The Mother of the Believers, Hazrat Ayesha Siddiqa, (MABH), “Let’s know better!” (Part One)
Undoubtedly, if we wish to have a dynamic, healthy, and progressive society, we must pay attention to sound and proper methods of upbringing. These sound methods require healthy mothers—because it is the mothers who carry the primary responsibility for raising and nurturing children and the generations to come. Therefore, if we are able to cultivate thoughtful, wise, and virtuous mothers, we will have taken a significant step toward building a healthy and proud society. But if mothers are not equipped with sound thinking and proper plans for future generations, society will undoubtedly face numerous challenges—challenges that will, in the first place, affect the very mothers who raised and delivered those children into society. Thus, in order to build a thriving society and a striving generation, we must focus on nurturing mothers who are selfless, devout, and committed.
Today, there are many claims suggesting that women are weak and incapable in matters of upbringing and other responsibilities—claims that have, to some extent, weakened the spirit and morale of certain women. But is this really the case? Can we not find, in the pages of human history, women who led societies?
We must be certain that throughout the different eras of human history, there have been heroic women who guided and raised thousands of men. Women of strength and spirit whose names have been recorded in heavenly scriptures due to their firmness, decisiveness, and intense love and devotion to the One and Only Lord. Women like Maryam, Asiya, Khadijah, Aisha, Fatimah al-Zahra, and others—honorable women who became sources of pride for humanity.
Who can deny the courage, love, self-sacrifice, and devotion of Hazrat Asiya, when Pharaoh had her crucified on four stakes? What a remarkable and love-filled scene it is when this great woman chooses the companionship of Allah over the ease and pleasures of worldly life, and amidst torture says: (رَبِّ ابْنِ لِي عِندَكَ بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ﴾ [التحریم: ١١]) Translation: “My Lord, build for me near You a house in Paradise.” [Surah At-Tahrim: 11]
How can history erase such moments from its pages? How can humanity forget such scenes—scenes that many men would not be able to endure?
It is abundantly clear that women, at the time of the Prophet’s mission (peace be upon him), played a significant role in the victory of Islam, in conveying its message, and in establishing its authority on earth. Can history forget the role of Khadijah al-Kubra bint Khuwaylid during the earliest days of the Islamic call? Or the astonishing stance of Lady Sumayyah, the mother of Ammar—the first martyr of Islam—who remained firm in her faith until the very moment of her martyrdom? Or the bravery of the young woman named Asma, known as Zat al-Nitaqayn? Or the valor of Umm ‘Ammarah and Nusaybah at the Battle of Uhud? Or the steadfastness of Umm Sulaym on the day of Hunayn? Or the stances of the mothers of the Believers (Ummuhat al-Momineen) —the wives of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)—both during his life and after his passing?
Undoubtedly, the Muslim woman in the early days of Islam was a mother who raised her children with a love for martyrdom. She was a wife who inspired her husband to sacrifice himself for the sake of Allah. She was a faithful woman who took an active and personal role in striving in the way of Allah.
She was a lady who memorized the Qur’an, narrated the noble hadiths of the Prophet, and became a scholar and jurist in the religious sciences. With insight and spiritual vision, she called people toward Allah, enjoined what is right, and forbade what is wrong.
Yes! I wish to speak of a woman whom the Lord of the worlds made a criterion to distinguish between the hypocrite and the believer, the malicious and the sincere, the monotheist and the polytheist—whose life story is reflected in the verses of His luminous Word.
Yes! I wish to speak of the mother of the Believers, the pure wife of the Prophet of Islam, his beloved and self-sacrificing companion, a teacher and mentor in the age of Prophethood, a thorn in the eyes of the idolaters—Hazrat Ayesha al-Siddiqa al-Tahira.
So, we must say—and continue to say—and let our pens declare:
O pen, write! Write about my mother. Write about her devotion to tawhid, her spiritual insight, and her sincerity.
O pen, write! Write about the kindness, purity, honesty, compassion, and bravery of my beloved mother.
O pen, write! Write about the courage, valor, and wisdom of the light of my eyes.
Do you really know what a great debt we owe to this noble mother? How negligent we have been toward her? Have we taught our children about her character, conduct, actions—and even her blessed name?
We must admit that today, a large portion of the Muslim world is unfamiliar with her name, her attributes, her noble character, and her lofty scholarly rank. This is a grave injustice—that the children of the Muslim Ummah are strangers to their spiritual mother, heedless of her virtues, and have failed to present her as a role model in society.
Therefore, it is upon us to research and explore the life and character of this noble lady of Islam. By dedicating a little time, we can pursue these vital and important topics.
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