the handle of my heart” and all this love and affection was enough for Ayesha to always follow the Messenger of Allah, PBUH Love him and never neglect him.
Ayesha, a clear example of a real wife
Ayesha, epitomizing a genuine wife, demonstrated remarkable qualities that earned praise from scholars and commentators like Professor Abul Az Masri. Through studying her life, it becomes evident that Ayesha served not only as a caring mother and guide to all Muslims but also as a model wife. Women and girls are encouraged to learn from her and emulate her virtues.
Should the women of today’s society adopt Ayesha as a role model in their married lives, numerous family issues could be resolved, fostering a society defined by honesty, purity, and sincerity.
Ayesha recognized that the foundation of a successful marriage lies in sincerity, love, and creating an atmosphere of joy and happiness. She understood that women could significantly support their husbands during challenges by exhibiting good morals, behavior, and offering sincere prayers, thereby alleviating their spouse’s burdens.
A successful and ideal wife from the point of view of Ayesha Siddiqa
Ayesha believed that even in times of hardship, women should not present a sorrowful appearance to their husbands. According to her, except for mourning a husband, it is impermissible for a believing woman to grieve for more than three days.
In her view, women should always be willing to make sacrifices for their husbands, striving to win their satisfaction under any circumstances.
When Ayesha was asked about the permissibility of makeup for women, she famously responded by emphasizing the importance of fulfilling one’s husband’s desires. She symbolizes self-sacrifice and devotion towards one’s spouse.”
Ayesha in Jihad (battle) Square
It is permissible for women to participate in Jihad Square, but they don’t have the right to draw swords in confrontation with the enemy unless it is absolutely necessary. However, they can contribute to jihad (battle) by helping the wounded, preparing food, nursing the Mujahideen (soldiers), etc. Ayesha Siddiqa, may Allah be pleased with her, was also with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in several campaigns. She carried water for the Mujahideen (soldiers) and took care of the sick, among other duties.
Among the important campaigns that she participated in, we can mention “Ohad” and “Ahzab.” In the sixth year of Hijri, she was also present in the battle of “Bani Mustalaq.”
The hypocrites are lying in wait
The hypocrites who were in the ranks of the Companions, as well as the Jews who had hatred for Islam in their hearts, were constantly thinking of attacking the Messenger of Allah. They could not see the conquests and victories of the Holy Prophet; PBUH. Whenever the Messenger of Allah won a battle, they mourned.
In the 6th year of Hijri, when the Messenger of Allah entered the battle with the Bani Mustalaq tribe, he defeated them. In this war, the leader of the hypocrites, Abdullah bin Abi, was also present, monitoring the Prophet and looking for an excuse to break the ranks of the Companions and defame the Messenger of Allah.
The hypocrites used their last conspiracy to defame the Prophet of Islam and Muslims. They designed the blackest plot. But what is this conspiracy? And who do they sacrifice?
Ayesha Tahereh and Afek
Yes! The one being accused is the daughter of Abu Bakr Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with her. She did not see a trace of ignorance, polytheism, and idolatry in her home. She and her family are among the pioneers of the faith and jihad field.
The one being accused is “Ayesha Umm al-Mu’minin, the beloved wife of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.”
An excuse falls into the hands of the hypocrites, and in this way, Ayesha Siddiqa is in the crosshairs of the envious and the hypocrites. The hypocrites, who were looking for an excuse day and night, got an opportunity that was indeed “نعوذ بالله,” attributing the slander of adultery to the mother of the believers, Ayesha Siddiqa. Because of this, the Islamic society faced a difficult and great test.
Allah wants to keep Ayesha’s name alive
Indeed, the hardships and suffering of Afek, the same slander that hypocrites attributed to the mother of the believers, Siddiqa Kubra, confront Muslims with great patience. It turns out that Allah’s destiny and plan were to teach an important lesson to Muslims in the Islamic society and to test everyone.
It is as if Allah wants to test the patience and endurance of some people in a great test, send some people to Hell, and raise the status and dignity of a person forever.
Yes! It was a very difficult test. The purity and honor of the house of prophethood and the upbringing of the house of Abu Bakr and the wife of the Messenger of Allah are the means of this test.
Afek a baseless lie and a deadly pain
Umm al-Mu’minin Ayesha Siddiqa, may Allah be pleased with her, when she passed the steps of ascension and promotion to the realm of the Kingdom and Alavi, one after the other, every moment she reached degrees of nearness to the truth.
This time, her lord wanted to annihilate her in herself, cut her off from all creatures, connect her to his greatness and glory, and move her from destruction for the Prophet to destruction for Allah. He tests her with a bitter cup, but in front of her, she drinks the joyous and faith-increasing cup.
Yes! He wants the name of Ayesha, may Allah be pleased with her, to remain with the survival of time in all centuries. He wants to cover the veil of greatness and glory of this great siddiqa.
Let’s hear from her, from this great personality, how eloquently, and beautifully she portrays “Afek’s story” for the world: The habit of the Messenger of Allah was to take one of his wives with him on every trip. In order to accompany the “Bani Mustalaq” campaign, my beloved cast lots to choose one of his wives to accompany him. The fortune-telling was in my name, and I was with the Messenger of Allah in this journey.
At that time, the verse of Hijab was revealed. Strange men did not have the right to look at women, and women also left the house with a full hijab.
I was in a howdah that was carried on a camel, and the howdah also had a curtain so that no one could see inside. We returned from the battle of “Bani Mustalaq” with victory and success, we camped in the desert and spent the night there. After the morning prayer, the call to leave was played. I had gone a little further to relieve myself (bathroom). When I returned, I saw that my necklace was missing, as if it had fallen somewhere. I went to find my necklace. It was a little late when I returned to the caravan.
I saw that there was no trace of them. Thinking that I was somewhere, my fellow travelers had set the camels in motion and left. I sat there upset and worried and pulled the tent over my head, hoping that they would notice and return. It didn’t take long until a man who was assigned to stay at the caravan’s place and had to move a long distance from the caravan so that nothing would be left behind, arrived, and that person was “Safwan bin ma’atal” (may Allah be pleased with him) one of the Prophet’s companions. Because he had seen me before the revelation of the Hijab (cloak) verse, as soon as he saw me, he recognized me and heard him say: “To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return”. What is the wife of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, doing here? I didn’t talk to him; he brought the camel close to me and said: Get on it! He followed and I rode the camel.
“Safwan” was holding the reins of the camel and was moving ahead of me. We reached the city at noon, Abdullah bin Obi saw at this moment that I and Safwan were also riding a camel, holding the reins of the camel and entering the city. This was the moment when the devil penetrated into the hearts and the people of Afek said what they should not have said.
I am unaware of everything; But I was very sad because I was left behind in the caravan. I expressed this sadness to the Holy Prophet; may Allah bless him and grant him peace. I wondered, what happened? Yes! At this time, the evil propaganda of the hypocrites had covered the whole city, and I was unaware of everything. But I saw that my beloved was showing me little kindness, so I said to myself: In the past, if I would take a complaint to the Holy Prophet, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, he would listen with mercy and kindness and always comfort me, but what has happened now? I was very worried; I was overwhelmed with sadness.
May my sweetie be offended by me? But I didn’t know that outside the house, what things are not said about me! As a result of this lack of love, I fell ill. One day, the Holy Prophet, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, came home. By the way, my mother was also sitting next to me. When she saw me in a state of sadness and withering, she said: «کَیفَ تِیکُم؟» (How is your daughter?) A cold word devoid of love and alien to the feelings and behavior of the past. Hearing this kind of greeting and seeing this attitude of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, sadness and boredom took over my whole being, and the world became dark before my eyes.
I said, O Messenger of Allah! I am sick and depressed, let me go to my mother for a while. He immediately said: There is no problem. I left while I was unaware of everything, and this unkindness and lack of love, peace be upon him, lasted for nearly twenty nights, until one night, I went out with Umm Mosetah (my father’s cousin) to do the needful. We were leaving when “UMM Mosetah”‘s foot slipped and fell down.
She cursed his son “Mosat” involuntarily. I was surprised and said: Are you cursing the Companions of the Messenger of Allah?! Someone who participated in the “Badr” war and is considered among the emigrants? “Um Mosteh” said: O simple-minded! Don’t you know what they say about you?! I said: From what? That’s when she told me the whole story. I couldn’t believe it. I said, are you telling the truth? She said: I swear to Allah that this is common. I didn’t know what to do. What can I say? And with whom to tell. I forgot the first sadness
I was mad and surprised; a very hard state came over me, “a state that made the altar scream”. I rushed home, I cried, my heart was about to explode, my liver was about to burst. I grabbed my mother’s collar and said: How many days have these words been said about me and you haven’t told me anything? Why didn’t you say? Yes! This incident plunged the heart of Umm al-Mu’minin Ayesha Siddiqa, may Allah be pleased with her, into indescribable sadness. It took a month; But the month was very long, as long as the centuries of oppression, injustice, and tyranny, as long as the hard day of judgment, and as long as the hard days of the prison of Pharaoh’s oppressors, a time as dark as the darkness of the hearts of history’s blinders and unscrupulous and hard-hearted hypocrites.
Again, the kind and compassionate mother continues the story like this: I got a strange fever and chills. My mother put quilts and blankets on me for a while; I was still shaking, and the sound of my crying covered the whole house. My kind father was reciting in another room. Hearing my crying, he asked my mother: “What’s going on?” My mother answered that it was Ayesha; when my father learned about the incident, he also started crying. Abu Bakr’s house was full of sadness and mourning. I spent the nights in prayer and crying, I did not sleep for several nights, and I sat in the corner during the days and waited for an order from Allah Almighty.
During these days, one day the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, came to our house, my parents and a woman from the Ansar. They were with me; the Holy Prophet saw me in a state of crying and sadness. «یا عائشة! فإنّه قد بلغنی عنک کذا و کذا فإن کنتِ بریئةً فسیبرئک الله عزّوجل و إن کنتِ هممتِ بذنب فاستغفری الله و توبی إلیه فإنّ العبد إذا إعترف بذنبه ثمّ تاب إلی الله تاب الله علیه(O Ayesha! I have received news about you; if you are pure, Allah will absolve you, and if you have committed a sin, ask Allah for forgiveness and repent because when one confesses his sins and repents, Allah will accept his repentance.) I couldn’t hear anymore, my tears were flowing heavily, and my heart was bursting. I wanted to scream; But my anger was in my throat. I turned to my father and said: Father! Say something to the Messenger of Allah, say that I am innocent; why don’t you answer? My father lowered his head and turned to my mother. Dear mother! You speak! You who have brought me up, say something, answer the Messenger of Allah! Like my father, he lowered his head. Yes! There were so many rumors; it seems that they too were in doubt.
That’s why they didn’t say anything in the presence of the Holy Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, out of extreme modesty. She was disappointed by everyone, from a precious husband like the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, from a kind and generous father like Abu Bakr, and from a caring mother like Umm roman. If I could find someone other than him, someone who had full knowledge of the whole story, I would have no shelter anymore; Except him.
I said: «والله لاأتوب مما ذکروا أبداً»؛ I swear to Allah that I have not committed a sin, and people attribute it to me; I will never repent because I am pure and haven’t committed any sin. Today, I also say like Hazrat Yaqub (peace be upon him): «فصبرٌ جمیلٌ والله المستعان علی ما تصفون.» “So, patience is great, and Allah is the one who seeks help in what you describe.”
Ayesha and patience
What can be noted in this was the patience and endurance of Hazrat Ayesha, may Allah be pleased with her, a hard and great test, a huge and bitter and painful slander, very long days full of pain and suffering, But a beautiful patience and perseverance like the lovers of Allah.
In this field, Ayesha was exemplified by the following verses: «إنّ الله مع الصابرین»؛ The fruit of this beautiful patience was that Allah said: “What was said about Ayesha, all of them were good for Ayesha, not evil.” (Actually, Allah was with her and did not leave her alone. Because of this great incident, the dignity of Hazrat Ayesha, may Allah be pleased with her, was not diminished. Rather, hes dignity increased, and hes grades became higher. Whoever trusts in Allah, He is sufficient for him. The grief and sorrow of the mother of the believers were increasing every moment. This innocent girl was disappointed by her parents. She no longer had anyone to shelter her; but believe her word. but no! The one who is most knowledgeable and aware of the story is present and has said himself: «ومن یتوکل علی الله فهو حسبه» “And whoever relies on Allah, He is sufficient for him.” So, Ayesha left everything to him and only looked at the sky for it to be revealed to her.
Yes! The time has come for sadness, grief, and mourning to be removed from the house of Abu Bakr and the house of Mustafa. The time has come for the true believers to rejoice twice and the hypocrites of Kordel to mourn. After that, I went to a corner and lay down on my bed. I was sure that Allah will absolve me. Of course, I did not consider myself worthy of a revelation about me and my purity, but I hoped that my purity and innocence would be revealed to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, through a dream. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, had not yet stood up when suddenly his blessed face became wet, and his beautiful forehead became illuminated. I understood that this is the state of revelation. It had been almost a month that there was no news of revelation.
I didn’t have any distress or fear because I was sure of my purity. But my parents were about to have a stroke; they were afraid that the revelation would confirm what people said. With anxiety and distress, my father sometimes looked at me and sometimes at the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. When he looked at the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, he was filled with sadness. What will happen? And when he looked at me, who was sitting calmly and confidently, hope shone in his heart, and he became more hopeful.
In these critical moments, everyone in the house, except me, was in strange fear. Finally, the revelation came to an end, and the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, slowly regained consciousness. Joy and happiness appeared on his blessed face, and he happily wiped his sweet-smelling sweat with his blessed hand. The first words he uttered were: «أبشری یا عائشة، فقد أنزل الله برائتک.» (May the good news be upon you, O Aisha! Allah revealed your innocence.) There was joy and happiness in the house.
I thanked Allah, who mentioned me in the great Qur’an and revealed revelation about me.
Continues…
